Official MAME Submission Guidelines
Official MAME Submission Guidelines
MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. When used in conjunction with an arcade game's data files (ROMs, CHDs, samples, etc.), MAME attempts to reproduce that game as faithfully as possible on a more modern general-purpose system. MAME can currently emulate many thousands of classic arcade video games from the very earliest CPU-based systems to much more modern 3D platforms.
For submissions using the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulationplatform, Twin Galaxies only accepts submissions from a special version of MAME called, WolfMAME.
https://www.twingalaxies.com/tghelp/images/image22.pngWolfMAME is a specially created version of MAME that supports recording 'inp' files. These files allow your gameplay to be played back by others and examined in real time.
There are many versions of WolfMAMEthat are available. Submitters are free to use whatever version they would like. However, it is a requirement that submitters enter in the 3 digit version number of the version of WolfMAME that was used for the score performance.
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At minimum, all submissions MUST include the .INP and .WLF file (if available.) Failure to include either in your submission will invalidate your submission. Twin Galaxies also encourages the submitter to include a recorded video performance so that it is easier for interested spectators to view the score performance.
AUTOFIRE IS NOT ALLOWED! [There are 0 exceptions barring it being an in game feature that is NOT controlled by Dip Switches] Use of it will result in your score being automatically rejected. This means ALL external sources for Autofire [such as joysticks] and ANY Dip Switches that turn on Autofire.
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All Mame Submissions are 1 Shot attempts! This means when you make a recording, your 1st attempt is what counts. If you think you sucked, or died too easily or any number of wonderful things, please note that you can simply hit Escape to stop recording and then choose to record again. This is due to the fact that unlike a linear digital recording, there is no means to rewind an .INP file..and even Fast Forwarding is a chore if you're 12th attempt is the one you completely dominate the world at, but it took 8 hours of playing in the recording to get to it.
If present, NVRAM should be deleted before recording as any NVRAM use is disallowed. It is also recommended that submitters rename their .INP and .WLF files in the following manner, if possible: Initials-RomName-Score
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Under no circumstances should someone submit an .INP or .WLF file that is not their own. Submitters discovered doing this may receive a lifetime ban from Twin Galaxies.
Please make sure you read the settings for each game AND Use the correct Romset! Using the incorrect romset will result in your score being rejected. Using the incorrect settings will also result in your score being rejected.
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It is the TG MAME policy that playback speeds should retain a minimum speed of 95%. If ever there is an exception to this ruling, it will be posted in the game's track rules settings.
Twin Galaxies has a general policy on keyboard mapping which allows at our discretion a player to map movement and action/fire keys as one. Generally we allow this for titles such as, but not limited to, dual-joystick games. If you're unsure if this is permissible for a specific title, please feel free to consult the Twin Galaxies forum community and they will do their best to help you.
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Please make sure that you are using Frame Skip 0 and have the "Draw All Frames" option in use. Automatic Frameskipping is a rejectable offense as it creates playback issues.
For specific titles where you MUST go into a Service Menu for settings, all settings must be changed according to the rules specified in the specific score track you are submitting for or your score may be invalidated. This includes and is not only limited to, Williams games, Neo Geo games, later CPS2 titles where there are no dip switches.
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For games that have a BIOS file, [Neo Geo, for example] please leave the Bios settings at the default settings. [Configurable in the GUI versions] If ever there is a game that DOES require a change from this, information will specifically be provided in the game track rules settings.
All MAME submissions are expected to follow all generally accepted and announced TG gaming guidelines during commission of your gameplay...no cheat codes, no turbo controllers, no glitch-abuse or non-approved hunting/leeching tactics, etc.
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