A (often called a "Vertical-Only" or "TATE" pack) is a specialized collection of games designed to be played on a portrait-oriented screen. These packs are a "must-have" for owners of vertical arcade cabinets or those using rotating monitors, as they eliminate the large black bars or "bezels" typically seen when playing vertical classics on a standard widescreen. Core Content & Variety
Look for packs from known community archivists on Arcade-Projects or the r/cade wiki. Reputable packs include a .dat file for ROM managers like ClrMAMEPro so you can verify your own legally dumped ROMs.
1942 , 1943: The Battle of Midway , Galaxian , Xevious , Gyruss , Raiden .
This guide covers everything you need to know about finding, configuring, and optimizing vertical ROM sets for the ultimate retro experience. What is a Vertical Arcade ROM Pack?
Many modern LCD monitors feature pivots on their stands. Simply rotate your monitor 90 degrees clockwise (or counter-clockwise, depending on your emulator configuration) and change your Windows display settings to "Portrait" mode. 2. Custom Arcade Cabinets vertical arcade rom pack
But what exactly is a vertical arcade ROM pack? Why would you need one when you can download a full MAME set? And how do you build, source, or use the best one safely and legally? This comprehensive guide covers everything.
Classic WWII-themed shooters. Galaxian (1979): The predecessor to Galaga . DonPachi / Dodonpachi : The kings of "bullet hell." Raiden Series : Classic, intense shooter action.
(Cave) : The gold standard for "bullet hell" (Danmaku) gaming. (Capcom) : Iconic WWII-themed aerial combat. Raiden Series : Known for high-intensity action and detailed sprite work. : A unique color-switching mechanic built for TATE mode. Strikers 1945 : High-quality Psikyo shooters with fast-paced gameplay. : BurgerTime : A vertical climb-and-drop puzzle platformer.
For fans of classic arcade gaming, few experiences rival the thrill of a shmup where you weave through bullet patterns, the strategic block-breaking of a puzzle game, or the frantic action of a platformer. However, many of these iconic experiences were designed specifically for vertical (portrait) screens, a format that creates a unique and immersive field of play. This is where the concept of a comes in. A (often called a "Vertical-Only" or "TATE" pack)
So, choose your path—download, build, or a mix of both—set up your TATE monitor, fire up your emulator, and start blasting, beeping, and blocking your way through some of the best games ever created. Good luck, and happy gaming!
Many packs include pre-scraped box art, video snaps, and marquee images designed for vertical frontends. Top Game Genres Included in Vertical Packs
A solid vertical ROM collection typically centers on these three pillars: : Ms. Pac-Man : The definitive vertical maze games. Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Jr. : Essential platformers designed for 3:4 displays. : A classic vertical navigation challenge. : The foundations of the fixed-screen vertical shooter.
Ensure your ROM pack version matches your emulator version. For example, a MAME 0.260 ROM pack requires a MAME 0.260 emulator executable to prevent loading errors and missing file crashes. Summary of the Vertical Arcade Experience Recommended Choice Emulator MAME or FinalBurn Neo High accuracy, native rotation support. Frontend CoinOPS Vertical or Big Box Stunning portrait-optimized visual menus. Display 3:4 CRT or 9:16 Rotating LED Eliminates black borders; maximizes play area. Essential Genre Cave Danmaku / Golden Age Maze True-to-life arcade pacing and scaling. Reputable packs include a
BurgerTime ( BurgerTime game ) is seen as one of the classics of early 80's gaming and is still a very popular game in the competi... BurgerTime Vertical Arcade
If you are ready to build your setup, let me know what you plan to use so we can optimize your configuration. Tell me: Will you use a PC , Raspberry Pi , or a retro handheld ? Share public link
Capcom’s classic World War II-themed vertical flyers.
In RetroArch, navigate to Video Settings > Rotation and set it to 90 or 270 degrees depending on your monitor’s physical orientation. Frontends (LaunchBox, CoinOPS, Attract Mode)
A (often called a "Vertical-Only" or "TATE" pack) is a specialized collection of games designed to be played on a portrait-oriented screen. These packs are a "must-have" for owners of vertical arcade cabinets or those using rotating monitors, as they eliminate the large black bars or "bezels" typically seen when playing vertical classics on a standard widescreen. Core Content & Variety
Look for packs from known community archivists on Arcade-Projects or the r/cade wiki. Reputable packs include a .dat file for ROM managers like ClrMAMEPro so you can verify your own legally dumped ROMs.
1942 , 1943: The Battle of Midway , Galaxian , Xevious , Gyruss , Raiden .
This guide covers everything you need to know about finding, configuring, and optimizing vertical ROM sets for the ultimate retro experience. What is a Vertical Arcade ROM Pack?
Many modern LCD monitors feature pivots on their stands. Simply rotate your monitor 90 degrees clockwise (or counter-clockwise, depending on your emulator configuration) and change your Windows display settings to "Portrait" mode. 2. Custom Arcade Cabinets
But what exactly is a vertical arcade ROM pack? Why would you need one when you can download a full MAME set? And how do you build, source, or use the best one safely and legally? This comprehensive guide covers everything.
Classic WWII-themed shooters. Galaxian (1979): The predecessor to Galaga . DonPachi / Dodonpachi : The kings of "bullet hell." Raiden Series : Classic, intense shooter action.
(Cave) : The gold standard for "bullet hell" (Danmaku) gaming. (Capcom) : Iconic WWII-themed aerial combat. Raiden Series : Known for high-intensity action and detailed sprite work. : A unique color-switching mechanic built for TATE mode. Strikers 1945 : High-quality Psikyo shooters with fast-paced gameplay. : BurgerTime : A vertical climb-and-drop puzzle platformer.
For fans of classic arcade gaming, few experiences rival the thrill of a shmup where you weave through bullet patterns, the strategic block-breaking of a puzzle game, or the frantic action of a platformer. However, many of these iconic experiences were designed specifically for vertical (portrait) screens, a format that creates a unique and immersive field of play. This is where the concept of a comes in.
So, choose your path—download, build, or a mix of both—set up your TATE monitor, fire up your emulator, and start blasting, beeping, and blocking your way through some of the best games ever created. Good luck, and happy gaming!
Many packs include pre-scraped box art, video snaps, and marquee images designed for vertical frontends. Top Game Genres Included in Vertical Packs
A solid vertical ROM collection typically centers on these three pillars: : Ms. Pac-Man : The definitive vertical maze games. Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Jr. : Essential platformers designed for 3:4 displays. : A classic vertical navigation challenge. : The foundations of the fixed-screen vertical shooter.
Ensure your ROM pack version matches your emulator version. For example, a MAME 0.260 ROM pack requires a MAME 0.260 emulator executable to prevent loading errors and missing file crashes. Summary of the Vertical Arcade Experience Recommended Choice Emulator MAME or FinalBurn Neo High accuracy, native rotation support. Frontend CoinOPS Vertical or Big Box Stunning portrait-optimized visual menus. Display 3:4 CRT or 9:16 Rotating LED Eliminates black borders; maximizes play area. Essential Genre Cave Danmaku / Golden Age Maze True-to-life arcade pacing and scaling.
BurgerTime ( BurgerTime game ) is seen as one of the classics of early 80's gaming and is still a very popular game in the competi... BurgerTime Vertical Arcade
If you are ready to build your setup, let me know what you plan to use so we can optimize your configuration. Tell me: Will you use a PC , Raspberry Pi , or a retro handheld ? Share public link
Capcom’s classic World War II-themed vertical flyers.
In RetroArch, navigate to Video Settings > Rotation and set it to 90 or 270 degrees depending on your monitor’s physical orientation. Frontends (LaunchBox, CoinOPS, Attract Mode)