MAME/CPS Woes and Troubles

[Skulhedface]

I've noticed as I download a myriad of MAME/CPS/ whathaveyou roms (basically arcade games, ya know?) that a good majority of them fail to work.

The main problem is that the game itself will be listed in the "available" directory, and that I can fiddle with the options prior to starting the emulation, but that when I attempt to run it, it tells me that a bunch of files are not found.

My question is, what's the problem?

Is my computer not catching all the files?

Are the ROM sites only offering partial downloads? (I've noticed quite a few CPS games I've downloaded have this problem... every time I try to run a Marvel vs. SF game, or even something simpler from the old school like Alien Vs. Predator, it won't work.)

Do the emulators themselves not work correctly? Highly doubtful because I have a shitload of different emulators, basically the Windows version of every MAME/CPS/etc emu's I could find from any of the sites listed in the ROM exchange thread.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Comrade Rocket]

same thing happens with me. i just thought the site wasnt sending me all the files

[Skulhedface]

Well, I just wanted a definitive answer, as it seems most other users around here have no problems.

If it is the ROMs themselves, is there another website that offers the complete downloads?

If it's the computer...well, I'm jolly well fucked.

If it's the emulator, well what's the best all-purpose emulator? That way, I can get some Alien Vs. Predator, Metal Slug, Rampage and Marvel Vs Capcom without frequent emulator changes...

[Anonymous]

It's the roms. Probably. It depends on what files are missing. There are a few arcade rom sites in the Rom links thread.

[executioneer]

when you download roms you have to download whichever one is largest in size, since that one is the "main" one usually :/ if you get the US version of most games they won't work, since the "main" is the World or Euro version and the US one is a patch for that :/

[soundtest]

I've had that problem a lot. Another one is where roms that once worked perfectly now bring up that missing files error. I'm not sure if MAME alters the roms in any way (it shouldn't), but all the roms i set with read-only attributes don't seem to get corrupt.

[McClain]

I've had the same ROM (take Rival Schools for example) work with one version of MAME32 and when I updated the .exe to a newer version it wouldn't load properly anymore.
I suggest trying a different version of MAME. If you're not running MAME32 8b then try the most recent command line version.

[whoreable]

hey mcclain since you are the mame cabinet expert i was wondering if you had any plans for a 4 player mame cab.

i cant find any ones that are to my liking, all i want are 6-8 buttons for players 1-2 and 3-6 buttons for players 3-4. i dont want all those damn spinners and crap, maybe jsut some cheap trakcball for mouse control abd possibly a couple light guns.

I am also thinking about using a 27" tv along with an athlon 900, geforce 2 pro and some other spare parts i have lying around.

do you have any plans, or do you think i need to go design my own from scratch?

Any other advice?

[McClain]

I suggest using Lusid's plans. It offers one of the larger control panels available and is pretty simple to do. His templates come with the SFII button config and can be placed wherever you want on the panel.

http://users.adelphia.net/~seanhat/arcade/

I personally don't have any intention of making something that large. I've considered a 3P, but any of the games that require more than 2 players only need 3 buttons per person. X-Men, TMNT, Simpsons, Avengers, etc. None of them need the 6 button config. Good luck and let me know if you have any q's.