How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?

[obsidianspider]

When I tried to create MAME ROW #23 this week it didn't seem to have the data from MAME ROW 22 saved, so I'm going to head back to my manual post creation with the assistance of your initial lookup tool.

Thanks again for taking the time to make some scripts for the community.

[meleu]

@obsidianspider said in How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?:

it didn't seem to have the data from MAME ROW 22 saved

Did you update the gamelist with the MAME ROW 22 info and it wasn't saved?!

The path is "Manage MAME ROW gamelist" >> "Update gamelist with a new round information". Screenshots below:

[obsidianspider]

@meleu I'll test it again some time. I've been busy this week working on my Gameboy Advance project and I still have a bit of a cold. Thanks.

[meleu]

In 2 weeks MAME ROW completes one year of existence.

Do you guys have some suggestion for something special for MAME ROW #52?

One idea I had:

1. Go to the MAME ROW forum category.
2. On the top right of the page click on "Sort by" and choose "Most posts".
3. Ignore the sticky post and get the games of the top 5. Currently they are:
   • Pac'n'Pal
   • Phoenix
   • Frenzy
   • Joust
   • Aliens
4. Make a strawpoll with the top 5.

What do you think?

---

tagging some MAME ROW players: @obsidianspider @UDb23 @GtBFilms @backstander @dankcushions @mediamogul @qix77 @lilbud @Fruitybit @Lyle_JP @pjft @mholsson @buddyscott @MrJordaaany @AndersHP @chubsta @itsnitro @Cole_48 @R1n0X @Brigane @edmaul69

[lilbud]

@meleu I was thinking about something along the lines of an actual bracketed tournament, possibly using those 5 games.

We set up a poll as you suggested, and the game with the most votes will be the 1 used for a single elimination tournament.

[obsidianspider]

@meleu Most posts isn't a good metric as quite a few of them have sidebar conversations that have nothing to do with top scores, but I'm up for whatever in terms of doing something special for the anniversary.

[meleu]

@obsidianspider said in How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?:

Most posts isn't a good metric

Fully agree. But at least it is a metric. :-)

Most views would be a little better, but I think there's no option to sort topics this way...

[obsidianspider]

@meleu measuring engagement either by total number of votes or number of on-topic posts would be a way, but it would be tedious to go back and document.

I think maybe a "submit your favorite from the past year" and then we pick from that list might be a good thing to do as well.

[Fruitybit]

Could be an option to use a 'top ten' from wiki or otherwise assuming the games would be compatible, e.g. highest grossing arcade games
Or Golden age of Arcade games

I get that it's not an 'internal' list thus may not be that pertinent but it's a special occasion no?!

[MrJordaaany]

@fruitybit I like this idea. Easier to gauge too.

[meleu]

@mrjordaaany @Fruitybit the conversation about the Anniversary Edition is hapenning here: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12800/selecting-contenders-for-mame-row-anniversary/9

[AndersHP]

Thanks for the tag @meleu

In regards to making MAME ROW better, wouldn't it be cool to have a separate thread called "MAME ROW Hall of Fame" that's updated with points every week? A little friendly competition wouldn't harm, eh?

The points system could always be discussed, and it would definitely mean that some of you hardcore players will always be at the top, but fighting for places every week would mean that I would be eager to participate as much as possible :)

[meleu]

@andershp said in How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?:

wouldn't it be cool to have a separate thread called "MAME ROW Hall of Fame"

I agree. I can try to create such thread when I find some free time. :-)

[AndersHP]

@meleu Cool!
If you do it retrospectively, remember the Chopper I thread (as this is the only one I have won, and ever will win) :D :D :D

[meleu]

Hello friends.

I'm planning to create the "MAME ROW Champions" (pretty pompous, huh :) ) thread (as suggested by @AndersHP ).

My intention is to create two kinds of "champions": one who made the best score on the round's week (the one who get the trophy), and other for the "continuous going championship" (the one who holds the belt). :-)

What do you guys think?

[AndersHP]

@meleu This sounds super cool!

[meleu]

OK. I started the thread here: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12960/mame-row-champions

The champions list isn't complete yet. It's a bit tedious to check all MAME ROWs threads looking for the champions. But I'll do it at some point. (UPDATE: the list is complete now.) Now I need to practice Phoenix!! ;-)

[meleu]

Hello fellows. @lilbud reported a small dissatisfaction with the fact that random.org choose shmups quite frequently. I have to agree that we have too many shmups on MAME ROW.

Maybe we can start a brainstorm on how to choose the MAME ROW game. And here I would like to describe the first idea a had.

The player who post the best score (screenshot/photo is mandatory) choose the game category for the next week. And then random.org choose 3 games from a list of games from te chose category.

What do you think about this approach?

I know we need to prepare a list of games for each category. I already have a solution for that. I just want to know your opinions before being so verbose here... :-)

[meleu]

@lilbud By the way, I've discovered why random.org "likes" shooters.

What I did?

1. Got the mame2003-lr-lite (working, no clones, neogeo, PlayChoice/NES multiplay, no rotary/dial/trackball/lightgun controls, no casino/multiplay/quiz/mahjong/fruit_machines/rhythm/mature).
2. The mame2003-lr-lite is a xml file, then I did some shell and xmlstarlet tricks to count the number of games for each category.
3. Grabbed these data and created a chart with ChartGo and here is the result:

Almost 35% of MAME 0.78 working/no-neogeo/no-clones/etc. are Shooter games!!!

I know this isn't the list we use for MAME ROW, but can give a good idea of "why random.org loves shooters".

[lilbud]

Ok, very rough idea and just kind getting my thoughts down, bear with me.

No more MAME ROW, Hear me out.

Over at the emulation subreddit on Reddit, they have a game of the month. Every month, they pick one game and set a longer form challenge. This months (September) game is Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and the challenge is beat the game with Maria. That is what I think we should do. Pick a game around the beginning of the month and set a challenge for said game. (Like finding a secret area or beating the game with certain prerequisites)

What does everyone think?