Firstly, if you haven't got a directory in your mame folder called memcard, please create one.

Right, start MAME up thru your favourite front end or whatever, making sure you are running a neogeo game.

By the way, these tips are for arcade mode and not console mode although it will probably work the same.

If you have never used a memory card before, you will need to create one (press tab/MEMORY CARD/CREATE MEMORY CARD) and then load the MEMORY CARD (u'll get a message "Card Loaded OK"), say for instance you have filled your memory card you can move the cursor left or right on the top setting to create up to 999 memory cards.

Ok, the memory card is loaded and also u're game is waiting for you to insert coins, put one coin in and play as normal. If u wish to continue after dying, insert more coins. To use the memory card once the game has started, when you lose the last life and you don't insert any more coins to continue you will be given to option to save the game onto the memory card. For instance, if you play to level 2 on Puzzle Bubble and die, when you don't insert any coins it will ask if you want to save the game, next time u start the game with a memory card inserted it will ask you if you want to load the memory card, if you click load you will start from level 2.

If you click "Call memory card manager" from the MEMCARD menu in MAME you can enter a name for your memory card and also see what files are stored on it (same as the PSX memcards :) ).

You'll have to reset the game and re-load the memory card if u go into this menu btw.

(Thanks to JJones for these tips :-))