How do I install MAME and then add a particular arcade video game to play?
So... a friend did this for me a long time ago, but I've replaced my computer since then, and I don't know how to do it for myself.
I know how to find the MAME executable. I don't know whether I need to download the .exe file or the .zip file, but I assume the .exe file is the better option.
I know how to run an executable file, and I'm assuming it installs itself.
I know how to find a copy of the antique video game I want.
However...
The .zip file I download for the game contains a lot of files with names like "a26-13.109" - and I don't know what I'm supposed to do with those, to get them inside the MAME and make the game playable.
I'm running Windows 10 on a 64-bit operating system, if that's relevant.
Is anyone feeling charitable and willing to help someone who's not computer literate to do this?
A detail you missed is Mame libraries have versions. I believe "merged" roms support various versions, so then you need to make sure the rom and MAME release align.
I can try in the evening if somebody more knowledgeable doesn't crack it first.
I haven’t tried to run Mame for a while, but from what I remember, you have to edit a configuration file that tells Mame where to find the games (ROMS). Alternately, it may have created an empty directory called ROMS or something like that and you can put the files there. Then when you restart Mame you should see your games.
I’m almost certain that you just put the zip files there. You do not have to unzip them. Mame knows how to unzip the files.
Another thing about Mame is that the official version used to have a pretty basic UI. There are other “runners” that have a nicer way to configure and display the games. But like I said it’s been a while since I’ve used Mame so maybe it’s better now.
Finally, the Mame version you found is not the only way to run it. If you have a steam account, you can look for RetroArch which has a lot of different engines to emulate any system you can imagine. On steam you can get these engines as free DLC. I’m almost certain one of the engines is MAME. Of course you can get RetroArch in other ways besides steam.
There’s some other software, I think called LauchBox, that also has a nice menu interface and has instructions for setting up Mame. I’m sure there are many others but be careful because places that exchange game roms often supply shady software that has viruses or worse.
I got this working in Mame .139. The .exe is basically a 7-zip autoextractor. Copy halleys.zip to the
romsfolder where you set mame to extract, and you should be able to start it when you select it in the menu. I don't get how mame handles controls, so I can't be much help there right now.Here's a direct link. I believe mame locks into version sets, so there's a point where the 139 standard isn't used, for example, so this rom wouldn't work with it if you wanted a newer version.