QuickStart v.1999.03.07 [this is a copy of the document
prepared for the distribution package]
Pre-Mame32
Ensure you have at least DirectX5 for Win95/98 usually the higer
version the better. SP3 or greater for NT4. (both available for
download at www.microsoft.com) Users of the original version of Win95
(950 from Aug. 95) need the updated com. control available from
MS, it is called 401comupd.exe and was available here at the time
of this writing http://msdn.microsoft.com/developer/downloads/files/40comupd.htm You already have the updated control if
you have downloaded IE4 or greater. If you don't get this control
it will result in property sheet errors on default/game options
amongst other things.
Getting Started w/ Mame32
1. Download the zipfile of mame32 from these official sites:
www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Lair/8706/mame32.html
www.classicgaming.com/mame32
www.classigaming.com/mame32qa
2. Create a directory/folder on your hard drive i.e. c:\mame32
3. Open this directory and copy the just downloaded mame32
zipfile into it.
4. Using an archive program like WinZip or Pkunzip, extract the contents of the
mame32.zip (ensure you use the -d option in Pkunzip to get
recursed subdirectories).
5. Place your game roms (readily available in convenient zip
format) into the sub-directory called c:\mame32\roms [note game
roms are not distributed w/ Mame32]. It's
easiest to leave the roms in their zip format, and just dump them
into the \mame32\roms directory.
6. Place your sample zip files in our example into the sub-directory
called c:\mame32\samples [note that the sample zips will have the
same name as the game roms] Donkey Kong's roms are called dkong.zip
and Donkey Kong's samples are also dkong.zip.
7. Place your unzipped icons from the site below into the \mame32\icons directory.
8. Place your large images screenshot file from the site below into the \mame32\images
directory.
9. Choose the background file you want from the site below, name
it bkground.jpg place it in \mame32\images.
10. Double click Mame32.exe, select your game and double click it
to play! Insert coin with key 3, start 1 player game with key 1.
Mame32 Art
Mame32's flexible GUI framework allows for some beautiful
customization including font color, icons, and background images
that tile around screenshots. For Mame32's official art packs
including around 500+ icons, screenshots for all games -
including game addition to Mame info, and afore mentioned
background images please see: www.classicgaming.com/mame32qa. Icons go into \mame32\icons [and must
extracted from the zipfile], screenshots stay in a file called
images.zip - this goes into \mame32\images. And finally, the
background images [jpg] files go into the \mame32\images
directory too. Name the one you wish to use 'bkground.jpg'. You
may also wish to consider using the rotate.exe program available
at the link above to randomly or sequentially rotate your
bkground.jpg image for a new look to Mame32 each time you start
the program.
Mame32 Recommended
Graphic & Sound Settings
Optimal sound settings, these are toggled in the \options\default
options\sound & input dialogues.
Windows NT
Sound System: Midas
Audio Device: DirectSound
Sample Rate: 22050
Sample Bits: 8
Windows 95/98
Sound System: Seal
Audio Device: DirectSound
Sample Rate: 22050
Sample Bits: 8
Optimal graphic settings are fullscreen with no doubling options, i.e. no . Most classic arcade games do not have analogous video modes/resolutions with today's video drivers. As such say you are trying to play Donkey Kong, its native original resolution was 224x256, the closest DirectX mode of most video cards today would be 512x384. Because of the disparity, Donkey Kong will play with black bands to all sides because it is less than the chosen resolution and cannot be 'stretched' at this point w/out a DirectX re-write/update to the code. If you prefer to play your games in a window on your desktop, note that GDI mode tends to be the faster especially as your desktop color depth increases.
Mame32 Troubleshooting
As with any
product there are bound to be some hiccups, here are some
suggestions to common perceived difficulties. Also, please
remember, Mame32 is based on the core MameDOS code - if a problem
exists in the MameDOS code we inherit it. Always ensure before
reporting problems with Mame32 that it *doesn't* happen in the
DOS version. If it does, there's not much we can do about it. A
note on the betas: In between full final releases, [.33b and .34b
for example] MameDOS and Mame32 wil release betas. These releases
will typically add numerous new games but may tinker with the
internal mechanics of Mame such that at times a driver is broken
or things slow down. It is likely that these are known issues so
please don't complain about them, if you must play a game that
was broken return to the previous full release version or wait
for the next beta.
'My roms aren't being
seen, the roms I had in version x don't work anymore.'
• If you're getting the corrupt rom message,
secondary click on the game in the list and choose properties, do
an audit on that game and you will likely find that you are
missing a file or two. See bullet point three below, it's
probably a missing prom.
• F5/Refresh in the GUI. (do this anytime you alter your
roms, renaming etc.)
• Ensure you have the latest merged/updated/renamed roms
with color proms. As new versions of Mame come on board the devs.
locate and add support for new iterations and often add color
proms for missing games, this necessitates using that new updated
set. Examples you might see are donkey kong, pacman, etc. from .33b.
• Ensure you have the appropriate folder view toggled, i.e.
'all games' and it doesn't have filtering on it to stop the
display of the game you're looking for.
• Use the \options\reset to default menu choice and check
all of the items, restart Mame32.
• Final option, manually delete the registry key for Mame32:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Freeware\MAME32
'My game isn't working, it errors, it crashes.'
• Delete the .hi and .cfg files for the game that's
troubling you.
• Check to see that you have a valid zip file and it's not
corrupt.
• If you're crashing during an audit or an F5 refresh, you
probably have a corrupt .zip, extract it and re-zip.
• If crashing, try disabling running background apps, Norton
crashguard, viruscans, fast find, office bar, Intellimouse, etc.
• Ensure you have the latest DirectX video drivers for your
cards, install the latest DirectX from MSoft.
• Use the \options\reset to default menu choice and check
all of the items, restart Mame32.
• Final option, manually delete the registry key for Mame32:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Freeware\MAME32
'My joystick isn't working in Mame32.'
• Remember you need to toggle it on the first time
you run Mame32, options/default options/sound & input.
• Mame32 relies on DirectInput for joystick support, ensure
your gamepad is seen as present and active in the game controller
control panel \start menu\settings\control panel\game controllers.
• If you are seeing game wide slowdowns w/ joystick enabled,
try toggling the directinput option for keyboards and joysticks
off or on.
• If you are seeing other odd joystick behaviour try
toggling *off* directinput for the keyboard too, they're linked.
• Mame32 can take advantage of linked gamepads like a daisy-chained
MS Sidewinder, connect the gamepads to each other enter the game
you want, press the [tab] key, go in and map the p2 or p3 buttons
to the second and third gamepad.
'Misc. issues.'
• Icon colors corrupt on the GUI returning from
fullscreen games? Try going to 24 or 32bpp color on your desktop.
• Seeing a *severe* slowdown in the latest Mame32? Make sure
'enable profiler' is not checked and toggle the directinput for
keyboard and joystick options.
• Getting property sheet errors on setting defaults or game
properties? Get the updated MSFT com. control here:http://msdn.microsoft.com/developer/downloads/files/40comupd.htm, or update to IE4 or greater.
Support, Testing, Bug Reporting
For breaking information on
troubleshooting techniques or issues related to the latest
release as well as updated art, icons, and screenshots go to the
Mame32 QA/Test & Art Dept. www.classicgaming.com/mame32qa .
To report bugs or discuss Mame32 go to the official message board:
http://pluto.beseen.com/boardroom/q/18365 .
Remember, always ensure that the problem doesn't happen in the
DOS version before reporting a bug.
john iv
mame32qa@hotmail.com
99.03.07
Seattle, WA