diff --git a/src/emu/devintrf.c b/src/emu/devintrf.c
index 84812e4cb02..9454db8c703 100644
--- a/src/emu/devintrf.c
+++ b/src/emu/devintrf.c
@@ -81,6 +81,40 @@ INLINE int device_matches_type(const device_config *device, device_type type)
 }
 
 
+/*-------------------------------------------------
+    subregion - return a pointer to the region
+    info for a given region
+-------------------------------------------------*/
+
+const region_info *device_config::subregion(const char *_tag) const
+{
+	// safety first
+	if (this == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+
+	// build a fully-qualified name
+	astring tempstring(tag, ":", _tag);
+	return machine->region(tempstring);
+}
+
+
+/*-------------------------------------------------
+    subdevice - return a pointer to the given 
+    device that is owned by us
+-------------------------------------------------*/
+
+const device_config *device_config::subdevice(const char *_tag) const
+{
+	// safety first
+	if (this == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+
+	// build a fully-qualified name
+	astring tempstring(tag, ":", _tag);
+	return machine->device(tempstring);
+}
+
+
 
 /***************************************************************************
     DEVICE CONFIGURATION
@@ -116,12 +150,50 @@ void device_list_deinit(device_list *devlist)
     end of a device list
 -------------------------------------------------*/
 
+device_config::device_config(const device_config *_owner, device_type _type, const char *_tag, UINT32 _clock)
+	: next(NULL),
+	  owner(const_cast<device_config *>(_owner)),
+	  typenext(NULL),
+	  classnext(NULL),
+	  tag(_tag),
+	  type(_type),
+	  devclass(static_cast<device_class>(devtype_get_info_int(_type, DEVINFO_INT_CLASS))),
+	  clock(_clock),
+	  static_config(NULL),
+	  inline_config(NULL),
+	  machine(NULL),
+	  started(DEVICE_STOPPED),
+	  token(NULL),
+	  tokenbytes(NULL),
+	  execute(NULL),
+	  region(NULL)
+{
+	memset(address_map, 0, sizeof(address_map));
+	memset(addrspace, 0, sizeof(addrspace));
+
+	if ((clock & 0xff000000) == 0xff000000)
+	{
+		assert(owner != NULL);
+		clock = owner->clock * ((clock >> 12) & 0xfff) / ((clock >> 0) & 0xfff);
+	}
+
+	/* populate device configuration */
+	UINT32 configlen = (UINT32)devtype_get_info_int(_type, DEVINFO_INT_INLINE_CONFIG_BYTES);
+	inline_config = (configlen == 0) ? NULL : global_alloc_array_clear(UINT8, configlen);
+}
+
+
+device_config::~device_config()
+{
+	global_free(inline_config);
+}
+
+
 device_config *device_list_add(device_list *devlist, const device_config *owner, device_type type, const char *tag, UINT32 clock)
 {
 	device_config **devptr, **tempdevptr;
 	device_config *device, *tempdevice;
 	tagmap_error tmerr;
-	UINT32 configlen;
 
 	assert(devlist != NULL);
 	assert(type != NULL);
@@ -131,7 +203,7 @@ device_config *device_list_add(device_list *devlist, const device_config *owner,
 	for (devptr = &devlist->head; *devptr != NULL; devptr = &(*devptr)->next) ;
 
 	/* allocate a new device */
-	device = global_alloc(device_config);
+	device = global_alloc(device_config(owner, type, tag, clock));
 
 	/* add to the map */
 	tmerr = devlist->map.add_unique_hash(tag, device, FALSE);
@@ -145,41 +217,6 @@ device_config *device_list_add(device_list *devlist, const device_config *owner,
 			fatalerror("Two devices have tags which hash to the same value: '%s' and '%s'\n", tag, match->tag.cstr());
 	}
 
-	/* populate device relationships */
-	device->next = NULL;
-	device->owner = (device_config *)owner;
-	device->typenext = NULL;
-	device->classnext = NULL;
-
-	/* populate device properties */
-	device->type = type;
-	device->devclass = (device_class)(INT32)devtype_get_info_int(type, DEVINFO_INT_CLASS);
-
-	/* populate device configuration */
-	device->clock = clock;
-	memset((void *)device->address_map, 0, sizeof(device->address_map));
-	if ((device->clock & 0xff000000) == 0xff000000)
-	{
-		assert(device->owner != NULL);
-		device->clock = device->owner->clock * ((device->clock >> 12) & 0xfff) / ((device->clock >> 0) & 0xfff);
-	}
-	device->static_config = NULL;
-	configlen = (UINT32)devtype_get_info_int(type, DEVINFO_INT_INLINE_CONFIG_BYTES);
-	device->inline_config = (configlen == 0) ? NULL : global_alloc_array_clear(UINT8, configlen);
-
-	/* ensure live fields are all cleared */
-	device->machine = NULL;
-	device->started = DEVICE_STOPPED;
-	device->token = NULL;
-	device->tokenbytes = 0;
-	device->region = NULL;
-	device->regionbytes = 0;
-	memset((void *)device->addrspace, 0, sizeof(device->addrspace));
-	device->execute = NULL;
-
-	/* append the tag */
-	device->tag.cpy(tag);
-
 	/* fetch function pointers to the core functions */
 
 	/* before adding us to the global list, add us to the end of the type list */
@@ -238,8 +275,6 @@ void device_list_remove(device_list *devlist, const char *tag)
 	devlist->map.remove(device->tag);
 
 	/* free the device object */
-	if (device->inline_config != NULL)
-		global_free(device->inline_config);
 	global_free(device);
 }
 
@@ -633,8 +668,7 @@ void device_list_start(running_machine *machine)
 		device->token = auto_alloc_array_clear(machine, UINT8, device->tokenbytes);
 
 		/* fill in the remaining runtime fields */
-		device->region = memory_region(machine, device->tag);
-		device->regionbytes = memory_region_length(machine, device->tag);
+		device->region = machine->region(device->tag);
 		for (spacenum = 0; spacenum < ADDRESS_SPACES; spacenum++)
 			device->addrspace[spacenum] = device->space(spacenum);
 		device->execute = (device_execute_func)device_get_info_fct(device, DEVINFO_FCT_EXECUTE);
@@ -718,7 +752,6 @@ static void device_list_stop(running_machine *machine)
 		device->tokenbytes = 0;
 		device->machine = NULL;
 		device->region = NULL;
-		device->regionbytes = 0;
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/emu/devintrf.h b/src/emu/devintrf.h
index a02744ce8f2..2560542cb42 100644
--- a/src/emu/devintrf.h
+++ b/src/emu/devintrf.h
@@ -305,11 +305,24 @@ enum device_space
 	AS_IO = 2
 };
 
+class region_info;
+
 class device_config
 {
+	DISABLE_COPYING(device_config);
+
+public:	// private eventually	
+	const address_space *	addrspace[ADDRESS_SPACES];	/* auto-discovered address spaces */
+
 public:
+	device_config(const device_config *owner, device_type type, const char *tag, UINT32 clock);
+	~device_config();
+
 	inline const address_space *space(int index = 0) const;
 	inline const address_space *space(device_space index) const;
+	
+	const region_info *subregion(const char *tag) const;
+	const device_config *subdevice(const char *tag) const;
 
 	/* device relationships (always valid) */
 	device_config *			next;					/* next device (of any type/class) */
@@ -335,10 +348,8 @@ public:
 	UINT8					started;				/* TRUE if the start function has succeeded */
 	void *					token;					/* token if device is live */
 	UINT32					tokenbytes;				/* size of the token data allocated */
-	UINT8 *					region;					/* pointer to region with the device's tag, or NULL */
-	UINT32					regionbytes;			/* size of the region, in bytes */
-	const address_space *	addrspace[ADDRESS_SPACES];	/* auto-discovered address spaces */
 	device_execute_func 	execute;				/* quick pointer to execute callback */
+	const region_info *		region;					/* our device-local region */
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/emu/emucore.h b/src/emu/emucore.h
index 238c726d848..3de03bda6d6 100644
--- a/src/emu/emucore.h
+++ b/src/emu/emucore.h
@@ -78,9 +78,13 @@ class running_machine;
 union generic_ptr
 {
 	void *		v;
+	INT8 *		i8;
 	UINT8 *		u8;
+	INT16 *		i16;
 	UINT16 *	u16;
+	INT32 *		i32;
 	UINT32 *	u32;
+	INT64 *		i64;
 	UINT64 *	u64;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/emu/machine/at28c16.c b/src/emu/machine/at28c16.c
index 52054f1426e..d304eeae395 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine/at28c16.c
+++ b/src/emu/machine/at28c16.c
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ static DEVICE_START(at28c16)
 	c->oe_12v = 0;
 	c->last_write = -1;
 	c->write_timer = timer_alloc(device->machine,  write_finished, c );
-	c->default_data = device->region;
+	c->default_data = *device->region;
 
 	config = (const at28c16_config *)device->inline_config;
 	if (config->id != NULL)
diff --git a/src/emu/machine/eeprom.c b/src/emu/machine/eeprom.c
index a223226b618..e39bb075997 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine/eeprom.c
+++ b/src/emu/machine/eeprom.c
@@ -360,20 +360,18 @@ static DEVICE_NVRAM( eeprom )
 		/* populate from a memory region if present */
 		if (device->region != NULL)
 		{
-			UINT32 region_flags = memory_region_flags(device->machine, device->tag.cstr());
-
-			if (device->regionbytes != eeprom_bytes)
+			if (device->region->length != eeprom_bytes)
 				fatalerror("eeprom region '%s' wrong size (expected size = 0x%X)", device->tag.cstr(), eeprom_bytes);
-			if (eestate->intf->data_bits == 8 && (region_flags & ROMREGION_WIDTHMASK) != ROMREGION_8BIT)
+			if (eestate->intf->data_bits == 8 && (device->region->flags & ROMREGION_WIDTHMASK) != ROMREGION_8BIT)
 				fatalerror("eeprom region '%s' needs to be an 8-bit region", device->tag.cstr());
-			if (eestate->intf->data_bits == 16 && ((region_flags & ROMREGION_WIDTHMASK) != ROMREGION_16BIT || (region_flags & ROMREGION_ENDIANMASK) != ROMREGION_BE))
-				fatalerror("eeprom region '%s' needs to be a 16-bit big-endian region (flags=%08x)", device->tag.cstr(), region_flags);
+			if (eestate->intf->data_bits == 16 && ((device->region->flags & ROMREGION_WIDTHMASK) != ROMREGION_16BIT || (device->region->flags & ROMREGION_ENDIANMASK) != ROMREGION_BE))
+				fatalerror("eeprom region '%s' needs to be a 16-bit big-endian region (flags=%08x)", device->tag.cstr(), device->region->flags);
 
 			for (offs = 0; offs < eeprom_length; offs++)
 				if (eestate->intf->data_bits == 8)
-					memory_write_byte(device->space(), offs, device->region[offs]);
+					memory_write_byte(device->space(), offs, device->region->base.u8[offs]);
 				else
-					memory_write_word(device->space(), offs * 2, ((UINT16 *)device->region)[offs]);
+					memory_write_word(device->space(), offs * 2, device->region->base.u16[offs]);
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/emu/machine/ldpr8210.c b/src/emu/machine/ldpr8210.c
index 3964b2ec40b..15f79542ebc 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine/ldpr8210.c
+++ b/src/emu/machine/ldpr8210.c
@@ -351,7 +351,8 @@ static void pr8210_init(laserdisc_state *ld)
 	player->slowtrg = curtime;
 
 	/* find our CPU */
-	player->cpu = ld->device->machine->device(device_build_tag(tempstring, ld->device, "pr8210"));
+	player->cpu = ld->device->subdevice("pr8210");
+	assert(player->cpu != NULL);
 
 	/* we don't have the Simutrek player overrides */
 	player->simutrek.cpu = NULL;
diff --git a/src/emu/machine/timekpr.c b/src/emu/machine/timekpr.c
index 94f716931d7..e3f656c409d 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine/timekpr.c
+++ b/src/emu/machine/timekpr.c
@@ -310,11 +310,8 @@ static DEVICE_START(timekeeper)
 	c->century = make_bcd( systime.local_time.year / 100 );
 	c->data = auto_alloc_array( device->machine, UINT8, c->size );
 
-	c->default_data = device->region;
-	if (c->default_data != NULL)
-	{
-		assert( device->regionbytes == c->size );
-	}
+	c->default_data = *device->region;
+	assert( device->region->bytes() == c->size );
 
 	state_save_register_device_item( device, 0, c->control );
 	state_save_register_device_item( device, 0, c->seconds );
diff --git a/src/emu/mame.c b/src/emu/mame.c
index 2d2ed48a191..e4260cb05e7 100644
--- a/src/emu/mame.c
+++ b/src/emu/mame.c
@@ -748,9 +748,9 @@ region_info::region_info(running_machine *_machine, const char *_name, UINT32 _l
 	  next(NULL),
 	  name(_name),
 	  length(_length),
-	  flags(_flags),
-	  base(auto_alloc_array(_machine, UINT8, _length))
+	  flags(_flags)
 {
+	base.u8 = auto_alloc_array(_machine, UINT8, _length);
 }
 
 
@@ -760,7 +760,7 @@ region_info::region_info(running_machine *_machine, const char *_name, UINT32 _l
 
 region_info::~region_info()
 {
-	auto_free(machine, base);
+	auto_free(machine, base.v);
 }
 
 
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ UINT8 *memory_region_alloc(running_machine *machine, const char *name, UINT32 le
 
 	/* hook us into the list */
 	*infoptr = info;
-	return reinterpret_cast<UINT8 *>(info->base);
+	return info->base.u8;
 }
 
 
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ region_info *memory_region_info(running_machine *machine, const char *name)
 UINT8 *memory_region(running_machine *machine, const char *name)
 {
 	const region_info *region = machine->region(name);
-	return (region != NULL) ? reinterpret_cast<UINT8 *>(region->base) : NULL;
+	return (region != NULL) ? region->base.u8 : NULL;
 }
 
 
@@ -885,6 +885,8 @@ UINT32 memory_region_flags(running_machine *machine, const char *name)
 
 const char *memory_region_next(running_machine *machine, const char *name)
 {
+	if (name == NULL)
+		return (machine->mame_data->regionlist != NULL) ? machine->mame_data->regionlist->name : NULL;
 	const region_info *region = machine->region(name);
 	return (region != NULL && region->next != NULL) ? region->next->name.cstr() : NULL;
 }
diff --git a/src/emu/mame.h b/src/emu/mame.h
index ddea489cac1..238879e44cb 100644
--- a/src/emu/mame.h
+++ b/src/emu/mame.h
@@ -160,17 +160,29 @@ class region_info
 {
 	DISABLE_COPYING(region_info);
 	
-	running_machine *machine;
+	running_machine *		machine;
 	
 public:
 	region_info(running_machine *machine, const char *_name, UINT32 _length, UINT32 _flags);
 	~region_info();
 	
-	region_info *	next;
-	astring			name;
-	UINT32			length;
-	UINT32			flags;
-	UINT8 *			base;
+	operator void *() const { return (this != NULL) ? base.v : NULL; }
+	operator INT8 *() const { return (this != NULL) ? base.i8 : NULL; }
+	operator UINT8 *() const { return (this != NULL) ? base.u8 : NULL; }
+	operator INT16 *() const { return (this != NULL) ? base.i16 : NULL; }
+	operator UINT16 *() const { return (this != NULL) ? base.u16 : NULL; }
+	operator INT32 *() const { return (this != NULL) ? base.i32 : NULL; }
+	operator UINT32 *() const { return (this != NULL) ? base.u32 : NULL; }
+	operator INT64 *() const { return (this != NULL) ? base.i64 : NULL; }
+	operator UINT64 *() const { return (this != NULL) ? base.u64 : NULL; }
+	
+	UINT32 bytes() const { return (this != NULL) ? length : 0; }
+	
+	region_info *			next;
+	astring					name;
+	generic_ptr				base;
+	UINT32					length;
+	UINT32					flags;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/2608intf.c b/src/emu/sound/2608intf.c
index a66ebc3d043..f802f09ae6a 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/2608intf.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/2608intf.c
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ static DEVICE_START( ym2608 )
 	/* stream system initialize */
 	info->stream = stream_create(device,0,2,rate,info,ym2608_stream_update);
 	/* setup adpcm buffers */
-	pcmbufa  = device->region;
-	pcmsizea = device->regionbytes;
+	pcmbufa  = *device->region;
+	pcmsizea = device->region->bytes();
 
 	/* initialize YM2608 */
 	info->chip = ym2608_init(info,device,device->clock,rate,
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/2610intf.c b/src/emu/sound/2610intf.c
index 19e425f0523..c7601ab9ec3 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/2610intf.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/2610intf.c
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ static DEVICE_START( ym2610 )
 	/* stream system initialize */
 	info->stream = stream_create(device,0,2,rate,info,(type == SOUND_YM2610) ? ym2610_stream_update : ym2610b_stream_update);
 	/* setup adpcm buffers */
-	pcmbufa  = device->region;
-	pcmsizea = device->regionbytes;
+	pcmbufa  = *device->region;
+	pcmsizea = device->region->bytes();
 	name.printf("%s.deltat", device->tag.cstr());
 	pcmbufb  = (void *)(memory_region(device->machine, name));
 	pcmsizeb = memory_region_length(device->machine, name);
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/8950intf.c b/src/emu/sound/8950intf.c
index fcf6968447c..2510d3e6cf4 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/8950intf.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/8950intf.c
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( y8950 )
 	assert_always(info->chip != NULL, "Error creating Y8950 chip");
 
 	/* ADPCM ROM data */
-	y8950_set_delta_t_memory(info->chip, device->region, device->regionbytes);
+	y8950_set_delta_t_memory(info->chip, *device->region, device->region->bytes());
 
 	info->stream = stream_create(device,0,1,rate,info,y8950_stream_update);
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/aica.c b/src/emu/sound/aica.c
index 1104c4f7839..c4152de929f 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/aica.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/aica.c
@@ -533,11 +533,11 @@ static void AICA_Init(const device_config *device, aica_state *AICA, const aica_
 	{
 		AICA->Master = intf->master;
 
-		AICA->AICARAM = device->region;
+		AICA->AICARAM = *device->region;
 		if (AICA->AICARAM)
 		{
 			AICA->AICARAM += intf->roffset;
-			AICA->AICARAM_LENGTH = device->regionbytes;
+			AICA->AICARAM_LENGTH = device->region->bytes();
 			AICA->RAM_MASK = AICA->AICARAM_LENGTH-1;
 			AICA->RAM_MASK16 = AICA->RAM_MASK & 0x7ffffe;
 			AICA->DSP.AICARAM = (UINT16 *)AICA->AICARAM;
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/bsmt2000.c b/src/emu/sound/bsmt2000.c
index 5c60171e68e..585076008f4 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/bsmt2000.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/bsmt2000.c
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ static DEVICE_START( bsmt2000 )
 	chip->clock = device->clock;
 
 	/* initialize the regions */
-	chip->region_base = (INT8 *)device->region;
-	chip->total_banks = device->regionbytes / 0x10000;
+	chip->region_base = *device->region;
+	chip->total_banks = device->region->bytes() / 0x10000;
 
 	/* register chip-wide data for save states */
 	state_save_register_device_item(device, 0, chip->last_register);
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/c140.c b/src/emu/sound/c140.c
index 8b34e9bdda8..265ab534e7c 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/c140.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/c140.c
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( c140 )
 
 	info->stream = stream_create(device,0,2,info->sample_rate,info,update_stereo);
 
-	info->pRom=device->region;
+	info->pRom=*device->region;
 
 	/* make decompress pcm table */		//2000.06.26 CAB
 	{
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/c352.c b/src/emu/sound/c352.c
index 5645e8afaab..98870afce38 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/c352.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/c352.c
@@ -543,8 +543,8 @@ static DEVICE_START( c352 )
 {
 	c352_state *info = get_safe_token(device);
 
-	info->c352_rom_samples = device->region;
-	info->c352_rom_length = device->regionbytes;
+	info->c352_rom_samples = *device->region;
+	info->c352_rom_length = device->region->bytes();
 
 	info->sample_rate_base = device->clock / 192;
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/es8712.c b/src/emu/sound/es8712.c
index 7508602cb6e..5fff26f4b18 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/es8712.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/es8712.c
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( es8712 )
 	chip->repeat = 0;
 
 	chip->bank_offset = 0;
-	chip->region_base = device->region;
+	chip->region_base = *device->region;
 
 	/* generate the name and create the stream */
 	chip->stream = stream_create(device, 0, 1, device->clock, chip, es8712_update);
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/gaelco.c b/src/emu/sound/gaelco.c
index 09a358de25c..fb69ee27d15 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/gaelco.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/gaelco.c
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( gaelco )
 	info->stream = stream_create(device, 0, 2, 8000, info, gaelco_update);
 	info->snd_data = (UINT8 *)memory_region(device->machine, intf->gfxregion);
 	if (info->snd_data == NULL)
-		info->snd_data = device->region;
+		info->snd_data = *device->region;
 
 	/* init volume table */
 	for (vol = 0; vol < VOLUME_LEVELS; vol++){
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/ics2115.c b/src/emu/sound/ics2115.c
index a24bd88981b..d32b17ceee6 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/ics2115.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/ics2115.c
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( ics2115 )
 
 	chip->device = device;
 	chip->intf = (const ics2115_interface *)device->static_config;
-	chip->rom = device->region;
+	chip->rom = *device->region;
 	chip->timer[0].timer = timer_alloc(device->machine, timer_cb_0, chip);
 	chip->timer[1].timer = timer_alloc(device->machine, timer_cb_1, chip);
 	chip->ulaw = auto_alloc_array(device->machine, INT16, 256);
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/iremga20.c b/src/emu/sound/iremga20.c
index b536830ebbd..6202b2eb6c7 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/iremga20.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/iremga20.c
@@ -242,8 +242,8 @@ static DEVICE_START( iremga20 )
 	int i;
 
 	/* Initialize our chip structure */
-	chip->rom = device->region;
-	chip->rom_size = device->regionbytes;
+	chip->rom = *device->region;
+	chip->rom_size = device->region->bytes();
 
 	iremga20_reset(chip);
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/k005289.c b/src/emu/sound/k005289.c
index 051eee5289a..33d39318195 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/k005289.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/k005289.c
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( k005289 )
 	/* build the mixer table */
 	make_mixer_table(device->machine, info, 2);
 
-	info->sound_prom = device->region;
+	info->sound_prom = *device->region;
 
 	/* reset all the voices */
 	voice[0].frequency = 0;
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/k007232.c b/src/emu/sound/k007232.c
index 2a199394c70..54c612da5f1 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/k007232.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/k007232.c
@@ -311,9 +311,9 @@ static DEVICE_START( k007232 )
 
 	/* Set up the chips */
 
-	info->pcmbuf[0] = device->region;
-	info->pcmbuf[1] = device->region;
-	info->pcmlimit  = device->regionbytes;
+	info->pcmbuf[0] = *device->region;
+	info->pcmbuf[1] = *device->region;
+	info->pcmlimit  = device->region->bytes();
 
 	info->clock = device->clock;
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/k053260.c b/src/emu/sound/k053260.c
index 651dac7345f..5dc70ec7a39 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/k053260.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/k053260.c
@@ -218,13 +218,11 @@ static DEVICE_START( k053260 )
 	ic->intf = (device->static_config != NULL) ? (const k053260_interface *)device->static_config : &defintrf;
 
 	ic->mode = 0;
-	ic->rom = device->region;
-	ic->rom_size = device->regionbytes;
-	if (ic->intf->rgnoverride != NULL)
-	{
-		ic->rom = memory_region(device->machine, ic->intf->rgnoverride);
-		ic->rom_size = memory_region_length(device->machine, ic->intf->rgnoverride);
-	}
+	
+	const region_info *region = (ic->intf->rgnoverride != NULL) ? device->machine->region(ic->intf->rgnoverride) : device->region;
+	
+	ic->rom = *region;
+	ic->rom_size = region->bytes();
 
 	DEVICE_RESET_CALL(k053260);
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/k054539.c b/src/emu/sound/k054539.c
index 2a2c7a635b6..e8e3865bc21 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/k054539.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/k054539.c
@@ -459,13 +459,9 @@ static void k054539_init_chip(const device_config *device, k054539_state *info)
 	info->cur_ptr = 0;
 	memset(info->ram, 0, 0x4000*2+device->clock/50*2);
 
-	info->rom = device->region;
-	info->rom_size = device->regionbytes;
-	if (info->intf->rgnoverride != NULL)
-	{
-		info->rom = memory_region(device->machine, info->intf->rgnoverride);
-		info->rom_size = memory_region_length(device->machine, info->intf->rgnoverride);
-	}
+	const region_info *region = (info->intf->rgnoverride != NULL) ? device->machine->region(info->intf->rgnoverride) : device->region;
+	info->rom = *region;
+	info->rom_size = region->bytes();
 	info->rom_mask = 0xffffffffU;
 	for(i=0; i<32; i++)
 		if((1U<<i) >= info->rom_size) {
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/multipcm.c b/src/emu/sound/multipcm.c
index 294137ce4fc..cc346ba80ba 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/multipcm.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/multipcm.c
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( multipcm )
 	MultiPCM *ptChip = get_safe_token(device);
 	int i;
 
-	ptChip->ROM=(INT8 *)device->region;
+	ptChip->ROM=*device->region;
 	ptChip->Rate=(float) device->clock / MULTIPCM_CLOCKDIV;
 
 	ptChip->stream = stream_create(device, 0, 2, ptChip->Rate, ptChip, MultiPCM_update);
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/n63701x.c b/src/emu/sound/n63701x.c
index 2c8eff2669b..fc7bda5f3e3 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/n63701x.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/n63701x.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( namco_63701x )
 {
 	namco_63701x *chip = get_safe_token(device);
 
-	chip->rom = device->region;
+	chip->rom = *device->region;
 
 	chip->stream = stream_create(device, 0, 2, device->clock/1000, chip, namco_63701x_update);
 }
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/namco.c b/src/emu/sound/namco.c
index e6e2c0a55e6..4cdfadcea19 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/namco.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/namco.c
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( namco )
 	logerror("Namco: freq fractional bits = %d: internal freq = %d, output freq = %d\n", chip->f_fracbits, chip->namco_clock, chip->sample_rate);
 
 	/* build the waveform table */
-	build_decoded_waveform(device->machine, chip, device->region);
+	build_decoded_waveform(device->machine, chip, *device->region);
 
 	/* get stream channels */
 	if (intf->stereo)
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/nile.c b/src/emu/sound/nile.c
index 64d08ecb489..8d6912d94cb 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/nile.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/nile.c
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( nile )
 {
 	nile_state *info = get_safe_token(device);
 
-	info->sound_ram = device->region;
+	info->sound_ram = *device->region;
 
 	info->stream = stream_create(device, 0, 2, 44100, info, nile_update);
 }
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/okim6295.c b/src/emu/sound/okim6295.c
index 7b954f165a0..18ccb418d29 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/okim6295.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/okim6295.c
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ void okim6295_set_bank_base(const device_config *device, int base)
 	if (info->bank_installed)
 	{
 		info->bank_offs = base;
-		memory_set_bankptr(device->machine, device->tag, device->region + base);
+		memory_set_bankptr(device->machine, device->tag, device->region->base.u8 + base);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/okim6376.c b/src/emu/sound/okim6376.c
index 89368ca252c..a1e694384cf 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/okim6376.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/okim6376.c
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( okim6376 )
 	compute_tables();
 
 	info->command = -1;
-	info->region_base = device->region;
+	info->region_base = *device->region;
 	info->master_clock = device->clock;
 
 	/* generate the name and create the stream */
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/qsound.c b/src/emu/sound/qsound.c
index 931019445d2..929ef314c54 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/qsound.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/qsound.c
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ static DEVICE_START( qsound )
 	qsound_state *chip = get_safe_token(device);
 	int i;
 
-	chip->sample_rom = (QSOUND_SRC_SAMPLE *)device->region;
-	chip->sample_rom_length = device->regionbytes;
+	chip->sample_rom = (QSOUND_SRC_SAMPLE *)*device->region;
+	chip->sample_rom_length = device->region->bytes();
 
 	memset(chip->channel, 0, sizeof(chip->channel));
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/rf5c400.c b/src/emu/sound/rf5c400.c
index cd847d7869f..c640fa52004 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/rf5c400.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/rf5c400.c
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ static void rf5c400_init_chip(const device_config *device, rf5c400_state *info)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	info->rom = (INT16*)device->region;
-	info->rom_length = device->regionbytes / 2;
+	info->rom = *device->region;
+	info->rom_length = device->region->bytes() / 2;
 
 	// init volume table
 	{
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/s14001a.c b/src/emu/sound/s14001a.c
index 63cf0f0c8e6..7cca2cdeee7 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/s14001a.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/s14001a.c
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( s14001a )
 		chip->filtervals[i] = SILENCE;
 	}
 
-	chip->SpeechRom = device->region;
+	chip->SpeechRom = *device->region;
 
 	chip->stream = stream_create(device, 0, 1, device->clock ? device->clock : device->machine->sample_rate, chip, s14001a_pcm_update);
 }
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/scsp.c b/src/emu/sound/scsp.c
index 1f5acb492c5..25102d483ea 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/scsp.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/scsp.c
@@ -537,10 +537,10 @@ static void SCSP_Init(const device_config *device, struct _SCSP *SCSP, const scs
 		SCSP->Master=0;
 	}
 
-	SCSP->SCSPRAM = device->region;
+	SCSP->SCSPRAM = *device->region;
 	if (SCSP->SCSPRAM)
 	{
-		SCSP->SCSPRAM_LENGTH = device->regionbytes;
+		SCSP->SCSPRAM_LENGTH = device->region->bytes();
 		SCSP->DSP.SCSPRAM = (UINT16 *)SCSP->SCSPRAM;
 		SCSP->DSP.SCSPRAM_LENGTH = SCSP->SCSPRAM_LENGTH/2;
 		SCSP->SCSPRAM += intf->roffset;
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/segapcm.c b/src/emu/sound/segapcm.c
index 62900b6e756..86e5f4b75cb 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/segapcm.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/segapcm.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( segapcm )
 	int mask, rom_mask, len;
 	segapcm_state *spcm = get_safe_token(device);
 
-	spcm->rom = (const UINT8 *)device->region;
+	spcm->rom = *device->region;
 	spcm->ram = auto_alloc_array(device->machine, UINT8, 0x800);
 
 	memset(spcm->ram, 0xff, 0x800);
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( segapcm )
 	if(!mask)
 		mask = BANK_MASK7>>16;
 
-	len = device->regionbytes;
+	len = device->region->bytes();
 	for(rom_mask = 1; rom_mask < len; rom_mask *= 2);
 	rom_mask--;
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/sp0256.c b/src/emu/sound/sp0256.c
index 130b05990ef..b8be8e6815d 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/sp0256.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/sp0256.c
@@ -1214,7 +1214,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( sp0256 )
     /* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
     /*  Setup the ROM.                                                      */
     /* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
-	sp->rom = device->region;
+	sp->rom = *device->region;
 	sp0256_bitrevbuff(sp->rom, 0, 0xffff);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/tms5110.c b/src/emu/sound/tms5110.c
index aaaebbcf023..401efed217e 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/tms5110.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/tms5110.c
@@ -943,7 +943,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( tms5110 )
 	tms5110_state *tms = get_safe_token(device);
 
 	tms->intf = device->static_config ? (const tms5110_interface *)device->static_config : &dummy;
-	tms->table = device->region;
+	tms->table = *device->region;
 
 	tms->device = device;
 	tms5110_set_variant(tms, TMS5110_IS_5110A);
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/upd7759.c b/src/emu/sound/upd7759.c
index bc379a92028..c81d37bceba 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/upd7759.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/upd7759.c
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( upd7759 )
 	chip->state = STATE_IDLE;
 
 	/* compute the ROM base or allocate a timer */
-	chip->rom = chip->rombase = device->region;
+	chip->rom = chip->rombase = *device->region;
 	if (chip->rom == NULL)
 		chip->timer = timer_alloc(device->machine, upd7759_slave_update, chip);
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/vlm5030.c b/src/emu/sound/vlm5030.c
index 720448e5da9..2e41f422e71 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/vlm5030.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/vlm5030.c
@@ -665,10 +665,10 @@ static DEVICE_START( vlm5030 )
 	vlm5030_reset(chip);
 	chip->phase = PH_IDLE;
 
-	chip->rom = device->region;
+	chip->rom = *device->region;
 	/* memory size */
 	if( chip->intf->memory_size == 0)
-		chip->address_mask = device->regionbytes-1;
+		chip->address_mask = device->region->bytes()-1;
 	else
 		chip->address_mask = chip->intf->memory_size-1;
 
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/x1_010.c b/src/emu/sound/x1_010.c
index d14cf3e7857..830a0f29763 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/x1_010.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/x1_010.c
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( x1_010 )
 	const x1_010_interface *intf = (const x1_010_interface *)device->static_config;
 	x1_010_state *info = get_safe_token(device);
 
-	info->region		= device->region;
+	info->region		= *device->region;
 	info->base_clock	= device->clock;
 	info->rate			= device->clock / 1024;
 	info->address		= intf->adr;
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/ymf271.c b/src/emu/sound/ymf271.c
index 7f9d36b1903..be9bc60dab5 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/ymf271.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/ymf271.c
@@ -1779,7 +1779,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( ymf271 )
 
 	intf = (device->static_config != NULL) ? (const ymf271_interface *)device->static_config : &defintrf;
 
-	ymf271_init(device, chip, device->region, intf->irq_callback, &intf->ext_read, &intf->ext_write);
+	ymf271_init(device, chip, *device->region, intf->irq_callback, &intf->ext_read, &intf->ext_write);
 	chip->stream = stream_create(device, 0, 2, device->clock/384, chip, ymf271_update);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < 256; i++)
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/ymf278b.c b/src/emu/sound/ymf278b.c
index 8180d2e01b5..0e5f72c9a70 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/ymf278b.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/ymf278b.c
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ WRITE8_DEVICE_HANDLER( ymf278b_w )
 
 static void ymf278b_init(const device_config *device, YMF278BChip *chip, void (*cb)(const device_config *, int))
 {
-	chip->rom = device->region;
+	chip->rom = *device->region;
 	chip->irq_callback = cb;
 	chip->timer_a = timer_alloc(device->machine, ymf278b_timer_a_tick, chip);
 	chip->timer_b = timer_alloc(device->machine, ymf278b_timer_b_tick, chip);
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/ymz280b.c b/src/emu/sound/ymz280b.c
index 1e765c920c9..f7861215bb6 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/ymz280b.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/ymz280b.c
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( ymz280b )
 
 	/* initialize the rest of the structure */
 	chip->master_clock = (double)device->clock / 384.0;
-	chip->region_base = device->region;
+	chip->region_base = *device->region;
 	chip->irq_callback = intf->irq_callback;
 
 	/* create the stream */
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/harddriv.c b/src/mame/drivers/harddriv.c
index b5b02dcf40b..1e01745d3d1 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/harddriv.c
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/harddriv.c
@@ -3735,10 +3735,10 @@ static void init_ds3(running_machine *machine)
 
 	/* if we have a sound DSP, boot it */
 	if (state->soundcpu != NULL && cpu_get_type(state->soundcpu) == CPU_ADSP2105)
-		adsp2105_load_boot_data((UINT8 *)(state->soundcpu->region + 0x10000), (UINT32 *)state->soundcpu->region);
+		adsp2105_load_boot_data(state->soundcpu->region->base.u8 + 0x10000, state->soundcpu->region->base.u32);
 
 	if (state->sounddsp != NULL && cpu_get_type(state->sounddsp) == CPU_ADSP2105)
-		adsp2105_load_boot_data((UINT8 *)(state->sounddsp->region + 0x10000), (UINT32 *)state->sounddsp->region);
+		adsp2105_load_boot_data(state->sounddsp->region->base.u8 + 0x10000, state->sounddsp->region->base.u32);
 
 /*
 
diff --git a/src/mame/machine/decocass.c b/src/mame/machine/decocass.c
index f7f92dcaf63..9c75d4a6274 100644
--- a/src/mame/machine/decocass.c
+++ b/src/mame/machine/decocass.c
@@ -2105,7 +2105,7 @@ static UINT8 tape_get_status_bits(const device_config *device)
 
 		/* data block bytes are data */
 		else if (tape->bytenum >= BYTE_DATA_0 && tape->bytenum <= BYTE_DATA_255)
-			byteval = device->region[blocknum * 256 + (tape->bytenum - BYTE_DATA_0)];
+			byteval = static_cast<UINT8 *>(*device->region)[blocknum * 256 + (tape->bytenum - BYTE_DATA_0)];
 
 		/* CRC MSB */
 		else if (tape->bytenum == BYTE_CRC16_MSB)
@@ -2182,10 +2182,11 @@ static DEVICE_START( decocass_tape )
 	tape->timer = timer_alloc(device->machine, tape_clock_callback, (void *)device);
 	if (device->region == NULL)
 		return;
+	UINT8 *regionbase = *device->region;
 
 	/* scan for the first non-empty block in the image */
-	for (offs = device->regionbytes - 1; offs >= 0; offs--)
-		if (device->region[offs] != 0)
+	for (offs = device->region->bytes() - 1; offs >= 0; offs--)
+		if (regionbase[offs] != 0)
 			break;
 	numblocks = ((offs | 0xff) + 1) / 256;
 	assert(numblocks < ARRAY_LENGTH(tape->crc16));
@@ -2201,7 +2202,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( decocass_tape )
 
 		/* first CRC the 256 bytes of data */
 		for (offs = 256 * curblock; offs < 256 * curblock + 256; offs++)
-			crc = tape_crc16_byte(crc, device->region[offs]);
+			crc = tape_crc16_byte(crc, regionbase[offs]);
 
 		/* then find a pair of bytes that will bring the CRC to 0 (any better way than brute force?) */
 		for (testval = 0; testval < 0x10000; testval++)
diff --git a/src/mame/machine/segaic16.c b/src/mame/machine/segaic16.c
index e342568b8ab..4a938c7565e 100644
--- a/src/mame/machine/segaic16.c
+++ b/src/mame/machine/segaic16.c
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ void segaic16_memory_mapper_config(running_machine *machine, const UINT8 *map_da
 void segaic16_memory_mapper_set_decrypted(running_machine *machine, UINT8 *decrypted)
 {
 	struct memory_mapper_chip *chip = &memory_mapper;
-	offs_t romsize = chip->cpu->regionbytes;
+	offs_t romsize = chip->cpu->region->length;
 	int rgnum;
 
 	/* loop over the regions */
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ static void update_memory_mapping(running_machine *machine, struct memory_mapper
 		/* ROM areas need extra clamping */
 		if (rgn->romoffset != ~0)
 		{
-			offs_t romsize = chip->cpu->regionbytes;
+			offs_t romsize = chip->cpu->region->length;
 			if (region_start >= romsize)
 				read = NULL;
 			else if (region_start + rgn->length > romsize)
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ static void update_memory_mapping(running_machine *machine, struct memory_mapper
 						decrypted = (UINT8 *)fd1089_get_decrypted_base();
 				}
 
-				memory_configure_bank(machine, readbank, 0, 1, (UINT8 *)chip->cpu->region + region_start, 0);
+				memory_configure_bank(machine, readbank, 0, 1, chip->cpu->region->base.u8 + region_start, 0);
 				if (decrypted)
 					memory_configure_bank_decrypted(machine, readbank, 0, 1, decrypted + region_start, 0);
 
diff --git a/src/mame/video/atarisy1.c b/src/mame/video/atarisy1.c
index a9d2ede14b5..1bd5a3d78da 100644
--- a/src/mame/video/atarisy1.c
+++ b/src/mame/video/atarisy1.c
@@ -557,8 +557,8 @@ VIDEO_UPDATE( atarisy1 )
 static void decode_gfx(running_machine *machine, UINT16 *pflookup, UINT16 *molookup)
 {
 	atarisy1_state *state = (atarisy1_state *)machine->driver_data;
-	UINT8 *prom1 = &machine->region("proms")->base[0x000];
-	UINT8 *prom2 = &machine->region("proms")->base[0x200];
+	UINT8 *prom1 = &machine->region("proms")->base.u8[0x000];
+	UINT8 *prom2 = &machine->region("proms")->base.u8[0x200];
 	int obj, i;
 
 	/* reset the globals */
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ static int get_bank(running_machine *machine, UINT8 prom1, UINT8 prom2, int bpp)
 	assert(gfx_index != MAX_GFX_ELEMENTS);
 
 	/* decode the graphics */
-	srcdata = &tiles->base[0x80000 * (bank_index - 1)];
+	srcdata = &tiles->base.u8[0x80000 * (bank_index - 1)];
 	switch (bpp)
 	{
 	case 4: