Create a folder like C:\MAME0235. Inside, create:
According to the official whatsnew.txt file, MAME 0.235 brought:
In short, 0.235 hit the perfect balance: new enough to play hundreds of late-90s 3D arcade games, but old enough to avoid the experimental core changes that broke compatibility for thousands of 80s classics in later versions (like 0.240-0.250). mame 0.235 rom set
When you download a full "MAME 0.235 ROM set" (typically 60-70 GB compressed), you will encounter several file types. Understanding these is essential to avoid frustration.
No article about MAME ROM sets is complete without the legal disclaimer. Create a folder like C:\MAME0235
MAME itself is legal. It is a piece of software distributed under a non-commercial license.
ROMs are not legal. Distributing copyrighted arcade game dumps is illegal in almost every jurisdiction. Most arcade games from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s are still under copyright (Disney didn't lose Mickey Mouse, and Capcom hasn't lost Street Fighter II). In short, 0
How to legally use a 0.235 ROM set:
The practical reality: The archival community operates in a gray area, claiming "abandonware" status for games whose publishers no longer exist. However, Nintendo, Sega, Bandai Namco, and Capcom all actively protect their IP. Downloading full sets is a copyright violation.
MAME’s built-in UI is... utilitarian. Use LaunchBox (Windows), RetroFE, or Attract-Mode to turn your 0.235 set into a beautiful digital arcade.
For games released on CD-ROM, DVD, or hard drives (mostly post-1990), the ROM ZIP only contains the firmware. The actual game data is stored in a .chd file in a subfolder.