Is there such a thing as a Classic MAME batch file to...?

[jdsabin1]

In other words, a batch file that already has what can be defined as classic arcade games (Pacman, Donkey Kong, etc) that will simply delete all MAME roms EXCEPT those (or a variant thereof)? I just don't want to sort through thousands of ROMs to get that done.

Anything close would be cool.

Thanks all!

[Turnarcades]

You should be so lucky. There is a filtering tool that is mainly used for removing specific genres, but nothing so grand as what you're after. After all, who's to decide what's a classic and what's not?

Took me about a week, with several hours a night, to remove all the games I didn't want (non-working/mahjong/poorly emulated/other reason) by comparing my rom folder to the MAME32 list of games and rom names, then deleting all clones and such that appeared unnecessary according to MAME32's icons. Takes a while, but it's worth it.

[jdsabin1]

Yeah I understand the discrepancies relating to what the 'classics' are but I could have sworn a few years back someone gave it a go and created 'something'. At this point anything would be better than nothing and I just don't have the time to sift through them all.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I think it would be easier to approach this from the "these are the games I want" side, rather than deleting them afterwards.

If all you add in are the games you want, that will be all that shows up.
The added benefit is that YOU get to decide what's a "classic".

[Twin-X]

in mame32 there is a favorite list called "golden age" try that. you can export it and import it into the mala frontend if you like.

[leapinlew]

Took me about a week, with several hours a night, to remove all the games I didn't want

Takes a while, but it's worth it.

I agree with this. It's a pain, but worth it. I've had to do it several times based on the type of game being built. I have several folders with different rom sets in each. 4 way, vertical and 1 button, 4 way, vertical  and 2 button, 8 way horizontal and 6 buttons.

Factor in PC's having different processing capabilities and I still have to thin down the list.

 

[CrazyKongFan]

If you're using MAME32, you can select a favorites in the menu, and add whatever you want to it. That way, you can keep the others, if you ever decide to use them. That's how I have mine set up. I left off most of the variants of each game I had, and put the main one in favorites. But I still have them available if I decide I want to play one.

[ahofle]

You can use MCM to help remove some of the stuff like Mahjong and Quiz games:

http://www.mameworld.net/mcm/

[Turnarcades]

You can use MCM to help remove some of the stuff like Mahjong and Quiz games:

http://www.mameworld.net/mcm/

That's the one I was thinking of. The named escaped me!

[meany]

If you're using MAME32, you can select a favorites in the menu, and add whatever you want to it. That way, you can keep the others, if you ever decide to use them. That's how I have mine set up. I left off most of the variants of each game I had, and put the main one in favorites. But I still have them available if I decide I want to play one.

This is what I do.  Just drag and drop into the Favorite folder.  I have about 150 in the Fav's that I consider Classic.

[NOP]

You can use MCM to help remove some of the stuff like Mahjong and Quiz games:

http://www.mameworld.net/mcm/

romlister too.
http://www.waste.org/~winkles/ROMLister

(sorry if I sound like a broken record plugging this)

it'll help weed down the full set to a list that supports only the controls you have on your cabinet, plus you can weed out the mahjongers and quiz games, and/or the matures and you could even add a "& 198" to the end of the search criteria to get only games from the 1980's, or perhaps
"& (1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984) to just get the "golden years"

[ahofle]

romlister too.
http://www.waste.org/~winkles/ROMLister

(sorry if I sound like a broken record plugging this)

it'll help weed down the full set to a list that supports only the controls you have on your cabinet, plus you can weed out the mahjongers and quiz games, and/or the matures and you could even add a "& 198" to the end of the search criteria to get only games from the 1980's, or perhaps
"& (1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984) to just get the "golden years"

Wow that is very cool -- I'm glad you sound like a broken record because I missed your first few plugs.

[Havok]

You can use MCM to help remove some of the stuff like Mahjong and Quiz games:

http://www.mameworld.net/mcm/

romlister too.
http://www.waste.org/~winkles/ROMLister

(sorry if I sound like a broken record plugging this)

it'll help weed down the full set to a list that supports only the controls you have on your cabinet, plus you can weed out the mahjongers and quiz games, and/or the matures and you could even add a "& 198" to the end of the search criteria to get only games from the 1980's, or perhaps
"& (1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984) to just get the "golden years"

Let me put my 2 cents in too - this is a great program - it can create native AtomicFE game lists, among others. Definitely a "must have" utility!