Get Star Fire for MAME legally from the official source
Open MAMEdev's Star Fire title page, read and accept its free non-commercial-use condition there, and choose the set only through that official page. MAMEdev offers Star Fire set 1, set 2, and Star Fire 2, but that does not authorize ArcadeShelf or another app to mirror, proxy, bundle, or hotlink the ROM images. Record the official page, chosen set, MAME version, and local checksum separately.
Do this in order
- 01
Open the official MAMEdev Star Fire page and confirm it still identifies Exidy, 1979, H.R. Kauffman, and free non-commercial use.
- 02
Read the acknowledgement and the MAMEdev catalog's site-only distribution restriction before deciding whether your intended personal use fits.
- 03
Choose among Star Fire set 1, set 2, and Star Fire 2 on the official page; do not infer that the three buttons are interchangeable files.
- 04
Acknowledge the condition and initiate any download on MAMEdev itself, never through a mirror, proxy, direct-file hotlink, or repackaged collection.
- 05
Record the source URL, review date, chosen set, target MAME version, and a local checksum, then use that exact build's audit to identify the expected short name and dependencies.
- 06
Keep the file only within the permitted non-commercial purpose, do not charge for access or redistribute it, and repeat the rights review if the official page changes.
Decision and diagnostic table
| Proposed use | Official evidence | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Personal non-commercial use from MAMEdev | Title page supplies a required non-commercial acknowledgement | Proceed only through the official page |
| Choosing set 1, set 2, or Star Fire 2 | Official page offers three distinct downloads | Match the target build; do not rename one into another |
| Website/app mirror or bundle | Catalog approves distribution on MAMEdev only | Not permitted without separate owner permission |
| Paid cabinet, event, app, or service | Published grant says non-commercial use | Not cleared by the page |
Three official downloads are three technical identities
The rights page offers Star Fire set 1, set 2, and Star Fire 2. That is a source choice, not proof that every MAME version expects the same short name, parent relationship, or files.
Use the target build's own list and audit output after selecting the authorized source. Renaming an archive cannot turn one official variant into another.
The acknowledgement belongs on the source path
MAMEdev requires the user to acknowledge non-commercial use before downloading. A direct-file link, server-side fetch, cached mirror, or one-tap in-app delivery would remove that current rights context.
Linking to the title page lets MAMEdev present the current condition and lets the user make the decision. ArcadeShelf records the source but does not redistribute the ROM images.
Free is not public domain or commercial permission
The page describes a generous free non-commercial release; it does not label the game public domain. The surrounding MAMEdev catalog also says the files may not be copied to another site or bundled with software, a cabinet, or another item without permission.
Technical compatibility and legal permission remain separate records. A successful audit proves that MAME recognizes the bytes, not that a new use or distribution channel is allowed.
Star Fire remains copyrighted and the reviewed permission is limited to free non-commercial use through MAMEdev's official distribution page. Obtain separate written permission for mirroring, bundling, paid play, product delivery, or any commercial use.