MAME 0.134u4: What's New, How to Download, and How to Use ROMs
What is MAME and why is it important for arcade game enthusiasts?
If you are a fan of classic arcade games, you have probably heard of MAME, or Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. MAME is a software that allows you to play thousands of arcade games on your computer, using the original game code and data. MAME's purpose is to preserve the history of arcade games, as many of them are rare, obscure, or no longer available in their original form.
[New release] mame 0.134u4 rom
MAME is not just a simple emulator, but a complex framework that recreates the hardware and software of various arcade machines, from the earliest ones in the 1970s to the most recent ones in the 2000s. MAME supports games from different genres, such as shooters, fighters, racers, puzzles, sports, and more. MAME also emulates other types of machines, such as pinball, slot machines, computers, consoles, and calculators.
MAME is an open-source project that is constantly updated by a team of developers and contributors from around the world. MAME releases new versions regularly, adding new features, improvements, bug fixes, and support for more games and hardware. The latest official MAME release is version 0.255, which was released on May 31, 2023.
In this article, we will focus on one of the previous releases of MAME, version 0.134u4, which was released on October 25, 2009. This version introduced some significant changes and additions to the emulator, as well as support for many new games and hardware. We will explain what is new in this version, how to download and install it on your computer, and how to play arcade games with it.
What are ROMs and how do they work with MAME?
Before we dive into the details of MAME 0.134u4, we need to explain what are ROMs and how they work with MAME. ROMs are files that contain the game code and data that are stored in the memory chips of arcade machines. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory, which means that these files cannot be modified or erased by normal means.
ROMs are essential for playing arcade games with MAME, as they provide the information that MAME needs to emulate the game accurately. Without ROMs, MAME cannot run any game at all. However, ROMs are not enough by themselves; they also need other files that contain information about the hardware of the arcade machine, such as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), CHD (Compressed Hunks of Data), or samples (sound effects).
ROMs are usually distributed in ZIP files that contain all the necessary files for a specific game or machine. These ZIP files are named according to a convention that identifies the game or machine they belong to. For example, pacman.zip contains the ROMs for Pac-Man (1980), while neogeo.zip contains the BIOS for Neo Geo (1990).
ROMs are not freely available online; they are protected by copyright laws and require permission from their owners to be legally distributed or used. Therefore, you should only download ROMs from official or trusted sources that respect these laws and have obtained permission from the original game developers or publishers. You should also only use ROMs for games that you own or have legally acquired, and delete them if you no longer own or have them. Using ROMs for games that you do not own or have is considered piracy and is illegal in most countries.
Another important thing to note is that ROMs are not universal; they are specific to the version and region of the game or machine they come from. For example, there are different ROMs for Pac-Man (1980) depending on whether it was released in Japan, USA, Europe, or elsewhere. These ROMs may have different names, languages, graphics, sounds, or gameplay features. Therefore, you need to make sure that you download the correct ROMs for the game or machine that you want to play with MAME.
What is new in the latest MAME release 0.134u4?
Now that we have explained what are ROMs and how they work with MAME, let us move on to the main topic of this article: the latest MAME release 0.134u4. This version was released on October 25, 2009, and it introduced some significant changes and additions to the emulator, as well as support for many new games and hardware. Let us take a look at what is new in this version.
New features and improvements
One of the most notable features of MAME 0.134u4 is the introduction of a new user interface called MEWUI (MAME Enhanced Web User Interface). MEWUI is a web-based interface that allows you to browse, search, filter, and launch games from a web browser. MEWUI also provides information about the games, such as screenshots, flyers, manuals, history, tips, cheats, and more. MEWUI is designed to be simple, fast, and responsive, and it works on any device that supports HTML5 and JavaScript.
To use MEWUI, you need to run MAME with the -http option and specify a port number. For example, if you run MAME with the command mame -http 8080, you can access MEWUI from your web browser by typing http://localhost:8080 in the address bar. You can also access MEWUI from another device on the same network by typing http://:8080, where is the IP address of your computer running MAME.
Another new feature of MAME 0.134u4 is the support for Lua scripting. Lua is a lightweight and powerful programming language that can be used to extend and customize MAME's functionality. With Lua scripting, you can create your own plugins, cheats, trainers, debuggers, frontends, or anything else that you can imagine. Lua scripting also allows you to interact with MAME's internal data and functions, such as memory, registers, inputs, outputs, video, audio, timers, devices, and more.
To use Lua scripting with MAME 0.134u4, you need to run MAME with the -plugin option and specify a Lua script file. For example, if you run MAME with the command mame -plugin cheat.lua pacman, you can use the cheat plugin that comes with MAME to enable cheats for Pac-Man (1980). You can also write your own Lua scripts or download them from online sources. You can find more information about Lua scripting in MAME's documentation or on its official website.
New games supported and fixed
Of course, one of the main reasons to use MAME is to play arcade games that are otherwise unavailable or inaccessible. MAME 0.134u4 added support for many new games and fixed some issues with existing ones. Here are some of the highlights:
Alien Syndrome (set 4): This is a new clone of Alien Syndrome (1987), a sci-fi shooter game by Sega. This clone has some differences from the original version, such as different enemy patterns, colors, and sounds. It also has a different title screen that says "Alien Syndrome (set 4)" instead of "Alien Syndrome". You can play this clone with MAME 0.134u4 by using the ROM file aliensyn4.zip.
Arkanoid (Game Corporation bootleg, set 2): This is a new clone of Arkanoid (1986), a breakout-style game by Taito. This clone is a bootleg version that was made by Game Corporation, a company that produced unauthorized copies of arcade games. This clone has some differences from the original version, such as different graphics, sounds, and levels. It also has a different title screen that says "Arkanoid (Game Corporation bootleg, set 2)" instead of "Arkanoid". You can play this clone with MAME 0.134u4 by using the ROM file arkgcbl2.zip.
Bubble Bobble Lost Cave V1.2: This is a new hack of Bubble Bobble (1986), a platform game by Taito. This hack is a fan-made project that aims to create a new version of Bubble Bobble with 100 new levels, based on unused and prototype levels from various sources. The hack also features some changes and improvements to the gameplay, graphics, and music. You can play this hack with MAME 0.134u4 by using the ROM file bublcave.zip.
Donkey Kong II - Jumpman Returns (hack, V1.2): This is a new hack of Donkey Kong (1981), a platform game by Nintendo. This hack is a fan-made project that aims to create a sequel to Donkey Kong with four new stages, based on the original arcade hardware. The hack also features some changes and improvements to the gameplay, graphics, and music. You can play this hack with MAME 0.134u4 by using the ROM file dkongx.zip.
Galaga '88 (Japan): This is a new clone of Galaga '88 (1987), a shooter game by Namco. This clone is the original Japanese version of the game, which has some differences from the international version, such as different text, graphics, and sounds. It also has a different title screen that says "Galaga '88" instead of "Galaga '88 (set 1)". You can play this clone with MAME 0.134u4 by using the ROM file galaga88j.zip.
Metal Slug 6 (hack): This is a new hack of Metal Slug 6 (2006), a run-and-gun game by SNK Playmore. This hack is an unofficial port of the game from the Atomiswave arcade system to the Neo Geo arcade system, using the hardware and software of Metal Slug 5 (2003). The hack features some changes and limitations to the gameplay, graphics, and music, due to the differences between the two systems. You can play this hack with MAME 0.134u4 by using the ROM file mslug6h.zip.
Pac-Mania (bootleg): This is a new clone of Pac-Mania (1987), a maze game by Namco. This clone is a bootleg version that was made by an unknown company, possibly in China or Taiwan. This clone has some differences from the original version, such as different graphics, sounds, and levels. It also has a different title screen that says "Pac-Mania" instead of "Pac-Mania (set 1)". You can play this clone with MAME 0.134u4 by using the ROM file pacmania.zip.
Street Fighter II': Champion Edition (Accelerator Pt.II): This is a new clone of Street Fighter II': Champion Edition (1992), a fighting game by Capcom. This clone is an unofficial upgrade of the game that was made by an unknown company, possibly in Taiwan or Hong Kong. This clone features some changes and enhancements to the gameplay, graphics, and music, such as faster speed, more moves, more colors, and more sound effects. You can play this clone with MAME 0.134u4 by using the ROM file sf2accp2.zip.
Super Mario Bros. (PlayChoice-10): This is a new clone of Super Mario Bros. (1985), a platform game by Nintendo. This clone is an official port of the game from the NES console to the PlayChoice-10 arcade system, which was a system that allowed players to play NES games on arcade machines for a limited time. This clone features some changes and adaptations to the gameplay, graphics, and music, such as different controls, menus, timers, and coin slots. You can play this clone with MAME 0.134u4 by using the ROM file smb.zip.
New hardware emulated
Besides adding and fixing games, MAME 0.134u4 also added and improved the emulation of some hardware devices that are used by arcade machines. These devices include CPUs (Central Processing Units), sound chips, video chips, input devices, and more. Here are some of the highlights:
ARM7 CPU: This is a 32-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) CPU that was developed by ARM Holdings in the 1990s. It is widely used in various devices, such as mobile phones, handheld consoles, PDAs, and embedded systems. MAME 0.134u4 added support for the ARM7 CPU core, which allows MAME to emulate games and machines that use this CPU, such as Sega Naomi 2 (2001), Sammy Atomiswave (2003), and Nintendo DS (2004).
ES5506 sound chip: This is a 16-bit digital sound chip that was developed by Ensoniq in the late 1980s. It is capable of producing high-quality stereo sound with up to 32 voices and various effects. MAME 0.134u4 improved the emulation of the ES5506 sound chip, which allows MAME to emulate games and machines that use this sound chip, such as Atari Games System 2 (1989), Taito F3 System (1992), and Midway V Unit (1994).
Konami K056832 video chip: This is a 16-bit video chip that was developed by Konami in the mid-1990s. It is capable of producing high-resolution graphics with up to 256 colors and various effects. MAME 0.134u4 improved the emulation of the Konami K056832 video chip, which allows MAME to emulate games and machines that use this video chip, such as Konami GX (1994), Konami System 573 (1998), and Konami Viper (2001).
Light gun: This is a type of input device that simulates a firearm and allows players to shoot at targets on the screen. Light guns work by detecting the light emitted by the screen when the trigger is pulled. MAME 0.134u4 added support for light gun emulation, which allows MAME to emulate games and machines that use light guns, such as Operation Wolf (1987), Lethal Enforcers (1992), and Time Crisis (1995).
How to download and install MAME 0.134u4 and its ROMs?
Now that we have seen what is new in MAME 0.134u4, let us see how to download and install it on your computer, along with its ROMs. The process is not very complicated, but it requires some attention and care. Here are the steps to follow:
Downloading MAME and ROMs from official and trusted sources
The first step is to download MAME 0.134u4 from its official website or a trusted source that provides it. You can find the official website of MAME at https://www.mamedev.org/, where you can download the latest version of MAME or any previous version that you want. You can also find other sources that provide MAME downloads, such as https://www.emuparadise.me/, https://www.planetemu.net/, or https://www.arcadeitalia.net/. However, you should always be careful when downloading files from unknown or unverified sources, as they may contain viruses or malware.
The second step is to download ROMs for the games or machines that you want to play with MAME 0.134u4 from official or trusted sources that respect the legal rights of the game owners. You can find some official sources of ROMs at https://www.mamedev.org/roms/, where you can download ROMs for games that are free or have been donated by their owners to the public domain. You can also find other sources that provide ROMs downloads, such as https://www.emuparadise.me/, https://www.planetemu.net/, or https://www.arcadeitalia.net/. However, you should always be careful when downloading files from unknown or unverified sources, as they may contain viruses or malware.
The third step is to verify that the files that you have downloaded are correct and complete. You can do this by using a tool called ClrMamePro, which is a ROM manager that checks and fixes your ROM files according to the latest MAME database. You can download ClrMamePro from its official website at https://mamedev.emulab.it/clrmamepro/. You can also find more information about how to use ClrMamePro in its documentation or on its official forum.
Installing MAME and ROMs on your computer
The fourth step is to install MAME 0.134u4 and its ROMs on your computer. This is a simple process that does not require any special skills or tools. Here are the steps to follow:
Create a folder on your computer where you want to install MAME 0.134u4. For example, you can create a folder called C:\MAME.
Extract the files that you have downloaded from MAME's website or source into the folder that you have created. You should see a file called mame.exe and several other files and folders.
Create a subfolder inside the folder that you have created called roms. For example, you can create a subfolder called C:\MAME\roms.
Extract the ZIP files that contain the ROMs that you have downloaded from ROMs' website or source into the subfolder that you have created. You should see several ZIP files with different names, such as pacman.zip, neogeo.zip, or mslug6h.zip.
Optionally, you can also create other subfolders inside the folder that you have created for other files that MAME uses, such as samples, artwork, snaps, flyers, manuals, etc. You can download these files from MAME's website or source and extract them into the corresponding subfolders.
That's it! You have successfully installed MAME 0.134u4 and its ROMs on your computer. You are now ready to play arcade games with MAME.
Configuring MAME and ROMs for optimal performance and compatibility
The fifth step is to configure MAME 0.134u4 and its ROMs for optimal performance and compatibility. This is an optional but recommended step that can improve your gaming experience with MAME. Here are some of the things that you can do:
Adjust the video settings of MAME to match your screen resolution, aspect ratio, refresh rate, and color depth. You can do this by running MAME with the -video option and specifying a video mode, such as -video d3d for Direct3D or -video opengl for OpenGL. You can also use the -resolution option and specify a resolution, such as -resolution 1024x768 for 1024x768 pixels. You can also use the -aspect option and specify an aspect ratio, such as -aspect 4:3 for 4:3 or -aspect 16:9 for 16:9. You can also use the -refresh option and specify a refresh rate, such as -refresh 60 for 60 Hz or -refresh 75 for 75 Hz. You can also use the -depth option and specify a color depth, such as -depth 16 for 16-bit or -depth 32 for 32-bit.
Enable or disable various video effects of MAME to enhance or reduce the quality of the graphics. You can do this by running MAME with the -effect option and specifying an effect, such as -effect none for no effect or -effect scanlines for scanlines effect. You can also use the -filter option and specify a filter, such as -filter bilinear for bilinear filtering or -filter point for point filtering. You can also use the -prescale option and specify a prescale factor, such as -prescale 1 for no prescale or -prescale 2 for double prescale.
Adjust the audio settings of MAME to match your sound card, speakers, and headphones. You can do this by running MAME with the -sound option and specifying a sound mode, such as -sound dsound for DirectSound or -sound coreaudio for CoreAudio. You can also use the -samplerate option and specify a sample rate, such as -samplerate 44100 for 44100 Hz or -samplerate 48000 for 48000 Hz. You can also use the -volume option and specify a volume level, such as -volume -32 for -32 dB or -volume 0 for 0 dB.
Enable or disable various input devices of MAME to suit your preferences and needs. You can do this by running MAME with the -mouse option and specifying a mouse mode, such as -mouse 0 for no mouse or -mouse 1 for mouse. You can also use the -joystick option and specify a joystick mode, such as -joystick 0 for no joystick or -joystick 1 for joystick. You can also use the -lightgun option and specify a light gun mode, such as -lightgun 0 for no light gun or -lightgun 1 for light gun.
Customize the key mappings of MAME to match your keyboard or controller layout. You can do this by running MAME with the -ui_active option and pressing the TAB key to access the user interface menu. From there, you can select the Input (general) or Input (this game) options and assign keys or buttons to various functions, such as coin, start, fire, jump, etc. You can also use the Default options to reset the key mappings to their default values.
These are some of the basic settings that you can configure with MAME 0.134u4. You can find more advanced settings and options in MAME's documentation or on its official website.
How to play arcade games with MAME 0.134u4?
The final step is to play arcade games with MAME 0.134u4. This is the most fun and rewarding part of using MAME, as you can enjoy thousands of arcade games from different eras and genres on your co