 /#     #\  /#-#-#\  /\          /~~\   __   __  /@#-#>  /#--#-\  <+#"##>
 #| +   #|  |#   |#  @|         ///\#\  \#\ //*  ##      ##   |#  (#
 |#\ \  |#  #|\#-+/  |#        /!/  \#\  \ Y /   #@      |#+#"#/  \#8#@\
 |# \ ) #|  |#       #|        #+#-##+#   |#|    #|##>   #)\#\         !)
 |#  \ \##  #|       ##        #|    ##   #|@    |#      |# (*)        #|
 #    \ _/  !        \_##-#->  ##    #>   \_/    \#-=#>  ##  \_\  <#+###>. i N i

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v0.90a (2005-01-12) - http://nplayers.arcadebelgium.be - (c) 2005 Made Of Dreams
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Changes in this release:
=======================
- fixed: some new games were missing (mostly Sega games).
- changed "Kick and Run" & "Mexico 86" to 4P sim (read note below).[A. Petrucci]

Purpose:
=======
Have you ever been sitting there with three friends staring at your computer screen where your favourite MAME frontend lies wondering which game to play knowing you need a game that support four players simultaneous play? After many unsuccessful attempts at finding this damn game, you give up and say: let's watch another anime!

Well thanks to this file, you won't say that anymore!

Nplayers.ini is based on TriggerFin's catver.ini (http://www.mameworld.net/catlist/) and works the same way really, but where catver provides categories and versions, nplayers tells for each game how many players are supported. So in your favourite MAME frontend, you just have to look at the appropriate column to know if you can play this game with your four friend at the same time. Look at the "Usage" section for more info on how it works.

Archive content:
===============
nplayers.ini  --- ini file containing column data.
docs\nplayers.txt --- this file containing notes about the ini files.

Usage:
=====
Just extract this archive with full path to your MAME frontend directory.

A new column will be filled in your frontend with values looking like these:

BIOS --- BIOS (obviously not playable)
??? --- the game is unplayable.
1P   --- you can only play alone.
2P alt --- you can play alternatively with a friend knowing you won't be at the same time on the screen. Typical 2P alt games are early 80's games like Pac-Man, pool games and golf games.
2P sim --- you are together on the screen playing either in cooperative or in versus mode. Typical 2P sim games are puzzle games like Tetris or Columns.

There are also 3P, 4P, 6P and 8P games. Typical 4P alt games are bowling games.

Entries can be a combination:
4P alt / 2P sim --- This means that this game allows 4 players to take part in a game where only 2 players at the time are on the screen. Olympic and some bowling games work like this.

When you're with 2 friends, just sort the "Players" column, and you'll have all 3P games grouped. Just make your choice.

Game notes:
==========
As MAME is in a constant beta (unfinished) state, some games input aren't supported the way they should and a game that can be played by 4 players at the arcade, can be played by only one player on your computer due to some MAME bugs.

Here are some notes regarding games that haven't fully supported multiplayers mode.
So when the value in the players column seems inexact, look at this file before submitting a correction.

Battle Zone (cocktail):
   This version is supposed to be 2P but cocktail mode isn't supported properly: 2P score
   is never incremented and after player 1 is game over, he restarts with infinite lives!

Bijokko Gakuen, Bijokko Yume Monogatari, House Mannequin, House Mannequin Roppongi Live hen:
   These games are tagged as 1P only. 2P game is possible by activating the "2P simultaneous play" dipswitch but the game is unplayable in this mode because 2P keys are unbindables.

Bowl-O-Rama:
   2P game might be possible (cocktail mode is available) but only 1P controls are mapped
   in MAME.

Hard Dunk:
   On the real machine, you can be up to 6 players simultaneously but MAME only supports 5 players max.

Hot Smash
   It's a 2P game but second player's paddle is not mapped.

Kick and Run, Mexico 86:
   These can be switched to 4P games by using a sub-board. Sadly, this PCB isn't emulated so it's only 2P for now.
   [Thanks to Andrea Petrucci]

Mach Breakers (Japan):
   This is a 4 players game but at time of writting, MAME neither support 3P nor 4P inputs.

Quiz Mekurumeku Story:
   This game can be set to "4 Players" via dipswitches but 3P and 4P keys (including start buttons) are not mapped.

Space War (Leijac):
   2P controls are not mapped.

Tinkle Pit (Japan):
   This is a 2 players game but "2P start" button doesn't work properly.

Touch Down Fever, Touch Down Fever (Japan), Touch Down Fever 2:
   This is a 4P game but due to a bug in MAME, you can only play up to 2.

U.S. Classic:
   This is a 2P game but 2P Start button doesn't work.

Corrections:
===========
When you see an error, please report it to nomax@arcadebelgium.be, you'll of course be credited.

Support:
=======
NPlayers.ini is supported by:

ArcadEPIC --- http://www.mameworld.net/arcadepic/
EasyMame --- http://www.mameworld.net/easymame/
EmuLoader --- http://www.mameworld.net/emuloader/
GameEx --- http://www.tomspeirs.com/gameex/
GoMAME --- http://www.bryantrecording.com/gomame.htm
MaLa --- http://www.mala.de.tt/
MAME Classic --- http://www.mameworld.net/mameclassic/
QuickPlay --- http://quickplay.sourceforge.net/
SMFE --- http://www.softlab.ece.ntua.gr/~sivann/smfe/
ultrastyle --- http://www.mameworld.net/ultrastyle/

 If you want to add nplayers.ini support to your frontend/website/whatever, please contact us at the above e-mail address if you have any question or just to notify us you added support for this ini file in your product. We would be happy to help you if needed...

Website:
=======
Check http://nplayers.arcadebelgium.be for the latest version of nplayers.ini.

Credits:
=======
Nomax --- nplayers.ini building + old school gfx and text (website).
Sophie --- sprite ripping, HTML code and new school gfx rework (website).
Taito --- All original graphics used for the website are copyrighted by them.

Bug reports:
===========
Thanks to Cutebutwrong, BSR & Andrea Petrucci.

Thanks:
======
Sophie for helping me with the website.
Ciro for being the first to support this file (in EmuLoader).
Cutebutwrong for his enthusiasm.
all frontend makers who support this file.
you for reading this.

History:
=======
2005-01-12 - v0.90a. Added some missing games, kicknrun & mexico86 are now 4P.
2005-01-07 - v0.90 for MAME 0.90.
2004-11-25 - v0.89 for MAME 0.89.
2004-10-31 - v0.88 for MAME 0.88.
2004-09-29 - v0.87a. Corrected misc. typos and Sprint 4 & 8 number of players.
2004-09-24 - v0.87 for MAME 0.87.
2004-09-15 - v0.86 for MAME 0.86.

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NPlayers.ini v0.90a                           (c) 2004-2005 Made Of Dreams Corp.
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