diff --git a/srcpkgs/mame/files/mess.sh b/srcpkgs/mame/files/mess.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ff7ac1997bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/srcpkgs/mame/files/mess.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+exec_mess() {
+  /usr/share/mame/mess \
+    -artpath "$HOME/.mess/artwork;artwork" \
+    -ctrlrpath "$HOME/.mess/ctrlr;ctrlr" \
+    -inipath $HOME/.mess/ini \
+    -rompath $HOME/.mess/roms \
+    -samplepath "$HOME/.mess/samples;samples" \
+    -cfg_directory $HOME/.mess/cfg \
+    -comment_directory $HOME/.mess/comments \
+    -diff_directory $HOME/.mess/diff \
+    -input_directory $HOME/.mess/inp \
+    -nvram_directory $HOME/.mess/nvram \
+    -snapshot_directory $HOME/.mess/snap \
+    -state_directory $HOME/.mess/sta \
+    -video opengl \
+    -createconfig
+}
+
+if [ "$1" = "--newini" ]; then
+  echo "Rebuilding the ini file at $HOME/.mess/mame.ini"
+  echo "Modify this file for permanent changes to your MESS"
+  echo "options and paths before running MESS again."
+  cd $HOME/.mess
+  if [ -e mame.ini ]; then
+    echo "Your old ini file has been renamed to mame.ini.bak"
+    mv mame.ini mame.ini.bak
+  fi
+  exec_mess
+elif [ ! -e $HOME/.mess ]; then
+  echo "Running MESS for the first time..."
+  echo "Creating an ini file for MESS at $HOME/.mess/mame.ini"
+  echo "Modify this file for permanent changes to your MAME"
+  echo "options and paths before running MAME again."
+  mkdir $HOME/.mess
+  for f in artwork cfg comments ctrlr diff ini ip nvram \
+	  samples snap sta roms; do
+  	mkdir $HOME/.mess/${f}
+  done
+  cd $HOME/.mess && exec_mess
+else
+  cd /usr/share/mame
+  ./mame "$@"
+fi