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An emulator that allows users the opportunity to play vintage games from the 70's and 80's on their desktop

An emulator that allows users the opportunity to play vintage games from the 70's and 80's on their desktop

Vote: (203 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: MAME team

Version: 0.249

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(203 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

MAME team

0.249

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Access to old games. While their original programming may make many classics unworkable on new computers, MAME provides an interface between the game's code and new computers that allows them to work.
  • Free. MAME's source code is available freely as well, in case enterprising tinkerers want to add or edit functionality.
  • Active. Work is still continuing on MAME so that more games can be emulated and that they can be emulated correctly.

Cons

  • Somewhat difficult learning curve. In order to effectively change anything, in-depth knowledge of code and older arcade systems is required.
  • Not finished. While development is actively being worked on to this day, some games may be unfinished still.

MAME is an emulation program that allows users with modern computers access to games of old by recreating the specific conditions and hardware they were played on at arcades. Hundreds of older arcade CPUs (central processing units) can be replicated through MAME, though they can perform under different resolutions and display configurations that exist in newer computers thanks to this emulation. Through the process of "dumping", many games' original code and data have been transferred from their original media to computer files, which MAME can work with to recreate them.

Using MAME, many classic video games once found only in arcades can be recreated on newer computers while still retaining the qualities they possessed in original cabinet form. The games' original data is processed through a unique file format to help the emulator recreate it. Unfortunately, some games may exist without sound files, as work is ongoing to transfer their data to a format that MAME can work with. MAME is a work in progress, with goals such as finishing off sound files and making peripherals such as arcade sticks work as well to create the ideal arcade experience on a home computer.

Pros

  • Access to old games. While their original programming may make many classics unworkable on new computers, MAME provides an interface between the game's code and new computers that allows them to work.
  • Free. MAME's source code is available freely as well, in case enterprising tinkerers want to add or edit functionality.
  • Active. Work is still continuing on MAME so that more games can be emulated and that they can be emulated correctly.

Cons

  • Somewhat difficult learning curve. In order to effectively change anything, in-depth knowledge of code and older arcade systems is required.
  • Not finished. While development is actively being worked on to this day, some games may be unfinished still.