Regarding layouts....

[VenumX]

This is my first n00b question so be gentle

 

I have searched almost the entire forum , but I can't for the life of me seem to figure out what do "layouts" actually do ?

1)do I need them when loading/playing  games?

2)some visuals look kind of gritty, text is hard to read in-game , do I use layouts for that ?

I really don't know.... Help

[cliffc]

Hi there 

The layouts are just another name for the machine you want to play they come in 2 versions

1. Classic these are essentially text only or text with some graphic elements and way back at the start of MFME were the only kind of layout available.

2. DX Layouts these use either photos or images taken from flyers to produce a layout that looks like the real machine. There are many reasons why the quality of the DX layouts are not always as clear as the creators would like the main ones being the quality of the original source images there's only so much the creators can do with photoshop no matter how talented they are . The other main reason is that some of the layouts have been converted from versions that were made to run on older versions of MFME which did not have all of the features available to layout creators that the current and sadly because of the untimely death of Chris Wren (Wizzard) the last version.

Both types of layout also contain the Rom files needed to play the machine, or in the event you download one from the legacy section here the rom will be automatically downloaded the 1st time you open the layout.  

To answer the 2nd part of your question yes you do need layouts because MFME without layouts is much the same as having a CD player and no CDs.

To play the machines you need to download the emulator V20 from this site ( i am guessing you may have done this) then download a some layouts ( you will have limited downloads per day unless you donate) you need to unpack the layout to a folder, I have mine in one called games. you can then open the emulator and load in one of the layouts you have downloaded and off you go welcome to the world of fruit machine emulation or in may case back to my misspent youth in the local arcades.

I hope this has given you the help you needed if you need more clarification please ask. 

[cja272]

https://www.desertislandfruits.com/forum/index.php?/forum/62-newbies-help-area/

[VenumX]

Thanks for that , wow , long and detailed answer.

Yes I have downloaded MFME , and then I went to the download section and I downloaded Barcrest Steptimer (dutch) and I started playing it.

 

But I never touched the layout section on this site...... Do I need to then ?

If I for example play my dutch Barcrest Steptimer , that's also ok isn't it ?

[VenumX]

32 minutes ago, cja272 said:

https://www.desertislandfruits.com/forum/index.php?/forum/62-newbies-help-area/

hey! thanks

but i read that already,... it just didnt help me wise up

if my downloads are back enabled , i'm downloading a layout to see how it works

[woodsy]

6 hours ago, VenumX said:

hey! thanks

but i read that already,... it just didnt help me wise up

if my downloads are back enabled , i'm downloading a layout to see how it works

download mfme v20. extract all the files to a mfme folder, run and update it upon first loading of the .exe.

once that is installed download any layout file you wish. extract the file to a new folder and the files inside are the ones you need. after extraction and in your new folder, you want to right click on the .GAM file, click properties and select open with, choose mfme from your other apps, by finding it in your program files section of your C:/ drive, choose always use this .exe to run files of this type and all future files will load mfme when you run them. 

or open mfme when extracted and updated, you will have a grey box, press F4, and tell the program to scan all files. this will popualte your game manager with mfme layouts.

some images here to help

 or F4

database - scan all

 

when its finished you can use F4 to choose any game you have downloaded

 

this is the other way

Edited December 17, 2025 by woodsy

[VenumX]

7 hours ago, woodsy said:

download mfme v20. extract all the files to a mfme folder, run and update it upon first loading of the .exe.

once that is installed download any layout file you wish. extract the file to a new folder and the files inside are the ones you need. after extraction and in your new folder, you want to right click on the .GAM file, click properties and select open with, choose mfme from your other apps, by finding it in your program files section of your C:/ drive, choose always use this .exe to run files of this type and all future files will load mfme when you run them. 

or open mfme when extracted and updated, you will have a grey box, press F4, and tell the program to scan all files. this will popualte your game manager with mfme layouts.

some images here to help

 or F4

database - scan all

 

when its finished you can use F4 to choose any game you have downloaded

 

this is the other way

Thanks for the detailed answer , but I know how to load and sort the games.

But what I learned from this is that a "layout" is just the game you download and boot with the emulator.

Am I right ? 

(Sorry I just want to be thorough, because I didn't understand why there was a "download" section and a "layout" section. )

[davep180]

59 minutes ago, VenumX said:

But what I learned from this is that a "layout" is just the game you download and boot with the emulator.

Am I right ? 

Yes 

 

[VenumX]

27 minutes ago, davep180 said:

Yes 

 

Wow ,... Oh God....

That's what I needed to hear....!

I was going mental over , "why is there a download section and a freaking layout section!!!??!! " 

I am used to naming the games as "roms"..... Hence the confusion.

Ok..... Resolved , resolved

Edited December 17, 2025 by VenumX