Documentation

Native MAME cheats

ArcadeDuck supports the MAME XML cheat format natively. Use the standard MAME cheat package or loose XML files named for each game's MAME shortname.

Setup

Put compatible cheat files in ArcadeDuck's cheats folder

ArcadeDuck provides MAME cheat-format compatibility, but cheat databases are not bundled. Supply your own compatible files.

Package

Use `cheat.7z`

ArcadeDuck/
    cheats/
        cheat.7z

ArcadeDuck looks inside the standard MAME cheat archive for an XML member matching the current arcade set's MAME shortname.

Loose XML

Use `<shortname>.xml`

ArcadeDuck/
    cheats/
        cryptklr.xml
        tekken.xml

Loose XML filenames use the game's MAME shortname. An exact loose XML file takes precedence over the matching entry in cheat.7z.

Lookup

Exact set first, then parent fallback

ArcadeDuck first checks for cheats\<shortname>.xml, then for <shortname>.xml inside cheats\cheat.7z. If neither exact definition exists and the game is a clone, ArcadeDuck repeats that lookup using the parent set's MAME shortname.

Using Cheats

Qt Cheat Manager and fullscreen Cheat List

The same native MAME cheats are available from both ArcadeDuck user interfaces while a supported arcade game is running.

Desktop UI

Cheats > Cheat Manager

Open the normal Qt Cheat Manager to toggle on/off cheats, activate one-shot entries, and move through numeric or item-list parameter values.

Fullscreen UI

Pause menu > Cheat List

The fullscreen cheat list provides the same controls for cabinet use. Text-only MAME entries appear as headings or separators instead of fake selectable cheats.

When a MAME cheat uses <output>, ArcadeDuck renders that text over the game. This supports dynamic output generated by the cheat, including argument substitution and line positioning/alignment.

Format Support

MAME XML functionality

ArcadeDuck implements the MAME XML version 1 functionality used by the current MAME cheat package for PS1-derived arcade hardware.

On/off cheatsOne-shot cheatsNumeric parametersItem/list parameterson, off, run, and change scriptsMAME-style expressions and temporary variablesparam, frame, and argindexConditional actions<output> entries and argumentsMAME maincpu logical memory access

Troubleshooting

If cheats do not appear

Check the cheat setting

ArcadeDuck's normal cheat-enable setting controls whether MAME cheats are loaded.

Check the shortname

Loose XML filenames and archive members must use the MAME shortname, not the game's display title.

Check the log

Invalid individual cheat entries are disabled and logged rather than taking down the entire loaded cheat list.

Legacy Formats

ArcadeDuck uses MAME cheats now.

The old GameShark/PCSXR/ePSXe/libretro-style .cht system, manual GameShark code entry, cheat importing/exporting, the built-inchtdb.txt database, and the old Cheat Code Editor have been removed. Memory Scanner and Memory Watch remain available as separate memory-analysis features.