FAQ:Games

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How do I calibrate the guns in Namco games? (Golly! Ghost, Lucky & Wild etc.)

While holding the service coin (9) key, press the service mode button (F2). Shoot at the targets it shows using the crosshair. The target briefly lights up red while you shoot. After you've shot the target, press the service coin key (9) again to move onto the next one and it will also ask you to calibrate the second player's gun. Once the whole thing repeats, press the service mode button (F2) to exit.

Why doesn't 720 Degrees use a spinner?

The original controller for 720 Degrees was a joystick that was hardware-limited to only travel along the outermost edges in a circle. The internal mechanism for reading this control was similar to a spinner except that it had the additional benefit of knowing which direction the joystick was pointing. Because this knowledge is an important aspect of the game, the current emulation of the controller maps an analog joystick to the underlying controls instead of a spinner.

I am trying to play a Williams game (Joust, Defender, Bubbles, etc.) and I can't get into the game itself.

The first time you run these games, they will say "Factory settings restored". Press F2 to proceed. This works for most Williams games. Otherwise, try F3, or F1 and F2 together.

When I run Zookeeper, I get stuck on a THIS LOCATION screen.

The first time you run the game, it will ask the location. You can change the name using F5 / F6 and F2, then F1 to proceed through the configuration screens. Or just reset (F3).

What's wrong with the NVRAM in Food Fight?

The first time you run the game, it re-initializes the NVRAM (Non-volatile RAM) memory. To get past the initialization screen, hit the primary fire button (Left Control key, or the first joystick button).

When I try to play MACH 3 or Us vs. Them, I just get a "Disc" message.

These are laserdisc games. In the '80s, several "hybrid" video/laserdisc games appeared. Unlike Space Ace and Dragon's Lair — which were essentially interactive cartoons — these games mixed graphics and video for a more intense gaming experience. The MAME team decided to emulate the normal graphics portions of the games, and worry later about how to emulate the laserdisc video. Hence, you cannot play these games at this time in MAME. However, a lot of the laserdisc games are emulated in Daphne.

How do I play Water Match?

The instructions are on the game's bezel. The game involves waggling the two joysticks around like an idiot. Here's what you have to do:

For freestyle and backstroke swimming, move the two joysticks up and down in opposition to each other (when one is up, the other must be down).

For butterfly, turn the joysticks "outward" — left clockwise, right counterclockwise. For breaststroke, turn them "inward" (left counterclockwise, right clockwise).

(You need to use the start button to dive into the pool and the turn button to turn around.)

For rowing the rowboat, move the joysticks up and down in sync (both up, both down, both up, etc.).

For rowing the canoe, move the joysticks up and down independently: the left one if the canoe is veering to the left or the right one if the canoe is veering to the right. (One of the buttons is involved as well, but it's too hard to make out in the photo.) You have to press one of the buttons (not sure which one) to right your canoe when it capsizes.

How do I start a PlayChoice-10 game?

The Playchoice-10 system was a multigame arcade machine. MAME emulates a Playchoice-10 with one game in it. However, the "channel select" menus and timer still are there in MAME. PC-10 games are timer-based, which means coins buy playing time, instead of a certain number of lives. Game ends when time is up, although you can reset, start and continue unlimited times, as long as you have time left).

To start the game, do the following:

1. Run MAME with the PC-10 game you want to play (ex. "MAME PC_SMB3" would run Super Mario Bros 3, or "MAME PC_RCPAM" would run RC Pro-AM).
2. Insert a coin by pressing 5 to put some time on the timer (300 Units Per coin).
3. Press 0 to select channel one.
4. Press - to "Enter" the game.
5. Press 1 to select Options.
6. Press 2 to Start Game.