Arcade Basics

Understanding arcade emulation fundamentals.

Overview

Arcade emulation is more complex than console emulation. Instead of one standardized console, arcades used hundreds of different hardware configurations. This guide explains the key concepts.

Emulators

Emulator	Type	Best For
MAME	RetroArch/Standalone	Most comprehensive, thousands of games
FinalBurn Neo	RetroArch core	CPS1/2/3, Neo Geo, classic arcade
Flycast	RetroArch/Standalone	Sega NAOMI/Atomiswave

Key Concepts

ROM Sets

Arcade ROMs work differently than console ROMs:

• Games come as ZIP files - keep them zipped
• Games may need parent ROMs to work
• ROMs must match your emulator version

See ROM Sets for detailed explanation.

BIOS Files

Many arcade systems need BIOS files:

• neogeo.zip - Neo Geo games
• pgm.zip - PGM system games
• naomi.zip - Sega NAOMI

Place BIOS files in your ROM folder alongside games.

Setup

ROM Folder

File Format

.zip - Keep arcade ROMs zipped. Don't extract them.

MAME vs FinalBurn Neo

Feature	MAME	FinalBurn Neo
Game count	40,000+	7,000+
Accuracy	Higher priority	Playability focus
Performance	More demanding	Faster
Best for	Obscure games, accuracy	Popular classics

For Steam Deck, FinalBurn Neo is often the better choice for popular games.

Tips

• Start with FBNeo - easier to set up, great game selection
• Match ROM versions - get ROMs for your specific emulator version
• Don't rename files - arcade ROMs must have exact names
• Check parents - some games need parent ROMs in the same folder