Getting started with MAME (Ubuntu)

[Elias]

I'm on Ubuntu 17.10, and I am struggling to figure out how to use MAME.

In particular, I wish to use the MAME executable which is available as a package from the repository archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_bionic_universe_binary-amd64_Packages and am shy of running executables that don't come from repositories that ship with the OS.

I have actually succeeded in executing a MAME rom which came from

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https://www.mamedev.org/roms/

from by running:

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mame -rompath . $ROM_NAME

...However, I have not succeeded in running any MAME roms found on theoldcomputer. For instance, bublbobl.zip. When I execute mame on that zipfile, mame outputs the following error message:

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a78-06-1.51 NOT FOUND (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
a78-05-1.52 NOT FOUND (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
a78-01.17 NOT FOUND (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
a71-25.41 NOT FOUND (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
pal16l8.bin NOT FOUND (NO GOOD DUMP KNOWN) (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
pal16l8.bin NOT FOUND (NO GOOD DUMP KNOWN) (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
pal16r4.bin NOT FOUND (NO GOOD DUMP KNOWN) (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
Fatal error: Required files are missing, the machine cannot be run.

I wonder the following: Why does MAME want these files? Do all MAME emulators look for these files? Where should I expect to find these files?

Quick introduction: I'm using the 4-part scale on HOWTO: Ask for help with an emulator and get the best answer, I'd say I'm between the following two descriptions:

-3- 'I am pretty familiar with my computer, and am alright unless I need to use the command line'
-4- 'I've got this, just point me in the right direction"

I am on a 64-bit Ubuntu 17.10 machine.
I have no experience with MAME.

[Hot Trout]

You should not need to unpack any of the MAME rom archives like bublbobl.zip that you mentioned. Just place the entire file in the folder for the version of MAME you are using.

[Elias]

Thanks, Hot Trout, but in fact, I have tried launching MAME without unpacking the archive. For instance:

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ls
# => outputs just bublbobl.zip
mame -rompath . bublbobl
# => a78-06-1.51 NOT FOUND (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
# => a78-05-1.52 NOT FOUND (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
# => a78-01.17 NOT FOUND (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
# => a71-25.41 NOT FOUND (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
# => pal16l8.bin NOT FOUND (NO GOOD DUMP KNOWN) (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
# => pal16l8.bin NOT FOUND (NO GOOD DUMP KNOWN) (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
# => pal16r4.bin NOT FOUND (NO GOOD DUMP KNOWN) (tried in bublbobl bublbobl)
# => Fatal error: Required files are missing, the machine cannot be run.


I have also tried running `mame` with no `-rompath` argument, instead modifying `rompath` in my `$HOME/.mame/mame.ini file` so that it includes the chosen directory: `rompath $HOME/mame/roms;/usr/local/share/games/mame/roms;/usr/share/games/mame/roms;$HOME/mychosendirectory`. The outcome is the same.

[Hot Trout]

Hmmmm, not sure. I don't operate in Linux much these days so I am not up to speed with this. Can anyone else help?