Editing MAME (section)

== History and overview ==
The MAME project was started by Italian programmer [[Nicola Salmoria]]. It began as a project called Multi-Pac, intended to preserve video games in the Pac-Man family, but the name was changed as more games were added to its framework. The first MAME version was released in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/features/afterlife|title=Afterlife: The World of Console Game Emulation|last=Maragos|first=Nich|date=2015-07-25|website=[[1UP.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725101010/http://www.1up.com/features/afterlife|archive-date=2015-07-25|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-08-21}}</ref> In April 1997, Salmoria stepped down for his [[military service#Italy|national service]] commitments, handing stewardship of the project to fellow Italian Mirko Buffoni for half a year. In May 2003, David Haywood took over as project coordinator; and from April 2005 to April 2011, the project was coordinated by Aaron Giles;<ref name="mamehistory">{{cite web|url=http://mamedev.org/history.html |title=MAME Project History |access-date=2011-04-23}}</ref> then Angelo Salese stepped in as the coordinator;<ref>{{cite web|last=Giles|first=Aaron|title=Regime Change |url=http://mamedev.org/?p=329 |work=Mamedev.org |access-date=2013-07-03 |date=2011-04-05}}</ref> and in 2012, Miodrag Milanovic took over.<ref name="angelo">{{cite web|last=Milanovic|first=Miodrag|date=2012-04-26|title=Passing the torch|url=http://mamedev.org/?p=362|access-date=2012-04-26|work=Mamedev.org}}</ref> The project is supported by hundreds of developers around the world and thousands of outside contributors.

At first, MAME was developed exclusively for [[MS-DOS]], but it was soon ported to [[Unix-like]] systems (X/MAME), Macintosh (MacMAME and later MAME OS X) and Windows (MAME32). Since 24 May 2001, with version 0.37b15,<ref name="mamehistory" /> MAME's main development has occurred on the Windows platform, and most other platforms are supported through the [[Simple Directmedia Layer|SDLMAME]] project, which was integrated into the main development source tree in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rbelmont.mameworld.info/?page_id=163|title=The SDLMAME Homepage |publisher=Rbelmont.mameworld.info |date=2006-10-13 |access-date=2011-04-11}}</ref> MAME has also been ported to other computers, game consoles, mobile phones and PDAs and, at one point, even to digital cameras.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/04/but-wait-thats-a-camera|title=But Wait, That's a Camera...|author=IGN Staff|date=1999-11-03|work=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222212031/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/04/but-wait-thats-a-camera|archive-date=2014-02-22|url-status=live|access-date=2013-07-03}}</ref> In 2012, [[Google]] ported MAME to [[Google Native Client|Native Client]], which allows MAME to run inside [[Google Chrome|Chrome]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/247189/mame_runs_in_google_chrome_plays_all_your_favorite_arcade_games.html|title=MAME Runs In Google Chrome, Plays All Your Favorite Arcade Games|last=Wawro|first=Alex|date=2012-01-03|work=[[PC World]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907224159/http://www.pcworld.com/article/247189/mame_runs_in_google_chrome_plays_all_your_favorite_arcade_games.html|archive-date=2013-09-07|url-status=live|access-date=2013-07-03}}</ref>

Major releases of MAME occur approximately once a month. Windows executables in both 32-bit and 64-bit fashion are released on the [https://www.mamedev.org/ development team's official website], along with the complete source code.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mamedev.org/release.html |title=MAME Latest MAME Release |access-date=2011-04-23}}</ref> Smaller, incremental "u" (for update) releases were released weekly (until version 0.149u1) as source [[diff]]s against the most recent major version, to keep code in synchronization among developers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mamedev.org/updates.html |title=MAME Source Updates |access-date=2011-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420212857/http://mamedev.org/updates.html |archive-date=20 April 2011 }}</ref> MAME's source code is developed on a public [[GitHub]] repository,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/mamedev/mame|title=GitHub - mamedev/mame: MAME - Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator|website=[[GitHub]]|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref> allowing those with the required expertise and tools to build the most up-to-date version and contribute enhancements as [[Distributed version control#Pull requests|pull requests]]. Historical version numbers 0.32, and 0.38 through 0.52 inclusively, do not exist; the former was skipped due to similar naming of the GUI-equipped MAME32 variant (which itself has since been renamed {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090727083717/http://www.mameui.info/ MAMEUI]}} due to the move to 64-bit builds), while the latter numbers were skipped due to the numerous releases in the 0.37 beta cycle (these version numbers have since been marked next to their equivalent 0.37 beta releases on the official MAMEdev website).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mamedev.org/oldrel.html |title=MAME Previous Releases}}</ref>

MAME's architecture has been extensively improved over the years. Support for both [[Raster graphics|raster]] and [[vector display]]s, multiple CPUs, and sound chips were added in the project's first six months. A flexible timer system to coordinate synchronization between multiple emulated CPU cores was implemented, and ROM images started to be loaded according to their [[CRC32]] hash in the [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP files]] they were stored in.<ref name="mamehistory" /> MAME has pioneered the [[reverse engineering]] of many undocumented system architectures, various CPUs (such as the [[Motorola 6809|M6809]]-derivative custom [[Konami]] CPU with new instructions) and sound chips (for example, [[List of Yamaha products#Sound chips|Yamaha FM sound chips]]). MAME developers have been instrumental in reverse engineering many proprietary encryption algorithms utilized in arcade games, including [[Neo Geo]], [[CP System II]] and [[CP System III]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2019}}

MAME's popularity has gone mainstream, with enthusiasts building their own [[arcade cabinet|arcade game cabinets]] to replay old games and even some companies producing illegal MAME derivatives to be installed in [[video arcade|arcades]]. Cabinets are built either from scratch or by taking apart and modifying an original arcade game cabinet.<ref>{{cite book|last=St. Clair|first=John|title=Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine|publisher=Wiley|location=Indianapolis, IN|year=2004|isbn=0764556169}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/16/build-your-own-mame-machine|title=Build Your Own MAME Machine|last=Roush|first=George|date=2008-04-16|work=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216020929/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/16/build-your-own-mame-machine|archive-date=2012-12-16|url-status=live|access-date=2013-07-03}}</ref> Cabinets inspired by classic games can also be purchased and assembled (with MAME optionally preinstalled).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/01/dream-arcade-cocktail-kit|title=Dream Arcade Cocktail Kit|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=2005-11-30|work=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222212037/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/01/dream-arcade-cocktail-kit|archive-date=2014-02-22|url-status=live|access-date=2013-07-03}}</ref>

Although MAME contains a rudimentary user interface, the use of MAME in arcade game cabinets and [[home theater PC|home theaters]] necessitates special launcher applications called ''[[Front and back ends|front ends]]'' with more advanced features. They provide varying degrees of customization, allowing one to see images of games' cabinets, histories, playing tips, specialized logo artwork for games, and video of the game's play or ''[[Glossary of video game terms|attract mode]]''.

The information within MAME is free for reuse, and companies have been known to utilize MAME when recreating their old classics on modern systems. Some have even hired MAME developers to create emulators for their old properties. An example is the ''[[Taito Legends]]'' pack, with ROMs readable on select versions of MAME.<ref name="taitolegendsmanual">{{cite web |url=http://www2.sega.com/support/manuals/taitolegends_pc_manual.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004040310/http://www2.sega.com/support/manuals/taitolegends_pc_manual.pdf |archive-date=2011-10-04 |url-status=live |title=Taito Legends manual |publisher=Sega |access-date=2011-04-23 }}</ref>

On 27 May 2015 (0.162), the games console and computer system emulator [[Multi Emulator Super System|MESS]] was integrated with MAME (so the MESS User Manual is still the most important usage instruction for the non-arcade parts of MAME).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mamedev.org/?p=406|title=MAME 0.162 | work =MAMEDEV.org}}</ref> This also led to the removal of the acronym, as MAME can now emulate more than arcade machines. Since 2012, MAME has been maintained by former MESS project leader Miodrag Milanović.<ref name="angelo" />

In May 2015, it was announced that MAME's developers planned to [[Software relicensing|re-license]] the software under a more common [[free and open-source]] [[software license|license]], away from the [[#Original MAME license|original MAME license]]. MAME developer Miodrag Milanovic explained that the change was to draw more developer interest, allow game manufacturers to distribute MAME to emulate their own games, and to make the software "a learning tool for developers working on development boards". The transition of MAME's licensing to [[Free-software license|BSD/GPL]] was completed in March 2016.<ref name="gamasutra-10monthslater">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/10-months-later-mame-finishes-its-transition-to-open-source|title=10 months later, MAME finishes its transition to open source|last=Wawro|first=Alex|date=4 March 2016|website=[[Gamasutra]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422164522/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/267316/10_months_later_MAME_finishes_its_transition_to_open_source.php|archive-date=22 April 2016|url-status=live|access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="gamasutra-mameoss">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/mame-is-going-open-source-to-be-a-learning-tool-for-developers-|title=MAME is going open source to be a 'learning tool for developers'|last=Wawro|first=Alex|date=15 May 2015|website=[[Gamasutra]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516082153/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/243598/MAME_is_going_open_source_to_be_a_learning_tool_for_developers.php|archive-date=16 May 2015|url-status=live|access-date=27 May 2015}}</ref> Most of MAME's [[source code]] (90%+) is now available under the [[BSD licenses|BSD-3-Clause]] license, and the complete project is under the [[GNU General Public License|GPL-2.0-or-later]] license.<ref name="gamasutra-10monthslater" /><ref name="mame-nowopensource">{{cite web|title=MAME is now Free and Open Source Software|url=http://mamedev.org/?p=422|website=MAMEdev.org|access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

On 24 February 2016 (0.171), MAME embedded the MEWUI front-end (and its developer joined the team), providing MAME with a flexible and more full-featured UI.<ref>http://mamedev.org/releases/whatsnew_0171.txt {{Bare URL plain text|date=March 2022}}</ref>

On 30 December 2021, [[exA-Arcadia]], the Western copyright holders of the games ''[[Akai Katana]]'' and ''[[DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou]]'' had their lawyers file a [[cease and desist]] notice to the MAME developers over those games being included in the emulator.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=120280#Post120280|title=You wanted the C&D, you got it|work=Forums }}</ref> MAME complied with the request a day later, making both unplayable on the emulator outside of command line, as of version 0.240.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mame.dorando.at/svn/?rev=183324|title = MAME SVN History}}</ref>