Mame 2003 wont start
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I finally acquired me a complete 0.78 ROM set to use with Mame 2003. I placed Pacman in the proper directory on my Pi and tried to start the game. Nothing happens and I'm back in emulationstation again. Same thing w/ Donky Kong.
Tried to find the Mame2003 executable on the command line. But Mame2003 is started by a little something called Libretto in a complex way. Mame2003 appears to be a shared object (Windows people would call that a DLL, dynamic link library) that is used by Libretto. Hence, no binary (Windows people would say: no executable). So I dunno how to test this from the command line...
How the hell can I get Mame 2003 to start?
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To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first
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said in Mame 2003 wont start:
I finally acquired me a complete 0.78 ROM set to use with Mame 2003. I placed Pacman in the proper directory on my Pi and tried to start the game. Nothing happens and I'm back in emulationstation again. Same thing w/ Donky Kong.
pasted from the other thread:
mame zip files are not standalone unless they are parent roms. pacman is not a parent, it's a clone, so to get it to work you'd need to the valid pacman.zip (clone) and puckman.zip (parent), and they need to both be on your pi.
just put the entire set on your pi
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@BuZz said in Mame 2003 wont start:
Thank you very much for that clear answer. To rtfm or not to rtfm, that is the question.
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@Meneer-Jansen I didn't write the documentation just so I could answer the same questions over and over again
If you read the documentation it will answer 99% of your questions: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/
Also if you want a solution to your problems read this first: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first
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@dankcushions I've probably been playing classic games since before lots of you were born. And been using Mame since the nineties. Always put my favorite roms in a directory. So I do not have to browse through a lot of games I don't play. Guess I'm getting old. Parent roms? I understand what you mean. Guess I have to format me a new SD card (for the x GB of Mame games I don't play) or find out what parent ROMs my favorite games use.
Thanks for the explanation. :)
Avid Linux user.
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@herb_fargus said in Mame 2003 wont start:
@Meneer-Jansen I didn't write the documentation just so I could answer the same questions over and over again
The answer is not to be found in your documentation. And now you at least tell that its the docs you'd like me to read. The link you posted is about mentioning system specs, docs, etc. etc.
I've been active on Linux forums for many years and have to tell the same things over and over again too. And I'm happy to do so. Depending on the question and the persons' experience I sometimes explain basic things and sometimes I refer to documentation. But never in the way you do. That's impolite rtfm behavior. You'll know what I mean if you ever ask a newbe question or start using some OS or piece of software you haven't used for years. It might be your age, might be your mood. Anyway, it all right now. ;)
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@Meneer-Jansen You could use clrmamepro and rebuild a non merged set, then you could use each rom as stand-alone...
A non merged set means that each ROM file has all the necessary files, thus not being dependent on parent roms. Check the Retropie Wiki - Managing ROMs. -
@iconrumble said in Mame 2003 wont start:
@Meneer-Jansen You could use clrmamepro and rebuild a non merged set, then you could use each rom as stand-alone...
A non merged set means that each ROM file has all the necessary files, thus not being dependent on parent roms. Check the Retropie Wiki - Managing ROMs.Aaaaahhh! That's what clrmame means by merged sets and split sets etc. At first I thought that meant that the "new" roms (that you converted from and "old" set of ROMs) are put in a separate folder so you always get to keep your "old" roms (in a separate folder). Now I understand why those roms that one can download from certain "rom sites" work standalone and roms from romsets don't!
And now I know why I was refered to the documentation. My mistake. But in a way quantum mechanics are easier to understand that crlmamepro. BTW in the Wiki are the terms 'zip file' and 'folder' used for the same thing (i.e. a zip file w/ rom images)? Anyway, Il' see when I create a non-merged set.
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@Meneer-Jansen yes, the folder-thing is quite confusing...
short version:
merged: original game and clones on the same zip
split: each game/clone has its own zip, but clones need parent zip to run
non merged: each game/clone has its own zip and they work standalone. -
how do merged sets even work with retropie? if it's one zip with several clones within, then ES surely sees it as one 'game', but then what is loaded? how do you pick which clone to load? anyone tried this?
i think the wiki could be revised for this section maybe to make it super clear, but mame is a bit weird in this regard. my recommendation is always to deal with full sets unless you know what you're doing. we have custom .dat files that have a reduced sets with no clones, etc, which can make them easier to manage.
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@dankcushions said in Mame 2003 wont start:
how do merged sets even work with retropie? if it's one zip with several clones within, then ES surely sees it as one 'game', but then what is loaded? how do you pick which clone to load? anyone tried this?
i think the wiki could be revised for this section maybe to make it super clear, but mame is a bit weird in this regard. my recommendation is always to deal with full sets unless you know what you're doing. we have custom .dat files that have a reduced sets with no clones, etc, which can make them easier to manage.
I use Merged Sets, that's what Herb says he uses in his instruction video so it seemed the way to go.
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@dankcushions from the few merged sets I've tried, it's the parent clone that's called. Can't choose. I do non-merged if I have a specific clone I like and then only have that one on the pi. I prefer split sets and filters, but I don't run sdhcs over 32gb so yeah, a picked combo of merged and non-merged works for me.
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@dankcushions from the few merged sets I've tried, it's the parent clone that's called. Can't choose. I do non-merged if I have a specific clone I like and then only have that one on the pi. I prefer split sets and filters, but I don't run sdhcs over 32gb so yeah, a picked combo of merged and non-merged works for me.
thanks! personally i have parents only. it's a bit annoying when there's the occasional game (pacman/puckman, moonwalker's broken parent/working clone) where the parent isn't what i want, but it makes things simpler.
i still don't understand why you'd ever want a merged zip on your pi, though, if it always runs the parent. surely in that case you'd just want the parent zip otherwise it's just wasted space??
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@dankcushions argh! I meant a picked "combo of splits and non merged"! For exactly the same reasons as you so i can get rid of puckman split set and just have pacman non merged in there.
I do think it's confusing with the terms merged, non merged and split. I try to remember by picturing this;
Merged - one big family unit, children have no say and not seen, parents decide everything.
Non merged - children have grown up and are independent from parents.
Split - children are trying to be independent but really can't function without parents present.
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You can get away with a custom merge if you are willing to take the time. Open the zip of the clone you like, then drop in the rom files from the parent. Re-zip using the clone's name.
The clone is still played, since your re-zip still has the name of the clone and this is what MAME is told to launch), but the dependencies are included right there inside the zip file, so the game runs as though the parent zip is right next to it.
This little trick has allowed me to play my clones, have the parent files, but NOT have the parent showing up in the list. Seems to be the ideal solution. It doesn't seem to work with FBA though.
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I guess you could also just take a merged rom and rename it to the name of your favorite clone. That should work too, don't you think?
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@caver01 said in Mame 2003 wont start:
I guess you could also just take a merged rom and rename it to the name of your favorite clone. That should work too, don't you think?
maybe!
i reworded some of the wiki page regarding sets - hope this clears things up?: https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Managing-ROMs#step-5--rebuild-a-rom-set
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I made a set of non-merged ROMs w/ clrmamepro yesterday night. They do not seem to work w/ libretto-mame2003. I'm beginning to think that the 0.78 ROM set I'm working with ain't even a 0.78 set. Does anyone know how to determine the ROM set you have? And how to determine if you have a merged or -non-merged ROM?
Oh, and by the way, how do I determine which parent my clone needs?
Avid Linux user.
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@Meneer-Jansen did you use the correct DAT file to rebuild your set? Any error output from clrmamepro (files missing?)? Did you check the retropie compatibility list?
The best way to check your romset would be to get a 0.78 DAT file from a trusted source and scan your romset for errors...
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