Difference between revisions of "Talk:FAQ"

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(Topics to fix/review:)
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=Topics to fix/review:=
 
=Topics to fix/review:=
 
"USB gamepads/controllers" needs supporting text.
 
"USB gamepads/controllers" needs supporting text.
 
<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">"What type of encoder(s) do I need?" needs supporting text.</span> [[User:Felsir|Felsir]] ([[User talk:Felsir|talk]]) 07:47, 9 January 2014 (EST)
 
  
 
"Soldering" needs supporting text.
 
"Soldering" needs supporting text.
  
 
"LED controllers" needs supporting text.
 
"LED controllers" needs supporting text.
 
<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">"Displays, Types of connections"  needs supporting text.</span> [[User:Felsir|Felsir]] ([[User talk:Felsir|talk]]) 15:05, 9 January 2014 (EST)
 
  
 
"Displays, Input lag (Not response time)" needs supporting text.
 
"Displays, Input lag (Not response time)" needs supporting text.
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Types of Cabs (small) -- Banner with Sketchup line drawing of each sub-type with human figure for scale.
 
Types of Cabs (small) -- Banner with Sketchup line drawing of each sub-type with human figure for scale.
 
::I made these: [[User:Felsir|Felsir]] ([[User talk:Felsir|talk]]) 06:02, 8 January 2014 (EST)
 
 
::: Perfect! [[User:PL1|PL1]] ([[User talk:PL1|talk]]) 18:26, 8 January 2014 (EST)
 
  
 
What is JAMMA/JAMMA+?  -- Pic of 56-pin JAMMA connector.
 
What is JAMMA/JAMMA+?  -- Pic of 56-pin JAMMA connector.
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What about this? [[User:Felsir|Felsir]] ([[User talk:Felsir|talk]]) 06:43, 8 January 2014 (EST)
 
What about this? [[User:Felsir|Felsir]] ([[User talk:Felsir|talk]]) 06:43, 8 January 2014 (EST)
 
:Looks great! Might want to crop it a bit, but otherwise the image is perfect. Embedded as a thumbnail. [[User:PL1|PL1]] ([[User talk:PL1|talk]]) 18:26, 8 January 2014 (EST)
 
:Looks great! Might want to crop it a bit, but otherwise the image is perfect. Embedded as a thumbnail. [[User:PL1|PL1]] ([[User talk:PL1|talk]]) 18:26, 8 January 2014 (EST)
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::Cropped pic.  Is the size OK? [[User:PL1|PL1]] ([[User talk:PL1|talk]]) 22:00, 9 January 2014 (EST)
  
=Clrmamepro=
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=Software=
I think this is too detailed for the FAQ, but it should be moved to a section dedicated to MAME. I've copied it here so it won't be lost :-)[[User:Felsir|Felsir]] ([[User talk:Felsir|talk]]) 07:43, 8 January 2014 (EST)
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"Should I update my system with each new release of MAME?"
''Use clrmamepro http://mamedev.emulab.it/clrmamepro/ or your emulator's "Audit" function (if available) to check the version and filenames of ROMs compared to your emulator program version.''
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The short answer is ''almost always'' NO.
:IMHO, the concept of ROM versions/auditing tools really should be mentioned in the FAQ.  A detailed tutorial would be too in-depth, but many noobs will not understand why some games work and others don't when using mismatched ROM sets and emulator versions.  "I update other software and the old files work fine, why doesn't MAME work that way?" At a minimum, the FAQ should give them the relevant terms so they can search for answers or ask an intelligent question in the forums. [[User:PL1|PL1]] ([[User talk:PL1|talk]]) 18:56, 8 January 2014 (EST)
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::Ah yes, from the "why doesn't my rom work" perspective suits well in te FAQ. I've put it back in. [[User:Felsir|Felsir]] ([[User talk:Felsir|talk]]) 06:52, 9 January 2014 (EST)
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Exception: If the new release fixes something that makes it worth the time and effort to update your ROMs '''and''' will still run well on your system.
  
 
=Different build versions/"flavors" of MAME=
 
=Different build versions/"flavors" of MAME=
As Badmouth pointed out [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,132968.msg1367937.html#msg1367937 here], it might be a good idea to introduce the concept of different versions, patched versions (like NoNag), builds, and offshoots of MAME to help people get the right version and/or ask better questions. [[User:PL1|PL1]] ([[User talk:PL1|talk]]) 04:24, 9 January 2014 (EST)
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Car analogy
:What are the different "flavors" of MAME?
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*MAME = factory original
*MAME - The command line program that the other variants are based on.
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*NoNag = putting on new rims
*NoNag(?) patched - Suppresses error messages that are useful when troubleshooting.
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*Alternate builds = hotrods based on the factory original
*MAME32, MAMEUI, or MAMEUIFX - Graphic User Interface (GUI) versions of MAME.  
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*HBMAME(?) - Dedicated to homebrew "hacks"
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When you get parts (ROMs) for your car (MAME) you not only need to know the name of the part, you need to know the make/model/year -- a headlight for a 1972 Ford Mustang =/= headlight for a 2014 Ford Mustang.
*GroovyMAME
 
  
::I've put the section in. In addition I made a wikipage for those additional flavors: [[MAME Flavors]]. [[User:Felsir|Felsir]] ([[User talk:Felsir|talk]]) 07:21, 9 January 2014 (EST)
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As automotive technology improves year-to-year, several parts are improved, while others stay the same.

Revision as of 23:00, 9 January 2014

Links to review:

  1. restoration --04:34, 11 December 2013 (EST)~
  2. basics --Felsir Felsir (talk) 07:09, 11 December 2013 (EST)
  3. Arcade_Cabinet Felsir (talk) 05:35, 12 December 2013 (EST)
  4. Driving_Controls Felsir (talk) 05:39, 17 December 2013 (EST)
  5. Lighting (currently only deals with marquee, should eventually include all lighting options and branch out to specialized pages) Felsir (talk) 10:17, 18 December 2013 (EST)
  6. MAME the page looks messy and outdated. Felsir (talk) 07:24, 9 January 2014 (EST)
  7. MAME Flavors Added to go more in depth. Felsir (talk) 07:24, 9 January 2014 (EST)

The list of emulators is outdated/incomplete (new stuff has arrived since the old wiki!). Once the FAQ is done, I think the emulator section will be my top priority (as this is where I struggled the most when setting up my own cabinet).Felsir (talk) 07:44, 8 January 2014 (EST)

Topics to fix/review:

"USB gamepads/controllers" needs supporting text.

"Soldering" needs supporting text.

"LED controllers" needs supporting text.

"Displays, Input lag (Not response time)" needs supporting text.

"Commonly used emulators" May need further review of "flavors" text. (Current version is still pretty rough.)

Images to find/make/fix:

Types of Cabs (small) -- Banner with Sketchup line drawing of each sub-type with human figure for scale.

What is JAMMA/JAMMA+? -- Pic of 56-pin JAMMA connector.

Mounting joysticks -- 4-player "straight" vs. "angled" joysticks.

Mounting options -- Diagram showing Top-mount, Under-mount (non-recessed), Under-mount (recessed), Threaded inserts, and Support blocks.

How do I wire microswitches to an encoder? -- Diagram or picture showing three microswitches wired to an encoder and a daisy-chain ground.

Single-Color and RGB LED buttons -- Pic showing the lighting and switch wiring.

Screenshots of Command Line MAME and GUI MAME to illustrate different "flavors" of MAME.

Push button images

What about this? Felsir (talk) 06:43, 8 January 2014 (EST)

Looks great! Might want to crop it a bit, but otherwise the image is perfect. Embedded as a thumbnail. PL1 (talk) 18:26, 8 January 2014 (EST)
Cropped pic. Is the size OK? PL1 (talk) 22:00, 9 January 2014 (EST)

Software

"Should I update my system with each new release of MAME?" The short answer is almost always NO.

Exception: If the new release fixes something that makes it worth the time and effort to update your ROMs and will still run well on your system.

Different build versions/"flavors" of MAME

Car analogy

  • MAME = factory original
  • NoNag = putting on new rims
  • Alternate builds = hotrods based on the factory original

When you get parts (ROMs) for your car (MAME) you not only need to know the name of the part, you need to know the make/model/year -- a headlight for a 1972 Ford Mustang =/= headlight for a 2014 Ford Mustang.

As automotive technology improves year-to-year, several parts are improved, while others stay the same.