Why Dos Mame?

[havic626]

why would someone use the dos version of mame?  Ive been using mame32/mameui, but iam wondering is there any advantage to using the dos version?

[Ginsu Victim]

One advantage for those who use it is there's no booting to windows. You just go straight into your frontend.

[PsychoAU]

Can Mame32 even use a front end?  I know it has its GUI, but that is just a list where you have to double click on the title you want, right?  Plus, a GUI window in the middle of a desktop background is hardly arcade authentic.  But correct me if I'm wrong...  can Mame32 use front ends like the DOS one does?

[SGT]

Some people confuse "DOS" Mame with "Command line" Mame.  Dos Mame is no longer being developed.  People still use it for not only for the quick boot since Windows isn't needed, but also because it runs well on an old pc, and a few other reasons.

"Command line" Mame is the same as Mame32 without the GUI.  Unlike DOS Mame, Command line Mame requires Windows.  Command line Mame is absolutely the best for use with front ends (in comparison with mame32), but mame32 will work with most frontends though there can be complications.

I still haven't gotten used to calling mame32, mameui.

[havic626]

Some people confuse "DOS" Mame with "Command line" Mame.  Dos Mame is no longer being developed.  People still use it for not only for the quick boot since Windows isn't needed, but also because it runs well on an old pc, and a few other reasons.

"Command line" Mame is the same as Mame32 without the GUI.  Unlike DOS Mame, Command line Mame requires Windows.  Command line Mame is absolutely the best for use with front ends (in comparison with mame32), but mame32 will work with most frontends though there can be complications.

I still haven't gotten used to calling mame32, mameui.

sorry im one of them people who comfused dos mame with command line mame. 

[SGT]

No problem!  I can certainly understand why there is confusion as the differences between the two aren't real obvious upon first inspection.   

[protokatie]

but mame32 will work with most frontends though there can be complications.

I use MAME32 with various front ends, what complications are there? The only one I ran into was with atomic if I had MAME32 set to start a game in a window, which was easy to fix. From what I understand MAME32 is the exact same code as CL Mame but with a front end, does it have all of the command line options as the CL Mame does? 

[SGT]

Notice that I said "can be complications".    Different releases (over the years) of Mame have reacted differently between the command line version and the mame32 version.  I have no idea if the latest and greatest versions of Mame have any minor differences or not.  The code is different in places as when the command line version is through playing a game, it exits completely where mameui normally exits to the gui when finished playing a game.  I understand that most of the time, mameui will exit completely when a game is finished if it was started from the command line instead of the gui.  However, in the past there has been problems that a search of these forums should reveal.

I have seen FE authors highly recommend the command line version over the mame32 version.  I have seen posts here where problems were resolved when using the FE author's recommendation of the CL version.  That's the extent of my knowledge.  Youki, Headkaze, or Loadman want to jump in here and give your opinion?

Complications aside, I cannot begin to understand why you would want a FE to drive an app that has a built in FE especially considering how most modern FEs do all the work in running the command line version.  Obviously if you're not having any problems (as many people have none) there's no need to care.  However, that doesn't mean that complications do not exist.

[protokatie]

Complications aside, I cannot begin to understand why you would want a FE to drive an app that has a built in FE especially considering how most modern FEs do all the work in running the command line version.  Obviously if you're not having any problems (as many people have none) there's no need to care.  However, that doesn't mean that complications do not exist.

Here is an easy answer for you: MAME32 has a GUI that is very MAME related (of course ) and is very useful for playing around with default settings. This is why I use MAME32. Another reason is that I am "testing" my setup on my regular computer and as such like to start games without running atomic or another FE. Since I am setting up much of the software on my primary computer, I want this to be portable (IE just put the MAME directory with all of the FE and other stuff on a CD-r and just copy it over to the machine I will be using in my Cab.) In these ways, using MAME32 makes a lot of sense.

BTW, I dont really see the GUI of MAME32 as a front end, just a nicer way to deal with the primary program that will be doing all the grunt work. And luckily I got into this stuff at this point in time, as MAME32 seems to be just as compatable as CL Mame of the same revision. 

[Thenasty]

another GREAT REASON for using the DOS MAME is, you can just turn the switch/power off right in the middle of your viewing you FE.

[SGT]

MAME32 seems to be just as compatable as CL Mame of the same revision. 

People do not use only the latest version of Mame.  Whether you are aware of past problems or not, I stand by my statement that the CL version is most suitable for FEs.  I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree as I have no desire to argue further.

[protokatie]

I stand by my statement that the CL version is most suitable for FEs.  I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree as I have no desire to argue further.

I disagree to agree. I am aware that it is most likely better to use CL Mame with a front end. I was just pointing out some of the advantages that many may find from using the UI version. (esp in early testing and getting aquainted with MAME in general)

If I find problems with MAME32/ui with atomic in the machine I will be using in my cab I will switch to the CL version. Hell I even (almost) thought of going to the DOS version, but I dont think that would be beneficial for the games I plan to run.

Edit: We werent even arguing... 

[headkaze]

What I do is I have both MameUI and Mame command line in the same folder. Newer versions of Mame use a single ini file (mame.ini). So if you have both the UI and command line versions you can use the UI version to configure Mame while running the command line one from your FE.

[Ummon]

What I do is I have both MameUI and Mame command line in the same folder. Newer versions of Mame use a single ini file (mame.ini). So if you have both the UI and command line versions you can use the UI version to configure Mame while running the command line one from your FE.

Exactly. What's funny is a lot of people don't think of this. The even seem to, like, pick sides.