MAME

MAME is a Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator.

Website: https://www.mamedev.org/

Github: https://github.com/mamedev/mame

MAME Wiki: https://docs.mamedev.org/whatis.html

MAME FAQ: https://wiki.mamedev.org/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions

Arcade Database (Lookup required files for MAME ROMs, or what a MAME short name refers to): http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/default.php

Updating this Emulator:

• Use Discover (Shopping Bag icon) to update MAME

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Table of Contents

1. Getting Started with MAME

   • Configuration
   • Updating and Launching MAME
   • File Formats
   • Hotkeys

2. MAME Tips and Tricks

   • Maintaining ROM Versions
   • How to Add Custom Bezels
   • How to Configure MAME to Work With EmulationStation-DE

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Getting Started with MAME

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Configuration

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• Config Location: /home/deck/.mame
• Storage: /Emulation/storage/mame
  • Contains: artwork, ctrlr, ini, and samples
• ROM location: /Emulation/roms/arcade

Note:

• ~/.mame is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click "view hidden files" to see these folders.
• Mame [Standalone] shares its /Emulation/roms/arcade folder with Arcade - RetroArch MAME Current. Turning both of these parsers on in Steam Rom Manager will cause duplicates in your App List.

Works With

• Steam Rom Manager
• EmulationStation-DE

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Updating and Launching MAME

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Updating MAME

• Update through Discover (Shopping bag icon)
• Run Update Emulators & Tools in EmuDeck

Launching MAME in Desktop Mode

• Launch MAME from the Applications Launcher (Steam Deck icon in the bottom left of the taskbar)
• Launch the script from /Emulation/tools/launchers, mame.sh
• Launch the emulator from Steam after adding it via the Emulators parser in Steam Rom Manager

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File Formats

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ROMs

• .zip
• .chd

BIOS Files

BIOS will be searched through 3 folders:

• Emulation/roms/arcade/
• Emulation/bios/mame/*
• Emulation/bios/

Note: EmulationStation-DE will ONLY work with the BIOS in the arcade folder

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Hotkeys

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Hotkey	MAME
Coin for player	Select
Start for player	Start
Fast Forward	Select + R2

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MAME Tips and Tricks

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Maintaining ROM Versions

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Ideally use ROMS that are the same version as MAME's version. MAME often releases improved versions of ROMS to fix issues. Issues are less of a concern with the most popular classics because most of those haven't changed in years. But to avoid having to track multiple different versions of your ROMS, most people just keep their romsets updated as the emulator updates.

To understand how MAME works, look up the difference between merged and split ROM sets, and learn what a sample and a chd are and how they're used in conjunction with roms to deliver a playable game.

Note: Refer to https://docs.mamedev.org/usingmame/aboutromsets.html, for additional information.

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How to Add Custom Bezels

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1. Open Emulation/storage/mame
2. Copy bezel files, in .zip format, into this folder, named the same as the rom.
3. Done.

Note: Use the Bezel Project to locate bezels for your MAME ROMS: https://github.com/thebezelproject/BezelProject-Windows

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How to Configure MAME to Work With EmulationStation-DE

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EmuDeck installs both MAME (Standalone, installed as a flatpak), and Retroarch's MAME core.

In order to use MAME (Standalone), make sure your ROMs are in /Emulation/roms/arcade.

In order to use MAME (Standalone) for EmulationStation-DE, make sure you are selecting MAME [Standalone] in the Alternative Emulators menu.

Tutorial

1. In EmulationStation-DE, press the Start button
2. Scroll down and select Other Settings
3. Select Alternative Emulators
4. Scroll down to Arcade and select MAME [Standalone]

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