MAME 0.139u1 is a version of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, a popular emulator for arcade games. Released in 2012, MAME 0.139u1 supports a vast number of arcade games, and to play these games, you need ROMs (Read-Only Memory) which are essentially the game's data extracted from the arcade machine's circuitry.
The list of ROMs required for MAME 0.139u1 is extensive, as it includes thousands of games. However, I must emphasize that providing or downloading ROMs for games you don't own may infringe on copyright laws. ROMs are the digital versions of the games' original code, and without proper licensing, their distribution and use can be illegal.
ROM sets for MAME 0.139u1 typically follow the split or merged convention popular at the time:
By 2010, the Non-Merged format (each game fully self-contained) was less common due to redundancy, but some users preferred it for simplicity. mame 0.139u1 roms list
kinst.zip) require a CHD file. In 0.139u1, many CHDs are version 3, which are hard to find. Check your list carefully.sf2ce (World), sf2cej (Japan), sf2ceua (USA alt). A full list is massive (approx 30GB of ZIPs + additional CHDs).Below is a curated, non-exhaustive list of the most significant ROMs that you should expect to find in a full 0.139u1 set, organized by genre and hardware.
The MAME 0.139u1 ROM set is not just an old version of software; it is a foundational pillar of the retrogaming hobby. It represents the point where arcade emulation matured into a stable, performant, and comprehensive platform.
While technology has moved on, 0.139u1 remains the standard-bearer for anyone not running top-of-the-line hardware. It is the version that powered the retro arcade boom of the 2010s, and for players looking to revisit the golden age of the arcade on a budget or a DIY project, it is still, arguably, the best tool for the job. MAME 0
Score: 9/10 (Essential for the hobbyist, though superseded by modern versions for high-end users).
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the MAME 0.139u1 ROM set.
This specific version is significant because it is the core ROMset used by some of the most popular "final" arcade compilations, such as the Cave PC-based collection and older versions of FinalBurn Alpha (FBA). It sits right between the official 0.139 and 0.140 releases. Split set : Each clone has its own
Of course, using a ROM set from over a decade ago has its drawbacks. The most significant is that it lacks the improvements in accuracy found in modern MAME. If you are a purist who wants cycle-exact emulation of a specific CPU timing quirk, or if you want to play one of the newly dumped games from the last ten years, 0.139u1 is simply not an option.
Furthermore, ROM sets are not backwards compatible. If you have a modern PC and want the absolute most authentic experience possible, you should use the latest version of MAME and a matching modern ROM set. The 0.139u1 set is a snapshot in time, and while it’s a beautiful snapshot, it is frozen in amber.