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

briankross

Pi Model: 3 Model B
RetroPie Version Used: 3.8.1
Built From: SD Image
USB Devices connected: Standard keyboard, x2 Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad
Controller used: x2 Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad
Error messages received: n/a
Guide used: n/a
File: n/a
Emulator: MAME4ALL-Pi
Attachment of config files: n/a
How to replicate the problem: n/a

Initial thoughts:

I figured I shouldn't work in a vacuum since I'm definitely not the first one to do this. I'm looking for some guidance for the overall best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games:

Listed by order of release:

Space Invaders
Galaxian
Centipede
Pac-Man
Donkey Kong
Frogger
Galaga
Ms. Pac-Man
Dig Dug
Donkey Kong Jr.
Millipede

I've been learning about libretro, and I really like the idea of having both my MAME and NES able to take screenshots using the same key (or button) out of the box. When I build my enclosure, I'd love to have a button to take screenshots while playing in MAME or NES (lr-nestopia).

Considerations:

Ability to play all games listed
Correct aspect ratio
High scores
Any particular arcade controllers work better?
Any particular types of track balls work better?
Ability to configure one arcade button for MAME and NES screenshots (lr-nestopia)

Mame4all-Pi

All games listed seem to play correctly (although I don't have a trackball yet).
All games listed seem to be the correct aspect ratio.
All games listed seem to save high scores, at least those that I can test.

lr-imame4all

All games listed seem to play correctly (although I don't have a trackball yet).
Some games listed seem to be the correct aspect ratio.
Some games listed display very wide.
None (or few?) games listed seem to save high scores, at least those that I can test.

lr-mame2003

Some games listed seem to play correctly (although I don't have a trackball yet).
Centipede, Galaga, and Dig Dug do not start.
All games listed seem to be the correct aspect ratio.
All games listed seem to save high scores, at least those that I can test.

AdvanceMAME 0.94

Not yet tested, looking for guidance.

AdvanceMAME 1.4

Not yet tested, looking for guidance.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Floob

As you have a Pi3, I would be tempted to stick with libretro based emulators, the best bet would likely be lr-2003.
Also, all the games you list run fine in lr-mame2003 as shown in the videos here: (Have you validated your romsets with clrmamepro?)

You can also set aspect ratio in the configs quite easily with the RetroArch config file.

High score info is here:
https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/lr-mame2003

briankross

@Floob

Hi Floob!

I'm rebuilding a 0.78 romset now, and will see how that pans out. Thanks for showing me it can be done!

I followed the high score info previously, seems to be working great!

On initial testing, I REALLY liked lr-mame2003 and really want it to be my go-to emulator for all things MAME. I like how the samples are in the BIOS directory, so the game list doesn't add the samples directory; and also like the high score support, and that all of the games I'm interested in seem to have the correct aspect ratio "out of the box".

Question about building and scanning: Is it okay to have roms, samples, and artwork in sub-folders? Or is it best to have all of the roms in the root of a romset directory?

Thank you!

briankross

Okay, all is well now, thank you!

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

I see the same warning screen as you have in your video for Galaga, are you aware of a fix? At least it's playable :)

caver01

@briankross You can disable the warning for lr-mame2003. Check the wiki.

Also, you will find that AvanceMAME is your best option for trackball, spinners, and if you want to play vector games. There are other threads about these topics.

briankross

@caver01 said in Need guidance: Best MAME emulator to use for classic 80's games?:

@briankross You can disable the warning for lr-mame2003. Check the wiki.

Ah, so that is what the wiki was talking about, thanks! I should have been able to put those pieces together... lol

Also, you will find that AvanceMAME is your best option for trackball, spinners, and if you want to play vector games.

Thanks for your insight.

There are other threads about these topics.

I'm sure of it. I always take the time to research on my own first before I request time of others. I hope you didn't mean to imply that I didn't. I'm new to all of this and like with anything new, you don't know what you don't know. I've spent about two weeks researching and answering my own questions, but sometimes it's best to ask your own question, in a fresh thread, with your own words.

Thanks again.

caver01

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

I hope you didn't mean to imply that I didn't.

Not at all. I am often commenting from a mobile device and I don't always take the time to find links even though I usually have specific threads in mind. That said, here are some good ones:

Trackball config in AdvanceMAME

How to make vector games look their best

Don't feel like you can't ask questions. There is a lot of help already written, but RetroPie evolves and nobody has the same setup. I have a lot of respect for everyone who contributes time and energy to RetroPie, but I also know the Pi is a device for learning (a tinkerer's paradise) and the developers here are bringing together software from a lot of different sources in a unique way. It's incredible and amazing how much capability we have, but each emulator has idiosyncrasies sometimes beyond our control (I.e. MAME ROMset complexities)--but those challenges are half the fun!

caver01

If you are in this for arcade games like I am and you are using a pi3, you might come to the same conclusions as me:

lr-mame2003 is the best default emulator for arcade support. Because it is a libretro core, you take advantage of retroarch benefits. For me, that's flexible configuration via RetroArch configs, but more importantly, a great set of shaders for an authentic CRT look on LCD displays.
lr-fba-next is an important replacement for MAME whenever possible (neogeo, fighter games, etc) as this emulator is fast. Because it's a libretro core, you get the good shaders too.
AdvanceMAME 1.4 is best for trackball, spinners, complex key mapping (single joystick tank stick), and vector games.

The combination above leads to some confusing configuration trying to support multiple ROMset versions, but if you can keep it straight, you can assemble the best combination of games/emulators.

It's just my opinion (not everyone cares about CRT scanlines or trackball support) but it is what I have learned over the long haul.

briankross

@caver01

Right on, your insight is much appreciated. I'm getting to know retroarch little by little, and looking forward to digging in.

Is it common (or best practice) then to use different emulators for certain mame games? My first (inexperienced) thought was to have one emulator for all classic mame games to keep it consistent. Right now it sounds best to find the right emulator for the job.

dankcushions

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

lr-mame2003

Some games listed seem to play correctly (although I don't have a trackball yet).
Centipede, Galaga, and Dig Dug do not start.

fyi these all work for me in lr-mame2003. guessing you have an incorrect romset, or badly built roms, at least for these games. you need the 0.78 set for lr-mame2003.

lr-mame2003 doesn't currently support trackballs, although i'm hoping to fix that soon.

briankross

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

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

lr-mame2003

Some games listed seem to play correctly (although I don't have a trackball yet).
Centipede, Galaga, and Dig Dug do not start.

fyi these all work for me in lr-mame2003. guessing you have an incorrect romset, or badly built roms, at least for these games. you need the 0.78 set for lr-mame2003.

Thank you, I have a working romset now. :-)

lr-mame2003 doesn't currently support trackballs, although i'm hoping to fix that soon.

Got it, thank you!

rbaker

@briankross You should also consider the Arcade folder. I have selected about 100 classics and have placed them in that. You can then have all your roms in just one clean folder and configure each game to a particular emulator depending on the version of the rom. So I have all my vector games in there with everything else but they use Advance Mame with some tweaks as detailed by @caver01 here.

caver01

@briankross Yes! @rbaker is exactly right--if you were already thinking one emulator for all of your favorite MAME games, but are realizing like most of us that it works better (and sometimes the only way it does) is with a specific emulator for a given rom--then you want to use the Arcade folder when you have it all figured out.

Basically, you go about setting up the different emulators the best way you need to according to the games you want to play. Then, you get to the point (especially with guests or youngsters) that it's frustrating to have to memorize what emulator to chose for each game. For example, "Where's Asteroids? Oh, for THAT game, you need to back up and switch over to THIS version of MAME," to which they say, "What's a MAME?" and you are like, hmmm. . . where to begin?

With the Arcade ROMs folder, you move all of your working ROMS from their respective emulator ROM folders into the Arcade folder. Then, you go through each one and hit a key to invoke the RUNCOMMAND when it launches and select the desired emulator. You can set the default, and adjust as needed. Basically, you are creating a single list inside Arcade (as though you have a single emulator running the games) and use the runcommand to launch each game. For instance, you might launch Joust with lr-mame2003, but Asteroids with AdvanceMAME 1.4 for good vector support. Obviously, you plan that all out ahead of time so when someone picks Arcade in Emulation Station, they are launching arcade games, but they don't need to know (or care) whether you are running MAME, FBA, etc.

If you haven't already, it's handy to keep a spreadsheet of each rom, what romset/emulator you are using. That's what I do.

caver01

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

lr-mame2003 doesn't currently support trackballs, although i'm hoping to fix that soon.

Oh man. . . That's the best news I have heard all weekend! When you are ready to do some testing I am happy to recompile and provide feedback if you want.

briankross

@caver01

You. Rock. :)

briankross

@caver01

I'm ready to make the move to the arcade folder and have a question.

I use lr-mame2003 for all of my MAME roms except centipede and millipede. Inside of my mame-libretro folder I have a mame2003folder that holds the folders cfg, hi, and nvram. Do I just move all of the above in the arcade folder?

If yes, then will the mame2003 roms act as if they were in the lr-mame2003 folder when the runcommand is setup? As in, it'll save high scores, access samples from /pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame2003/ etc?

Does this make sense?

caver01

@briankross Yes. Move that stuff into roms/arcade. It will behave the same as it does in mame-libretro. And since most of your games are 2003 like mine, when you first boot ES and it sees the titles in the arcade folder, launch one, and open runcommand. There, you can set the default as lr-mame2003. Then, you only need to go to centipede and millipede and change the emulator for those rims (to AdvanceMAME I suppose).

The stuff in the BIOS folder remains as-is and gets accessed by 2003 just like it did when you run it against roms in the mame-libretro folder.

briankross

@caver01

Edit: Kept the high scores etc.

Works like a charm, woo! Thank you. I have a pretty short list, but I'll make a spread sheet to keep track.

Since we have a similar setup for MAME, I noticed the graphics appear smoothed out and perhaps an added glow for centipede and millipede in AdvanceMAME. But I actually like the bit graphics better in lr-mame2003. Do you know about this by chance? I'll dig around.

My wife looks at me like I'm nuts so happy to see this all coming together. Then again, she gets to play her favorite game Tetris on NES so... lol. She saw Dragon's Lair (dle21) for the first time and loved it, so it's all working out. :-)

Thanks again!

briankross

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

@caver01
Since we have a similar setup for MAME, I noticed the graphics appear smoothed out and perhaps an added glow for centipede and millipede in AdvanceMAME. But I actually like the bit graphics better in lr-mame2003. Do you know about this by chance? I'll dig around.

Found it.

Once in the game using AdvnaceMAME, press TAB, Video, Resize Effect = no, then "save for this game".

briankross

@caver01

When AdvanceMAME games are played, I do notice new folders created automatically.

Edit: It doesn't seem to affect EmulationStation selections, Arcade is the only MAME emulator shown.