Documentation of the AdvanceMAME advmame program.

1 Synopsis

advmame GAME [-default] [-remove] [-cfg FILE]
    [-log] [-listxml] [-record FILE] [-playback FILE]
    [-version] [-help]

advmess MACHINE [images...] [-default] [-remove] [-cfg FILE]
    [-log] [-listxml] [-record FILE] [-playback FILE]
    [-version] [-help]

2 Description

The major features are:

• Automatic creation of `perfect' video modes with the correct size and clock.
• A lot of video boards supported for direct hardware registers programming. (see the card*.txt files)
• Support for 8, 15, 16 and 32 bits video modes.
• Real hardware scanlines.
• Software video image stretching by fractional factors, for example to play vertical games like "Pac-Man" with horizontal Arcade Monitors or TVs.
• Special `scalex', `scalek', `lq', `hq', and `xbr' effects to improve the aspect with modern PC Monitors.
• Special `blit' effects to improve the image quality in stretching.
• Special `rgb' effects to simulate the aspect of a real Arcade Monitor.
• Change of the video mode and other video options at runtime.
• Support of Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP) with a multiple thread architecture (only for Linux).
• Sound and video recording in WAV, PNG and MNG files.
• Multiple mice support in Linux, DOS, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
• Automatic exit after some time of inactivity.
• Scripts capabilities to drive external hardware devices like LCDs and lights.
• Textual configuration files.
• Help screen describing the user input keys.

The sections of this document are:

3 Keys

for player 1 you can use the keys:

for player 2 you can use the keys:

for AdvanceMESS are available also the following keys:

4 Options

On the command line you can also specify all configuration options with the format -OPTION ARGUMENT. For boolean options you don't need to specify the argument but you must use the -OPTION or -noOPTION format. For example:

advmame pacman -device_sound sb -nodisplay_scanlines

You can use short options if they are unambiguous. You can remove any prefix tag separated with `_' or truncate it. For example `-dev_cartdrige' can be written as `-dev_cart', `-cartdrige', `-cart', ...

In Linux and Mac OS X you can also use `--' before options instead of `-'. In DOS and Windows you can also use `/'.

5 Features

5.1 Automatic Video Mode Generation

You can control how the video modes are generated with the `display_adjust' option. More details are in the `install.txt' file.

5.2 Video Menu

You can select the desired video mode, the resize type and the video effects.

The selected option is displayed at the right side of the menu, the effective value used for the option is displayed in `[]'.

5.3 Resize

There are four stretch types: `none', `integer', `mixed', `fractional'. You can control the type of stretching with the `display_resize' option.

The `none' option simply disables any type of stretching. The `integer' option allows only integer stretching in the horizontal and vertical directions. For example 1x2, 2x1, 2x2. The `mixed' option allows integer stretching in the horizontal direction and fractional stretching in the vertical direction. For example 1x1.23, 2x1.18. The `fractional' option allows fractional stretching in any directions. For example 1.08x1.08, 1.34x1.78.

Usually the best choice is the `mixed' option. It's very fast and the image quality doesn't suffer too much.

5.4 Blit Effects

There are a lot of video effects: `none', `max', `mean', `filter', `scalex', `scalek', `lq', `hq' and `xbr'. You can select the favorite effect with the `display_resizeeffect' option, or from the runtime menu.

The `none' effect simply duplicates and removes rows and lines when the image is stretched. The `max' effect tries to save the image details checking the luminosity of the pixels in stretching. It ensures to have vertical and horizontal lines always of the same thickness. The `mean' effect tries to save the image details displaying the mean color of the pixels in stretching. The `filter' effect applies a generic blur filter computing the mean color in the horizontal and vertical directions. The best results are when the image is stretched almost by a double factor. When the image is enlarged the filter is applied after stretching; when reduced, it's applied before. The `scalex', `scalek', `lq', `hq' and `xbr' effects add missing pixels trying to match the image patterns.

The `scalex', `scalek', `lq', `hq' and `xbr' effects work only if the image is magnified. To enable it you should also use the `magnify' option.

5.5 RGB Effects

You can simulate the RGB triads of the screen or the vertical and horizontal scanlines.

5.6 Mode Selection

If you choose `auto', the best video mode is chosen automatically.

You can change the active video mode pressing `,' and `.' when in game play.

You can force a specific video mode with the option `display_mode'.

5.7 Per game/resolution/frequency/orientation options

5.8 Scripts

More details are in the `script.txt' file.

5.9 Aspect Ratio Control

But if you want, you can permit a small aspect error to enlarge the effective game image on the screen. It's very useful to display vertical games on horizontal monitors and vice versa.

More details are in the description of the `display_expand' option.

5.10 Speed Control

You can play the game in a faster way, change arbitrarily the frame rate, skip the game startup process at the maximum speed, or skip the game animations pressing a key.

Press `asterisk_pad' to enable the `turbo' mode. Press `minus_pad' to mark the time of the real game start. The next time the game is started, it will execute very fast until this time.

More details are in the description of the `sync_fps', `sync_speed', `sync_turbospeed' and `sync_startuptime' options.

The video and audio synchronization uses an advanced algorithm, which ensure always the best performance.

The program continuously measures the time required to compute a frame and continuously adapt the number of frame to skip and to draw.

If it detects that you have system too slow to play the game at full speed, it automatically disables any frame skipping.

If the underline Operand System allows that, AdvanceMAME release the CPU when it isn't used after computing each frame reducing the CPU occupation.

5.11 Audio Control

An equalizer and a spectrum analyzer are also available.

More details are in the description of the `sound_normalize' and `sound_equalizer' options.

5.12 Exit Control

For some supported games you can force the display of an exit menu during the game play to prevent unwanted exit.

More details are in the description of the `misc_safequit', and `input_idleexit' options.

5.13 Input Control

More details are in the description of the `input_map' option.

5.14 Audio and Video Recording

More details are in the description of the `record_*' options.

5.15 User Interface

This means that the interface doesn't have applied the same video effects of the game, it isn't limited on the game area, it isn't recorded on video clips and you can customize the font.

Also, True Type fonts with alpha blending are supported.

More details are in the description of the `ui_*' options.

5.16 Input Help

The default image is a standard keyboard, with the used keys highlighted. If you have an Arcade cabinet you can create your personalized control image and select each region to highlight.

Press `f1' on the game play to display it.

More details are in the description of the `ui_help*' options.

5.17 Input Text Configuration File

This allows to view, edit and copy any customization manually. They are also more compact because only the difference from the default is saved.

They are independent of the internal MAME structure, so, when it changes, you don't lose the customizations.

More details are in the description of the `input_setting', `input_dipswitch', `input_configswitch' options.

5.18 Cocktail

Press `slash_pad' to flip the screen.

5.19 Dipswitches Control

More details are in the description of the `misc_diffucilty' and `misc_freeplay' options.

5.20 LCD Panel

6 Use Cases

6.1 With a LCD Monitor

6.2 With a CRT Multi-Sync Monitor

6.3 With a CRT VGA Monitor/Fixed Frequency Monitor/Arcade Monitor

6.4 With a NTSC or PAL TV

6.5 With a Multi-format NTSC and PAL TV

7 Other Ports

7.1 Windows MAME

Depending on the type of your video drivers you can sometimes edit the prefixed list of video modes.

The TV support depends on the video drivers of your board and it's generally limited at the interlaced mode 640x480. Arcade monitors are used as NTSC TVs.

Generally this port is limited by Windows to get the best from your monitor.

7.2 SDL MAME

AdvanceMAME has the benefit to allow to use more video effects, able to improve the image quality.

This also helps when using Arcade Monitors with specific modelines, because AdvanceMAME is able to streatch the image using special effects like 'max' that avoids to lose pixels.

7.3 DOS MAME

The Arcade/TV support is limited at the mode 640x480 for the ATI boards.

8 Configuration

In Linux and Mac OS X the configuration options are read from the files `advmame.rc' and `advmess.rc' in the $host, $data and the $home directory. The $host directory is `$SYSCONFDIR', where $SYSCONFDIR is the `sysconfdir' directory configured with the `configure' script. The default is `/usr/local/etc'. The $data directory is `$DATADIR/advance', where $DATADIR is the `datadir' directory configured with the `configure' script. The default is `/usr/local/share'. The $home directory is `$ADVANCE', where $ADVANCE is the value of the ADVANCE environment variable when the program is run. If the ADVANCE environment variable is missing the $home directory is `$HOME/.advance' where $HOME is the value of the HOME environment variable. If both the ADVANCE and HOME environment variables are missing the $data directory became also the $home directory.

The priority of the options is in the order: $host, $home and $data.

The $home directory is also used to write all the information by the program. The files in the $host and $data directory are only read.

You can include an additional configuration files with the `include' option. In DOS and Windows the files are searched in the current directory. In Linux and Mac OS X the files are searched in the $home directory if they are expressed as a relative path. You can force the search in the current directory prefixing the file with `./'. To include more than one file you must divide the names with `;' in DOS and Windows, and with `:' in Linux and Mac OS X.

You can force the creation of a default configuration file with the command line option `-default'.

In the configuration file the options are specified in this format:

[SECTION/]OPTION VALUE

If the SECTION is omitted the `' (empty) section is assumed.

You can split long options in a multi-line format ending the line with the char `\':

[SECTION/]OPTION FIRST_LINE \
    SECOND_LINE \
    ... \
    LAST_LINE

When you run a game every option is read in different sections in the following order:

For example for the game `pacman' the following sections are read: `pacman', `puckman', `224x288x60', `224x288', `vertical', `joy4way', `2players' and `1buttons'.

You can override any global options inserting new options in any of the sections of the game.

For example:

display_scanlines no
pacman/display_scanlines yes
244x288x60/display_scanlines yes
vertical/display_ror yes
horizontal/display_ror no

8.1 Software Configuration Options

8.1.1 dev_*

dev_COMMAND FILE

Commands:

Examples:

advmess ti99_4a -dev_cartridge attackg.bin
advmess ti99_4a -cart alpinerc.bin -cart alpinerg.bin

8.2 Autosave Configuration Options

8.2.1 config

config save_at_exit | restore_at_exit

Options:

You can manually save the configuration at runtime from the main menu.

8.3 Directory Configuration Options

8.3.1 dir_*

dir_* DIR[;DIR]... (DOS, Windows)
dir_* DIR[:DIR]... (Linux, Mac OS X)

Options:

Defaults for DOS and Windows:

Defaults for Linux and Mac OS X:

If a not absolute dir is specified, in Linux and Mac OS X it's expanded as "$home/DIR:$data/DIR". In DOS and Windows it's maintained relative.

For the `dir_rom' and `dir_image' the following file combinations are tried:

• DIR/GAME/ROM.EXT
• DIR/GAME.zip/ROM.EXT
• DIR/GAME/ROM.zip/ROM

Where DIR is substituted with the directories specified, GAME is the name of the game or machine emulated, ROM is the rom name and EXT is the rom extension.

For the files searched in the `dir_image' option you can also specify a different zip name prefixing the rom name with the zip name without extension and the `=' char. For example to run the `ti99_4a' emulator and load the cartdriges `alpinerc.bin' and `alpinerg.bin' both contained in the zip file `alpiner.zip' you can use this syntax:

advmess ti99_4a -cart alpiner=alpinerc.bin -cart alpiner=alpinerg.bin

This feature is used automatically by AdvanceMENU to correctly run AdvanceMESS software in zip files.

8.4 Display Configuration Options

8.4.1 device_video_*

All the `device_video_*' options described in the `advdev.txt' file can be used.

If you use a `System' video driver, you don't need to set these options. They are mostly ignored.

With a `Generate' video drivers these options are used to select and create the correct video mode. They are mandatory. You can use the `advcfg' utility to set them interactively.

8.4.2 display_mode

display_mode auto | MODELINE_NAME

Options:

8.4.3 display_adjust

For an introduction on how the program operates on video mode, you can see the `install.txt' file.

display_adjust none | x | clock | xclock | generate_exact
    | generate_y | generate_clock | generate_clocky
    | generate_yclock

Options:

The `generate' options are able to create at runtime all the required modelines. You don't need to create a list of modelines manually.

The not `generate' options use only the modelines defined with the `device_video_modeline' option in the configuration file. You can add them manually or using the `advv' utility. Check the `advdev.txt' file for more details on the `device_video_modeline' option.

Of all the `generate' options, the `generate_yclock' is the suggested and the most powerful. The `advcfg' utility always sets the `generate_yclock' option in your configuration file.

Of all the not `generate' options, the `xclock' is the suggested and the most powerful.

If you can't get good result with the `generate' options you should create a list of modelines and try with the `xclock' value. You don't need to duplicate the same modeline with different horizontal resolutions and/or the clocks, because the `xclock' value allows the program to adjust them. Instead, you should create a wide set of different vertical resolutions on which the video mode can be chosen. A good choice is to create all the resolutions with a step of 16 rows.

8.4.4 display_color

display_color auto | palette8 | bgr8 | bgr15 | bgr16 | bgr32 | yuy2

Options:

Note that the 24 bit color mode isn't supported.

The modes are called bgr because in the video memory the order of the color channel is: Blue, Green, Red.

8.4.5 display_resize

display_resize none | integer | mixed | fractional

Options:

The `fractional' option involves a slowdown, so use the `mixed' option if you have a really slow machine.

Examples:

display_resize mixed

8.4.6 display_magnify

display_magnify auto | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Options:

8.4.7 display_magnifysize

display_magnifysize SIZE

Options:

8.4.8 display_scanlines

display_scanlines yes | no

Options:

8.4.9 display_buffer

display_buffer yes | no

Options:

8.4.10 display_vsync

display_vsync yes | no

Options:

You can enable or disable it also on the runtime Video menu.

8.4.11 display_restore

display_restore yes | no

Options:

8.4.12 display_frameskip

display_frameskip auto | FACTOR

Options:

Use `f11' to display the speed your computer is actually reaching. If it is below 100%, increase the frame skip value. You can press `f8/f9' to change frame skip while running the game. When set to auto (default), the frame skip setting is dynamically adjusted during runtime to display the maximum possible frames without dropping below the 100% speed. Pressing `f10' you can enable and disable the throttle synchronization.

Examples:

display_frameskip 0.5

8.5 Display Aspect Configuration Options

8.5.1 display_expand

display_expand FACTOR

Options:

Examples:

display_expand 1.1

8.5.2 display_aspect

display_aspect auto | X/Y

Options:

For 16/9 TV you can use the 16 and 9 values. For truly vertical monitors (not horizontal monitors rotated) you can simply swap the values, for example 3 and 4 instead of 4 and 3.

Examples:

display_aspect 16/9

8.5.3 display_ror/rol/flipx/flipy

display_ror yes | no
display_rol yes | no
display_flipx yes | no
display_flipy yes | no

Examples:

vertical/display_rol yes

8.5.4 display_skiplines/skipcolumns

display_skiplines auto | SKIPLINES
display_skipcolumns auto | SKIPCOLUMNS

Options:

8.6 Display Effect Configuration Options

8.6.1 display_resizeeffect

display_resizeeffect auto | none | max | mean | filter
    | scalex | scalek | lq | hq | xbr

Options:

8.6.2 display_rgbeffect

display_rgbeffect none | triad3dot | triad6dot
    | triad16dot | triadstrong3dot | triadstrong6dot
    | triadstrong16dot | scan2vert | scan3vert
    | scan2horz | scan3horz.

Options:

8.6.3 display_interlaceeffect

display_interlaceeffect none | even | odd | filter

Options:

If your monitor uses a swapped order for interlaced rows, using the `even' or `odd' effect you can probably fix the image.

The effects operate on the rows in the following way:

Row Even Odd Filter
 A   A   A    A
 B   B   A   B+A
 C   A   C   C+B
 D   D   B   D+C
 E   C   E   E+D
 F   F   D   F+E
 G   E   G   G+F
 H   H   F   H+G

8.6.4 display_writeeffect

display_writeeffect direct | buffer

Options:

8.6.5 Display Color Configuration Options

8.6.6 display_brightness

display_brightness FACTOR

Options:

8.6.7 display_gamma

display_gamma FACTOR

Options:

8.6.8 display_pausebrightness

display_pausebrightness FACTOR

Options:

Examples:

display_pausebrightness 0.6

8.7 Display Artwork Configuration Options

8.7.1 display_artwork_backdrop/overlay/bezel

display_artwork_backdrop yes | no
display_artwork_overlay yes | no
display_artwork_bezel yes | no

Options:

8.7.2 display_artwork_magnify

display_artwork_magnify auto | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Options:

This options has no effect with games that don't have any artwork.

8.7.3 display_artwork_crop

display_artwork_crop yes | no

Options:

8.8 Display Vector Configuration Options

8.8.1 display_antialias

display_antialias yes | no

Options:

8.8.2 display_beam

display_beam SIZE

Options:

8.8.3 display_flicker

display_flicker FACTOR

Options:

8.8.4 display_translucency

display_translucency yes | no

8.8.5 display_intensity

display_intensity FACTOR

Options:

8.9 Sound Configuration Options

8.9.1 device_sound_*

All the `device_sound_*' options defined in the `advdev.txt' file can be used.

8.9.2 sound_mode

sound_mode auto | mono | stereo | surround

Options:

8.9.3 sound_samplerate

sound_samplerate RATE

Options:

If the sound driver doesn't support the specified sample rate a different value is selected.

8.9.4 sound_volume

sound_volume VOLUME

Options:

Examples:

sound_volume -5

8.9.5 sound_adjust

sound_adjust auto | VOLUME

Options:

Examples:

sound_adjust 16

8.9.6 sound_normalize

sound_normalize yes | no

Precisely, the program continously measures the normalized sound power adjusting it with the Fletcher-Munson "Equal Loudness Courve" at 80 dB to remove inaudible frequencies. It tries to keep constant the 95% median power of the last 3 minutes.

For more details check:

Options:

8.9.7 sound_equalizer_*

sound_equalizer_lowvolume VOLUME sound_equalizer_midvolume VOLUME sound_equalizer_highvolume VOLUME

Options:

8.9.8 sound_latency

sound_latency TIME

Options:

If in the game play you hear some sound ticks you can try to increase the latency. Try doubling the value until the ticks go away.

8.10 Input Configuration Options

8.10.1 device_keyboard/joystick/mouse_*

All the `device_keyboard/joystick/mouse_*' options defined in the `advdev.txt' file can be used.

8.10.2 input_steadykey

input_steadykey yes | no

Options:

8.10.3 input_hotkey

input_hotkey yes | no

Options:

In DOS the hotkey recognized are:

In Linux the hotkey recognized generally are:

8.10.4 input_idleexit

input_idleexit TIME

Options:

8.10.5 input_map[ANALOG]

input_map[ANALOG] auto | [[-]joystick[JOY,CONTROL,AXE]]
    [[-]mouse[MOUSE,AXE]] [[-]joystick_ball[JOY,AXE]] ...

The default is always `auto'.

Options:

The `joystick' option is used to reference all the analog controls which report an absolute position. For example stick, lightgun, steering wheel, pedal, throttle and rudder controls.

The `joystick_ball' and `mouse' options are used to reference all the analog controls which reports a relative position. For example trackball, dial and mouse controls. The option `joystick_ball' is for joystick devices which have other relative analog controls. The option `mouse' is for mouse devices which have only relative analog controls.

The exact CONTROL and AXE names can be checked interactively using the `advj' and `advm' utility. `advj' is used for `joystick[]' and `joystick_ball[]' specifications. `advm' is used for `mouse[]' specifications.

The CONTROL names for the `joystick' option are:

The AXE names for the `joystick' option are:

The AXE names for the `joystick_ball' and `mouse' options are:

The ANALOG controls are always formed with a "player" string and with a "control" strings.

Examples:

input_map[p1_stickx] joystick[0,0,x] -joystick[0,1,x]
input_map[p1_sticky] joystick[0,0,y] -joystick[0,1,y]
input_map[p1_trackballx] mouse[0,x] -mouse[1,x]
input_map[p1_trackbally] mouse[0,y] -mouse[1,y]

If required you can compose the options to get a rotation of 45° of the control. For example:

input_map[p1_stickx] mouse[0,x] mouse[0,y]
input_map[p1_sticky] mouse[0,x] -mouse[0,y]

8.10.6 input_map[DIGITAL]

input_map[DIGITAL] auto | keyboard[KEYBOARD,KEY]
    | mouse_button[MOUSE,MOUSE_BUTTON] | joystick_button[JOY,JOY_BUTTON]
    | joystick_digital[JOY,CONTROL,AXE,DIR]
    | or | not | ...

The default is always `auto' which uses the standard mapping. The previous mapping is always overwritten.

Options:

The DIGITAL controls are:

Note that the p*_start, p*_select and key_* controls are avaiable only in MESS.

The MOUSE_BUTTON names can be checked using the `advm' utility. Generally they are:

The KEY names can be checked using the `advk' utility. Generally they are:

You can also specify a numerical scancode N in the form: `scanN'.

The JOY_BUTTON button names can be checked using the `advj' utility. Generally they are:

Examples:

input_map[p1_left] keyboard[0,left] or joystick_digital[0,stick,x,left]
input_map[p1_right] keyboard[0,right] or joystick_digital[0,stick,x,right]
input_map[p1_button1] keyboard[0,lshit] or joystick_button[0,trigger]

8.10.7 input_name

input_name (keyboard[KEYBOARD,KEY]
    | mouse_button[MOUSE,MOUSE_BUTTON]
    | joystick_button[JOY,JOY_BUTTON]
    | joystick_digital[JOY,CONTROL,AXE,DIR])
    NAME

Options:

See input_map for valid KEY, MOUSE_BUTTON, CONTROL, JOY_BUTTON names.

Examples:

input_name keyboard[0,lcontrol] Blue
input_name joystick_digital[0,stick,x,right] Right

8.10.8 input_setting[*]

input_setting[NAME] SETTING

8.10.9 input_dipswitch[*]

input_dipswitch[NAME] SETTING

8.10.10 input_configswitch[*]

input_configswitch[NAME] SETTING

8.11 User Interface Configuration Options

8.11.1 ui_helpimage

ui_helpimage auto | FILE

Options:

The data used for the default image is in the `contrib/help' dir.

8.11.2 ui_helptag

ui_helptag (keyboard[KEYBOARD,KEY]
    | mouse_button[MOUSE,MOUSE_BUTTON]
    | joystick_button[JOY,JOY_BUTTON]
    | joystick_digital[JOY,CONTROL,AXE,DIR])
    X Y DX DY

Options:

Examples:

ui_helptag keyboard[0,esc] 6 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f1] 26 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f2] 38 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f3] 50 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f4] 62 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f5] 81 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f6] 93 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f7] 105 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f8] 117 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f9] 137 5 12 12
ui_helptag keyboard[0,f10] 149 5 12 12

The data used for the default image is in the `contrib/help' dir.

8.11.3 ui_font

ui_font auto | "FILE"

Options:

The TrueType (TTF) format is supported only if the program is compiled with the FreeType2 library.

8.11.4 ui_fontsize

ui_fontsize auto | ROWS [COLS]

Options:

8.11.5 ui_color[*]

ui_color[TAG] FOREGROUND BACKGROUND

Tags:

Options:

8.11.6 ui_translucency

ui_translucency FACTOR

Options:

The translucency ha no effect on the 8 bits palettized video modes.

8.12 Record Configuration Options

To start the recording press `left_ctrl+enter'. To end the recording and to save the clip press `enter'. If you press the start key more than one time the recording starts from the last press.

8.12.1 record_sound

record_sound yes | no

The sound clip is saved in the `dir_snap' directory (like the snapshot images) in `.wav' format. Specifically the `WAV PCM 16 bit' format is used. The sample rate used is the same sample rate specified with the `sound_samplerate' option.

The clip is saved without compression and without any volume adjustment. You should use an external utility to adjust the volume and compress the resulting file.

8.12.2 record_video

record_video yes | no

The video clip is saved in the `dir_snap' directory (like the snapshot images) in `.mng' format. The `MNG-LC' (Low Complexity) subformat is used.

The clip is saved with a lite compression, you should use an external utility to compress better the resulting file.

A powerful compression utility is the `advmng' program available in the AdvanceCOMP package.

8.12.3 record_video/sound_time

record_sound_time TIME
record_video_time TIME

Options:

8.12.4 record_video_interleave

record_video_interleave COUNT

Options:

Examples:

record_video_interleave 1

8.13 Synchronization Options

8.13.1 sync_fps

sync_fps auto | FPS

Options:

8.13.2 sync_speed

sync_speed FACTOR

Options:

Examples:

sync_speed 1.2

8.13.3 sync_turbospeed

sync_turbospeed FACTOR

Options:

8.13.4 sync_startuptime

sync_startuptime auto | none | TIME

Options:

8.13.5 sync_resample

sync_resample auto | emulation | internal

Options:

Note that the `emulation' mode may result in wrong input recording using the `-record' or `-playback' command line option due incorrect behavior of the emulation. Specifically some implementations may depend on the number of audio sample requested, information that is not stored in the recorded input file.

The `emulation' mode may trigger some bugs in the MAME core. For this reason the games using the pokey sound chip by default use the `internal' mode.

Anyway, the `emulation' mode generates more stable sound if the CPU load isn't totally empty.

8.14 LCD Configuration Options

To use the LCD support you must install on your system the `lcdproc' program available at:

More details and some examples of how to display information on the LCD using the scripts are in the `script.txt' documentation file.

8.14.1 lcd_server

lcd_server none | [SERVER][:PORT]

Options:

Examples:

lcd_server localhost

8.14.2 lcd_timeout

lcd_timeout TIMEOUT

Options:

8.14.3 lcd_speed

lcd_speed DELAY

Options:

8.15 Misc Configuration Options

8.15.1 misc_bios

misc_bios default | NAME

Options:

Examples:

sonicwi2/misc_bios japan

8.15.2 misc_ramsize

misc_ramsize auto | SIZE [k|M|G]

Options:

Examples:

misc_ramsize 1024k

8.15.3 misc_ui

misc_ui yes | no

Options:

8.15.4 misc_difficulty

misc_difficulty none | easiest | easy | normal | hard | hardest

Options:

8.15.5 misc_freeplay

misc_freeplay yes | no

Options:

8.15.6 misc_mutedemo

misc_mutedemo yes | no

Options:

8.15.7 misc_lang

misc_lang none | usa | canada | englang | italy | germany
    | spain | austria | norway | france | denmark
    | japan | korea | china | hongkong | taiwan

Options:

For example if you run `cadash' with `-lang italy' it's run the clone `cadashi'. If you run `cheesech' with `-lang germany' it's run `cheesech' setting the `Language' dipswitch to `German'.

If the specified language is not available, european and american languages fallback to english language. Asian languages fallback to japanese language.

A game clone is selected only if it's a perfectly working clone.

8.15.8 misc_smp

misc_smp yes | no

Options:

You can enable or disable it also on the runtime Video menu.

8.15.9 misc_quiet

misc_quiet yes | no

8.15.10 misc_timetorun

misc_timetorun SECONDS

8.16 Support Files Configuration Options

These files should reside in current directory for DOS and Windows or in the $data or $home directories for Linux a Mac OS X.

8.16.1 misc_cheat

misc_cheat yes | no

Options:

8.16.2 misc_cheatfile

misc_cheatfile FILE[;FILE]... (DOS, Windows)
misc_cheatfile FILE[:FILE]... (Linux, Mac OS X)

Options:

8.16.3 misc_languagefile

misc_languagefile FILE

Options:

8.16.4 misc_hiscorefile

misc_hiscorefile FILE

Options:

8.16.5 misc_safequit

misc_safequit yes | no

Options:

If the file `event.dat' (specified with the `misc_eventfile' option) is found the exit menu is shown only if one or more coins are inserted or if you are playing.

8.16.6 misc_eventdebug

misc_eventdebug yes | no

Options:

8.16.7 misc_eventfile

misc_eventfile FILE

Options:

8.17 Debugging Configuration Options

8.17.1 debug_crash

debug_crash yes | no

Options:

8.17.2 debug_rawsound

debug_rawsound yes | no

Options:

8.17.3 debug_speedmark

debug_speedmark yes | no

Options:

9 Signals