Category: 1997

Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator

Stick of joyProgrammer Nicola Salmoria releases the earliest version of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, or MAME, a freeware PC program which allows users to obtain dumps of the original 1970s and 1980s arcade game ROM chips which MAME interprets, emulating the original hardware architecture to allow play of those games with remarkable fidelity to the original graphics and sounds. This kick-starts a golden age of computer emulation of classic video games and game systems, with the average desktop computer now sporting enough memory to allow for accurate emulation. The release of MAME also ignites an ongoing controversy about the legality of downloading games whose original manufacturers are no longer exploting their intellectual property (or, in some cases, no longer exist as corporate entities).

Namco Museum Volume 3 (“M”) (Playstation)

Namco Museum Volume 3Namco releases the arcade compilation Namco Museum Volume 3 for the Sony Playstation, including the ’80s arcade hits Ms. Pac-Man, Galaxian, Dig Dug, and Pole Position II. (The same title was released to the Japanese market the previous year, with the same lineup of games.) Read more

Namco Museum Volume 4 (“C”) (Playstation)

Namco Museum Volume 4Namco releases the arcade compilation Namco Museum Volume 4 for the Sony Playstation, including the ’80s arcade games Pac-Land, Ordyne, and others. (The same title was released to the Japanese market the previous year, with the same lineup of games.) Read more

Namco Museum Volume 5 (“O”) (Playstation)

Namco Museum Volume 5Namco releases the arcade compilation Namco Museum Volume 5 for the Sony Playstation, including the ’80s arcade games Pac-Mania, Baraduke, and others. (The same title was released to the Japanese market earlier in the year, with the same lineup of games.) Read more