List of MAME clones worth playing - Redux

[Metalzoic]

On 11/24/2016 at 6:14 PM, phantasy said:

Hey guys,

I updated MAME to ver .179 and saw that Metalzoic's custom 7001 title xml for ver 175 left me with about 39 red titles in RL. I found about the same if I started from scratch with the dropbox semi official .179 files/filters. So I went through everything and am happy to share my findings and new files:

Nice. Do you happen to know what the additional 608 games are (other than Strider 2 and afterburner)?

I'm considering updating to ARCADE64 MAME for 180 if it is all solid and has full working lightgun support.

[phantasy]

The 608 extra games are mostly if not all MATURE games which I did not filter out.  

I did just get hold of Arcade64 MAME for .179 which for the uninitiated, is a continuation of 32/64 bit MAMEUIFX after the official one ended at version .175.  Only thing I haven't sorted out yet is why it has a total of 9845 games by default vs MAME's 33,747!  I thought maybe Non-working was cut but there is a non-working section so I have to look into it more.

QUESTION:  Is there a separate database or filter to get the non-arcade games of MAME?  Think of it as a MESS.xml WITHOUT bios. For example, in .179, under all games, if I filter out arcade, I get 2461 titles.  If I further tick out Non-Working, I get 1377.  Here is where it is tricky- I'd like to filter out consoles and computers (Atari 5200, BBC Micro, etc), but DO keep things like Dig Dug (Gakken), Pac Man (Tomy), and Pac-Man (Coleco, Rev. 29).  Is this already covered in the 'Electronic Games' xml or is that for RetroArch/MADrigal's .exe games?

[thatman84]

i didnt think mess games were included in mame sets? Just the bios files for the mess systems

 

what do you use to filter?

 

[Metalzoic]

3 hours ago, phantasy said:

The 608 extra games are mostly if not all MATURE games which I did not filter out.  

I did just get hold of Arcade64 MAME for .179 which for the uninitiated, is a continuation of 32/64 bit MAMEUIFX after the official one ended at version .175.  Only thing I haven't sorted out yet is why it has a total of 9845 games by default vs MAME's 33,747!  I thought maybe Non-working was cut but there is a non-working section so I have to look into it more.

That makes sense. I figured it was something I remove that you kept in.

 

Never used Arcade64, but I think it's arcade games only right (I would hope so)? Maybe they build it to already filter out the crap? Maybe they audit for parents only?

And when it comes to MESS I only run it as a separate emulator entirely and only because of my Ghosts'n Goblins wheel which required some console versions. Other than that exception (and Pac-Man Championship as PSP version is the only available that I know of) I keep console games off my cab entirely.  

 

EDIT: Where the hell is the Arcade64 website? I can't find anything googling it.

[phantasy]

@Metalzoic

The emulator does list a website:

http://www.1emulation.com

with the specific subsection I found here:

http://www.1emulation.com/forums/forum/127-arcade/

[thatman84]

19 hours ago, Metalzoic said:

That makes sense. I figured it was something I remove that you kept in.

 

Never used Arcade64, but I think it's arcade games only right (I would hope so)? Maybe they build it to already filter out the crap? Maybe they audit for parents only?

And when it comes to MESS I only run it as a separate emulator entirely and only because of my Ghosts'n Goblins wheel which required some console versions. Other than that exception (and Pac-Man Championship as PSP version is the only available that I know of) I keep console games off my cab entirely.  

 

EDIT: Where the hell is the Arcade64 website? I can't find anything googling it.

@sevenseal is releasing a version in the downloads if you didn't know @Metalzoic

 

[phantasy]

@Metalzoic

I put in a ton of work to replicate what you did for .175 now for .179 to benefit the community.  I realized there was more to it than what's in my xml from the earlier post.  I could use your advice on one or two minor details... Here is my work flowchart copied from you:

- Start at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/19vpff3f4x87yu4/AAB4u5ffSIweBRXOB9y1O974a/MAME 0.179?dl=0

- Begin with mame_no_casino_mahjong_mature_quiz_electro_utilities.xml  (I reworded your post here to match the file name at the link). This starting xml is a change for me as now I am leaving in the handful of PlayChoice games and eliminating Mature as this will cater to more end users (speculation only). I have a Mature.xml as a genre instead.

- Then I strip away nearly all the tabletop/boardgame stuff. (All Tabletop marked games removed except I left 'ataxx' and 'spot'- Thoughts?  Only one game was listed as board game which I removed)

- Then I strip out the Shogi Go stuff that's left over. (Removed anything marked Shougi but did not find Shogi or games with 'Go' in the title)

- Then I remove all the bartop games like Megatouch etc... (Got rid of anything Megatouch and Pit Boss- am I missing others?)

- Then I pull some of the crap protos and bootlegs.  (** I differ in that I LEFT THEM ALL IN- I loaded a few of each and find this subject too subjective without more info. I like Hard Drivin' anything so did not want to lose them yet)

- I fix the screwed up genre soccer game (Phulsof will jhave this fixed in 176) (I left untouched as this is ver 179 so should be fixed by now)

- I un-clone most of the good clones listed in this topic (I did EVERY one in this and checked against all old threads. My new additions I also uncloned are After Burner and Brix... and note 'ikari3nr' changed to 'ikari3u' to unclone)

- Unclone the 2P version of 4+P games (Please clarify: I did ALL in game dip-switches and F2 changes from your list, but are there any to edit in the xml?)

- Fix/unclone the 2 Zero Team games (Done, but note the dubious instruction 'You must unclone both Zero Team games because there actually is no parent'... does that also mean nzeroteama: New Zero Team (V33 SYSTEM TYPE_B hardware, China?) too or just 'New Zero Team (V33 SYSTEM TYPE_B hardware)' and 'Zero Team 2000'?

- Un-clone the 2 extra Neo Geo games  (No Change: already uncloned)

- I leave all the clones and simply filter them out in HyperHQ. That way I don't lose access to any of them if it turns out I want them. (Same Here) ...and I think that's it.

NON XML tasks but VERY good to do:

- After that I went through every single 4p game I listed and changed the settings or dip-switches so they play correctly 2P.

Then I split that cleaned DB into all the Manufacturer wheels I use, then I split them all out with genres.

***That ends the Metalzoic instructions, but my final additional step was to add ALL variants of 'Strider 2' (Clones left in to keep everything uniform- and will also let HyperHQ filter clones). Strider 2's awesomeness supersedes any 'non-working' status.

 

Other thoughts:

STRIDER 2 - I'm leaving this tagged as a 4 player game, because hitting tab to enter the controls lists it as 4 players but I never figured out why;  Strider 1 has 2pl alt mode, but has anyone ever seen any mode other than 1 player? That's for the MAME team to sort out anyway.

If I am leaving in Nintendo's PlayChoice titles, what about Sega's Mega-Touch games?  They have been listed as not-working for a while but I cannot figure out what is wrong with them other than that MAME says so; they seem to load and run just fine. Anyone?

This brings my earlier game count of 7609 down to 7308 (which is odd since I removed Mature AND many more games per Metalzoic making me think the number would be closer to your original 7001 so I may have missed some bar games, but the extras are likely the protos and bootlegs).

The attached xml should give Mame ver .179 users no_casino_mahjong_mature_quiz_electro_utilities (and obviously no Non-Working except Strider 2) plus Metalzoic's uncloning and trimming.

If anyone needs genre xmls I can provide them as well. Enjoy!

 

Mame.xml

[Metalzoic]

Quote

Then I strip away nearly all the tabletop/boardgame stuff. (All Tabletop marked games removed except I left 'ataxx' and 'spot'- Thoughts?  Only one game was listed as board game which I removed)

Sounds good. I almost left Ataxx in myself. Spot I'm not familiar with, but if it's on the line I'd say keep it.

 

Quote

Then I strip out the Shogi Go stuff that's left over. (Removed anything marked Shougi but did not find Shogi or games with 'Go' in the title)

I belive in Don's Tools I search for Shogi, Shougi, Mahjong, Dominos, Tiles... and thee were one or two other words that pop up in this category on non-games. Can't remember. However just removing the Mahjong category doesn't get them all. you have to go weeding for them. There's also a big chunk of them with a specific name (that I no longer remember) you have to weed out.

Quote

Then I remove all the bartop games like Megatouch etc... (Got rid of anything Megatouch and Pit Boss- am I missing others?)

There's a ton of these. Can't remember the names of them all. Search for Touch, Bar, mega, Ultra, redemption, puzzle, match etc... 

Basically I just spent a few hours searching different words that I thought might pull something and removed them as I went. You'll also spot manufacturer names and searching for their specific games will help find a lot.

 

Quote

I un-clone most of the good clones listed in this topic (I did EVERY one in this and checked against all old threads. My new additions I also uncloned are After Burner and Brix... and note 'ikari3nr' changed to 'ikari3u' to unclone)

Nice. I should add those to my Unclone list. More info on the ikari game... do I have it listed wrong and it needs to be fixed on the list?

 

Quote

Unclone the 2P version of 4+P games (Please clarify: I did ALL in game dip-switches and F2 changes from your list, but are there any to edit in the xml?)

The ones listed in the dipswitch section are just the switches, but the 2p clones listed with the other clones need to be uncloned in the xml if I remember right.

 

 

Quote

Fix/unclone the 2 Zero Team games (Done, but note the dubious instruction 'You must unclone both Zero Team games because there actually is no parent'... does that also mean nzeroteama: New Zero Team (V33 SYSTEM TYPE_B hardware, China?) too or just 'New Zero Team (V33 SYSTEM TYPE_B hardware)' and 'Zero Team 2000'?

There were only the other 2 in 175. I don't remember a China version, but I wouldn't worry about it probably.

 

Quote

Un-clone the 2 extra Neo Geo games  (No Change: already uncloned)

Yes, they already exist in the MAME database. What I posted there is that they need to be added into the Neo Geo MVS database for people that use a nEO-gEO WHEEL.

 

Quote

my final additional step was to add ALL variants of 'Strider 2' (Clones left in to keep everything uniform- and will also let HyperHQ filter clones). Strider 2's awesomeness supersedes any 'non-working' status. 

I'm glad of this. I went looking for it to add into the xml, but couldn't find it and was starting to think I had imagined this game.

[phantasy]

2 hours ago, Metalzoic said:

Sounds good. I almost left Ataxx in myself. Spot I'm not familiar with, but if it's on the line I'd say keep it.

Spot is similar to Ataxx and Othello featuring the old 7-up mascot- these two titles stood out from all the Asian ones.

I belive in Don's Tools I search for Shogi, Shougi, Mahjong, Dominos, Tiles... and thee were one or two other words that pop up in this category on non-games. Can't remember. However just removing the Mahjong category doesn't get them all. you have to go weeding for them. There's also a big chunk of them with a specific name (that I no longer remember) you have to weed out.

Which of Don's tools does this best? I'm using the old fashioned Control+F in Notepad II on the XML, haha! I think the xml genres have maybe gotten better since even .175 as I am finding little left to do: Shogi, Shougi, Mahjong were done prior, Dominos there is nothing that isn't a regular game to remove, Tiles yielded nothing. If someone comes up with the other forgotten names I will weed them out.

There's a ton of these. Can't remember the names of them all. Search for Touch, Bar, mega, Ultra, redemption, puzzle, match etc...  DID these just now - one redemption title but too cute to remove. I think I'm done on this and am happy to pass the reigns to someone else for any final tweaking (other than noted above).

Nice. I should add those to my Unclone list.  After Burner and After Burner II should be enjoyed separately, yes. Please do add part 1 to your unclone list. Strider 2 is more like your Neo Geo instructions and must be added as opposed to uncloned as it is currently listed as a non-working game but I assure anyone they will have plenty of fun with it.

More info on the ikari game... do I have it listed wrong and it needs to be fixed on the list? It may be just a rom name update. One of the unclone lists had the Ikari game, but not name matched in my xml but I found the title anyway and changed the one I have as uncloned.

There were only the other 2 in 175. I don't remember a China version, but I wouldn't worry about it probably. There is one Zero Team 2000 and two New Zero Team games. For those inclined, you can probably remove ' New Zero Team (V33 SYSTEM TYPE_B hardware, China?) ' from my xml but I'm leaving it so I may study if and any differences exist.

...starting to think I had imagined this game. Strider 2 is indeed real though I never saw it in the arcade like I did the first one. It was ported to Playstation and if you are a fan of the series, the new remake game is pretty awesome too. You can play it on a PS4 even!

Ok- updating the last XML to include the removal of Black Touch (Korea), all Touchmaster games, etc. This brings the list down to 7283 Games (catching up to you!!) Also, funny, but somewhere PONG variants got removed (pongd and pongf)- strangely they are tagged as AAMA red for strong sexual content?!?! Changed both tags to green AAMA...

 

[newoski]

On 8/14/2016 at 1:59 PM, newoski said:

My MAME XML has a lot of crazy customizations, which makes updating a really cumbersome process. To solve this once and for all, I just worked with a developer on Upwork.com to create a simple app that will take all the headache out of maintaining parent / clone customizations like this. 

 

The app is pretty simple. It takes an input list of Parent roms that you'd like to remove and an input list of the Clones that you'd like to convert to Parents. Then it goes through and updates ALL your databases, including Genres etc. 

 

I'm still working the kinks out, but if anyone would like to test before I share it with the community, shoot me a PM. 

Bumping this. Hoping to release, but still need to test with users. PM me if you're willing to test

[Metalzoic]

Quote

Which of Don's tools does this best? I'm using the old fashioned Control+F in Notepad II on the XML, haha!

Oh dear God man. I don't know which Dons Tools. I just plug in the XML and it parses all the details and spits out a custom XML. Super easy to use.

 

Quote

After Burner and After Burner II should be enjoyed separately, yes. Please do add part 1 to your unclone list

Cool, but exactly what rom should I be uncloning?

And post the xml details of Strider 2 and I'll add it up there somewhere.

[phantasy]

RE: Arcade (MAMEFX).. I also saw a link on mameworld.info that just announced ver 180 with a link page and description:

http://arcade.mameworld.info/

What's in it?

• - Arcade games only
• - NO pinball
• - NO poker games
• - NO gambling games
• - NO systems that require software, such as computers and consoles
• - If all the games of a specific source file are not functional, then they are removed.

 

Going to mess with all of Don's tools to find the best one then.

As for which After Burner rom, there is only one not named as the sequel to unclone:

  </game>
  <game name="aburner" index="" image="">
    <description>After Burner</description>
    <cloneof></cloneof>
    <crc>6c07c78d</crc>
    <manufacturer>Sega</manufacturer>
    <year>1987</year>
    <genre>Shooter</genre>
    <rating>AAMA - Green (Suitable For All Ages)</rating>
    <players>1</players>
    <ctrltype>Stick</ctrltype>
    <buttons>2</buttons>
    <score>4.1</score>
    <enabled>Yes</enabled>

 

Strider 2 is:

</game>
  <game name="strider2" index="" image="">
    <description>Strider 2 (USA 991213)</description>
    <cloneof></cloneof>
    <crc></crc>
    <manufacturer>Capcom</manufacturer>
    <year>1999</year>
    <genre>Platform</genre>
    <rating>AAMA - Yellow (Animated Violence Mild)</rating>
    <players>4</players>
    <ctrltype>Joystick</ctrltype>
    <buttons>3</buttons>
    <joyways>8</joyways>
    <score>4.1</score>
    <enabled>Yes</enabled>
  </game>
  <game name="strider2a" index="" image="">
    <description>Strider 2 (Asia 991213)</description>
    <cloneof>strider2</cloneof>
    <crc></crc>
    <manufacturer>Capcom</manufacturer>
    <year>1999</year>
    <genre>Platform</genre>
    <rating>AAMA - Yellow (Animated Violence Mild)</rating>
    <players>4</players>
    <ctrltype>Joystick</ctrltype>
    <buttons>3</buttons>
    <joyways>8</joyways>
    <score>4.1</score>
    <enabled>Yes</enabled>
  </game>
   <game name="shiryu2" index="" image="">
    <description>Strider Hiryu 2 (Japan 991213)</description>
    <cloneof>strider2</cloneof>
    <crc></crc>
    <manufacturer>Capcom</manufacturer>
    <year>1999</year>
    <genre>Platform</genre>
    <rating>AAMA - Yellow (Animated Violence Mild)</rating>
    <players>4</players>
    <ctrltype>Joystick</ctrltype>
    <buttons>3</buttons>
    <joyways>8</joyways>
    <score>4.1</score>
    <enabled>Yes</enabled>

 

[phantasy]

Well, I have finally done it!  Thought I'd share a super xml for version .180 with a 7100 Game total!  But first:

@Metalzoic: and update on Ikari Warriors... I report a typo in the unclone list:

Rambo 3                         ikari           irariram        Bootleg/SNK         Rambo version of Ikari Wariors with joystick hack

note 'irariram' should change the first 'r' to a 'k' to be 'ikariram' in your unclone list.

ALSO to be added to the UNCLONE list:

Ikari III - The Rescue (US, Rotary Joystick)       clone name: ikari3u         parent name: ikari3     Manufacturer: SNK     Reason: Rotary control vs 8 way joystick.

BOTH OF THE ABOVE ARE FIXED IN MY NEW ATTACHED XML BELOW...

Note: mame_no_casino_mahjong_mature_quiz_electro_utilities is the base xml used for the following changes...

I upgraded my roms to latest version .180 and after learning Don's awesome 'Filter HyperList' tool, I redid everything from scratch which was MUCH more efficient! BIG thanks to phulshof for honoring my request to upload the former xml filters. Using .175, I was able to create a "What Metalzoic removed" xml to then apply to my .180 so there is no question or searching for the extra bar, touch etc. titles. I'm including that xml as it sits well in my genres in case I want to check them out again. Plus it may be handy to Metalzoic for reference. 

So, I have an xml of .180 with just those removals, and then an updated one: MAME added games from .175 to .180, were easy to sort [112 games total of 83 clones and 29 parents]. Only 4 removals needed here following Metalzoic's criteria: Deluxe 4 U (ver. 0107, 07/01/2000),   Mayjinsen 3,   Star Audition,  and  Time Scanner (TS 2.0, Magnet System, prototype)

I then did my aforementioned manual edits to the xml:  Strider 2 added, Afterburner 1 uncloned,  Pong - pongf and pongd re-added and re-rated 'AAMA - Green (Suitable For All Ages)' as they erroneously got excluded due to the wrong 'mature' rating, Ataxx left in (it was already there). **NEW: 'Roller Crush' parent was re-added since it oddly disappeared.

'Spot (Arcadia, V 2.0)' not rejoined as previously considered: it is seemingly a console port (Also game count is now at 7100 now and I like the round number)

Finally, all clones needing uncloning as featured in this thread are now uncloned.  The only other tweaks are the suggested in-game changes to dipswitches/services settings, as previously mentioned.

So, this is Metalzoic's awesome 7001 game xml from ver .175 now updated to 7100 games as a ver .180 xml! When filtered of clones via HyperHQ or edited xml, that brings Metalzoic's 2763 originals game count up to my 2789 in ver .180 which is 26 games added. Whew! Enjoy!  Special thanks to Metalzoic, phulshof, and Don's HyperTools.

Mame .180 (Final Phantasy).7z

[Metalzoic]

Wow nice work man!

Looks like I'll be updating to 180 soon then since you already did all the hard part for me. Ha!

 

[Metalzoic]

OK The first posts have been updated. both the list and the Clone XML both include Afterburner 1 and Ikari III The Rescue Rotary version.

Credit for Afterburner given to Snstay who actually told me it needed to be added back when I made this thread and I forgot. Sorry man. Thanksfully phantasy brought it back up again.

 

Once again if anyone knows of or finds a clone they think should be added (or if I missed one already mentioned) please post.

 

@phulshof did you see his mention of pong being rated mature on accident in the xmls? Might need to be fixed in your future official databases

[phantasy]

A dipswitch / service menu settings idea...

Was thinking.. what actually saves the dipswitch and service menu settings so I would not have to redo them all when I update my MAME version (which now I don't plan to for a long time)?  Is it the NVRAM folder that keeps track of that?  If so, would an attachment of the appropriate files (without the roms) be a good upload to save so one could just import them into a new MAME install or save other people the trouble?

[Metalzoic]

Not sure, I've never looked into it. Problem with that is many older files aren't compatible from one version of MAME to another or even between types of MAME of the same version.

I'd leave that for people to do manually as they want.

[phulshof]

No, I did not. Is there a complete list of changes I should do?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[Metalzoic]

3 minutes ago, phulshof said:

No, I did not. Is there a complete list of changes I should do?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 

This bit 2 posts above

Quote

 Pong - pongf and pongd re-added and re-rated 'AAMA - Green (Suitable For All Ages)' as they erroneously got excluded due to the wrong 'mature' rating, Ataxx left in (it was already there). **NEW: 'Roller Crush' parent was re-added since it oddly disappeared.

 

[thatman84]

It really bugs me that after nearly a year I still don't fully understand wtf all this means  so thick lol

[ninja2bceen]

Originally it was an xml for just the good clone games that were worthy of play in case you hid clones. I gave mine as a genre so that are available. Are we saying now that there are 7 k worth while to play? It use to be like 100

[Metalzoic]

Originally it was an xml for just the good clone games that were worthy of play in case you hid clones. I gave mine as a genre so that are available. Are we saying now that there are 7 k worth while to play? It use to be like 100

No he was just talking about my full MAME database that had all the crap removed and was down to 7001 games. In 180 they've added some games and he whittled the full xml down to 7100

Sent from my SM-G935V

[thatman84]

2789 is the actual worthy games number now as above posts.

[ninja2bceen]

Clones or in general?

[Metalzoic]

He's probably talking parents? The 7001 and 7100 xmls are parents, clones and un-clones from this topic. Just with all the other stuff stripped out (talked about a couple pages back)

Sent from my SM-G935V