Quote Originally Posted by stalepie View Post
Also I already know about frontends. I've been using MAME for over ten years. I don't think it fixes the underlying issues in the code because it's just a frontend - the graphics on top (the menus, GUI). It does however add to the confusion and hassle a new user experiences when wondering about the best way to set up MAME. Does he choose this frontend? That frontend? This version of MAME? The one released 2 years ago during a certain month so that his romset is compatible with it?

For instance, some ROMs I just downloaded work in mame.exe but don't work in MAMEPPK. Why is this? I thought I had the new editions of both these programs, so I figured MAMEPPK was just a graphical version of the newest mame.

It's very disorganized.
There ARE no underlying issues in the emulator's code. You can see what's broken and what isn't at http://www.mametesters.org/ . All your issues seem to be caused by incorrect romsets, which they have no obligation to keep supporting.

And I'm saying this again, BLAME THE ROM SITES for not posting any updated romsets and insist on using sets from versions that would run fine on six year old machines.

If you want a frontend, and you want it built in, get MAMEUI. End of problem.