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MAME Version-Based “Newly Supported Games” Playlist

📋 Summary

Add an option during MAME import/update to automatically create playlists of games newly supported in the most recent MAME version(s), helping users quickly discover and try out newly added games.


🎯 Feature Overview

Within the MAME import/update wizard, introduce a checkbox labeled “Create Playlists for Newly Supported Games.”

When enabled, LaunchBox would:

  • Detect the current MAME version being imported/updated

  • Reference an online database of MAME release notes or supported game lists

  • Automatically create a nested playlist structure that organizes newly supported games by version (e.g. 0.278, 0.277, etc.)

  • Optionally allow users to choose how many past versions to include (e.g. last 5, 10, or all versions)


🛠 Example Use Case

  • A user updates to MAME 0.278.

  • During import, they check “Create Playlists for Newly Supported Games.”

  • After the import, a new playlist appears:

    • 📁 Newly Supported Games

      • MAME 0.278: 25 new titles

      • MAME 0.277: 18 new titles

      • MAME 0.276: 20 new titles

  • The user can now easily explore what’s new in each version without digging through changelogs or external sources.


📦 Benefits

  • Makes it easy to explore newly supported content in MAME

  • Encourages discovery of obscure or forgotten titles

  • Great for MAME enthusiasts and testers keeping up with emulator progress

  • Helps highlight platform growth over time


💡 Notes

  • This would rely on access to structured MAME update data (e.g. via an official changelog API or community-maintained list).

  • Could integrate well with other filtering or auto-playlist options in LaunchBox to keep the experience seamless.

Status: Open To Community3 comments

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Comments3

  • AstroBob changed status to Open To Community
    Team•

    Jul 7, 2025

    Pinned

    Hi there!

    Thanks so much for submitting this request and for taking the time to explain your use case — that context is always super helpful.

    I’ve gone ahead and fleshed out the main idea using the info you provided, and I’m opening it up to the community for further discussion and feedback. Please let me know if this fleshed-out version doesn’t match your original intended request.

    Feel free to let me know if you have any extra thoughts, examples, or edge cases you think might be relevant!

    Cheers,
    The LaunchBox team

    • PanteraZombie

      •

      Jul 7, 2025

      Yep, looks good. Thanks!

  • PanteraZombie

    •

    Jul 7, 2025

    [Feature Request] New MAME Auto Populated Playlist Integration

    I would like to recommend a new suggested playlist for MAME… for new imports or updates.

    • It would be on the “How would you like to filter your games?” prompt during the import/update wizard.

    • The check box could be named something like “Create Playlists for newly supported games”

    The idea would be for LaunchBox to be aware of what your latest MAME version is that you’re setting up or updating to, and would create a playlist of the newly supported games for that version. This playlist would have to access a database online for each version release. This playlist could also go a bit further and the “Newly Supported Games” playlist could be nested with your most current version, and maybe the last 10 MAME version releases… this number of versions can vary based on what you choose.

    For example:

    “Newly Supported Games”

    • MAME 0.278

      • Game

      • Game

    • MAME 0.277

      • Game

      • Game

    • MAME 0.276

      • Game

      • Game