Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks

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Part II: Advanced Hacks, Tools, and Techniques

MAME software

The MAME software package will expand into a series of directories on

your PC. There will be a README file that you should review before pro-

ceeding. For example, you can launch the MAME software under Windows

by typing:

MAME digdug -640x480 -soundcard 1 -depth 8 -sr 11025

This causes MAME to run the game “digdug” at 640 by 480 resolution

with 8-bit color depth, using a Sound Blaster sound card set with an output

sample rate of 11025 samples per second. Note that you must have “dig-

dug” ROM images in the appropriate directory on your PC. To play another

game, substitute its filename for “digdug” in the command above.

A number of people have built automated frontends that allow you to avoid

using your keyboard and mouse to select from all of the games on your hard

drive. See http://www.mame.net/frontend.html for details.

Project Demo

Now is the moment you have been waiting for—playing one of those great

’80s games on a full-size console. Start MAME with your desired ROM and

enjoy! You can now enjoy a vintage game of Pac-Man, as in Figure 11-17.

Extensions

The basic MAME setup requires that each game be started from a Windows

or DOS prompt. You may want to make this a little more elegant by elimi-

nating the need to type on a keyboard to start the game. There are a number

of automation utilities t