Wiki/wiki-rtd/docs/wiki_emulator_guides/mame/mame-guide.md

# MAME - General Guide

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/mame-logo.png" width="180">

## Where to put the games
Games that you want to run with MAME should be put under the `retrodeck/roms/mame/` directory.

## Enable cheats

RetroDECK already ships the cheat file from [Pugsy's Cheats](https://www.mamecheat.co.uk/) as part of the cheat folder.

To enable cheats open MAME via the Configurator (we plan to make this easier later).

In the MAME interface go to -> `General Settings` -> `Miscellaneous Options` -> `Cheats` and toggle it to `On` -> go back and click `Save Settings` and leave MAME.

When you launch a game open the `Quick Menu` and go to the `Cheat` menu to toggle cheats for that game.


## Applying effects such as Shaders and Scanlines

First read up on BGFX effects on [BGFX MAMEdev](https://docs.mamedev.org/advanced/bgfx.html)

We

1. Go to `~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/config/mame/ini`
2. Open the `mame.ini` with your text editor of choice.
3. Find `OSD VIDEO OPTIONS` and edit the value: `video` from `opengl` to `bgfx`.
4. Find `GFX POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS` and edit the value: `bgfx_screen_chains` fron `nothing` to `what ever value you want` from the BGFX link. Example value from MAME: `bgfx_screen_chains`: `crt-geom`,`pillarbox_left_horizontal`,`pillarbox_right_horizontal`.

## MAME Standalone Folders

MAME Standalone comes with several folders for various assets and files.

### Configuration Folders

**CFG**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/config/mame/cfg`

This is where the `default.cfg` is and also any custom game configs are saved.

**INI**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/config/mame/ini`

This is where `ui.ini` and `mame.ini` files are located. But they should not be touched unless you know what you are doing.
You can always reset via the configurator if you mess things up.

**INP**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/config/mame/inp`

### Data Folders

**Cheat**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/cheat`

**DATS**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/dats`

**Folders**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/folders`

**Hash**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/hash`

**Plugin-Data**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/plugin-data`

**Plugins**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/plugins`

### Asset Folders

**Artwork**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/artwork`

**Artwork-preview**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/artwork-preview`

**Bosses**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/bosses`

**Cabinets**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/cabinets`

**Comments**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/comments`

**Covers**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/covers`

**Cpanel**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/cpanel`

**Crosshair**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/crosshair`

**Ends**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/ends`

**Flyers**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/flyers`

**Fonts**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/fonts`

**Game Over**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/gameover`

**Howto**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/howto`

**Icons**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/icons`

**Language**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/language`

**Logo**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/logo`

**Marquees**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/marquees`

**PCB**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/pcb`

**Samples**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/samples`

**Scores**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/scores`

**Select**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/select`

**Share**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/share`

**Software**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/software`

**Titles**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/titles`

**UI**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/ui`

**Versus**

`~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/mame/assets/versus`