Going Back In Time With PocketCultMAME

[Raphael Salgado]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketcult.com' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketcult.com</a><br /><br /></div>Since the early days of Windows Mobile, many developers have tried to recreate the good ol' days of coin-operated games on our devices, but few gave that true sense of nostalgia, or even improved on the original. Yes, there were a few underground attempts in making good emulators of games from extracted ROMs, but development became spotty, even for programs like MorphGear. Some big name companies even jumped in to cash in on the idea, such as Atari Retro and the Namco Pocket Editions, though they were sometimes more costly than titles that were generations ahead of their time.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/salgado_pocketcultmame04a.gif" /><br /><br />Luckily, someone had the brains and time to take it up a notch. Manuel Castrillo Martínez of PocketCult was very gracious enough to send me an advanced copy of PocketCultMAME 0.4a, a new Pocket PC port of the infamous Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator (MAME) code. Though his site is under renovation, this new version, full of enhancements and configurable options, should be available within the next day or so. I have tested it with a number of games, many of which are very playable and all-too enjoyable all over again. Of course, the legality of using extracted ROMs for use in emulators is a grey area in many parts of the world, so proceed at your own risk. And, don't blame me if you inadvertently pop a quarter in your device's SD slot. ;) Which old coin-op game have you been aching to play on your Pocket PC?

[Damion Chaplin]

Two words: SPY HUNTER
The first video game to take 50 cents! It's nowhere near as much fun as the old arcade version was, with its steering wheel and flashing red call button in the middle, but it's still quite fun.

I'd love to be able to play the old Star Wars game again, but you really need the steering yoke for that one... Galaxia's probably my favorite, most available game.

Does MAME support the old TurboGrafx-16 games? I currently use Pocket Engine to play Military Madness (yes, I still own the original cart), but the controls are a little funky and I wish it were a little easier to use...

[rob_ocelot]

Two words: SPY HUNTER
The first video game to take 50 cents! It's nowhere near as much fun as the old arcade version was, with its steering wheel and flashing red call button in the middle, but it's still quite fun.

Ahh yes, but it must have sound. There's no point in playing Spy Hunter without the music, and the sitdown coin-op had a big speaker right behind your head.

I'd love to be able to play the old Star Wars game again, but you really need the steering yoke for that one...

From the screenshots it looks like the emulator can map analog controls to the stylus, though it might be a bit unwieldy with one hand firing and holding the PPC and the other manning the stylus. Moot point though, I don't think most vector monitor games would look all that hot at QVGA res... VGA would be ok with anti-aliasing.

Does MAME support the old TurboGrafx-16 games? I currently use Pocket Engine to play Military Madness (yes, I still own the original cart), but the controls are a little funky and I wish it were a little easier to use...

MAME doesn't support consoles (unless you count machines like the Nintendo Playchoice). I thought there was a PPC port of MESS (The computer and console equivalent of MAME) in the works a few years ago but I think that project has been abandoned.

If you're interested in turn-based strategy games like Nectaris (aka Military Madness) you might want to check out SMK's Pocket UFO (http://www.smksoftware.ru/index.php?page=115&amp;lang=en), a terrific port of the old PC classic X-com. The game is freeware now, after a bit of a copyright kerfuffle with other PocketPC deveopers and Microprose.

[Raphael Salgado]

Spicy Pixel's MorphGear has a TurboGrafx-16 plug-in. Have you tried that? Is that any better than Pocket Engine? www.spicypixel.com

[Damion Chaplin]

If you're interested in turn-based strategy games like Nectaris (aka Military Madness) you might want to check out SMK's Pocket UFO (http://www.smksoftware.ru/index.php?page=115&amp;lang=en), a terrific port of the old PC classic X-com. The game is freeware now, after a bit of a copyright kerfuffle with other PocketPC deveopers and Microprose.

Ohhhh... X-Com..... I must check it out.
The Spy Hunter I played wasn't the sit-down one. Besides, I played it on my NES long ago and it was just fine coming out of my 80's TV speakers...

Spicy Pixel's MorphGear has a TurboGrafx-16 plug-in. Have you tried that? Is that any better than Pocket Engine?

I have not tried it, but Pocket Engine's kinda clunky, so I gotta check it out.

Thanks guys! :)

[simond10]

i was pretty bored a few weeks back and decided to try the original beta of pocketcultmame on my C550, and it freaking worked!, its a little hard to use and i only tried strider. When overclocked strider runs at full speed (no sound)

This is great, any chance tou could get in touch with the developer and ask him if he could make a smartphone specific version?

:D

[Snail]

Mr Do! was my fave... I almost blew a whole term's student grant playing that game (over 20 years ago!) :roll:

[kiwi]

GALAGA &amp; DIG DUG !

:-)

[jlc, just jlc]

GALAGA &amp; DIG DUG !

:-)

They are available via PocketNES - and play quite nicely on my 700w.

[kiwi]

GALAGA &amp; DIG DUG !

:-)

They are available via PocketNES - and play quite nicely on my 700w.

sweet - will check it out. I got the Namco Pack for my PSP the other day. perfect replication of the game, but small on the PSP screen.

I got the PSP so I could play games enroute to NZ next week on the aeroplane home. The controls on the Hx2410 PPC arnt the best for gaming

[stevenator65]

This looks like a good emulator. I'm going to try it out.
Steve

[davea0511]

Here's the best index of emulators for the PPC that I have found:
http://www.pocketgamer.org/games/emulators/index.shtml

[CharlyV]

Here's the best index of emulators for the PPC that I have found:
http://www.pocketgamer.org/games/emulators/index.shtml

Are you sure (http://www.ppc-welt.info/community/showthread.php?t=26977) ?