Just Upgraded - Mame Games won't launch

[evh347]

I just upgraded to Mame v.108u3...fresh set of roms with GameEx version 6.76.

GameEx launches all my EMUs except the Mame games. The screen goes black and the returns to GameEx.

I looked in the Advance Mame Configurations and I don't see the specific things that this FAQ describes:

Q: I've been using GameEx a while and just upgraded my version of MAME. Every time I launch a game it just returns to GameEx,

A: Certain command line options were removed from MAME in recent versions. Go into GameEx configuration > Advanced MAME Configuration. Look at the line that says CMD/Command options and remove the text that says -skip_disclaimer.

Help? Thanks.

[shbon]

I just upgraded to Mame v.108u3...fresh set of roms with GameEx version 6.76.

GameEx launches all my EMUs except the Mame games. The screen goes black and the returns to GameEx.

I looked in the Advance Mame Configurations and I don't see the specific things that this FAQ describes:

Q: I've been using GameEx a while and just upgraded my version of MAME. Every time I launch a game it just returns to GameEx,

A: Certain command line options were removed from MAME in recent versions. Go into GameEx configuration > Advanced MAME Configuration. Look at the line that says CMD/Command options and remove the text that says -skip_disclaimer.

Help? Thanks.

You're sort of on your own if you're using 'u' builds of MAME. These are really for testing purposes only...things may break as new things are done to MAME! Using the stable 108 (or 107/106) build might give different results.

What the FAQ is saying is, have a look at the MAME Options in Advanced MAME config (The first item). There might be dodgy cmd line option that set and is no longer supported.

Does your MAME command line work properly outside of GameEx?

What version of MAME did you have before? MAME v107/v108 use a new graphics engine so some additional tweaking may be required to get the desired results.

Shaun

[evh347]

You're sort of on your own if you're using 'u' builds of MAME. These are really for testing purposes only...things may break as new things are done to MAME! Using a stable build might give different results.

What the FAQ is saying is, have a look at the MAME Options in Advanced MAME config. There might be dodgy cmd line option that you've set and is no longer supported.

Does your MAME command line work properly outside of GameEx?

Shaun

It doesn't launch games with Mame v.108 either.

Let me also specify that I'm using Mame32.

I reverted back to Mame32 v.106 and GameEx launches Mame games fine. I tried Mame32 v.107 and above and it won't launch Mame games.

Help?

[shbon]

It doesn't launch games with Mame v.108 either.

Let me also specify that I'm using Mame32.

I reverted back to Mame32 v.106 and GameEx launches Mame games fine. I tried Mame32 v.107 and above and it won't launch Mame games.

Help?

Does MAME32 V108/V107 work outside of GameEx?

As I said MAME/MAME32 has had major updates to its graphics engine that may require config changes.

[jthompson]

You're sort of on your own if you're using 'u' builds of MAME. These are really for testing purposes only...things may break as new things are done to MAME! Using the stable 108 (or 107/106) build might give different results.

What the FAQ is saying is, have a look at the MAME Options in Advanced MAME config (The first item). There might be dodgy cmd line option that set and is no longer supported.

Does your MAME command line work properly outside of GameEx?

What version of MAME did you have before? MAME v107/v108 use a new graphics engine so some additional tweaking may be required to get the desired results.

Shaun

Yes, under the mame options in advanced config (first one in advanced mame options) you may have to change the command line options as they have changed with build 107 and above. I can't remember what they used to be but I changed mine to say -video d3d -noswitchres -prescale 2 -joy. Try this and see if it helps any, as the old commands may be throwing mame off. If it works you may have to change the commands to suit your taste. Hope this helps.

Jay T

[evh347]

Yes, under the mame options in advanced config (first one in advanced mame options) you may have to change the command line options as they have changed with build 107 and above. I can't remember what they used to be but I changed mine to say -video d3d -noswitchres -prescale 2 -joy. Try this and see if it helps any, as the old commands may be throwing mame off. If it works you may have to change the commands to suit your taste. Hope this helps.

Jay T

Mame v.107/108 worth fine outside of GameEx. I tried changing the Advanced Config line that you specified to what you advised...and no joy. I even removed the text entirely and that wouldn't launch a Mame-based game from GameEx either.

Any other ideas?

[MaxxDamage]

I am having the same problem. I have Mame v.108 and the games work fine outside of GameEx. I tried it with no CMD/Command options and it didn't help. I even reinstalled GameEx and that didn't help either.

[shbon]

Mame v.107/108 worth fine outside of GameEx. I tried changing the Advanced Config line that you specified to what you advised...and no joy. I even removed the text entirely and that wouldn't launch a Mame-based game from GameEx either.

Any other ideas?

Hmmm strange...

Have a look in the GameEx log file. It prints the MAME command line it's using. Compare the 106 one with the 108 one. Any differences?

[evh347]

Here is the Mame32 v.108 log:

07:22:50.1 9/9/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe pacman -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy -artwork -artwork_directory artwork

07:23:01.7 9/9/2006: Exiting GameEx!

07:23:01.8 9/9/2006: Saving Settings

07:23:08.6 9/9/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

And here is the Mame32 v.106 log:

07:41:54.8 9/9/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe 1942b -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy -artwork -artwork_directory artwork

07:45:15.5 9/9/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe dkongo -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy -artwork -artwork_directory artwork

07:45:41.0 9/9/2006: Exiting GameEx!

07:45:41.1 9/9/2006: Saving Settings

07:45:48.4 9/9/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

In this test, I removed all the text in the CMD line and I also flagged the "Bypasss Disclaimer/Warnings" box to "NO"...

Here is the log from Mame32 v.106:

07:54:15.2 9/9/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe centiped -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -artwork -artwork_directory artwork

07:54:41.5 9/9/2006: Exiting GameEx!

07:54:41.6 9/9/2006: Saving Settings

07:54:46.6 9/9/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

And here is the Mame32 v.108 log:

07:58:20.9 9/9/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe aerofgt -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -artwork -artwork_directory artwork

07:58:49.3 9/9/2006: Exiting GameEx!

07:58:49.3 9/9/2006: Saving Settings

07:58:52.1 9/9/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

As you can see, I've tried several different ROMs.

The Mame32 v.108 still returns to GameEx seconds after attempting to launch a game.

[shbon]

I admit, there seems to be something funny going on. I know people have got 108 working with GameEx so it would be interesting to find out the difference in your setup...

Would you mind posting MAME32.ini for 108 and 106?

I'm assuming you've no game level overrides set?

For the 108, are you using D3D?

I assume you used ddraw for 106?

Can you also run 108 without the artwork set?

Shaun

EDIT:

FYI: I just downloaded MAME32 108 for the first time. Used a default 108 config, generated by going into Default Game Options and pressing OK (rename your current ini first), fired-up a couple of my existing ROMS through GameEx. Seems to work OK... Can you try that aswell?

[evh347]

Would you mind posting MAME32.ini for 108 and 106?

I'm assuming you've no game level overrides set?

For the 108, are you using D3D?

I assume you used ddraw for 106?

Can you also run 108 without the artwork set?

EDIT:

FYI: I just downloaded MAME32 108 for the first time. Used a default 108 config, generated by going into Default Game Options and pressing OK (rename your current ini first), fired-up a couple of my existing ROMS through GameEx. Seems to work OK... Can you try that aswell?

For v.108, I'm running D3D and ddraw for v.106.

Here is my v.108 ini:

### Mame32.ini ###

### global-only options ###

rompath "C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms"

samplepath "C:\Program Files\MAME32\samples"

inipath "C:\Program Files\MAME32\ini"

cfg_directory "C:\Program Files\MAME32\cfg"

nvram_directory "C:\Program Files\MAME32\nvram"

memcard_directory "C:\Program Files\MAME32\memcard"

input_directory "C:\Program Files\MAME32\inp"

state_directory "C:\Program Files\MAME32\sta"

artwork_directory "C:\Program Files\MAME32\artwork"

snapshot_directory "C:\Program Files\MAME32\snap"

diff_directory "C:\Program Files\MAME32\diff"

cheat_file cheat.dat

ctrlr_directory "C:\Program Files\MAME32\ctrlr"

comment_directory comment

### default game options ###

video d3d

prescale 1

numscreens 1

autoframeskip 0

frameskip 0

waitvsync 0

effect none

triplebuffer 1

window 0

hwstretch 1

switchres 0

maximize 1

keepaspect 1

syncrefresh 0

throttle 1

full_screen_gamma 1.

full_screen_brightness 1.

full_screen_contrast 1.

frames_to_run 0

screen0 auto

aspect0 auto

resolution0 auto

view0 auto

screen1 auto

aspect1 auto

resolution1 auto

view1 auto

screen2 auto

aspect2 auto

resolution2 auto

view2 auto

screen3 auto

aspect3 auto

resolution3 auto

view3 auto

d3dfilter 1

d3dversion 9

mouse 1

joystick 0

a2d 0.3

steadykey 0

lightgun 1

dual_lightgun 1

offscreen_reload 1

ctrlr SlikStik

trackball mouse

lightgun_device lightgun

contrast 1.

brightness 1.

pause_brightness 0.65

rotate 1

ror 0

rol 0

autoror 0

autorol 0

flipx 0

flipy 0

gamma 1.

antialias 1

beam 1.

flicker 0.

samplerate 44100

samples 1

sound 1

volume 0

audio_latency 1

backdrop 0

overlay 1

bezel 0

artwork_crop 0

cheat 1

debug 0

log 0

sleep 0

rdtsc 1

priority 0

skip_gameinfo 0

bios none

autosave 1

### Mame32.ini ###

### Frontend Related ###

### Windows path and directory options ###

rompath roms

samplepath samples

inipath ini

cfg_directory cfg

nvram_directory nvram

memcard_directory memcard

input_directory inp

hiscore_directory hi

state_directory sta

artwork_directory artwork

snapshot_directory snap

diff_directory diff

ctrlr_directory ctrlr

cheat_file cheat.dat

### Windows video options ###

autoframeskip 0

frameskip 0

waitvsync 0

triplebuffer 0

window 0

ddraw 1

direct3d 0

hwstretch 1

# screen <NULL> (not set)

cleanstretch auto

resolution 800x600x32

refresh 0

scanlines 0

switchres 1

switchbpp 0

maximize 1

keepaspect 1

matchrefresh 0

syncrefresh 0

throttle 1

full_screen_brightness 1.000000

frames_to_run 0

effect none

screen_aspect 4:3

### Windows Direct3D 2D video options ###

zoom 2

d3dtexmanage 1

d3dfilter 1

d3dfeedback 100

d3dscan 100

d3deffectrotate 1

d3dprescale auto

d3deffect auto

# d3dcustom <NULL> (not set)

# d3dexpert <NULL> (not set)

### Windows misc options ###

sleep 0

rdtsc 1

high_priority 0

### Windows sound options ###

audio_latency 1

# wavwrite <NULL> (not set)

### Input device options ###

mouse 0

joystick 0

lightgun 1

dual_lightgun 0

offscreen_reload 1

steadykey 0

keyboard_leds 0

led_mode ps/2

a2d_deadzone 0.300000

ctrlr SlikStik

paddle_device keyboard

adstick_device keyboard

pedal_device keyboard

dial_device keyboard

trackball_device keyboard

lightgun_device keyboard

digital none

### Mame CORE video options ###

norotate 0

ror 0

rol 0

autoror 0

autorol 0

flipx 0

flipy 0

gamma 1.000000

brightness 1.000000

pause_brightness 0.650000

### Mame CORE vector game options ###

antialias 1

translucency 1

beam 1.000000

flicker 0.000000

intensity 1.500000

### Mame CORE sound options ###

samplerate 44100

samples 1

sound 1

volume 0

### Mame CORE misc options ###

artwork 1

use_backdrops 0

use_overlays 1

use_bezels 0

artwork_crop 0

artwork_resolution 0

cheat 1

debug 0

# debugscript <NULL> (not set)

# playback <NULL> (not set)

# record <NULL> (not set)

log 0

oslog 0

skip_gameinfo 0

bios 0

# state <NULL> (not set)

autosave 0

### Configuration options ###

readconfig 1

verbose 0

And here is the v.106 ini:

### Mame32.ini ###

### global-only options ###

rompath roms

samplepath samples

inipath ini

cfg_directory cfg

nvram_directory nvram

memcard_directory memcard

input_directory inp

hiscore_directory hi

state_directory sta

artwork_directory artwork

snapshot_directory snap

diff_directory diff

cheat_file cheat.dat

ctrlr_directory ctrlr

comment_directory comment

### default game options ###

autoframeskip 0

frameskip 0

waitvsync 0

triplebuffer 1

window 0

ddraw 1

hwstretch 1

resolution auto

refresh 0

scanlines 0

switchres 0

switchbpp 0

maximize 1

keepaspect 1

matchrefresh 0

syncrefresh 0

throttle 1

full_screen_gamma 1.

frames_to_run 0

effect none

screen_aspect 4:3

cleanstretch auto

zoom 2

d3d 0

d3dtexmanage 1

d3dfilter 1

d3deffect auto

d3dprescale auto

d3deffectrotate 1

d3dscan 100

d3dfeedback 100

mouse 0

joystick 0

a2d 0.3

steadykey 0

lightgun 0

dual_lightgun 0

offscreen_reload 0

brightness 1.

pause_brightness 0.65

norotate 0

ror 0

rol 0

autoror 0

autorol 0

flipx 0

flipy 0

gamma 1.

antialias 1

translucency 1

beam 1.

flicker 0.

intensity 1.5

samplerate 44100

samples 1

sound 1

volume 0

audio_latency 1

artwork 1

backdrop 1

overlay 1

bezel 1

artwork_crop 0

artres 0

cheat 0

debug 0

log 0

sleep 0

rdtsc 0

leds 0

led_mode ps/2

priority 0

skip_gameinfo 0

bios 0

autosave 0

EDIT:

FYI: I just downloaded MAME32 108 for the first time. Used a default 108 config, generated by going into Default Game Options and pressing OK (rename your current ini first), fired-up a couple of my existing ROMS through GameEx. Seems to work OK... Can you try that aswell?

I just tried that by resetting the Game Options and pressing OK...and was not able to launch a Mame based game via v.108.

[shbon]

Right, we're getting somewhere now!

If I use your 108 MAME32.INI, I can't get any games to load either! Seems to get partially thru loading and then crap out back to GameEx.

BUT, if I re-name your ini, to .OLD and then fireup MAME32 and go into default game options and press OK to create a new default ini, then GameEx launches games correctly! So there's clearly something in your ini file disagreeing with GameEx.

Can you confirm that if you do the above, that it DOESN'T work for you, as suggested in the last post??

You should get the following default ini:

### Mame32.ini ###

### global-only options ###

rompath roms

samplepath samples

inipath ini

cfg_directory cfg

nvram_directory nvram

memcard_directory memcard

input_directory inp

state_directory sta

artwork_directory artwork

snapshot_directory snap

diff_directory diff

cheat_file cheat.dat

ctrlr_directory ctrlr

comment_directory comment

### default game options ###

video d3d

prescale 1

numscreens 1

autoframeskip 0

frameskip 0

waitvsync 0

effect none

triplebuffer 0

window 0

hwstretch 1

switchres 0

maximize 1

keepaspect 1

syncrefresh 0

throttle 1

full_screen_gamma 1.

full_screen_brightness 1.

full_screen_contrast 1.

frames_to_run 0

screen0 auto

aspect0 auto

resolution0 auto

view0 auto

screen1 auto

aspect1 auto

resolution1 auto

view1 auto

screen2 auto

aspect2 auto

resolution2 auto

view2 auto

screen3 auto

aspect3 auto

resolution3 auto

view3 auto

d3dfilter 1

d3dversion 9

mouse 0

joystick 0

a2d 0.3

steadykey 0

lightgun 0

dual_lightgun 0

offscreen_reload 0

contrast 1.

brightness 1.

pause_brightness 0.65

rotate 1

ror 0

rol 0

autoror 0

autorol 0

flipx 0

flipy 0

gamma 1.

antialias 1

beam 1.

flicker 0.

samplerate 48000

samples 1

sound 1

volume 0

audio_latency 1

backdrop 1

overlay 1

bezel 1

artwork_crop 0

cheat 0

debug 0

log 0

sleep 1

rdtsc 0

priority 0

skip_gameinfo 0

bios default

autosave 1

[TX_TRINITY]

Resetting my Mame.ini has got me out of a similar problem before too. Most recommended.

[shbon]

evh347

The offending line in your config is:

ctrlr SlikStik

If I delete this out, GameEx launches games correctly. Maybe you can trouble shoot from here?...

Edit: How did you get that line in there in the first place??

Shaun

[evh347]

evh347

The offending line in your config is:

ctrlr SlikStik

If I delete this out, GameEx launches games correctly. Maybe you can trouble shoot from here?...

Edit: How did you get that line in there in the first place??

Shaun

Shbon,

The "SlikStik" got in there because I put it in there...if not, my SlikStik panel doesn't work. Anyways, I did a complete DEFAULT of the Mame32.ini as you described and GameEx still wouldn't launch a game using Mame32 v.108. Here's the ini:

### Mame32.ini ###

### global-only options ###

rompath roms

samplepath samples

inipath ini

cfg_directory cfg

nvram_directory nvram

memcard_directory memcard

input_directory inp

state_directory sta

artwork_directory artwork

snapshot_directory snap

diff_directory diff

cheat_file cheat.dat

ctrlr_directory ctrlr

comment_directory comment

### default game options ###

video d3d

prescale 1

numscreens 1

autoframeskip 0

frameskip 0

waitvsync 0

effect none

triplebuffer 0

window 0

hwstretch 1

switchres 0

maximize 1

keepaspect 1

syncrefresh 0

throttle 1

full_screen_gamma 1.

full_screen_brightness 1.

full_screen_contrast 1.

frames_to_run 0

screen0 auto

aspect0 auto

resolution0 auto

view0 auto

screen1 auto

aspect1 auto

resolution1 auto

view1 auto

screen2 auto

aspect2 auto

resolution2 auto

view2 auto

screen3 auto

aspect3 auto

resolution3 auto

view3 auto

d3dfilter 1

d3dversion 9

mouse 0

joystick 0

a2d 0.3

steadykey 0

lightgun 0

dual_lightgun 0

offscreen_reload 0

contrast 1.

brightness 1.

pause_brightness 0.65

rotate 1

ror 0

rol 0

autoror 0

autorol 0

flipx 0

flipy 0

gamma 1.

antialias 1

beam 1.

flicker 0.

samplerate 48000

samples 1

sound 1

volume 0

audio_latency 1

backdrop 1

overlay 1

bezel 1

artwork_crop 0

cheat 0

debug 0

log 0

sleep 1

rdtsc 0

priority 0

skip_gameinfo 0

bios default

autosave 1

[shbon]

Shbon,

The "SlikStik" got in there because I put it in there...if not, my SlikStik panel doesn't work. Anyways, I did a complete DEFAULT of the Mame32.ini as you described and GameEx still wouldn't launch a game...

Seem to be running out of ideas, although the slikstik might still be involved...

If you set Enable Keyboard DirectInput and Enable SlikStik Support (Input Section) to NO (i.e. Just use a normal keyboard) that STILL fails??

I assume you had the above two options set to YES for your SlikStik??

Shaun

[MaxxDamage]

I have had the ctrlr xarcade set as an option from day one and it worked. The latest upgrade broke mame, so if using the ctrlr option is breaking it then it was something that was changed in the last update.

I don't think it is the ctrlr option because I removed that option and it still didn't work. I did notice that the Neo Geo games are still working.

[shbon]

I have had the ctrlr xarcade set as an option from day one and it worked. The latest upgrade broke mame, so if using the ctrlr option is breaking it then it was something that was changed in the last update.

I don't think it is the ctrlr option because I removed that option and it still didn't work. I did notice that the Neo Geo games are still working.

This is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack.

Can you elaborate on the above statements.

I'm reading them as : Latest release of GameEx broke MAME. i.e. You've had mame108 working with gameex previously. You went back to just the keyboard option, but that didn't work, BUT Neo-Geo games (in MAME) are now working where they weren't with a ctrlr option?

Too many ways to read your comments, can you clarify it a bit more?

Thanks

Shaun

[MaxxDamage]

Everything worked fine before the last update of GameEx.

Neo Geo games work without any changes to my set-up.

ctrlr option is on and it was on before the upgrade.

[evh347]

I have found the problem!!!

I discovered this by accident...every game I was trying (testing) to launch from GameEx was ironically a vertical-based game (ex. Pacman, DK, Centipede, 1942...etc). By chance, I happened to try just some random games and discovered that some games would actually launch. This caught me by surprise as it seems that resetting Mame's INI files to default and my SlikStik settings within Mame/GameEx had nothing to do with the issue after all. I was able to make the observation that only the vertical games were failing to launch from GameEx.

I took a look at the GameEx log when I successfully launched a game through GameEx:

00:49:39.3 9/11/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe nbamht -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy

00:49:58.9 9/11/2006: Exiting GameEx!

00:49:58.9 9/11/2006: Saving Settings

00:50:02.7 9/11/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

And then took a look at the GameEx log whenever a game failed (vertical based game):

07:22:50.1 9/9/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe pacman -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy -artwork -artwork_directory artwork

07:23:01.7 9/9/2006: Exiting GameEx!

07:23:01.8 9/9/2006: Saving Settings

07:23:08.6 9/9/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

And clearly the offending text is this:

-artwork -artwork_directory artwork

So, I went into GameEx under "Basic Mame Settings", scrolled to the second page of options, and turned "Use Bezel" to "Dont Use Bezel". I then went to relaunch a vertical-based game and it launched resulting in the following GameEx log:

00:48:23.6 9/11/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe dkongo -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy

As you can see, the offending text (-artwork -artwork_directory artwork) is no longer present.

I don't normally play with bezels, so turning this option off doesn't bother me...however, I would like to know why GameEx can't seem to find the path to my artwork. I can't seem to find the option to specify the "artwork" folder location as I can with the path to the flyers, cabinets, marquees...etc.

Anyways, thanks for the help earlier.

[shbon]

I have found the problem!!!

I discovered this by accident...every game I was trying (testing) to launch from GameEx was ironically a vertical-based game (ex. Pacman, DK, Centipede, 1942...etc). By chance, I happened to try just some random games and discovered that some games would actually launch. This caught me by surprise as it seems that resetting Mame's INI files to default and my SlikStik settings within Mame/GameEx had nothing to do with the issue after all. I was able to make the observation that only the vertical games were failing to launch from GameEx.

I took a look at the GameEx log when I successfully launched a game through GameEx:

00:49:39.3 9/11/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe nbamht -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy

00:49:58.9 9/11/2006: Exiting GameEx!

00:49:58.9 9/11/2006: Saving Settings

00:50:02.7 9/11/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

And then took a look at the GameEx log whenever a game failed (vertical based game):

07:22:50.1 9/9/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe pacman -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy -artwork -artwork_directory artwork

07:23:01.7 9/9/2006: Exiting GameEx!

07:23:01.8 9/9/2006: Saving Settings

07:23:08.6 9/9/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

And clearly the offending text is this:

-artwork -artwork_directory artwork

So, I went into GameEx under "Basic Mame Settings", scrolled to the second page of options, and turned "Use Bezel" to "Dont Use Bezel". I then went to relaunch a vertical-based game and it launched resulting in the following GameEx log:

00:48:23.6 9/11/2006: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Program Files\MAME32\Mame32.exe dkongo -rompath C:\Program Files\MAME32\roms -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy

As you can see, the offending text (-artwork -artwork_directory artwork) is no longer present.

I don't normally play with bezels, so turning this option off doesn't bother me...however, I would like to know why GameEx can't seem to find the path to my artwork. I can't seem to find the option to specify the "artwork" folder location as I can with the path to the flyers, cabinets, marquees...etc.

Anyways, thanks for the help earlier.

Glad you found the issue!

I mentioned artwork in post 10, but didn't know about the significance!

Looks like somebody else has seen this issue too!

Perhaps -artwork or -artwork_diretory aren't valid command line settings anymore, like you mentioned in your original post about the ambiguous FAQ item?

FYI: The artwork path for MAME32 is specified in MAME32 itself. The default value is set to C:\program files\mame32\artwork, although that's not where I stored the program. Perhaps you've not changed the default, either?

Regards

Shaun

[MaxxDamage]

Thanks evh347 this worked for me too. I didn't know Bezel was an option.