MrJimmy

sounds like the right step I'll try those and see how I get on - thx fRequEnCy

Thanks guys, I think the next step for me is to try older MAME versions, but how far back should I go? Can I use MAWS or search mamedev release notes to work out which version I need? I've tried but I'm not properly sure how to read this info. I'm pretty tech savvy (ex programmer) but it's a mountain of stuff to wade through! or, perhaps I should just grab 2 or 3 sensible revisions and set these up for problem roms.... what do you guys do?

thanks Draco!

Hi Everyone, I've just completed the basic build of my gorgeous cabinet, a 1979 Asteroids clone (Meteoroid) cocktail cab which had no guts, so I added a Core 2 PC with 2GB, a CRT PC monitor and an IPAC giving 1 stick and 6 buttons a side. Plus lots of TLC, cuts and bruises etc for me.... I've jumped all in with GameEx, its a cracking front end and a choice for life I think. Just one question at this stage, now I've got the basics up, the two top games on my list are failing me (Mario Bros and Tempest). I have the roms but running MAME direct reports a missing ROM or CHD. Is this something I can dig into further? Not asking where to get ROMs, just how I go about addressing these sorts of issues. Thanks in advance,Jim

Hi j0eh4x, great minds think alike, I'm on the home run with my first cabinet build... I've just registered GameEx to remove the nag screen yesterday, Just do it now it's that cheap and my far the best FE I've tried (I've tried three in detail, the others all let me down badly). I've retrofitted a Windows 7 PC into a 1979 Asteroids clone cocktail cab, I have an IPAC in place with exactly the same controls as you (2 joysticks, 6 buttons each, 1 and 2 player starts, 2 coins) and it is enough as you can hold 1 player start button in to gain 'shift' controls for menu etc. The IPAC has more inputs for more buttons, add them if you can - it's always handy to have them for one hit pause, menu etc. but not needed. That said, I'm struggling with my IPAC programming and assigning matching controls in GameEx / MAME, but I'm not yet ready to post for help, maybe in a few reboot's time You need to give any FE a good amount of effort to get the config right for you. hope this helps.