Newest Releases?

[Peja]

Forgive me if I am mistaken on my question but I am a complete noob when it comes to the world of MAME. 

From what I have gathered, I need a MAME program and a set of roms....is this correct?  I know there is much more to it such as control panels, front ends, etc etc etc.

If I am heading in the right direction, which version of MAME and which set of roms would I be wanting to get?
My machine is a quad core, 4gb, Win7 64bit(can reinstall to XP if needed), and eventual ati card if needed(onboard HD graphics right now). 


Thanks for any help you can give me in my new found hobby!

Peja

[Dazz]

If you are just getting into the hobby; I'd start with the most recent MAME release.  As of this writing the current version is .144. Learn to compile your own version so you can keep updated, check this site for MC64.  It will help make short work in learning to compile.   Acquire a full set of ROM's and LEARN HOW TO USE CLRMAMEPRO.  Knowing how to compile your own MAME and knowing how to use CLRMAMEPRO for ROM management will make your life much easier if you are really wanting to get into this hobby.  ROM management is the KEY in this hobby.

[AlienInferno]

+1 to everything Dazz said.  Expecially CLRMAMEPRO.  Made life alot easier for me once I figured it out.

[Peja]

Thank you for the responses guys.  I appreciate it.  I will do as much reading and playing around with that set and rom management tools as I can. 

I also think I will be looking into HyperSpin Dazz, so I may be reading over your material even more closely.

A BIG thanks to you two again.

Peja

[Dazz]

Thank you for the responses guys.  I appreciate it.  I will do as much reading and playing around with that set and rom management tools as I can. 

I also think I will be looking into HyperSpin Dazz, so I may be reading over your material even more closely.

A BIG thanks to you two again.

Peja

It's great that you are going to check out HyperSpin.  BUT please, please, please... I can't stress this enough... learn how to manage your ROM's with CLRMAMEPro before doing anything.  CMP isn't just for MAME as it can help manage ALL of your ROMsets for all emulators.  Learning this early will save you hours and hours of headaches.  ROM management is something that I wish I would have learned when I first got into this hobby. I can't even fathom how many hours of headaches it would have saved me.

HyperSpin is very strict, more strict than other front ends, with how ROMs should be named and organized.  We maintain our own ROMset DAT's and XML's.  If you don't know how to manage your ROM's then you will run into issues once you get around to setting up HyperSpin.

Even if you don't use HyperSpin; ROM management is definitely something you will benefit from no matter what front end you use.

[DNA Dan]

Anyone experience Tempest being broken in the new 0.144 release? I compiled to get the no nag, but now my parent tempest rom isn't working

[Peja]

Unfortunately DNA, I haven't had the chance to play with any of it yet.  Without going into too much detail, the file is HUGE so that is slowing me down.  Hopefully I will get to play around over the weekend.

I will look at Tempest right away and see if mine is broke as well.

Peja

[Gray_Area]

Anyone experience Tempest being broken in the new 0.144 release? I compiled to get the no nag, but now my parent tempest rom isn't working

Newest version of Tempest is a few days ago. Go get it. (And pick up Temptube while you're at it.)