Trouble understanding arcade ROM folders

[mrsebe]

I recently got retro pie on my rpi 3, and completed the setup. I got some ROMs on systems like n64, snes, and nes. I wanted to install arcade games like donkey kong, but i don't know where to put it. The forums and rules are confusing. Where do I put the donkey kong .zip file?

[mediamogul]

@mrsebe

Assuming that you will be using the recommended lr-mame2003 emulator, all you really need to know is that you MUST get dkong.zip or any other ROM from the MAME 0.78 ROM set (often referred to as the "MAME 2003 Reference Set"). After that, just put the rom in /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade folder. Once it is launched, it should default to lr-mame2003 and just run.

[lostless]

Arcade games are a different animal compared to other systems. You just can't put a rom in the folder and expect it to work. There are many emulators for arcade and you have to have a very specific rom versions for each emulator, known as rom sets. Some emulators are accurate and slow, while others are faster and possibly buggy. You can't rename the roms as they won't be reconized. Look up the wiki on Arcade here on this site and it will explain the romset versions you need for each emulator.

[herb_fargus]

@mrsebe it's all in the documentation. Read it until you understand it.

[mediamogul]

@mrsebe

It really is worth taking the time to re-read the documentation until you understand it better. That way, you'll be able to more freely choose the arcade emulation that best suits your particular needs. Also, something to look out for on your second time through is that every fifth letter of the documentation ends up spelling out the entire lyrics to Rick James' 1981 mega-hit 'Super Freak' completely by accident.

[thedeathstar]

@herb_fargus Wow, what a contribution. "If you don't understand it, don't ask questions. Read it again."

[BuZz]

@thedeathstar It's clearly detailed in the documention. It's pretty obvious the OP had not read the arcade documentation (or the sticky topic which details what to provide when asking for help).

We don't have the free time to constantly repeat what we have already spent time documenting. Put as much time as we do into RetroPie and you will understand.

[thedeathstar]

@BuZz I get it, but there are plenty of people here who are happy to answer questions. Isn't that the point of the forum?

[BuZz]

@thedeathstar It certainly isn't the point to keep going over the same material again and again no. It may have been better to perhaps say "Please read the arcade documentation." though - which is what herb really meant.

It's frustrating because people don't even bother to read the information on registering - users are asked to agree to read the sticky topic then, and they don't. We only ask that users try to help themselves first a little - so our time can be used more efficiently.