The MAME 2014 Reference Set is a curated, snapshot collection of ROMs and CHD (Compressed Hard Disk) images that correspond strictly to MAME version 0.159 (officially released in December 2014). This set is widely used for:
Unlike rolling ROM sets (e.g., MAME 0.270+), a reference set is frozen in time, ensuring that every ROM and CHD matches exactly the known working dump from that era.
Suppose you download a "MAME 2014 reference set" from an online archive. If it is unverified, there is a 40-60% chance that 10-20% of your games will fail to launch. If it is verified, success rates exceed 99.5% (excluding mechanical emulation bugs).
That is the difference between a frustrating weekend and a plug-and-play arcade paradise.
The MAME 2014 Reference Set corresponds to MAME version 0.159, a snapshot of the emulator from late 2014 to early 2015. While newer versions of MAME exist with higher accuracy, this specific version is widely used as a "balanced" standard for mid-range hardware and Libretro-based systems like RetroArch and Lakka. ROM Set Configuration mame 2014 reference set mame 0159 roms chds verified
The 0.159 reference set typically comes in three primary formats, which dictate how files are stored:
Non-Merged (Recommended for ease of use): Every ZIP file contains 100% of the data needed to run that specific game. This is the largest format (approx. 81.5GB - 83.7GB for ROMs only) but ensures individual games work independently.
Split (Balanced): Clone games (e.g., a Japanese version) only contain files unique to them and require the "Parent" ROM ZIP to be present in the same folder to function.
Merged (Space saving): All versions of a game (Parent and all Clones) are stored inside a single ZIP file. CHDs (Compressed Hunks of Data) The MAME 2014 Reference Set is a curated,
CHDs are large disk images (hard drives, CDs, or LaserDiscs) required for more advanced arcade titles like Gauntlet Legends or Killer Instinct.
Finding a specific reference set from 2014 is harder than finding the current version, as older sets are often not seeded as heavily.
The Methods:
Warning: Do not mix versions. If you use ROMs meant for MAME 0.220 with the MAME 2014 core, many games will fail to load because the file names inside the zip archives have likely changed. Unlike rolling ROM sets (e
A legitimate reference set always includes the corresponding mame0159.dat or mame2014.xml file. Without it, verification is impossible.
| Game | ROM Name | CHD Required | |------|----------|---------------| | Killer Instinct 1 & 2 | kinst, kinst2 | yes | | Cruis’n USA | crusnusa | yes | | Area 51 | area51 | yes | | Maximum Force | maxforce | yes | | Dance Dance Revolution (all mixes) | ddrmax, ddrstrike, etc. | yes | | Gauntlet Legends | gauntleg | yes | | San Francisco Rush | sfrush | yes | | Hard Drivin’ | harddriv | yes |
Note: Without matching CHDs, games that require them will fail to boot or show missing media errors.
Before diving into downloading or setting up, it is crucial to understand what "MAME 2014 Reference Set MAME 0159" actually means.
mame kinst -verifyroms -checkchd
A clean verification means every game that was working in 0.159 will run without missing file errors.