====== Core Configuration Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:readconfig|readconfig]] | ''1'' | Enable loading of [[mess:files:ini|initialization]] files | ====== Core Search Path Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:rompath|rompath]] | ''roms'' | Path to [[mess:files:roms|romsets]] and [[mess:files:chd|hard disk]] images | | [[mess:mess.ini:hashpath|hashpath]] | ''hash'' | Path to [[mess:files:hsi|hash]] files | | [[mess:mess.ini:samplepath|samplepath]] | ''sample'' | Path to [[mess:files:samples|samplesets]] | | [[mess:mess.ini:artpath|artpath]] | ''artwork'' | Path to [[mess:files:artwork|artwork]] files | | [[mess:mess.ini:ctrlrpath|ctrlrpath]] | ''ctrlr'' | Path to [[mess:files:cfg|controller-specific configuration]] files | | [[mess:mess.ini:inipath|inipath]] | ''.;ini'' | Path to [[mess:files:ini|initialization]] files | | [[mess:mess.ini:fontpath|fontpath]] | ''.'' | Path to [[mess:files:bdf|font]] files | | [[mess:mess.ini:cheatpath|cheatpath]] | ''cheat'' | Path to [[mess:files:cheat|cheat]] files | | ''crsshairpath'' | ''crsshair'' | Path to crosshair files | ====== Core Output Directory Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:cfg_directory|cfg_directory]] | ''cfg'' | Directory to save [[mess:files:cfg|configurations]] | | [[mess:mess.ini:nvram_directory|nvram_directory]] | ''nvram'' | Directory to save [[mess:files:nv|non-volatile RAM contents]] | | [[mess:mess.ini:memcard_directory|memcard_directory]] | ''memcard'' | Directory to save [[mess:files:memcard|memory card contents]] | | [[mess:mess.ini:input_directory|input_directory]] | ''inp'' | Directory to save [[mess:files:inp|input device logs]] | | [[mess:mess.ini:state_directory|state_directory]] | ''sta'' | Directory to save [[mess:files:sta|states]] | | [[mess:mess.ini:snapshot_directory|snapshot_directory]] | ''snap'' | Directory to save [[mess:files:png|screenshots]] | | [[mess:mess.ini:diff_directory|diff_directory]] | ''diff'' | Directory to save hard drive image difference files | | [[mess:mess.ini:comment_directory|comment_directory]] | ''comments'' | Directory to save [[:debugger]] [[mess:files:cmt|comments]] | ====== Core State/Playback Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:state|state]] | '' '' | Saved [[mess:files:sta|state]] to load | | [[mess:mess.ini:autosave|autosave]] | ''0'' | Enable automatic restore at startup, and automatic save at exit time | | [[mess:mess.ini:playback|playback]] | '' '' | Playback an [[mess:files:inp|input]] file | | [[mess:mess.ini:record|record]] | '' '' | Record an [[mess:files:inp|input]] file | | [[mess:mess.ini:mngwrite|mngwrite]] | '' '' | Optional filename to write a ''.mng'' movie of the current session | | [[mess:mess.ini:aviwrite|aviwrite]] | '' '' | Optional filename to write an ''.avi'' movie of the current session | | [[mess:mess.ini:wavwrite|wavwrite]] | '' '' | Optional filename to write a ''.wav'' file of the current session | | [[mess:mess.ini:snapname|snapname]] | ''&g/%i'' | Override of the default snapshot/movie naming | | [[mess:mess.ini:snapsize|snapsize]] | ''auto'' | Specify snapshot/movie resolution | | [[mess:mess.ini:snapview|snapview]] | ''standard'' | Specify snapshot/movie view | ====== Core Performance Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:autoframeskip|autoframeskip]] | ''0'' | Enable automatic [[mess:mess.ini:frameskip|frameskip]] selection | | [[mess:mess.ini:frameskip|frameskip]] | ''0'' | Set frameskip to fixed value, from ''0'' to ''11'' | | [[mess:mess.ini:seconds_to_run|seconds_to_run]] | ''0'' | Number of emulated seconds to run before automatically exiting | | [[mess:mess.ini:throttle|throttle]] | ''1'' | Enable throttling to keep game running in sync with real time | | [[mess:mess.ini:sleep|sleep]] | ''1'' | Enable sleeping, which gives time back to other applications when idle | | [[mess:mess.ini:speed|speed]] | ''1.0'' | Controls the speed of gameplay, relative to realtime | | [[mess:mess.ini:refreshspeed|refreshspeed]] | ''0'' | Automatically adjusts the [[mess:mess.ini:speed|speed]] of gameplay to keep the refresh rate lower than the screen | ====== Core Rotation Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:rotate|rotate]] | ''1'' | Rotate the game screen according to the system's orientation | | [[mess:mess.ini:ror|ror]] | ''0'' | Rotate screen clockwise 90 degrees | | [[mess:mess.ini:rol|rol]] | ''0'' | Rotate screen counterclockwise 90 degrees | | [[mess:mess.ini:autoror|autoror]] | ''0'' | Automatically rotate screen clockwise 90 degrees if vertical | | [[mess:mess.ini:autorol|autorol]] | ''0'' | Automatically rotate screen counterclockwise 90 degrees if vertical | | [[mess:mess.ini:flipx|flipx]] | ''0'' | Flip screen left-right | | [[mess:mess.ini:flipy|flipy]] | ''0'' | Flip screen upside-down | ====== Core Artwork Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''artwork_crop'' | ''0'' | Crop artwork to game screen size | | ''use_backdrops'' | ''1'' | Enable backdrops if artwork is enabled and available | | ''use_overlays'' | ''1'' | Enable overlays if artwork is enabled and available | | ''use_bezels'' | ''1'' | Enable bezels if artwork is enabled and available | ====== Core Screen Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:brightness|brightness]] | ''1.0'' | Default system screen brightness correction | | [[mess:mess.ini:contrast|contrast]] | ''1.0'' | Default system screen contrast correction | | [[mess:mess.ini:gamma|gamma]] | ''1.0'' | Default system screen gamma correction | | [[mess:mess.ini:pause_brightness|pause_brightness]] | ''0.65'' | Amount to scale the screen [[mess:mess.ini:brightness|brightness]] when paused | ====== Core Vector Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:antialias|antialias]] | ''1'' | Use antialiasing when drawing vectors | | [[mess:mess.ini:beam|beam]] | ''1.0'' | Set vector beam width | | [[mess:mess.ini:flicker|flicker]] | ''0'' | Set vector flicker effect | ====== Core Sound Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:sound|sound]] | ''1'' | Enable sound output | | [[mess:mess.ini:samplerate|samplerate]] | ''48000'' | Set sound output sample rate in Hz | | [[mess:mess.ini:samples|samples]] | ''1'' | Enable the use of external [[mess:files:samples|samples]] if available | | [[mess:mess.ini:volume|volume]] | ''0'' | Sound volume attenuation in dB | ====== Core Input Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | [[mess:mess.ini:coin_lockout|coin_lockout]] | ''1'' | Enable coin lockouts to actually lock out coins | | [[mess:mess.ini:ctrlr|ctrlr]] | '' '' | Preconfigure for specified controller | | [[mess:mess.ini:mouse|mouse]] | ''0'' | Enable mouse input | | [[mess:mess.ini:joystick|joystick]] | ''1'' | Enable joystick input | | [[mess:mess.ini:lightgun|lightgun]] | ''0'' | Enable lightgun input | | [[mess:mess.ini:multikeyboard|multikeyboard]] | ''0'' | Enable separate input from each keyboard device (if present) | | [[mess:mess.ini:multimouse|multimouse]] | ''0'' | Enable separate input from each mouse device (if present) | | [[mess:mess.ini:steadykey|steadykey]] | ''0'' | Enable steadykey support | | [[mess:mess.ini:offscreen_reload|offscreen_reload]] | ''0'' | Convert lightgun button #2 into offscreen reload | | [[mess:mess.ini:joystick_map|joystick_map]] | ''auto'' | Explicit joystick map | | [[mess:mess.ini:joystick_deadzone|joystick_deadzone]] | ''0.3'' | Center deadzone range for joystick where change is ignored | | [[mess:mess.ini:joystick_saturation|joystick_saturation]] | ''0.85'' | End of axis saturation range for joystick where change is ignored | ====== Core Input Automatic Enable Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''paddle_device'' | ''keyboard'' | Enable (''keyboard''%%|%%''mouse''%%|%%''joystick'') if a paddle control is present | | ''adstick_device'' | ''keyboard'' | Enable (''keyboard''%%|%%''mouse''%%|%%''joystick'') if an analog joystick control is present | | ''pedal_device'' | ''keyboard'' | Enable (''keyboard''%%|%%''mouse''%%|%%''joystick'') if a pedal control is present | | ''dial_device'' | ''keyboard'' | Enable (''keyboard''%%|%%''mouse''%%|%%''joystick'') if a dial control is present | | ''trackball_device'' | ''keyboard'' | Enable (''keyboard''%%|%%''mouse''%%|%%''joystick'') if a trackball control is present | | ''lightgun_device'' | ''keyboard'' | Enable (''keyboard''%%|%%''mouse''%%|%%''joystick'') if a lightgun control is present | | ''positional_device'' | ''keyboard'' | Enable (''keyboard''%%|%%''mouse''%%|%%''joystick'') if a positional control is present | | ''mouse_device'' | ''mouse'' | Enable (''keyboard''%%|%%''mouse''%%|%%''joystick'') if a mouse control is present | ====== Core Debugging Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''log'' | ''0'' | Generate an ''error.log'' file | | ''verbose'' | ''0'' | Display additional diagnostic information | | ''update_in_pause'' | ''0'' | Keep calling video updates while in pause | | ''debug'' | ''0'' | Enable/disable debugger | | ''debugscript'' | | Script for debugger | ====== Core Misc Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''bios'' | | Select the system BIOS to use | | ''cheat'' | ''0'' | Enable cheat subsystem | | ''skip_gameinfo'' | ''0'' | Skip displaying the information screen at startup | ====== Debugging Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''oslog'' | ''0'' | Output ''error.log'' data to the system debugger | ====== Windows Debugging Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''oslog'' | ''0'' | Output ''error.log'' data to the system debugger | | ''watchdog'' | ''0'' | Force the program to terminate if no updates within specified number of seconds | ====== Performance Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''multithreading'' | ''0'' | Enable multithreading; this enables rendering and blitting on a separate thread | | ''sdlvideofps'' | ''0'' | Show SDL video performance | ====== Windows Performance Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''priority'' | ''0'' | Thread priority for the main game thread; range from -15 to 1 | | ''multithreading'' | ''0'' | Enable multithreading; this enables rendering and blitting on a separate thread | ====== Video Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''video'' | ''soft'' | Video output method: ''soft'' or ''opengl'' | | ''numscreens'' | ''1'' | Number of screens to create; SDLMESS only supports 1 at this time | | ''window'' | ''0'' | Enable window mode; otherwise, full screen mode is assumed | | ''maximize'' | ''1'' | Default to maximized windows; otherwise, windows will be minimized | | ''keepaspect'' | ''1'' | Constrain to the proper aspect ratio | | ''unevenstretch'' | ''1'' | Allow non-integer stretch factors | | ''effect'' | ''none'' | Name of a PNG file to use for visual effects, or ''none'' | | ''centerh'' | ''1'' | Center horizontally within the view area | | ''centerv'' | ''1'' | Center vertically within the view area | | ''waitvsync'' | ''0'' | Enable waiting for the start of VBLANK before flipping screens; reduces tearing effects | | ''scalemode'' | ''none'' | Scale mode: ''none'', ''async'', ''yv12'', ''yuy2'', ''yv12x2'', ''yuy2x2'' (''-video soft'' only) | ====== Windows Video Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''video'' | ''d3d'' | Video output method: ''none'', ''gdi'', ''ddraw'', or ''d3d'' | | ''numscreens'' | ''1'' | Number of screens to create; usually, you want just one | | ''window'' | ''0'' | Enable window mode; otherwise, full screen mode is assumed | | ''maximize'' | ''1'' | Default to maximized windows; otherwise, windows will be minimized | | ''keepaspect'' | ''1'' | Constrain to the proper aspect ratio | | ''prescale'' | ''1'' | Scale screen rendering by this amount in software | | ''effect'' | ''none'' | Name of a PNG file to use for visual effects, or ''none'' | | ''waitvsync'' | ''0'' | Enable waiting for the start of VBLANK before flipping screens; reduces tearing effects | | ''syncrefresh'' | ''0'' | Enable using the start of VBLANK for throttling instead of the game time | | ''menu'' | ''1'' | Enable the dropdown menu when using the WINUI build | ====== OpenGL-Specific Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''filter'' | ''1'' | Enable bilinear filtering on screen output | | ''prescale'' | ''1'' | Scale screen rendering by this amount in software | | ''gl_forcepow2texture'' | ''0'' | Force power of two textures | | ''gl_notexturerect'' | ''0'' | Don't use OpenGL GL_ARB_texture_rectangle | | ''gl_vbo'' | ''1'' | Enable OpenGL VBO, if available | | ''gl_pbo'' | ''1'' | Enable OpenGL PBO, if available | | ''gl_glsl'' | ''0'' | Enable OpenGL GLSL, if available | | ''gl_glsl_filter'' | ''1'' | Enable OpenGL GLSL filtering instead of FF filtering (''0'' == plain, ''1'' == bilinear) | | ''glsl_shader_mame0'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 0 | | ''glsl_shader_mame1'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 1 | | ''glsl_shader_mame2'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 2 | | ''glsl_shader_mame3'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 3 | | ''glsl_shader_mame4'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 4 | | ''glsl_shader_mame5'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 5 | | ''glsl_shader_mame6'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 6 | | ''glsl_shader_mame7'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 7 | | ''glsl_shader_mame8'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 8 | | ''glsl_shader_mame9'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader set MAME bitmap 9 | | ''glsl_shader_screen0'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 0 | | ''glsl_shader_screen1'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 1 | | ''glsl_shader_screen2'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 2 | | ''glsl_shader_screen3'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 3 | | ''glsl_shader_screen4'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 4 | | ''glsl_shader_screen5'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 5 | | ''glsl_shader_screen6'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 6 | | ''glsl_shader_screen7'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 7 | | ''glsl_shader_screen8'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 8 | | ''glsl_shader_screen9'' | ''none'' | Custom OpenGL GLSL shader screen bitmap 9 | | ''gl_glsl_vid_attr'' | ''1'' | Enable OpenGL GLSL handling of brightness and contrast. Better RGB game performance for free | ====== DirectDraw-Specific Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''hwstretch'' | ''1'' | Enable hardware stretching | ====== Direct3D-Specific Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''d3dversion'' | ''9'' | Specify the preferred Direct3D version (''8'' or ''9'') | | ''filter'' | ''1'' | Enable bilinear filtering on screen output | ====== Per-Window Video Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''screen'' | ''auto'' | Explicit name of the first screen; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''aspect'' | ''auto'' | Aspect ratio for all screens; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''resolution'' | ''auto'' | Preferred resolution for all screens; format is ''x[@]'' or ''auto'' | | ''view'' | ''auto'' | Preferred view for all screens | | ''screen0'' | ''auto'' | Explicit name of the first screen; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''aspect0'' | ''auto'' | Aspect ratio of the first screen; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''resolution0'' | ''auto'' | Preferred resolution of the first screen; format is ''x[@]'' or ''auto'' | | ''view0'' | ''auto'' | Preferred view for the first screen | | ''screen1'' | ''auto'' | Explicit name of the second screen; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''aspect1'' | ''auto'' | Aspect ratio of the second screen; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''resolution1'' | ''auto'' | Preferred resolution of the second screen; format is ''x[@]'' or ''auto'' | | ''view1'' | ''auto'' | Preferred view for the second screen | | ''screen2'' | ''auto'' | Explicit name of the third screen; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''aspect2'' | ''auto'' | Aspect ratio of the third screen; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''resolution2'' | ''auto'' | Preferred resolution of the third screen; format is ''x[@]'' or ''auto'' | | ''view2'' | ''auto'' | Preferred view for the third screen | | ''screen3'' | ''auto'' | Explicit name of the fourth screen; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''aspect3'' | ''auto'' | Aspect ratio of the fourth screen; ''auto'' here will try to make a best guess | | ''resolution3'' | ''auto'' | Preferred resolution of the fourth screen; format is ''x[@]'' or ''auto'' | | ''view3'' | ''auto'' | Preferred view for the fourth screen | ====== Full Screen Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''switchres'' | ''0'' | Enable resolution switching | | ''useallheads'' | ''0'' | Split full screen image across monitors | ====== Windows Full Screen Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''triplebuffer'' | ''0'' | Enable triple buffering | | ''switchres'' | ''0'' | Enable resolution switching | | ''full_screen_brightness'' | ''1.0'' | Brightness value in full screen mode | | ''full_screen_contrast'' | ''1.0'' | Contrast value in full screen mode | | ''full_screen_gamma'' | ''1.0'' | Gamma value in full screen mode | ====== Sound Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''audio_latency'' | ''3'' | Set audio latency (increase to reduce glitches, decrease for responsiveness) | ====== Windows Sound Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''audio_latency'' | ''2'' | Set audio latency (increase to reduce glitches, decrease for responsiveness) | ====== SDL Keyboard Mapping ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''keymap'' | ''0'' | Enable keymap | | ''keymap_file'' | ''keymap.dat'' | Keymap filename | | ''uimodekey'' | ''ITEM_ID_SCRLOCK'' | Key to toggle MESS keyboard mode | ====== SDL Joystick Mapping ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''remapjoys'' | ''0'' | Enable physical to logical joystick mapping | | ''remapjoyfile'' | ''joymap.dat'' | Joymap filename | | ''sixaxis'' | ''0'' | Use special handling for PS3 Sixaxis controllers | ====== Windows Input Device Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''dual_lightgun'' | ''0'' | Enable dual lightgun input | ====== SDL Low-level Driver Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''videodriver'' | ''auto'' | SDL video driver to use (''x11'', ''directfb'', ... or ''auto'' for SDL default) | | ''audiodriver'' | ''auto'' | SDL audio driver to use (''alsa'', ''arts'', ... or ''auto'' for SDL default) | | ''gl_lib'' | ''auto'' | Alternative ''libGL.so'' to use; ''auto'' for system default | ====== MESS Specific Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | ''ramsize'' | | Size of RAM (if supported by driver) | | ''writeconfig'' | ''0'' | Writes configuration to ''.ini'' on exit | | ''skip_warnings'' | ''0'' | Skips displaying the warnings screen | | ''natural'' | ''0'' | Specifies whether to use natural keyboard mode or not | ====== SDL MESS Specific Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | //None at the moment!!!// ||| ====== Windows MESS Specific Options ====== ^ Option ^ Default Value ^ Description ^ | //None at the moment!!!// |||