For an even easier setup, try Maximus Arcade.


How To Use X-Arcade With MAME

If you are new to MAME, please see this MAME HOW-TO VIDEO


TEST YOUR X-ARCADE™

IMPORTANT: If your controller doesn't work in the X-Arcade™ Test Utility Program, then it will NOT work in MAME™. 

Before attempting to play MAME games, test that your controller is fully working in our X-Arcade™ Test Utility Program. 

The X-Arcade works as a simple keyboard, so if it is working in the test program but not in MAME, then you have a problem with your MAME software settings, not the controller! 


Official MAME documentation - While we provide easy steps to get you started below, the devs are obviously the experts. 


Option 1 - MAMEUI Setup:

  1. Download MAMEUI64 Here, 64-bit only.
  2. Run the downloaded executable file. On this screen be sure to take note of the directory you are extracting it to, this will be your MAME folder, we recommend "C:\MAME\" (without quotes). Install MAME™ by clicking the "Extract" button. 
  3. Download X-Arcade MAME Injector. Run it, and if you installed MAME to the recommended location in the previous step just press 'Extract' button, otherwise change it to the directory you chose before extracting.
  4. Run the MAMEUI64 executable found in the folder where you put it in step 2 above. You can make a shortcut on your desktop by right-clicking on the executable and choosing 'Send to', then 'Desktop (create shortcut)'.
  5. Open Options (at the top), then 'Default System Options', select the 'Controllers' tab; and set your 'Default input layout' to 'X-Arcade' from the drop-down list (for trackball usage, also click the box to 'Enable mouse input'). DO NOT enable multiple keyboards or mice.
  6. Get ROMS (ROMs are games, none are included and we do not supply ROM files!) Put them in the "roms" subfolder in the "MAME" folder (do not unzip them) which is 'C:\MAME\roms\'. 
  7. Hit F5 in MAMEUI to have it search for new ROMs. Click the 'Available' option on the left to see what games are ready to play. 


Option 2 - MAME Official Commandline Setup:

  1. Download MAME™ Here, you want the Binary 64-bit version if you have a 64-bit version of Windows, otherwise download the 32-bit version if you have a 32-bit version of Windows or don't know. The 32-bit version will work on either version of Windows.
  2. Run the downloaded executable file. On this screen be sure to take note of the directory you are extracting it to, this will be your MAME folder, we recommend "C:\MAME\" (without quotes). Install MAME™ by clicking the "Extract" button. 
  3. Download X-Arcade MAME Injector. Run it, and if you installed MAME to the recommended location in the previous step just press 'Extract' button, otherwise change it to the directory you chose before extracting. 
  4. Get ROMS (ROMs are games, none are included and we do not supply ROM files!) Put them in the "roms" subfolder in the "MAME" folder (do not unzip them) which is 'C:\MAME\roms\'. 
  5. Run the MAME executable (e.g. mame64.exe) found in C:\MAME. You can make a shortcut on your desktop by right-clicking on the executable and choosing 'Send to', then 'Desktop (create shortcut)'.


MAME™ Operation:

  • Switch to Mode1: Move the switch on the back of the X-Arcade™ to the position closest to the serial port. (Note: For older models you will then need to push the button on the back of the X-Arcade™ twice, the light on the X-Arcade™ should go out on the first push and back on with the second).
  • After you start up a game, use the left pinball flipper button on the left side of the X-Arcade™ (closest to you) to insert coins, and press the white start button(s) to play.
  • You can skip the screens which ask you to type "OK" by moving the joystick left then right.
  • You can exit a game by holding the player 2 start button and pressing the right pinball button simultaneously. (The Solo cannot do this)
  • To enable game saves, in the Command-line version main menu go to Plugins and turn it on there. Otherwise open your plugins.ini file found in the main MAME folder with Notepad and next to 'hiscore' change the 0 to1.
  • MANUAL CONTROL MAPPING: You can change the controls for any game by simply pushing the 'Tab' key while a game is already running to access the controls menu. Input (this game) overrides the general input settings and adds custom controller settings for just the game being used. We recommend against changing the Input (general) option because these settings will be applied to all games which overrides our config file.
  • 2019 TANKSTICK NOTE: The new LED button on 2019 models acts as Mouse Button 3, so you will likely want to set it as your Exit Game button in your frontends or emulators. 


TROUBLESHOOTING:

  • If you need more help after carefully following the steps here, head to our MAME™ Troubleshooting section.
  • X-Arcade™ Test Utility Program. If your controller doesn't work in the X-Arcade™ Test Utility Program, then it will NOT work in MAME™. 
  • If you mess up some controls (or a screen like Volume or similar is coming on when you press a button), delete the "default.cfg" file that is in the "cfg" folder in MAME™, or 'C:\MAME\cfg\'..
  • MAME Official Docs.- for more help then we can provide here. 


You can add even more functions like pausing or exiting MAME games by using our X-Hotkeys program.


The Advanced Way:

If you wish to use a different version of MAME or a Frontend, go here.


Frontends:

If you want more control of the MAME menus, check out these great front-ends with X-Arcade™ support.