How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?

[meleu]

Hello fellows. @lilbud reported a small dissatisfaction with the fact that random.org choose shmups quite frequently. I have to agree that we have too many shmups on MAME ROW.

Maybe we can start a brainstorm on how to choose the MAME ROW game. And here I would like to describe the first idea a had.

The player who post the best score (screenshot/photo is mandatory) choose the game category for the next week. And then random.org choose 3 games from a list of games from te chose category.

What do you think about this approach?

I know we need to prepare a list of games for each category. I already have a solution for that. I just want to know your opinions before being so verbose here... :-)

[meleu]

@lilbud By the way, I've discovered why random.org "likes" shooters.

What I did?

1. Got the mame2003-lr-lite (working, no clones, neogeo, PlayChoice/NES multiplay, no rotary/dial/trackball/lightgun controls, no casino/multiplay/quiz/mahjong/fruit_machines/rhythm/mature).
2. The mame2003-lr-lite is a xml file, then I did some shell and xmlstarlet tricks to count the number of games for each category.
3. Grabbed these data and created a chart with ChartGo and here is the result:

Almost 35% of MAME 0.78 working/no-neogeo/no-clones/etc. are Shooter games!!!

I know this isn't the list we use for MAME ROW, but can give a good idea of "why random.org loves shooters".

[lilbud]

Ok, very rough idea and just kind getting my thoughts down, bear with me.

No more MAME ROW, Hear me out.

Over at the emulation subreddit on Reddit, they have a game of the month. Every month, they pick one game and set a longer form challenge. This months (September) game is Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and the challenge is beat the game with Maria. That is what I think we should do. Pick a game around the beginning of the month and set a challenge for said game. (Like finding a secret area or beating the game with certain prerequisites)

What does everyone think?

[meleu]

@lilbud It looks like what I do with some friends ( @cyperghost , @cabrunco and @R1n0X ). From time to time we choose a game and try to get as many RetroAchievements as we can. Some cheevos are quite challenging and fun to get.

Do you want to start this kind of gaming here in RetroPie forums? I would surely join.

[cyperghost]

;) I'm in

[lilbud]

@meleu that could be a fun thing to do on a monthly basis. But maybe not solely focused on cheevos.

[meleu]

@lilbud let's try it! Feel free to start a topic for our October gaming and choose the game. Please, try to choose a game that has cheevos and you'll already have two companions! :)

But it won't make the MAME ROW stop! I love to discover games I never played here! :-)

[lilbud]

@meleu should I make it in the mame ROW category?

[lilbud]

Here is the first game of the month