First off, is your X-Arcade controller set to the default MAME settings? On the back there is a slide switch, make sure its all the way to the left (if your looking straight at the back of it, all the way left is the default settings). For MAME, I personally use MAME32. There is more than one way to skin a pigeon though, its all a matter of personal taste I guess. Look into MESS. Its emulates a lot of consoles. Its one of my favorites.