MAME (Current) core crash

jasondude7116 · 22 March 2023 15:33

MAME (Current) core will always load all games properly when Retroarch is first loaded. After any game has run, then stopped to go back to the Retroarch GUI, no MAME game will load. Retroarch just shuts down. So, I can close Retroarch, open it again, and run a MAME game. After I run one, I can’t run it or any other without Retroarch closing/crashing. As you can see in the log file, I run the game, close it, try to run it again…and crash.

Thank you anyone for help. I’ve been trying to work around this, but no luck so far.

I’m trying to attach a log file without it being a complete text mess…

[INFO] RetroArch 1.15.0 (Git 1581ece)

[INFO] === Build =======================================

[INFO] CPU Model Name: Intel® Core™ i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz

[INFO] Capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSE4 SSE4.2 AES AVX

[INFO] Built: Mar 17 2023

[INFO] Version: 1.15.0

[INFO] Git: 1581ece

[INFO] =================================================

[INFO] [Input]: Found input driver: “dinput”.

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: RGB565.

[INFO] [Core]: Version of libretro API: 1, Compiled against API: 1

[INFO] [Audio]: Set audio input rate to: 48000.00 Hz.

[INFO] [Video]: Set video size to: 960x720.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Vulkan dynamic library loaded.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Found vulkan context: “vk_w”.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Detecting screen resolution: 1920x1080.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Found GPU at index 0: “NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960”.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using GPU index 0.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using fences for WSI acquire.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using GPU: “NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960”.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Queue family 0 supports 16 sub-queues.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Got 3 swapchain images.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using resolution 960x720.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using RGB565 format.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Loading stock shader.

[INFO] [XInput]: Found XInput v1.4.

[INFO] [Joypad]: Found joypad driver: “xinput”.

[INFO] [Autoconf]: Xbox One Controller configured in port 1.

[INFO] [Video]: Found display server: “win32”.

[INFO] [XAudio2]: Requesting 64 ms latency, using 64 ms latency.

[INFO] [Display]: Found display driver: “vulkan”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_music_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_video_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_image_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading favorites file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_favorites.lpl”.

[INFO] [Core]: Using content: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Roms\MAME\88games.zip”.

[INFO] [Core]: Content ran for a total of: 00 hours, 00 minutes, 00 seconds.

[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core…

[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core symbols…

[INFO] [Video]: Does not have enough samples for monitor refresh rate estimation. Requires to run for at least 4096 frames.

[INFO] RetroArch 1.15.0 (Git 1581ece)

[INFO] === Build =======================================

[INFO] CPU Model Name: Intel® Core™ i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz

[INFO] Capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSE4 SSE4.2 AES AVX

[INFO] Built: Mar 17 2023

[INFO] Version: 1.15.0

[INFO] Git: 1581ece

[INFO] =================================================

[INFO] [Input]: Found input driver: “dinput”.

[INFO] [Core]: Loading dynamic libretro core from: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\cores\mame_libretro.dll”

[INFO] [Overrides]: Core-specific overrides found at “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\MAME\MAME.cfg”.

[INFO] [Overrides]: Content dir-specific overrides found at “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\MAME\MAME.cfg”.

[INFO] [Overrides]: Content dir-specific overrides stacking on top of previous overrides.

[INFO] [Config]: Loading config: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\retroarch.cfg”.

[INFO] [Config]: Appending override config: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\MAME\MAME.cfg”.

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_VARIABLES.

[INFO] [Core]: Folder-specific core options found at “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\MAME\MAME.opt”.

[INFO] [Remaps]: Content-dir-specific remap found at “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\remaps\MAME\MAME.rmp”.

[INFO] [Overrides]: Redirecting save file to “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\saves\MAME\MAME\88games.srm”.

[INFO] [Overrides]: Redirecting save state to “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\states\MAME\MAME\88games.state”.

[INFO] [Environ]: GET_LOG_INTERFACE.

[INFO] [Environ]: SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\system”.

[libretro INFO] SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\system

[INFO] [Environ]: CORE_ASSETS_DIRECTORY: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\downloads”.

[libretro INFO] CONTENT_DIRECTORY: C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\downloads

[INFO] [Environ]: GET_SAVE_DIRECTORY.

[libretro INFO] SAVE_DIRECTORY: C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\saves\MAME\MAME

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: XRGB8888.

[INFO] [Content]: Content loading skipped. Implementation will load it on its own.

[ERROR] [Environ]: GET_VARIABLE: mame_nobuffer - Invalid value.

[libretro INFO] Joystick map: disabled

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_INPUT_DESCRIPTORS:

[libretro INFO] Starting game:C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Roms\MAME\88games.zip

[libretro INFO] Game name: 88games, Game description: '88 Games

[libretro ERROR] System not found: MAME

[libretro WARN] Driver MAME not found -1

[libretro INFO] Creating frontend for game: 88games

[libretro INFO] Softlists: 1

[libretro WARN] Invalid video value opengl; reverting to software

[libretro INFO] SOURCE FILE: …/…/…/…/…/src/mame/konami/88games.cpp

[libretro INFO] PARENT: 0

[libretro INFO] NAME: 88games

[libretro INFO] DESCRIPTION: '88 Games

[libretro INFO] YEAR: 1988

[libretro INFO] MANUFACTURER: Konami

[libretro INFO] RES:0

[INFO] [Replay]: Found last replay slot: #0

[INFO] [SRAM]: Skipping SRAM load.

[INFO] [Core]: Version of libretro API: 1, Compiled against API: 1

[ERROR] [Environ]: GET_VARIABLE: mame_nobuffer - Invalid value.

[libretro INFO] Joystick map: disabled

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_INPUT_DESCRIPTORS:

[libretro INFO] AV_INFO: width=320 height=224

[libretro INFO] AV_INFO: max_width=320 max_height=224

[libretro INFO] AV_INFO: aspect_ratio = 1.333333

[libretro INFO] AV_INFO: fps = 60.000000 sample_rate = 48000.000000

[INFO] [Audio]: Set audio input rate to: 48000.00 Hz.

[INFO] [Video]: Set video size to: fullscreen.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Vulkan dynamic library loaded.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Found vulkan context: “vk_w”.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Detecting screen resolution: 1920x1080.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Found GPU at index 0: “NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960”.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using GPU index 0.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using GPU: “NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960”.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Queue family 0 supports 16 sub-queues.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Got 3 swapchain images.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using resolution 1920x1080.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using BGRA8888 format.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Loading stock shader.

[INFO] [XInput]: Found XInput v1.4.

[INFO] [Joypad]: Found joypad driver: “xinput”.

[INFO] [Autoconf]: Xbox One Controller configured in port 1.

[INFO] [Video]: Found display server: “win32”.

[INFO] [XAudio2]: Requesting 64 ms latency, using 64 ms latency.

[INFO] [Display]: Found display driver: “vulkan”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_music_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_video_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_image_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading favorites file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_favorites.lpl”.

[ERROR] [Environ]: GET_VARIABLE: mame_nobuffer - Invalid value.

[libretro INFO] Joystick map: disabled

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_INPUT_DESCRIPTORS:

[libretro INFO] AV_INFO: width=320 height=224

[libretro INFO] AV_INFO: max_width=320 max_height=224

[libretro INFO] AV_INFO: aspect_ratio = 1.333333

[libretro INFO] AV_INFO: fps = 60.000000 sample_rate = 48000.000000

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_SYSTEM_AV_INFO: 320x224, Aspect: 1.333, FPS: 60.00, Sample rate: 48000.00 Hz.

[INFO] [Audio]: Set audio input rate to: 48000.00 Hz.

[INFO] [XAudio2]: Requesting 64 ms latency, using 64 ms latency.

[INFO] [Display]: Found display driver: “vulkan”.

[INFO] [Input]: Game Focus => OFF

[libretro INFO] ChangeAV: w:320 h:224 ra:1.333333.

[INFO] [Shaders]: Applying shader: “”.

[INFO] [Core]: Content ran for a total of: 00 hours, 00 minutes, 02 seconds.

[INFO] [Runtime]: Saving runtime log file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\playlists\logs\MAME (Git)\88games.lrtl”.

[INFO] [Config]: Loading config: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\retroarch.cfg”.

[INFO] [Overrides]: Configuration overrides unloaded, original configuration restored.

[INFO] [Core]: No content, starting dummy core.

[INFO] [Core]: Content ran for a total of: 00 hours, 00 minutes, 00 seconds.

[INFO] [Core]: Unloading game…

[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core…

[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core symbols…

[INFO] [Core]: Saved folder-specific core options to “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\MAME\MAME.opt”.

[INFO] [Video]: Does not have enough samples for monitor refresh rate estimation. Requires to run for at least 4096 frames.

[INFO] RetroArch 1.15.0 (Git 1581ece)

[INFO] === Build =======================================

[INFO] CPU Model Name: Intel® Core™ i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz

[INFO] Capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSE4 SSE4.2 AES AVX

[INFO] Built: Mar 17 2023

[INFO] Version: 1.15.0

[INFO] Git: 1581ece

[INFO] =================================================

[INFO] [Input]: Found input driver: “dinput”.

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: RGB565.

[INFO] [Core]: Version of libretro API: 1, Compiled against API: 1

[INFO] [Audio]: Set audio input rate to: 48000.00 Hz.

[INFO] [Video]: Set video size to: 960x720.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Vulkan dynamic library loaded.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Found vulkan context: “vk_w”.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Detecting screen resolution: 1920x1080.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Found GPU at index 0: “NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960”.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using GPU index 0.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using fences for WSI acquire.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using GPU: “NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960”.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Queue family 0 supports 16 sub-queues.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Got 3 swapchain images.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using resolution 960x720.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Using RGB565 format.

[INFO] [Vulkan]: Loading stock shader.

[INFO] [XInput]: Found XInput v1.4.

[INFO] [Joypad]: Found joypad driver: “xinput”.

[INFO] [Autoconf]: Xbox One Controller configured in port 1.

[INFO] [Video]: Found display server: “win32”.

[INFO] [XAudio2]: Requesting 64 ms latency, using 64 ms latency.

[INFO] [Display]: Found display driver: “vulkan”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_music_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_video_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_image_history.lpl”.

[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading favorites file: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\content_favorites.lpl”.

[INFO] [Core]: Using content: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Roms\MAME\88games.zip”.

[INFO] [Core]: Content ran for a total of: 00 hours, 00 minutes, 00 seconds.

[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core…

[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core symbols…

[INFO] [Video]: Does not have enough samples for monitor refresh rate estimation. Requires to run for at least 4096 frames.

[INFO] RetroArch 1.15.0 (Git 1581ece)

[INFO] === Build =======================================

[INFO] CPU Model Name: Intel® Core™ i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40GHz

[INFO] Capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSE4 SSE4.2 AES AVX

[INFO] Built: Mar 17 2023

[INFO] Version: 1.15.0

[INFO] Git: 1581ece

[INFO] =================================================

[INFO] [Input]: Found input driver: “dinput”.

[INFO] [Core]: Loading dynamic libretro core from: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\cores\mame_libretro.dll”

[INFO] [Overrides]: Core-specific overrides found at “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\MAME\MAME.cfg”.

[INFO] [Overrides]: Content dir-specific overrides found at “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\MAME\MAME.cfg”.

[INFO] [Overrides]: Content dir-specific overrides stacking on top of previous overrides.

[INFO] [Config]: Loading config: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\retroarch.cfg”.

[INFO] [Config]: Appending override config: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\MAME\MAME.cfg”.

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_VARIABLES.

[INFO] [Core]: Folder-specific core options found at “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\MAME\MAME.opt”.

[INFO] [Remaps]: Content-dir-specific remap found at “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\config\remaps\MAME\MAME.rmp”.

[INFO] [Overrides]: Redirecting save file to “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\saves\MAME\MAME\88games.srm”.

[INFO] [Overrides]: Redirecting save state to “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\states\MAME\MAME\88games.state”.

[INFO] [Environ]: GET_LOG_INTERFACE.

[INFO] [Environ]: SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\system”.

[libretro INFO] SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\system

[INFO] [Environ]: CORE_ASSETS_DIRECTORY: “C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\downloads”.

[libretro INFO] CONTENT_DIRECTORY: C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\downloads

[INFO] [Environ]: GET_SAVE_DIRECTORY.

[libretro INFO] SAVE_DIRECTORY: C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Emulators\RetroArch-Win64\saves\MAME\MAME

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: XRGB8888.

[INFO] [Content]: Content loading skipped. Implementation will load it on its own.

[ERROR] [Environ]: GET_VARIABLE: mame_nobuffer - Invalid value.

[libretro INFO] Joystick map: disabled

[INFO] [Environ]: SET_INPUT_DESCRIPTORS:

[libretro INFO] Starting game:C:\DUD\DUD Programs\Games\Classic Games\Roms\MAME\88games.zip

[libretro INFO] Game name: 88games, Game description: '88 Games

[libretro ERROR] System not found: MAME

[libretro WARN] Driver MAME not found -1

[libretro INFO] Creating frontend for game: 88games

[libretro INFO] Softlists: 1

[libretro ERROR] Error: unknown option: mame

[libretro INFO] RES:3

jasondude7116 · 22 March 2023 18:28

2 other things I noticed that might help diagnose this:

If a MAME game is running and I use the Retroarch menu to start a different MAME game, Retroarch will close/crash.

If a MAME game is running and I use the MAME OSD menu to change the game, it will start the new game no problem.

jasondude7116 · 23 March 2023 20:28

Problem solved! For anyone else experiencing this:

Issue: When using MAME (Current) core, starting a game the first time works fine. The second time it is started, Retroarch closes/crashes.

Solution: File path was too long. Moving Retroarch folder to a shorter file path (moved it from \folder1\folder2\folder3\Retroarch\ to \folder1\Retroarch) solved the loading issue.

Took me about 24 hours to figure it out. The problem didn’t happen with any other core (I use a lot of them). Didn’t happen with any other MAME core. Only MAME (Current).

BarbuDreadMon · 23 March 2023 22:06

As explained in the documentation, that core is one of the worst in terms of libretroization. You should consider avoiding it whenever possible.

Elessar84 · 24 March 2023 12:16

MAME liberto is a little nightmare. The core does not show if the rom has current files or is the correct bios, it just immediately crashes the entire RA. The core isn’t even updated from the standalone version, which usually comes out once a month. The only plus is the support for 3D games. A much better choice is Final Burn Neo. No problem with the bios Core shows incompatible rom (no RA crash). Updates are very frequent (usually once a day). Various romhacks work, such as Mortal Kombat 2 Plus. Core saves cheats which is very helpful. Fixes many graphical bugs like Metal Slug 1. I recommend FB neo.

hunterk · 24 March 2023 12:28

That information is included in the logs. As for updates, it’s only ever a few weeks to a couple of months behind, which means a scant handful of (typically super-obscure) games won’t match the latest set until it’s updated.

jasondude7116 · 24 March 2023 17:16

I understand the dev situation with the MAME cores. However, there is no other core besides MAME (Current) that can run a lot of the games. I’ve been able to find workarounds to the problems so far.

BarbuDreadMon · 24 March 2023 21:41

Which is why i said “whenever possible”. If the games you intend to play are only supported by current MAME then you have indeed no other choice.

Elessar84 · 26 March 2023 14:15

@hunterk MAME (current) updates themselves are not a big deal, but creating a playlist on MAME can be troublesome even for an experienced user. When creating a playlist, I used standalone Arcade (MAME) to check what files I was missing. Even with the latest version of the rom, it may turn out that some bios is missing = RA crash. Checking this is frustrating and very time consuming. FB neo is much more user friendly. Although it does not support 3D games, and does not support all 2D games. Both cores are important for someone who wants a lot of arcade games in their RA library.

Duimon · 26 March 2023 14:31

That is why I recommend using a non-merged romset. It may take up more space, but a missing bios will never be an issue.

Elessar84 · 26 March 2023 14:38

I pay too much attention to details I can’t function with so many duplicate games.

Duimon · 26 March 2023 18:30

That is precisely my point. With a merged set, you have more roms in each zip than you need. With a split set you need every rom (parent and clone) to play a clone.

With non-merged you are free to curate only the roms you want, without fear of any missing pieces.

Drybonz · 27 March 2023 15:02

I switched to a non-merged set at Duimon’s recommendation not too long ago and the ease and convenience factor has been terrific. I will always use non-merged now.