DK plays different in Different MAME versions ???

[Hamster]

I've played alot of DK in MAME 0.90 .

Then awhile back , I downloaded a newer MAME version , I think 0.149 and just the other day the very Latest version . The newer versions of MAME have slightly different colors than 0.90 , and also 0.90 is easier , it seems Mario moves faster or the barrels are slower  .

Has anyone else noticed older MAME versions to be easier ??

[dimmu--borgir]

Nope. Playing  0.81, 0.106 and a very late 0.150 or so. Absolutely no difference.

[xelnia]

The sounds and colors for the Donkey Kong emulation have changed a lot over the years. Samples were originally used, but the move to discrete sound (based on the actual circuitry for the game) happened with MAME 0.116. The colors were tweaked in that same version, resulting the "pinkish" girders instead of the darker red.

When I was at the Kong Off 3 last November I noticed that there were minor color variations among the 20+ machines. Some had the pinkish girders, some had the darker red. Some had the "shiny barrels" where the blue pixels on regular brown barrels were a lighter shade than what's normally seen. The differences are subtle, but easy to see when you can look at 20 machines at one time.

As far as gameplay is concerned, I don't think there are any major differences. I've done some informal testing on barrel speeds and Jumpman speed, and everything appears to move at the same speed regardless of MAME version. Granted, I haven't tested this among all 210 versions available at mamedev.org. 

[Hamster]

Cool !

My high score is on 0.90 and I thought maybe it was an easier version .

So just the looks have changed with the newer MAME releases . 

I noticed the different "RED" and "Pinkish" Girders too with different DK Arcade cabs .

Maybe its the actual DK PCB's , or , maybe its the way the monitor knobs are tweaked ?? Or even different brand monitors ?

[ChrisP]

The way your PC runs MAME from version to version can affect the speed too, so be aware of that. Your PC might have a harder/easier time with different MAMEs and give you more/less lag.

This might actually be a good place to mention that I've heard lately on KLOV that there might be legitimate differences on the 60-in-1 DK. The guy was using Ms. Pac as an example of a game that isn't right timing-wise on a 60-in-1, and others were agreeing. I know the music is f'ed up on some games, and the walk sound on DK is wrong, but I thought these boards were 100% in terms of gameplay. Maybe not. So this might be a concern going forward (and backward for that matter).

I actually got a 60-in-1 board a few months ago and am waiting to buy a JAMMA Nintendo cab adapter. (Only one guy makes it and he hates money or something because he won't respond to my email.)

In any case, once I get it, I'm going to do a full diagnostic of 60-in-1 DK...

[Hamster]

The way your PC runs MAME from version to version can affect the speed too, so be aware of that. Your PC might have a harder/easier time with different MAMEs and give you more/less lag.

This might actually be a good place to mention that I've heard lately on KLOV that there might be legitimate differences on the 60-in-1 DK. The guy was using Ms. Pac as an example of a game that isn't right timing-wise on a 60-in-1, and others were agreeing. I know the music is f'ed up on some games, and the walk sound on DK is wrong, but I thought these boards were 100% in terms of gameplay. Maybe not. So this might be a concern going forward (and backward for that matter).

I actually got a 60-in-1 board a few months ago and am waiting to buy a JAMMA Nintendo cab adapter. (Only one guy makes it and he hates money or something because he won't respond to my email.)

In any case, once I get it, I'm going to do a full diagnostic of 60-in-1 DK...

Cool , love to hear what you think about the 60n1 DK ! If its good , than what a deal , you can get those boards for like $50 .


As far as different versions of MAME playing differently on my computer , I think you hit the nail on the head , as far as my situation .

I tested MAME 0.90 using Task Manager watching the CPU usage and whats weird is the older version 0.90 , maxes out my CPU at 100% alot of the time . Where as the newer versions of MAME , CPU maxes out at around 70% .

Maybe it has to do with how the sound is being generated ??

But anyways , 0.90 maxes out my CPU alot , which I think makes the game run slightly slower , not very noticeable because the controls don't feel laggy , but the game seems easier and I think its maybe because its slightly running slower .


Its something to think about , everyones computer is different . Some people might be setting high scores on older slower computers , which might make it easier to play .