MAME ROMs Emulator Cabinet
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MAME or Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator rom files are the games that have been backuped from the Acade machines and stored on PC. In most cases these are ZIP files containng an archive of files needed to rn the game on the MAME Emulator.
Download free MAME emulators optimized for Wii, Sony PSP, DS Mame Emulator.
ROM really stands for (R)ead (O)nly (M)emory. In connection to emulation this terms, ROM means simply the data contained inside the ROM-chips of the games PCB (Printed Circuitry Board.) or for Video Games the Cartridge or CD. Data from inside these ROM-chips is copied using somekind of backup device "dumped" to an ordinary binary computer file. (Now that the most of the Arcade games have been umped more and more popular become devices used for new systems like Gameboy Advance. GBA Backup devices.) So, when you are running MAME with the ROMs from a game, then you're actually playing exactly the same game that you played, down at your local arcade only this time insted of playing it on some old game machine you are runing it on a modern PC.
Mame Rom Set
Mame allows for different styles of 'sets' or 'where to place ROMS'
ROM is a chip on a PCB (printed Circuit board) This can be transfered to a
file (called a ROM- to maintain consistancy) An arcade game can consist of
several ROMs on one PCB. ON the PC side, as a result, a Game can require
several ROM files.
Due to the size involved, mame needs these files collected together in ZIP files - so most of the mame roms you will download will be zip files. There are several games are are similar, but vary slightly. These generally result in the changing on a single ROM chip on the PCB (change of ROM filename) Mame is able to work in a child / parent basis organised through mame that a 'child' set can also obtain needed rom files from the 'parent' zip file.
As a result of this.. there exists the possibilty
for 3 different types of MAE ROM SETs
Not Merged Sets :
These invole EVERY rom file being stored in EVERY zip file needed for a given
game...
This result its duplicity for several files & is very wasteful in HDD space.
Split sets :
This create a number of Zip files, where the 'parent' ZIP file contains all
the shared files the the 'child' needs. This also creates rom Zip files for
each child ZIPfile that contains just the Mame Rom Files that the child requires;
but are not required by the parent.
(advantages, If missing a set or a rom, it is generally smaller & easier
to locate... Most people use this system)
Merged sets :
This idea removes the child / parent idea. & allows for only parent Zip
files. This singular Zip file contains all the roms required for every child
based game. (advantages : less Zip files required.)
What do you do with the MAME ROM Zip files
You do not need to decompress ROM files for MAME Emulator to use them. To save your computers hard disk space don't do it. Put the zip files into your ROM directory and MAME will automaticly temp unzip teme when it will be needed.