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What is MAME?
MAME is a software program that allows you to play almost
any classic arcade game except some of the newer ones. More importantly it can
be used in video arcades to create a multi-game system.
How does MAME work?
In simple terms the memory chips (called ROMS) are
downloaded from an actual arcade game and then copied to a PC. This is why the
arcade game files are called ROMs.
Do the games play just like the originals?
Yes, almost all the time. There are a few games that
don’t go into cocktail mode, or have missing sounds, but these are rare
exceptions. Almost all look and play 100% just like the originals. Take Pac-man
for example. If you had a favorite pattern you used to avoid the ghosts it will
still work in MAME!
Additionally, most games have all the original options such
as, difficulty settings, bonus lives, speed-up chips, etc. Most games even have
cheats available. Imagine having unlimited lives.
Where do I get the “ROMs” from?
ROMs can easily be downloaded from the internet. Just use a
search engine like Google. Also, there are lots of websites where you can
download the ROMs from, like: www.rom-world.com,
and www.romnation.net.
There’s also websites where you can download the complete
collection of ROMs. They come on something like 8 DVD’s and cost less than
$30. www.AllGameROMS.com, www.MAMEDVDS.com
and www.AllMyROMS.com are well known
sites.
Is MAME easy to use?
Yes, MAME32 is the windows version and is very simple to
use. It has a built-in menu and automatically detects new games.
What is a MAME arcade?
The greatest invention of the modern age. Well, pretty
close in my book anyway. A MAME arcade is an arcade with a PC in it. It is wired
and has an interface card, so it functions just like an authentic arcade
machine. But because its PC based you can run multiple games with MAME, or even
PC titles.
If you are the DIY type you can build your own MAME arcade
from scratch. But be worried it can easily take over 100 hours to complete and
thousands of dollars. Fortunately, there are a few companies out there selling
complete MAME arcades, or easy to build kits.
Are ROMs legal?
Most old arcade ROMs are abandonware. Meaning that the
publishers have effectively abandoned them. The US trademark office is working
on making guidelines for abandonware, but they are not out yet.
In the meantime, most people feel it’s OK to use the ROMs
for your personal use. No one has ever gotten into trouble for doing so. As a
matter of fact the sites where you download them from rarely run into any
trouble either. Occasionally they do get asked to remove a game, but that’s
about it.
Using the games for a profit is a different story. Some
people have tried to sell arcades with lots of ROMS pre-installed on them, or
setup up in a bar with a coin door on it or something. They’ve never been sued
(to my knowledge), but one or two have received letters from lawyers asking them
to stop.
Bottom line is no one is going to know or care if you use
the games for your personal use.
There are a couple of exceptions. First, running some of
the newer ROMs. MAME also supports newer games like War Gods and Killer
Instinct, if you have a fast enough computer. While you’d probably never get
into any trouble using these ROMs in your home, it’s probably not legal.
Additionally, some of the older games are not abandonware. They are still being
produced in PC versions. However, you can just go to retail store and buy these
games. They’ll run on your MAME arcade too.
As a final word of caution. I’m not a lawyer, nor do I
play one on the Internet. Everything above is just what I’ve gathered from
reading websites, legal articles, etc. so take it with a grain of salt. My
advice is when you can buy a game or game pack, such as the Midway or NAMCO
packs do so if you want to play it on your arcade. It’s only fair to the
publisher and it encourages them to release more classic arcade titles.
Where
do I get a copy of MAME?
You can download MAME (or MAME32 for windows) from lots of
sites. I recommend: www.MameWorld.com
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