emulator: MESS 2015
type: libretro
core_classification: frozen_snapshot
source: "https://github.com/libretro/mame2015-libretro"
upstream: "https://github.com/mamedev/mame/tree/mame0160"
profiled_date: "2026-03-24"
core_version: "0.160"
display_name: "Multi (MESS 2015)"
mame_version: "0.159"

cores:
  - mess2015
  - mess
systems: []

notes: |
  Frozen snapshot of MAME/MESS 0.159 (version.c says 0.159, core reports 0.160).
  Built from same repo as mame2015/ume2015/cdi2015 with TARGET=mess.
  619 machine drivers (home computers, consoles, handhelds, calculators).
  No BIOS root sets (no GAME_IS_BIOS_ROOT in src/mess/). Machine ROMs loaded
  per-machine via MAME ROM system from content directory.

  Software list support via 375 XML hash files in system_dir/mess2015/hash/.
  Hash files are bundled in the source repo at /hash/. Not on libretro buildbot.
  .info incorrectly says SYSTEMDIR\ume\hash — actual path is mess2015/hash.

  hiscore.c integrated (libretro addition, not in upstream MAME 0.159).
  SAMPLES sound driver disabled in mess.mak.
  Per-game cheat XMLs via system_dir/mess2015/cheat/.
  Artwork layouts via system_dir/mess2015/artwork/.

  Upstream comparison (tag mame0160): romload.c and softlist.c unmodified.

files:
  - name: hiscore.dat
    required: false
    category: game_data
    source_ref: "src/emu/hiscore.c:335-337"
    note: "high score definitions, loaded via f.open without explicit search path"