MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. MAME's purpose is to preserve decades of software history. As electronic technology continues to rush forward, MAME prevents this important "vintage" software from being lost and forgotten. This is achieved by documenting the hardware and how it functions. The source code to MAME serves as this documentation. The fact that the software is usable serves primarily to validate the accuracy of the documentation (how else can you prove that you have recreated the hardware faithfully?).

Over time, MAME (originally stood for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) absorbed the sister-project MESS (Multi Emulator Super System), so MAME now documents a wide variety of (mostly vintage) computers, video game consoles and calculators, in addition to the arcade video games that were its initial focus.

What's New

Are you ready for the first MAME release of 2026? MAME 0.285 is out now! We've added support for an early, unreleased version of Atari's Relief Pitcher running on their System 1 platform. Moon Raker, a Nichibutsu shooter from the late '70s, has also been found and emulated. Sega's Waku Waku series has been further filled out with the addition of Waku Waku Jumbo. And for something completely different, Apple's first computer built around the WIMP paradigm, the Lisa, is starting the year in substantially better shape.

If you play arcade games that utilised lightguns, you'll no doubt be aware that pulling the trigger while aiming the gun away from the screen was a common way to reload. You may also be aware that MAME had an option to make this a bit easier if you're using a lightgun to play. That option has been removed, with a new plugin taking its place. The great news is that the plugin works even if you aren't using a lightgun. That's right, you can now assign a button to reload when you're playing Virtua Cop or Lethal Enforcers with a keyboard, mouse or trackball. Check the plugin documentation for more details.

The Hanimex Pencil II computer has had a bit of an overhaul, which should make more software usable. A few more of the many BBC Micro peripherals have been emulated. Other improvements this month include better Apple IIgs periodic interrupt emulation, another working Apple II clone from behind the Iron Curtain, better representation of base Grid Compass hardware configurations, and better default sound routing for people using Apple notebook computers.

MAME Testers bugs fixed

  • 05422: [Sound] (dataeast/deco32.cpp) All games in deco32.cpp and deco156.cpp: Soft volume control does not work. (Dirk Best)
  • 08679: [DIP/Input] (sega/segas32.cpp) alien3 and clones: Gun Y axis wraps from the top to the bottom of the screen. (Dirk Best)
  • 08759: [DIP/Input] (skeleton/pencil2.cpp) pencil2: The Hand Controller required for some games in not emulated. (Nigel Barnes)
  • 08830: [Crash/Freeze] (konami/hornet.cpp) all sets in hornet.cpp: MAME crashes when examining SHARC 0x3500000 area. (Vas Crabb)
  • 09342: [Save/Restore] (atari/jaguar.cpp) jaguar [cfodder]: Cartridge EEPROM is not emulated. (Angelo Salese)
  • 09357: [Color/Palette] (irem/m10.cpp) ipminvad2: Bases are drawn incorrectly and colours are incorrect. (hap)
  • 09369: [Graphics] (capcom/cps2.cpp) xmvsf and clones, mshvsf and clones: The background layer is drawn over sprites. (hap)

New working systems

  • National Telecommunication System Sphinx Legend [hap, Berger]
  • Moon Raker [Dillweed, SNESNESCUBE64]
  • Relief Pitcher (System 1, prototype) [anonymous, Dutchman2000, SynaMax]
  • Waku Waku Jumbo (Rev A) [hammy]

New working clones

  • Commodore Business Machines PET 2001-4 (Japan) [Curt Coder]
  • Devil Fish (Nuova Videotron bootleg) [caius]
  • Dingo (Nuova Videotron bootleg) [caius]
  • Dirt Dash (World, DT2 Ver.C) [WangDrum]
  • Empire City: 1931 (US, bootleg) [Siftware]
  • Jungle King (Nuova Videotron bootleg) [caius]
  • Revolution X (revision 2.0 9/8/94) [Victor Fernandez (City Game)]
  • Sparkle (v1.1.3) [hammy]
  • Super Poker (v305US) [Siftware]
  • Tic Tac Trivia (6221-20, U5-0B, 11/17/85) [Brian Troha, The Dumping Union]
  • Vanguard (SNK, set 2) [caius]
  • Systems promoted to working
  • Apple Computer Lisa [O. Galibert]
  • Apple Computer Lisa2 [O. Galibert]
  • Maque Wangchao / Chaoji Da Manguan 2 - Jiaqiang Ban (China, V100C) [anonymous]
  • The Pirates of Dark Water (SNES bootleg) [Devin Acker]
  • Clones promoted to working
  • Apple Computer Lisa2/10 [O. Galibert]
  • Commodore Business Machines CBM 8032 (France) [Curt Coder]
  • Pravetz 8C [AJR]

New systems marked not working

  • Casio DG-20 Digital Guitar [BCM, Devin Acker]
  • Diamond Heart Plus (v18.0) [Siftware]
  • Dynacord MCC-1 MIDI Control Computer [DBWBP, Edward d-tech]
  • Goldstar 3DO GDO-101M Interactive Multiplayer (USA?) [Angelo Salese]
  • Gamebox [Guru]
  • Lan Mao [SongJi]
  • Modern Cart [hammy, Oguz, buffi]
  • Motorola ASSIST05 [AJR]
  • Multi Game 9 (ver 9.04 Eng) [Siftware]
  • Roadrunner [stonedDiscord]
  • Panasonic 3DO FZ-1 R.E.A.L. Interactive Multiplayer (USA) [Angelo Salese]
  • Sanyo 3DO IMP-21J TRY Interactive Multiplayer (Japan) [Angelo Salese]