In the absence of MAWS (see here - MAWS Down (Dec 2011) - viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1612), this is how I cope with arcade game searches these days. Tested on MAMEUI and MAMEPlus!.
MAMEUI:
http://www.mameui.info/
MAMEPlus!:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mameplus/
Now add the following extras -
MAME history.dat:
http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=download
Extract history.dat in the root directory, ie. the same folder that mame.exe is in.
MAME mameinfo.dat:
http://mameinfo.mameworld.info/
Extract mameinfo.dat in the root directory.
MAME catlist.ini:
http://www.progettoemma.net/?catlist
Extract catlist type files in the folders directory.
MAME icons.zip:
http://icons.mameworld.info/
Place icons.zip in the icons directory (no need to extract). You may think icons are pointless, but I don't. Every little bit helps when searching through the vastness of MAME.
MAME snaps & titles (.png):
http://www.progettosnaps.net/snaps_en.html
Although snaps and titles are the most useful images to have - cabinets, control panels, flyers, marquees, and PCBs can also be obtained from progettosnaps, if you wish. Extract any of these in the relevant directory.
The MAME/Support Files page - http://strategywiki.org/wiki/MAME/Support_Files - is a good reference for explaining the purpose of everything listed above (although many links provided on that page are currently out of date).
With all of these visual and informational aids added to MAME, you now have a virtual MAWS style database of arcade games at your disposal. Use the subsections of the catlist folder tree in the left field of the GUI to break games down into various categories for easier searching, eg. Fighter / 2.5D. Under View>Custom Filters you can tick things like Hide Clones to speed up searching of large lists. You can also filter searches by typing in the search window at the top of the GUI. Check out History, etc. on the right field of the GUI for the same detailed game info that MAWS had.
MAMEUI
MAMEPlus!
Once you have this all set up (and hopefully, backed up) you need never worry again about the disappearance of a great site like MAWS.
Happy Hunting!
Hiero
