Ya know, playin’ them old games, like from the arcade, it’s a real hoot. Brings back memories, eh? There’s this thing called OpenEmu, for them Mac computers, the ones with the ARM64 thingy.
Now, they say this OpenEmu can run somethin’ called MAME core. MAME, that’s like, a bunch of old games all in one. Used to cost a fortune in quarters, those machines did. Now, gettin’ it to work, that’s a different story.
First off, you need this special version of OpenEmu, the “experimental” one they call it. Dunno why they make it so complicated. The regular one, it don’t do the MAME thing. So, go get the special one from that openemu dot org place.
- Download the special OpenEmu.
- Open it up, find the “preferences.”
- Look for “cores” and click on it.
You’ll see a list of things, look for MAME and hit “install.” That’s it. Or so they say. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t. If it ain’t workin’, maybe try installin’ other “cores” too. Dunno what they are, but more is better, right?
Once it’s installed, go to the “library” thing on the side. Right-click on somethin’ called “system” and find “default core.” Pick MAME. Now, you gotta find them game files, called ROMs. Put ’em in the right place, wherever that is. They say it’s experimental, so don’t be surprised if it’s all wonky.
They say this new version, it’s gonna be better. Somethin’ about “native Apple Silicon support.” Sounds fancy, but who knows if it’ll actually work? And they changed the way it looks, too. “Redesigned UI” they call it. Just make it work, that’s what I say. Don’t care about fancy looks.
Arcade games, they’re the tricky ones. They say MAME ROMs are the only ones that might work. JAMMA, Neo Geo, forget about it. They tell you to download somethin’ called a “core plugin” and put it in a “folder.” Which folder? Who knows! “Core” or maybe “systems” they say. Trial and error, I guess.
Someone said somethin’ about version 0.250.1 fixin’ things. You gotta restart the app, they say. Maybe it works, maybe it don’t. This OpenEmu thing, it uses all sorts of fancy words like “Core Animation,” “Metal,” and “AppKit.” Sounds important, but does it make the games play? That’s all I care about.
They say it’s gonna change the world. Well, I ain’t seen no world changin’ yet. Just a bunch of fiddlin’ with settings and files. And this “current MAME core is 0.217” business. What does that even mean? As long as I can play Pac-Man, I’m happy.
So, there you have it. OpenEmu, MAME core, experimental versions. It’s a whole mess, but if you’re lucky, you might get to play them old games again. Just remember, it ain’t always easy. But then again, nothin’ good ever is, right?
Tags: OpenEmu, MAME, macOS, ARM64, emulation, arcade, ROMs, core, gaming, Apple Silicon
