I've been managing to convert quite a lot of MAME games to their 0.34 romsets without using Clrmame, which for me has just proved an unqualified disaster with no results at all (maybe its just me...).
There's a .txt document you can download called romv34.txt which holds the separate file information for each game that Mame 0.34 can run. In a lot of cases the files are the same as the new versions, just re-named. The thing to look for is the CRC32 register for each file - for example, a file for the game 1941 (current romset) could be 41e_36.rom with a call register of 816A818F, whereas in romv34.txt the file for the same CRC32 address could be referred to as 41_36.rom. In this instance you just change the filename to what Mame 0.34 requires. I have managed to get a couple of dozen games (Toki, Gauntlet 2, Final Fight) working this way.
The other thing it took me a while to work out is that quite often the main zip folder is needed (for instance ; Bubble Bobble runs from the master folder bublbobl), but often you need zip folders from cloned versions (eg; boblbobl and sboblbl) - what I've been doing is putting the necessary clone folders (again use romv34 as a guide - each game is prefaced by which master and clone folders it needs in order to run) into the master folder, as well as copying across the individual files needed into the master folder (as well as leaving them in the rom directory). Some games then run from one of the cloned folders (Bubble Bobble for instance only loads if you run the Bootleg Version (boblbobl).
And if you're looking for one or two missing filenames (which is often the case), just think citrus!
These methods are quite time consuming I guess, but I've spent so much time fartarsing around with Clrmame with no positive results that I figured an alternative would be time better spent. Its also very satisfying when GPMame runs through the files in the folder and boots the game up sucsessfully.
If anyone requires further info just drop me a PM or add to the thread here..
Cheers,
Paul
There's a .txt document you can download called romv34.txt which holds the separate file information for each game that Mame 0.34 can run. In a lot of cases the files are the same as the new versions, just re-named. The thing to look for is the CRC32 register for each file - for example, a file for the game 1941 (current romset) could be 41e_36.rom with a call register of 816A818F, whereas in romv34.txt the file for the same CRC32 address could be referred to as 41_36.rom. In this instance you just change the filename to what Mame 0.34 requires. I have managed to get a couple of dozen games (Toki, Gauntlet 2, Final Fight) working this way.
The other thing it took me a while to work out is that quite often the main zip folder is needed (for instance ; Bubble Bobble runs from the master folder bublbobl), but often you need zip folders from cloned versions (eg; boblbobl and sboblbl) - what I've been doing is putting the necessary clone folders (again use romv34 as a guide - each game is prefaced by which master and clone folders it needs in order to run) into the master folder, as well as copying across the individual files needed into the master folder (as well as leaving them in the rom directory). Some games then run from one of the cloned folders (Bubble Bobble for instance only loads if you run the Bootleg Version (boblbobl).
And if you're looking for one or two missing filenames (which is often the case), just think citrus!
These methods are quite time consuming I guess, but I've spent so much time fartarsing around with Clrmame with no positive results that I figured an alternative would be time better spent. Its also very satisfying when GPMame runs through the files in the folder and boots the game up sucsessfully.
If anyone requires further info just drop me a PM or add to the thread here..
Cheers,
Paul
