MAMEWorld Forums - EmuChat - Re: Requirements for inclusion into MAME

> Bootlegs also have to be noticeably different from the official release. Just
> changing a copyright notice or manufactures name wont cut it. So, thats another
> requirement.
>
> Lando242

This is actually an outdated view.

There are, in my opinion (not official), current qualification points for a game when considering addition into MAME:

- ROMs on original PCB and are sourced from that PCB or an upgrade kit which uses that original PCB without modification. Even minor graphic changes in bootlegs put out by virtually unknown entities in the day are worth documenting. More often than you'd think - the bootleg is easier to obtain than the real deal and documentation of this assists the actual board owners in repairs.

- Actual cabinets with the game inside having been available for the public consumption on actual PCB using original hardware (not a computer+cabinet). One I can think of right off is the Donkey Kong II game, which is on location for play at FunSpot in Laconia, NH. It might have been 'modern day' hack, but this gave it a lot of extra credibility.

- Were developed outside of a graphics editor (Turaco, etc). Many games which fill up MisfitMAME are a testament to the amount of hacks that have been made over a long period of time due to use of these "utilities". They will likely never been added as documentation.

- Arcade-sourced game. This view has widened greatly. It used to be strictly video arcade games, then other games started being accepted in source (such as gambling, ticket machine, skill games). More recent development has started importing pinball/bowler/redemption games (from PinMAME) for proper documentation and emulation.

- Game accepts currency and has a CPU which can be emulated regardless if it has a video screen or not, this makes it worthy for documentation in the project. This is likely to expand later to cover discrete games as emulation of discrete circuitry improves and widens.

I'm sure there are other points, but those are what is coming to mind.