which mame works beter with GamEX?

[zipdaman12]

I have a decision to make:

what versiopn of mame to use with GamEX on my new custom cab.

I have a P4 1.8GHZ with 512MB of Ram

Running XP Pro (SP2)

ATI rage card (may use a ge force 2 I have laying around, thoughts on that?)

Are there benefits of using Mame32 over mame or mamepp?

I like mame becauee of the way it handles the scanlines. Makes it look authentic. Mame32 allows for Scanlines but they don'y look the same. Anyone else of that opinion? I also had issues qwith mame liking my sound card. Mame32 seems to be better in tune with the OS. Also, can I disable the warning screen in mame the way I can with mame32 from within GamEX?

Any and all feedback you have will be greatly appreciate it. I am on the verge of installing a v 1.10 of either Mame or Mame32 and want to know any huge differences you all have come across.

Thank you all in advance.

Jack

[Will]

This is a classic question--and not one to be ashamed of since I asked it at some point too. There is no difference between MAME32 and MAME in the way they play games. The only difference in the graphical interface. The difference in the scanlines is simply a different set of settings between the two. Personally, I use MAME32 since it is a little easier to go into the setup and choose what I want rather than having to pass in command line switches. When you run a game from the command line with MAME32 it uses the options you have previously choosen, and to me this is easier.

Since you have an intel machine, you might try a pentium optimized build but there is little difference, so it's a minor thing.

GameEx automatically adds the switch to kill the warning screen for you, so yes.

Lastly, I found out the hard way that GameEx likes a newer card that supports DirectX 7 at least. Your older GeForce2 card and maybe the ATI (while capable cards) may not support some of the graphical options GameEx needs and will probably not be satisfactory. I was trying to use a GeForce 2 GTS 32 meg card and it was unusable. I switched to my onboard Intel 950 with 16 megs shared RAM and it works flawlessly. I was truly surprised. Anyway, this might save you some frustration.

Hope this answers all your questions!

[zipdaman12]

This is a classic question--and not one to be ashamed of since I asked it at some point too. There is no difference between MAME32 and MAME in the way they play games. The only difference in the graphical interface. The difference in the scanlines is simply a different set of settings between the two. Personally, I use MAME32 since it is a little easier to go into the setup and choose what I want rather than having to pass in command line switches. When you run a game from the command line with MAME32 it uses the options you have previously choosen, and to me this is easier.

Since you have an intel machine, you might try a pentium optimized build but there is little difference, so it's a minor thing.

GameEx automatically adds the switch to kill the warning screen for you, so yes.

Lastly, I found out the hard way that GameEx likes a newer card that supports DirectX 7 at least. Your older GeForce2 card and maybe the ATI (while capable cards) may not support some of the graphical options GameEx needs and will probably not be satisfactory. I was trying to use a GeForce 2 GTS 32 meg card and it was unusable. I switched to my onboard Intel 950 with 16 megs shared RAM and it works flawlessly. I was truly surprised. Anyway, this might save you some frustration.

Hope this answers all your questions!

Thank you very much. I have had a mame cabinet for about 6 years. when I started you had to hack a keyboard and solder, no nice ipac interfaces and such... truth is I have been away for a while and I am overwhelmed at what has happened since. All great I might add. I appreciate your guidance. Graphic card info was very helpful.

One last question...... I want to reset the keys in mame32. IN mame, it is just editing a text file. I don't see what to edit with mame32. Do I create a custom controller? Secondly, if I tab into the config menu while in mame32, the settings that I set (under default settings) do not stick once I exit and return.... again, any guidance would be appreciated.

Zip

[emphatic]

Thank you very much. I have had a mame cabinet for about 6 years. when I started you had to hack a keyboard and solder, no nice ipac interfaces and such... truth is I have been away for a while and I am overwhelmed at what has happened since. All great I might add. I appreciate your guidance. Graphic card info was very helpful.

One last question...... I want to reset the keys in mame32. IN mame, it is just editing a text file. I don't see what to edit with mame32. Do I create a custom controller? Secondly, if I tab into the config menu while in mame32, the settings that I set (under default settings) do not stick once I exit and return.... again, any guidance would be appreciated.

Zip

Go to your MAME\cfg folder and delete "default.cfg". Then open up MAME32, run a game and hit [TAB] and enter your key configuration in the -GENERAL- menu. If this doesn't work, I'm out of clues for now. It would be helpful if you mention what build you are using and what interface you are using (hacked keyboard still?).

Good luck, and welcome!

Emph

[Will]

No problem. If you are using a keyboard hack still, I STRONGLY recommend the ipac. It is much easier (I've build a keyboard hack myself). You can use swappable profiles, get a shift key, and a nice graphical interface to set it all up. SO worth the $40.

[zipdaman12]

No problem. If you are using a keyboard hack still, I STRONGLY recommend the ipac. It is much easier (I've build a keyboard hack myself). You can use swappable profiles, get a shift key, and a nice graphical interface to set it all up. SO worth the $40.

I actually have an ipac. I am waiting for a complete control panel redo which is to be my winter project.

Just a few observations:

1. is there a specific order in which to install and configure mame? The reason I am asking this is sometimes the config tool and or setup wizard seems to behave differently when selecting a new path or mame executable. Is it reccomended to uninstall Gamex and re-install if you intend to switch mame versions?

2. The command line options from mame are to be used with command line only mame versions right? I mean they should not be present when using mame32? Even with mame32 configured in GamEX, the command line options are auto populated.

3. The scanline implementation in mame32 looks vastly different then what you get if you use the -scanline optionk from teh mame command line. anyone know which setting in mame32 most closely resembles the way in which dos mame does when scanlines are enabled?

4. Mam32 when I run it without the front end launches properly. When I launch it from within GamEX, it never starts; it gets kicked back to the default mame screen in GamEX.

Thanks again as always

Zip

[emphatic]

I actually have an ipac. I am waiting for a complete control panel redo which is to be my winter project.

Just a few observations:

1. is there a specific order in which to install and configure mame? The reason I am asking this is sometimes the config tool and or setup wizard seems to behave differently when selecting a new path or mame executable. Is it reccomended to uninstall Gamex and re-install if you intend to switch mame versions?

2. The command line options from mame are to be used with command line only mame versions right? I mean they should not be present when using mame32? Even with mame32 configured in GamEX, the command line options are auto populated.

3. The scanline implementation in mame32 looks vastly different then what you get if you use the -scanline optionk from teh mame command line. anyone know which setting in mame32 most closely resembles the way in which dos mame does when scanlines are enabled?

4. Mam32 when I run it without the front end launches properly. When I launch it from within GamEX, it never starts; it gets kicked back to the default mame screen in GamEX.

Thanks again as always

Zip

2: Wrong. You can use command line options for MAME32 as well. But you might get into trouble if you have an option enabled via both .ini and command line.

3: Try to use the -scanline option in GameEx' Advanced Mame Configuration (i.e. command line). Otherwise I don't know.

4: Try adding all the path-related commandlines in GameEx, like;

-inipath "F:\mame\ini" -cfg_directory "F:\mame\cfg

Add it to your MAME command line like I've done above. You don't need to use the " unless you have spaces in your path.

Here's a list of options that you might need (try with ctrl_directory first):

-inipath

You can give a path (list of directories seperated by semicolons) of

directories to be searched for INI-files. The default is .;ini (that

is, search in the current directory first, and then in the directory

"ini" in the current directory).

-cfg_directory

After running a game, MAME stores some user changeable settings into

cfg_directory/gamename.cfg. Additionally, on the first start of MAME a

cfg_directory/default.cfg is created. The default is CFG.

-nvram_directory

The original hardware of some games use non-volative ram chips to save

their configuration. The contents of these are saved into this

directory. The default is NVRAM.

-memcard_directory

The original hardware of some games supports so-called memory cards.

The contents of these are stored here. The default is MEMCARD.

-input_directory

Input recordings created by "-record" will be saved here and loaded by

"-playback". The default is INP.

-hiscore_directory

If there exists a file HISCORE.DAT in the MAME directory, highscores

may also be saved for games that do not have the original hardware to

support this. The quality of this feature depends on the accuracy of

the externally available file HISCORE.DAT. The default is HI.

-state_directory

MAME supports state saving for some games. These states will be saved

here. The default is STATE.

-artwork_directory

Some games used extra artwork not created by electical circuits. MAME

supports such artwork in PNG image format, located in this directory.

The default is ARTWORK.

-snapshot_directory

Screenshots will go here. The default is SNAP.

-diff_directory

Directory for hard drive image difference files. The default is DIFF.

-ctrlr_directory

This directory holds controller-specific input port mapping .ini files.

The default is CTRLR.

-cheat_file

The default is CHEAT.DAT. Modifying the default may not work at the

moment.

Good luck

Emph

[lingpanda]

4. Mam32 when I run it without the front end launches properly. When I launch it from within GamEX, it never starts; it gets kicked back to the default mame screen in GamEX.

Thanks again as always

Zip

Can you post your gameex log file?

[zipdaman12]

Can you post your gameex log file?

Great idea. I will do that tonight. I am unfortunately at work and away from my arcade machine

Thanks for the guidance thus far. I truly appreciate it.

Zip

[zipdaman12]

2: Wrong. You can use command line options for MAME32 as well. But you might get into trouble if you have an option enabled via both .ini and command line.

3: Try to use the -scanline option in GameEx' Advanced Mame Configuration (i.e. command line). Otherwise I don't know.

4: Try adding all the path-related commandlines in GameEx, like;

-inipath "F:\mame\ini" -cfg_directory "F:\mame\cfg

Add it to your MAME command line like I've done above. You don't need to use the " unless you have spaces in your path.

Here's a list of options that you might need (try with ctrl_directory first):

-inipath

You can give a path (list of directories seperated by semicolons) of

directories to be searched for INI-files. The default is .;ini (that

is, search in the current directory first, and then in the directory

"ini" in the current directory).

-cfg_directory

After running a game, MAME stores some user changeable settings into

cfg_directory/gamename.cfg. Additionally, on the first start of MAME a

cfg_directory/default.cfg is created. The default is CFG.

-nvram_directory

The original hardware of some games use non-volative ram chips to save

their configuration. The contents of these are saved into this

directory. The default is NVRAM.

-memcard_directory

The original hardware of some games supports so-called memory cards.

The contents of these are stored here. The default is MEMCARD.

-input_directory

Input recordings created by "-record" will be saved here and loaded by

"-playback". The default is INP.

-hiscore_directory

If there exists a file HISCORE.DAT in the MAME directory, highscores

may also be saved for games that do not have the original hardware to

support this. The quality of this feature depends on the accuracy of

the externally available file HISCORE.DAT. The default is HI.

-state_directory

MAME supports state saving for some games. These states will be saved

here. The default is STATE.

-artwork_directory

Some games used extra artwork not created by electical circuits. MAME

supports such artwork in PNG image format, located in this directory.

The default is ARTWORK.

-snapshot_directory

Screenshots will go here. The default is SNAP.

-diff_directory

Directory for hard drive image difference files. The default is DIFF.

-ctrlr_directory

This directory holds controller-specific input port mapping .ini files.

The default is CTRLR.

-cheat_file

The default is CHEAT.DAT. Modifying the default may not work at the

moment.

Good luck

Emph

Just a quick note (I am uploading my gamex config file later this evening)

You mention not to set things in both the ini and the command line. I was wondering then why you include the ini path as stated in 4. beow:

4: Try adding all the path-related commandlines in GameEx, like;

-inipath "F:\mame\ini" -cfg_directory "F:\mame\cfg

Thanks in advance,

Jack

PS is there a single file that I can just manually modify and include? or is there alwas a gamex config file that inludes mame info and a mame ini or cfg file?

[emphatic]

Just a quick note (I am uploading my gamex config file later this evening)

You mention not to set things in both the ini and the command line. I was wondering then why you include the ini path as stated in 4. beow:

4: Try adding all the path-related commandlines in GameEx, like;

-inipath "F:\mame\ini" -cfg_directory "F:\mame\cfg

Thanks in advance,

Jack

PS is there a single file that I can just manually modify and include? or is there alwas a gamex config file that inludes mame info and a mame ini or cfg file?

Yes, that must be confusing, sorry. The "ini" folder is for individual game settings. Say you change a dip switch, controls and so on. The actual mame32/mame.ini is located in the mame root folder.

On that PS note: You have in your GameEx folder a "CONFIG" folder with a gameex.ini, open that in Notepad and go to edit->find next and type in "MameOptions". It's the second one, not AdvanceMameOptions, there's your GameEx settings for your mame.exe.

For MAME itself, there's an .ini-file located in the same folder as your mame.exe/mame32.exe called mame.ini/mame32.ini.

Emph

[zipdaman12]

[emphatic]

OK, I have attached the gamex.ini file. Is this enough or do you need to see the mame32 files also?

Thanks in advance,

Zip

PS there is a gamex.default.ini file also

In addition to browsing to your attachment, you actually have to click "add this attachment".

Emph

[lingpanda]

Everything in your log file seems to be ok. You might need to run your roms through clrmamepro. Looks like you may need updated roms. Any idea how old your roms are?

[zipdaman12]

Everything in your log file seems to be ok. You might need to run your roms through clrmamepro. Looks like you may need updated roms. Any idea how old your roms are?

not sure. I have some new ones on teh way. Thing is, they run fine when I launch them from the mame32 application without gamex

Zip

[lingpanda]

not sure. I have some new ones on teh way. Thing is, they run fine when I launch them from the mame32 application without gamex

Zip

Ahh.. I forgot you had said that. Did you upgrade from the website or autoupdate? Or no update at all? Go into the setup wizard and verify setup. Make sure you choose advanced setup. See if anything pops out under mame setup.

[zipdaman12]

Ahh.. I forgot you had said that. Did you upgrade from the website or autoupdate? Or no update at all? Go into the setup wizard and verify setup. Make sure you choose advanced setup. See if anything pops out under mame setup.

Interesting upate:

I took all of teh command line options out and started adding one by one. It seems that -scanlines is the issue.

I added -nohwstretch -scanlines and it kicks put of the game. without -scanline the games load.

is -scanline supported by mame32?

Truth is I hate the scanlines when it is set from within the UI of mame32. I can't use regular mame because I can't get the sound to work. I was really hoping to be able to use the command line option because it looks so much better than without scanlines. Much more accurate to teh way it looked originally.

What can I do ?

Zip

[lingpanda]

Interesting upate:

I took all of teh command line options out and started adding one by one. It seems that -scanlines is the issue.

I added -nohwstretch -scanlines and it kicks put of the game. without -scanline the games load.

is -scanline supported by mame32?

Truth is I hate the scanlines when it is set from within the UI of mame32. I can't use regular mame because I can't get the sound to work. I was really hoping to be able to use the command line option because it looks so much better than without scanlines. Much more accurate to teh way it looked originally.

What can I do ?

Zip

Check this thread out.

http://www.mame.net/cgi-bin/wwwthreads/sho...;sb=#Post198463

[zipdaman12]

Check this thread out.

http://www.mame.net/cgi-bin/wwwthreads/sho...;sb=#Post198463

Thanks. It was worth a shot, but runs very slow.... I am going to try advancemame which claims is has real hardware scanlines (or I will go back to dos mamepp. Then I will have to figure out how to get the sound to work

Zip