Import ROMs into Mame

jak75

Hi, I installed Retropie on Raspberry Pi4, I then configured the wi-fi, I don't see confirmation whether it is connected or not, but I see an assigned IP so I assume it is connected to the network, then I installed Mame, now, if I understand correctly, I should buy some ROMs which are the actual games and import them into the Mame emulator, is this correct?
However, from the main menu of Retropie I can't see Mame, should I see it there? To transfer the ROMs do I have to purchase them, put them on a flash drive and then drag them into Mame in Retropie?
Can someone explain to me how it works? I've seen several guides but I'm a little confused.

sleve_mcdichael

@jak75 the systems won't appear until you add some games. See https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Transferring-Roms/

I find method 3 (Samba shares) to be the easiest.

BAZLOCO

dont purchase roms - there are lots of free places hosting them

Mame can be difficult to get started with, as there are specific versions of the emulator that must have a corresponding rom to match

on a windows computer Retropie should appear as a samba share,
if you click on this link then you should see a list of folders that you can copy the files to

Retropie can be configured to run games from a usb stick if you find that method easier

check out the getting started guide https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Transferring-Roms/

jak75

Hi guys and thanks for the information, I'm looking into it, this Rom thing is the one that's causing me the most difficulty, but I understand that each version of Mame must have its corresponding Rom otherwise it won't work!

jak75

@BAZLOCO As for Windows, do you mean that if I insert the Micro SD with Retropie into a Windows PC I should view the Mame folders and therefore having the ROMs I could simply drag them in?

sleve_mcdichael

@jak75 said in Import ROMs into Mame:

As for Windows, do you mean that if I insert the Micro SD with Retropie into a Windows PC

No, they mean https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Transferring-Roms/#samba-shares

BAZLOCO

@jak75 no

so make sure your retropie is connected to the internet

and in your Windows Explorer computer, go to This PC (depending on your version of Windows)
then in the address bar type \retropie

this should load up 4 folders (at least for me it does)
these are bios, configs, roms and splashscreens

then you can copy roms from your pc to retropie

any questions - let us know !

jak75

@BAZLOCO said in Import ROMs into Mame:

so make sure your retropie is connected to the internet

and in your Windows Explorer computer, go to This PC (depending on your version of Windows)
then in the address bar type \retropie

this should load up 4 folders (at least for me it does)
these are bios, configs, roms and splashscreens

then you can copy roms from your pc to retropie

any questions - let us know !

Thanks everyone!, I admit that this part creates a bit of confusion for me, in the meantime I was waiting for your answers I saw that there is also a program called Putty with which you can connect the PC to the Raspbeerry via SSh and then transfer the ROMs in this way but I haven't yet explored exactly how to do it, now I'll re-read your answers and the links posted!

sleve_mcdichael

@jak75 said in Import ROMs into Mame:

Thanks everyone!, I admit that this part creates a bit of confusion for me,

Literally:

On Windows, type \\RETROPIE into the computer folder.

That's it. I mean, you have to press ENTER after you're done typing it, but...I don't know how else to make it more clear. There's even a picture of where you're supposed to type it:

right here

It's this part, here:

jak75

This post is deleted!

jak75

So can I use the "Putty" program to connect to the Raspberry and then simply drag the ROMs into the "ROM" folder?
Can you advise me where to buy them with a regular license?
Thank you.

abj

@jak75

You need a program like FileZilla or WinSCP not putty.
You can transfer your roms and with a external storage like usb stick or Hard Drive. Check RetroPie docs about all available options : https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Transferring-Roms/

jak75

@abj said in Import ROMs into Mame:

@jak75

You need a program like FileZilla or WinSCP not putty.
You can transfer your roms and with a external storage like usb stick or Hard Drive. Check RetroPie docs about all available options : https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Transferring-Roms/

Hi, I managed to connect with winscp, I see the various folders, roms, bios, etc., but the rom folder has many subfolders, in which one exactly should I put the roms? Then there is the issue that the roms must be suitable for my version of mame, how can I understand which version of mame I have and then purchase roms suitable for that version?

mitu

@jak75 said in Import ROMs into Mame:

hen there is the issue that the roms must be suitable for my version of mame, how can I understand which version of mame I have and then purchase roms suitable for that version?

See https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Arcade/ for details on choosing an arcade emulator/romset. If you have the romset, but you don't know which emulator supports it, then you can try any of the available emulators which are offered in RetroPie to see which supports it (one of Mame or FinalBurn Neo).

jak75

So basically you get the ROMs first and then try the emulators to find the one that makes them work right?
But how can I purchase ROMs with a license? Nothing can be found.
Then when I connect to Raspberry with winscp, I see that the ROM folder has many subfolders, which should the roms be placed in? What extension do roms have?

mitu

So basically you get the ROMs first and then try the emulators to find the one that makes them work right?

No, that only applies to ROMs which you buy, for which you don't know the Romset version. For other methods, please read the doc page that was posted a few times already in this topic.

But how can I purchase ROMs with a license? Nothing can be found.

There's a long topic over here with options on where and how to buy games, including arcade games.

jak75

@mitu said in Import ROMs into Mame:

So basically you get the ROMs first and then try the emulators to find the one that makes them work right?

No, that only applies to ROMs which you buy, for which you don't know the Romset version. For other methods, please read the doc page that was posted a few times already in this topic.

But how can I purchase ROMs with a license? Nothing can be found.

There's a long topic over here with options on where and how to buy games, including arcade games.

I connect via winscp, I see the "Retropie" folder and inside this there is the "Roms" folder inside which there is the "Arcade" folder inside which there is the "Mame2003" folder. Are there other folders inside Mame2003, the game roms, which are .zip files should they be placed inside the "Mame2003" folder?

Ashpool

@jak75 The subdirectories are "meta-data"-folders from the emulators (configs, etc.)!
roms should be placed inside the rom-folder for the system (not in any (precreated) subdirectory therein (and whence using subdirectories - which is possible (and in some cases advisable) you should be aware and knowing of the why & if you are not, then you haven't reached the RTFM and customization point where you may need 'em!), and chds are another topic we may talk about later) the reason why the emulators are opening their own subfolder in those rom directories is (simply phrased) because multiple emulators could utilize/draw from that rom folder and each of them stores their meta-data for a particular rom in the emulator specific sub-folder!

jak75

@Ashpool said in Import ROMs into Mame:

@jak75 The subdirectories are "meta-data"-folders from the emulators (configs, etc.)!
roms should be placed inside the rom-folder for the system (not in any (precreated) subdirectory therein (and whence using subdirectories - which is possible (and in some cases advisable) you should be aware and knowing of the why & if you are not, then you haven't reached the RTFM and customization point where you may need 'em!), and chds are another topic we may talk about later) the reason why the emulators are opening their own subfolder in those rom directories is (simply phrased) because multiple emulators could utilize/draw from that rom folder and each of them stores their meta-data for a particular rom in the emulator specific sub-folder!

Hi, after uploading the rom zips to the "Roms" folder in Emulation Station, where should you see the games to start them?
Thank you.

mitu

@jak75 said in Import ROMs into Mame:

Hi, after uploading the rom zips to the "Roms" folder in Emulation Station, where should you see the games to start them?

You should see them in the system where you copied the ROM. If you copied them in thearcade folder, then they'll show up in the Arcade system, if you copied them in the neogeo fodler, they'll show up in the Neogeo system, etc.
After copying the files, you need to restart EmulationStation (which you can do so from it's menu) to see the new games/ROMs.