Since MAME 0.72 is old, the error messages are less user-friendly than modern emulators.
Problem: "Files Missing" or "Required files are missing"
Problem: Black screen or "Guru Meditation"
Problem: The game is in a foreign language
Neo-Geo emulation peaked with 0.72. Unlike later versions that require a specific Neo-Geo BIOS (neogeo.zip) with strict security checks, 0.72 was relatively forgiving. KOF 2002 remains a community favorite for its balance.
Here is the critical warning for newbies: A ROM that works in MAME 0.72 will likely NOT work in MAME 0.250.
Why? Because the MAME team constantly redumps (re-rips) arcade boards to get more accurate data. A ROM from 2003 might be missing protection data, have incorrect labels, or be a bad dump. When you update MAME, you must update your ROM set.
So, if you find a dusty hard drive labeled "MAME 0.72 Roms," you have two choices:
MAME ROMs are copyrighted software. You should only download or use ROMs for games you legally own (original arcade boards or digital licenses where applicable). ROM sets are preserved for historical, educational, and archiving purposes under fair use in many countries, but check your local laws.
If you decide to proceed for historical research or legacy hardware, here is the technical workflow:
If game doesn't start: