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[[Category:Multi-emulators]]
MAME
,→Downloads
|logo = Logo-mame.png
|logowidth = 254
|version = {{MAMEVerVersion|MAME}}
|active = Yes
|platform = Multi-platform
|source = [https://github.com/mamedev/mame GitHub]
}}
'''[[wikipedia:MAME|MAME]]''' (originally an acronym for '''<u>M</u>ultiple <u>A</u>rcade <u>M</u>achine <u>E</u>mulator''') is a multi-platform, open-source, [[Multi-system emulators|multi-system emulator]] written in C++. The philosophy behind the project is to recreate focus on recreating the workings of various machines through emulation, and thus with the software's ability to actually play the console games is being described as "a nice side effect". MAME is incredibly large, [[MAME compatibility list|supporting thousands of machines and ROM sets]], though what is supported is not what's playable; your mileage may vary. In the event you don't like MAME's own interface, there are [[Frontends#MAME|many alternative frontends]] available.
Much like the name says, MAME was supposed to be for arcade machines like Pac-Man back when it was released in 1997. Over time, MAME has incorporated similar projects out of a necessity to keep development active and prevent duplication of work (as some arcade machines often shared hardware with consoles to ease development of games); the first project to be merged was [[MESS]] at the end of May 2015 starting with version 0.162 and it functioned almost exactly like MAME but for home consoles and other esoteric devices that never got emulated elsewhere. MAME also had a policy against emulating gambling machines, but that decision has since been reversed and the project that aimed to get them working, <abbr title="Arcade Gambling Extensions for MAME">AGEMAME</abbr>, has also been merged.
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|[https://wiki.mamedev.org/index.php/SDL_Supported_Platforms SDL Supported Platforms]
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|<abbr title="Latest development version">git artifacts</abbr>: [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-windows/master CI-Windows] [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-linux/master CI-Linux] [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-macos/master CI-Macos]</br>
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The project and its team focuses on [[Emulation Accuracy|accuracy]] (preferably cycle-accuracy) and preservation, which often puts usability at a much lower priority for end users, so don't expect support for more recent boards like Atomiswave. For some systems, the developers may not have everything implemented. The native interface will tell you about the emulation status of the chosen driver, and what components are considered lacking.
Read this official [https://wiki.mamedev.org/index.php/FAQ:Performance FAQ page] for the reasons on why it is so hard to run many emulated systems usably on an user's computer or device that supports MAME, its derivatives and/or cores inside frontends or certain kinds of software (eg. [[RetroArch]]). It also has helpful tips to try to get better performance from some systems. The MAME developers do not recommend using MAME through libretro/RetroArch unless it is the only option (such as on Android), as it is an unofficial port with poor UI integration and additional bugs compared to mainline MAME. Those who still wish to use the libretro core should ensure they are using a recent core instead of one based on a very old version (MAME 2003 etc.), unless older versions are necessary for performance reasons. ===Compatibility===We have an outdated compatibility list [[MAME compatibility list|here]]. Although, it focuses on arcade machines, and popular computer & console platforms, it is worth updating. It is highly recommended to instead check the home page on this wiki for any listed computer, console or other gaming device that may have emulation in MAME. You can see the upcoming version's changelog [http://mameinfo.mameworld.info/ here]. Other compatibility lists:
* [http://unmamed.mameworld.info/ List of arcade games that DON'T work] Last updated February 2014. Don't expect the most recent games (like [[Sega NAOMI and variants|Sega Naomi]] ones) to run at full speed, MAME is very resource intensive.
* [http://nonmame.retrogames.com/ NonMAME] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20150306213522/http://consume.retrogames.com/ 2015 Mirror]) This is a list of arcade systems that currently are not emulated by MAME or are emulated better by other emulators.This list has been criticized by MAMEDevs for being overly biased towards RetroArch.* [https://wiki.mamedev.org/index.php/Non-Working_Drivers Non-Working Drivers] under the MAMEDev Wiki. MAME can currently [https://docs.mamedev.org/initialsetup/mameintro.html# emulate over 32000 individual systems from the last 5 decades]. ===Categories===The MAME emulator covers a wide assortment of different types of emulated systems including, but not necessarily limited to:<div class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">{|width="100%"|- valign="top"|- '''Arcade''' ''(See Main page, & Compatibility list above)'':Where it all started, and by far the most popular and widely utilized purpose of MAME.:These arcade cabinets usually contain video & audio outputs.:{Info needed) Perhaps Redemption Games, aka Medal games, should be in a separate category (They are usually arcade-style cabinets with electro-mechanical parts. Some may even use the same PCBs as normal arcade cabs.)- '''Board Game (Electronic)''':This sort of game in real life is typically played on a tabletop.:This category especially covers chess game systems from the 20th century.- '''Calculator''':Is not a pocket computer.:Does not have additional functions as portable organizer, etc.- '''Casino''':A casino games is an arcade-type game, but primary purpose is for gambling.:A typical casino game likely does not have electromechanical parts.:Fruit machines can be included in this category, probably.- '''Compilation''':Example: Original game was an Arcade game. Game was released as a port or part of a game compilation for PC or a Game Console.:It is unclear if files of such games from these compilations (That may have a self-contained MAME build) can be ported to a PC/console and booted with the user's own MAME build (Info needed).- '''Computer''' ''(See Main page, [[List of computers]], & [[Desk-Size_Computers_/_Supercomputers_/_Mainframes|Huge Computers]])'':Typically requires loading external software (games or applications) from a MAME Software List.:Hardware in real life typically requires external AC power.:Not a handheld computer.:Not a game console.- '''EM Reels''':An EM Reels game is an arcade-type game, but primary purpose is gambling.:Game includes electromechanical external artwork required to properly emulate the game.- '''Game Console''' ''(See Main page)'':Typically requires loading external software for games from a MAME Software List.:Hardware in real life is required to be attached to an external display.:Hardware in real life requires an external AC power.:Hardware in real life requires an external controller plugged into the main console.:Not a computer.|- '''Handheld Computer''' ''(See [[Portable Computers (Miscellaneous)|Portable Computers]])'':Primary purpose of hardware is a portable computer.:Can run multiple software applications, compared to a typical calculator.:Not a laptop computer.- '''Handheld Console''' ''(See Main page)'':Primary purpose of hardware is a game console.:Typically requires loading external software for games from a MAME Software List.:Hardware in real life completely portable, with a self-contained display, battery, and controls.- '''Handheld Game''':Primary purpose of hardware is a single portable game.:All game software is self-contained within the physical unit.:Does not utilize MAME Software Lists.:Hardware in real life is completely portable, with a self-contained display, battery, and controls.- '''[[HBMAME]]''':Game is a homebrew or hack variant of another Arcade or Handheld Console game.:Game is not emulated in regular MAME; only found in HB MAME.- '''[[Pinball]]''':Game includes electromechanical external artwork required to properly emulate the game.:Game may include digital elements for scoring or other gameplay features.- '''Plug and Play''':Primary purpose of hardware is to play games. Best examples are the Plug and Play TV game devices.:Game software is self-contained within the physical unit.:May utilize MAME Software Lists for adding additional games.:Hardware in real life is required to be attached to an external display.:Hardware in real life has self-contained controls.|} '''Note:''' Some of the aforementioned categories may have their own pages with compatibility and other information as desired.</div>
===ROM dumps===
MAME was first released on February 5, 1997 by Nicola Salmoria as a Pac-Man emulator,<ref name="worldofstuart">[http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/mameover.htm MAME OVER] (0.99)</ref><ref name="History">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgJF18Pm7MA|title=A Brief History of Emulation: MAME|publisher=Youtube|accessdate=2018-09-14|date=2017-12-02}}</ref> but before he could do any more work on the project he handed it over to Mirko Buffoni in April 1997 after being required to do National Service in the Italian army.<ref name="worldofstuart"/> Since then, even as early as 2003, the emulator has become very extensive, with the majority of arcade system boards from the 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's supported.
MAME originally used a custom BSD license that prohibited commercial use in a few ways. This was mainly used to deter arcade operators from monetizing an emulated version of a widely available commercial title like Pac-Man. However, the MAME team didn't have the funds to afford prosecutors, so this was never effectively enforced. Through an extensive relicensing process in 2016, the project completely changed to a combination of GPL/BSD where applicable. This allowed them to merge the codebase for the MEWUI frontend into the main application starting with version 0.171(February 2016). ===Support===You can support the efforts of MAME developers, dumpers and other stakeholders with donations or resources to procure PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) of arcade games, and all other computing or electronic devices that have digital screen output and in most cases, audio support; upload materials such as artwork of arcade cabinets, special handheld units and pinball tables, among other hardware examples.* [https://smitdogg.mameworld.info/du/donate.html The Dumping Union] (Based in USA. Monthly donations start from $10 US.):[https://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=311481 The Dumping Union Info Page] (Info and an alternative PayPal link to send custom one-off donations with option to make it monthly.)* [http://members.iinet.net.au/~lantra9jp1_nbn/gurudumps/thanks.html Guru] (Top-quality [http://members.iinet.net.au/~lantra9jp1_nbn/gurudumps/forsale/index.html dumper and repairer of arcade PCBs from Western Australia]. He also repairs many other electronic equipments. Better reliability than The Dumping Union. Important pages: [http://members.iinet.net.au/~lantra9jp1_nbn/gurudumps/faq.html FAQ], [http://members.iinet.net.au/~lantra9jp1_nbn/gurudumps/decap/index.html Decapping Status Page], [http://members.iinet.net.au/~lantra9jp1_nbn/gurudumps/DumpingProject/wantedlist/wanted.html Wanted Dumps List], all links under 'Guru Status' drop-down menu. For custom one-off PayPal donations with option to make it monthly.)* [https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4805718 CAPS0ff] (High quality chip decapping specialist. [https://twitter.com/Caps0xff He] and other people get rare, security protected arcade boards, shave the tops off the security chips, and do stuff like point lasers at them to get them to spit out the keys. Sometimes they use microscopes to read the keys off the die. 6 Patreon tiers from $1 US to $300 US, or custom amount monthly.)* [https://team-europe.blogspot.com/ TeamEurope] (High quality decappers on same level as the 'Guru' guy. Probably based in Austria, also cooperates regularly with dumper Sean Riddle from the UK. Does a lot of dumping of non-arcade stuff (especially cartridges for weird / obscure systems) as well as stuff specific to European regions. Occasional [https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/9txdsz/mame_team_europe_would_like_help_funding_some/ fundraisers] occur with them. Contact by writing an email to te@crazy#2001#.33mail#.com (remove all # from the address) with the words "[Contact TE]" in the message-header.)* [https://www.patreon.com/moogly Patreon] account of MAMEDev Ryan 'MooglyGuy' Holtz (It's to support the expenses of acquiring computers and other electronic hardware for MAME work.) '''Non-monetary:'''* [https://mrdo.mameworld.info/mame_artwork.php Mr. Do!'s MAME Artwork] (Artwork uploads submitted by many archivists and device owners for use within the MAME Artwork System. The site's navigation requires a small-ish learning curve. The [https://mrdo.mameworld.info/links.php Links] page is nice. He can be contacted on [https://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/showprofile.php?Cat=&User=54&Number=387561&Board=news&what=showthreaded&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=&vc=1 MAMEWorld].)
==How to==
===MAMEUI64===
MAMEUI64 is the current name of MAME32, the original MAME GUI for Windows. As it traces its lineage to MAME32 0.27 from 1997, it has additional bugs compared to mainline MAME, lacks several features of modern MAME or makes it difficult to use them via GUI, and does not scale properly to high resolutions. The MAME developers do not recommend using any derivative of MAME32 for these reasons, instead suggesting mainline MAME with an external frontend if the internal MEWUI is not sufficient.
:Collection of [http://www.progettosnaps.net/mameui_en.html all versions].
:UNOFFICIAL BUILDS − [http://www.t2e.pl/pl/466/134/466/Automatyczne-edycje?tsearch=mameui,not|plus,not|mewui,not|mameuifx MAMEUI x86/x64 unofficial builds].
===[[GroovyMAME]]===
GroovyMAME (or GroovyUME) is a fork of MAME/UME made primarily to support arcade CRT monitors for AMD cards. It also includes input lag reductions that can be taken advantage of on CRTs or LCDs. However, now that modern MAME versions support variable refresh rate monitors and the "-lowlatency" flag, there is less of a need for GrooveMAME or for other lag-reducing builds such as Shmupmame.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topicboard,12887952.0.html?PHPSESSID=domm2c4q77esu0j9uohc5vrqn5
===PinMAME===
[http://arcade.mameworld.info/ ARCADE] is a maintenance-only continuation of the MAMEUIFX project, which was in turn forked from MAMEUI/MAME32. MAMEUIFX included unique drivers and games compared to mainline MAME, but these are now integrated into [[HBMAME]] instead.
*Arcade games only*NO No mechanical games (pinball, crane games, etc)*NO No poker, fruit, slot or gambling games*NO No computers, consoles, terminals, appliances, etc*NO No games that display a black screen (skeleton drivers etc)
==Netplay==
*It's slightly (significantly still) prone to freezing
*Mapping controllers and binding keys can only be done in-game, which might be confusing to first-timers
*Incorrectly emulates many games, while outright not being able to emulate others, due to being based on a very old MAME version. Even MAME Kaillera builds labeled with recent MAME versions are actually very old and inaccurate versions with only the game list updated.
*Random, inconsistent FPS drops due to the server trying to keep everyone synched, sometimes stuttering. It's annoying, but rarely does it make it unplayable
*Everyone needs to have the exact same ROM version or Netplay won't work (if it somehow does, it'll desynch rather quickly)
* [https://twitter.com/aaronsgiles Twitter feed] from [https://aarongiles.com/ Aaron Giles] (His older [https://aarongiles.com/old/ Aaron's Almanac] website for MAME work was last updated in 2012. However, he "came back from the dead" to work on MAME again on [https://twitter.com/aaronsgiles/status/1286054480056786944 July 23, 2020]! Former project lead, 2005-2011. Wrote drivers for 11 CPUs, 7 sound chips, and 100+ arcade games.)
* [https://twitter.com/algestam Twitter feed] from Henrik 'algestam' Algestam (He is well noted for dumping and emulating those Nintendo [[Game & Watch]] LCD handheld titles to MAME)
'''Third-Party:'''
* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuCqiFa48-8uJF2zvXR9nig YouTube channel] of Bob Zed (It shows many news and demonstration videos of MAME'S major updates, working hardware & software, audio & music playbacks, tutorials, among other misc topics. Many videos are grouped into playlists divided by MAME's major releases. First video on MAME coverage started in Nov 2020.)
* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-bPUTexHdVt57iY_pnPCjA YouTube channel] of MAME Favorite Playlists (It shows simple videos on MAME's major updates, working hardware & software, artwork, control guides, and other misc topics. First video on a major MAME update started in Jul 2021.)
[[Category:Emulators]]
[[Category:Multi-emulators]]
[[Category:Arcade emulators]]
[[Category:Windows emulation software]]
[[Category:Linux emulation software]]
[[Category:macOS emulation software]]
[[Category:Netplay]]
