The MAME 2003-Plus ROMset is the best thing to happen to low-powered arcade emulation since the Pi 2. It understands that most of us don't care about Double Dragon having the exact raster effect of the original monitor; we care that the jump button registers on frame one and the ROM loads instantly.
Let’s talk about the "Parent/Clone" structure. The 2003-Plus set is meticulously DAT-scanned. I ran it through ClrMAMEPro, and unlike the chaos of a full 0.78 set, this one has very few "red" (missing/bad) dumps. It includes the "Plus" specific hacks, such as the ability to run Golden Tee Golf with trackball support on a mouse, which is a nightmare to configure in other versions. The Middle Ground: Know What You Are Getting 1. No CHD Support (Mostly) If you want to play Cruis’n USA , Killer Instinct 2 , or Gauntlet Legends , look away. This set does not support CHD (Compressed Hard Disk) images. It is strictly ROMs (the program code on chips). The reason it runs so fast is because it isn't trying to emulate a 1998 hard drive. For CHD games, you need a dedicated PC and a modern MAME build. mame 2003-plus romset
Enter .
One of the most annoying things about modern MAME is the "nag screens." You know them: "This game has not been verified as working," or the endless "Press OK to continue" for the disclaimers. Most pre-built modern MAME sets require you to compile your own "no-nag" patch. The 2003-Plus core, combined with this specific ROMset, bypasses virtually all of that nonsense. You boot Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time , and you are at the attract mode in 4 seconds. No warnings, no input delays. It respects your time. The MAME 2003-Plus ROMset is the best thing