Command.dat under active development (again)

[Procyon]

Just in case there are any fans of the command.dat file supported by MAME 32 Plus and MAME 32 FX, I wanted to let you know that development has resumed again, and quite number of games have been added since six months ago, with many more to go.  You can find it at:

http://home.comcast.net/~plotor/command.html

In case you are unfamiliar with the command.dat, you can learn all about it by clicking on that link, but the short version is that it's a file that certain builds of MAME can use to display, among other things, sets of moves for each character in various fighting games.  So if you don't know how to use a character in a fighting game and would like to learn, bringing the moves list up is as simple as hitting TAB in MAME and accessing the command list.  It can be used for many other types of games, but so far it's primary use has been for fighting games.

We're always looking for contributions from new authors, so if your favorite game is not represented, please consider writing up an entry.  It's very simple to do.

[Buddabing]

Just in case there are any fans of the command.dat file supported by MAME 32 Plus and MAME 32 FX, I wanted to let you know that development has resumed again, and quite number of games have been added since six months ago, with many more to go.

[SirPeale]

Please delete this post.

(inside joke)

[JoyMonkey]

Please delete this post.

(inside joke)

Ha! I read that fiasco last night. I'm sure you'll find a friendlier response to Command.dat here Procyon!
(that said, I can understand where everyone was coming from)

[jelwell]

If they don't want to let you talk about it on the MAME forums, and it doesn't involve "MAME" in the project name then I wonder why you care if newer games are or aren't in the list?

Having the moves documented for newer games won't allow people to suddenly play those games in their MAME builds. And this way if the Command.dat development stops for a year or so it still has usefulness as more games are released in MAME.
Joseph Elwell.

[GGKoul]

I wonder what the "banned" games were?

[jelwell]

I wonder what the "banned" games were?

Personally I could do without the newer games, but it does seem like a waste to possibly lose the effort that has already gone into command.dat for upcoming games.

They're not "banned" they're more "frowned upon". From the new MAME Legal FAQ:

Can I add games to MAME that are newer than 3 years and distribute my changes?

There is nothing to stop you, according to the license, as long as you also distribute the full source code as well. However, if you do so, you must not call your modified version MAME or anything derived from the name MAME. Because adding recent games goes against the wishes of the MAME team expressed in About MAME section, there is no chance you will obtain permission to use the MAME trademark.

So probably like King of Fighters 2004 - assuming that lame game even made it that far.

Joseph Elwell.

[Procyon]

Wow, quite a response.  Good to see you friendlier MAMEWorld.net forum guys on here too 

The banned games were King Of Fighters 2003, Samurai Shodown 5, and SNK vs Capcom: Chaos.  And don't worry, the entries are safe and available at http://home.comcast.net/~plotor/banned.dat so feel free to grab it and add them back to the command.dat if you like.

Buddabing, the source code to display the command.dat is burried in the various changes to the original MAME source contained in MAME 32 Plus and MAME 32 FX.  I know that the ui_font.c file is integral as I have actually submitted some changes to that file in order to alter the glyphs, but I am clueless as to which other files are absolutely necessary to the rendering of those glyphs within MAME.

Anyway, I've begun to do some new things with the command.dat.  I have begun adding entries that serve as mini game manuals, for Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man so far.  And if you're a video game history buff, check out the command list for Pong for a laugh.