MAME bios and software lists

[Umarel]

Hi,

 i don't understand if LB can manage this automatically, but i'm trying to hide all non-games from Arcade (MAME) list in LaunchBox:
actually browsing through the list is quite messy to me (especially when i'm using BigBox).

Do you think it is the right way to create separate folders to have a directory structure like this? For example:

LaunchBox
   - Emulators
       - MAME
          - bios
          - roms     (including CHD files with their relative sub-folders)
          - slchd    (for Software List ROMs)
          - slroms   (for Software List CHDs)
      
      
Another newbie question: to play non-arcade games included into MAME (e.g. computer/console games) you just need bios files alongside roms, or "software lists" files/folders are still needed?

p.s. sorry for my english

Edited December 7, 2023 by Umarel

[faeran]

It's hard to say, but it sounds like you may have imported your MAME ROMs incorrectly. If you are seeing bios files and other non-games in LaunchBox, then something definitely went wrong with your import.

What were the steps that you used for your arcade import?

[Umarel]

I use the mame arcade full set importer with default/recommended settings, the only thing i change is to include all other type of games, like not playable/bootleg/mahjong etc.

Before start importing, i get something that should not be into the list, like these ones:

 

After importing roms: 

 

It is because i did not chose to exclude those "other type" games?

[faeran]

56 minutes ago, Umarel said:

I use the mame arcade full set importer with default/recommended settings, the only thing i change is to include all other type of games, like not playable/bootleg/mahjong etc.

Before start importing, i get something that should not be into the list, like these ones:

 

After importing roms: 

 

It is because i did not chose to exclude those "other type" games?

Yes, it's because you unchecked the skip unplayable games filter during import. I would keep that checked so you don't import files that are unplayable.

[Umarel]

Thank you,

i leaved the option "skip unplayable games" enabled and it works. However i kept disabled all the others since they seems to have no effect on total counting.

A last question about software lists and "extra" bios files (the ones not included into rom updates packages): are they necessary to play?

Edited December 7, 2023 by Umarel

[faeran]

16 hours ago, Umarel said:

Thank you,

i leaved the option "skip unplayable games" enabled and it works. However i kept disabled all the others since they seems to have no effect on total counting.

A last question about software lists and "extra" bios files (the ones not included into rom updates packages): are they necessary to play?

It depends on the type of set you have, but overall some are required and some aren't.

[Retro_Rage]

On 12/7/2023 at 4:46 PM, Umarel said:

Thank you,

i leaved the option "skip unplayable games" enabled and it works. However i kept disabled all the others since they seems to have no effect on total counting.

A last question about software lists and "extra" bios files (the ones not included into rom updates packages): are they necessary to play?

If you download the non-merged set, then the bios files are mostly included in the same rom zip (really depends on the set you download). I don't think there is a non-merged set for software lists, at least I haven't found one yet. Meaning each system needs a bios. These are usually just the same short name as the system and are usually in the full mame rom set. So in other words, if you have the full mame set and mame is pointing to that then you shouldnt need a bios with the software lists. If you also download the devices mame set, that's just basically other devices for the system (ie cd drives, peripherals etc.) Most of them don't really require them but it's really useful to have. Ok, that response got longer then intended lol but i think i answered your question if I didn't confuse the hell out of everyone first.

[Umarel]

Ok thanks for the clarification,

the thing i do not understand is when i choose to include non-working games, there are romset names that are not even present into downloaded rom packages (like the ones indicated by the arrow in the screenshots i've posted):
Maybe they are part of bios or other things that have nothing to do  with the game itself: anyway If include not-working games, the total Arcade/MAME games count changes from about 5900 roms to over 19000...

I have merged romsets, so maybe it coluld be a reason for that...

Edited December 9, 2023 by Umarel

[JoeViking245]

1 hour ago, Umarel said:

the thing i do not understand is when i choose to include non-working games, there are romset names that are not even present into downloaded rom packages

The MAME full-set import wizard doesn't look at your physical ROMs (except to initially verify that you have a full-set) during import.  The ROMs that get imported are based on your selection(s) (i.e. include non-working) and crossed with the 'known list' of all ROMs for that version of MAME.

The "known list" is generated during the import process directly from [your version of] mame.exe.  

[Umarel]

In the end i think it's better to exclude non-worrking games, and "keep it simple"