Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?

Riverstorm

@mediamogul said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

About the samples and artwork, I just can't seem to get that working. I'm going to try installing the required pieces again to see if I missed something along the way. If that doesn't work, I'll probably open up a separate topic for my issue as this thread is likely to suffer an identity crisis with any additional topics of conversation. If I do, I'd appreciate your input on the matter, if you have any thoughts.

I don't have a lot of input here. What I did was an update from the RetroPie setup. It took like 30 to 45 minutes it seemed. Nothing special as it downloads, compiles, etc. It's a one-click upgrade. Very nice!

I created those two folders "artwork" and "samples" and then copied files over. The only thing I can think of is they are not the correct versions/names possibly?

mediamogul

@Riverstorm said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

The only thing I can think of is they are not the correct versions/names possibly?

That's really all it can be. I'll reinstall everything later today and hope for the best.

caver01

@Riverstorm said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

Ah, that's right! You have to love the classics. I did grab a copy of Ready Player One from Ernest Cline you said was a classic. I will give it a read through this fall/winter when spending more time indoors.

It's a fun read for sure! I recommend the Audio book version too. Just make sure you read it before the movie comes out (2018, so you have time).

Riverstorm

@mediamogul said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

@Riverstorm said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

The only thing I can think of is they are not the correct versions/names possibly?

That's really all it can be. I'll reinstall everything later today and hope for the best.

I spoke a bit to soon. I must have been in the wrong MAME since they all show the same ES icon. I have 3, one for lr-imame4all, AdvMAME and lr-mame2003. I think the only way to tell the difference is knowing your gamelist and when you launch a game and you briefly see the emulator started. Right now my AdvMAME and lr-mame2003 are almost identical. Anyway I don't have samples or artwork working either.

I verified the samples with both the Wiki DAT:

https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Managing-ROMs

I also used the official MAME 0.78 executable to create a DAT.

Both show dkong.zip should contain:

effect00.wav
effect01.wav
effect02.wav

When running the game it's missing sounds when the Donkey Kong is stomping the girders in the intro. It's also missing the running and jumping sounds.

I also re-checked Solar Quest and the artwork does not work. The zip is solarq.zip. The files contained within are:

solarbez.png
solarmsk.png
solarq.art
solarq.png

I am using the same artwork for AdvMAME which has the dark blue translucent backdrop and red/yellow colored circles.

Can anyone that does have it working verify the sample names and if it Donkey Kong or another game does have working sound samples in lr-mame2003? (CRC doesn't matter with samples just the proper name).

dankcushions

@Riverstorm where are your samples/artwork? see https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/lr-mame2003#samples for the correct location for samples. artwork isn't documented, but it's in the same place (although in .../artwork rather than .../samples)

mediamogul

@dankcushions

Neither are working for me currently, assuming the location for those directories is still /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame2003/.

dankcushions

@mediamogul said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

@dankcushions

Neither are working for me currently, assuming the location for those directories is still /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame2003/.

the link i just posted tells you the full location :)

Riverstorm

@dankcushions said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

@Riverstorm where are your samples/artwork? see https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/lr-mame2003#samples for the correct location for samples. artwork isn't documented, but it's in the same place (although in .../artwork rather than .../samples)

Sorry, yes they are located in /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame2003/samples and /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame2003/artwork.

mediamogul

I just triple-checked and that is indeed where I have those directories located, it's just that I get no results from MAME. I haven't gone back to reinstall everything like I mentioned previously, but if those are in fact the correct locations, then I suppose it will have to work itself out one way or another.

Riverstorm

@mediamogul said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

I haven't gone back to reinstall everything like I mentioned previously

The source I used was from 5 days ago. Under "RetroPie Setup" I used "Install individual emulators from binary or source".

@dankcushions I think you mentioned Retroarch needing a potential upgrade if that applies I could give it a shot too.

mediamogul

@Riverstorm

So much can get jumbled in text explanations on complicated issues such as this that it might be worth repeating what I've tried so far.

I compiled and installed the lr-mame2003 source option from the 'RetroPie Setup' menu.
I installed the binary option for RetroArch from the same menu
I changed my 'sample' directory to 'samples', located at /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame2003/
I added a fully complimented directory of version-appropriate artwork titled 'artwork' at the same location

As a result, the two directory paths are:
/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame2003/samples
/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame2003/artwork

It's probably worth noting that these modifications were made just a bit after you tried them yourself, five days ago. Was I reading your previous post correctly that through a bit of confusion, your artwork and samples aren't working in mame2003 either as you first thought?

dankcushions

just done a test, and it doesn't work for me now! after debugging, i have to hold my hands up here.. i super broke samples! :( a change i did a few weeks ago to clean up the old code has now broken it. classic...

it won't work if you have the very latest version.

i will do a fix right now and update when a new one can be downloaded. sorry! on the plus side, i also got mouse/trackball support working :)

Riverstorm

@mediamogul said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

Was I reading your previous post correctly that through a bit of confusion, your artwork and samples aren't working in mame2003 either as you first thought?

Yeah, I was tired and I think I was in AdvMAME last Friday while testing and thought all was good. I've been doing a lot more testing with lr-mame2003 to hopefully make my default MAME emulator.

I am having the same results you listed above except I haven't tried reinstalling lr-mame2003 and Retroarch from binary everything else is a go. :)

Honestly most of what I play works just fine lr-imame4all but there are a few extras in 0.78 like Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden, Soul Caliber, Puzzle Bobble, Western Express and a few others I can't remember that would make some nice additions.

mediamogul

@dankcushions said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

sorry! on the plus side, i also got mouse/trackball support working :)

Not a problem at all. I was beginning to suspect Gremlins anyway. Major thanks for the mouse & trackball addition. I can't wait to try that out.

Edit: The dog in 'Duck Hunt' will pay!

@Riverstorm
Those titles are indeed worth the extra attention. You've got good taste in games.

Thanks to both of you for your help here.

Riverstorm

@dankcushions said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

sorry! on the plus side, i also got mouse/trackball support working :)

Thanks Dank, I appreciate all you guys do!

@mediamogul I know the things we do just for retro gaming nostalgia! :) There are several D&D style games too that look like they would interesting to play through. I see others like Cruis'n USA and Hard Drivin' that are definitely worth playing if you have steering controls. I do agree 0.78 is worth the extra time to setup! :)

caver01

@dankcushions said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

i also got mouse/trackball support working :)

WOOT WOOT!