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# MAME 2003-Plus - RetroBIOS

Type | libretro
Classification | enhanced_fork
Source | https://github.com/libretro/mame2003-plus-libretro
Upstream | https://www.mamedev.org
Version | 2003-Plus
Profiled | 2026-03-24
Cores | mame2003_plus
Systems | snk-neogeo-mvs, snk-neogeo-aes, igs-pgm, sega-stv, sega-megaplay, sega-megatech, deco-cassette, nintendo-playch10, nintendo-nss, super-kaneko-nova, konami-gx, zn1-capcom, zn2-capcom, zn1-taito, zn1-tecmo, zn1-video-system, zn1-acclaim, zn1-atlus, century-cvs
MAME version | 0.78 (plus backports)

Technical notes

MAME 2003-Plus is a libretro port of MAME 0.78 with backported drivers, bug fixes, and new game support contributed after the original 0.78 snapshot. It targets low-end hardware (Raspberry Pi, handhelds) while expanding game compatibility beyond stock 0.78.

BIOS handling follows standard MAME conventions. Each arcade board with a shared BIOS defines a parent ROM set. Game drivers reference this parent, and the emulator merges the parent ZIP contents at load time.

BIOS ZIPs must be in {content_dir}/ (same folder as the game ROMs). The core resolves parent ROMs by walking the clone_of chain within the content directory only (osd_get_path returns content_path for FILETYPE_ROM).

ROM naming follows MAME 0.78 conventions with some updates from the Plus patches. Requires a mame2003-plus-specific romset for full CRC32/SHA1 compatibility.

Neo Geo uses mame.sm1, mamelo.lo, sfix.sfx naming. PGM uses pgm_p01s.rom naming. ZN-1/ZN-2 boards are present but most games are NOT_WORKING (incomplete PS1 emulation in the 0.78 codebase). PGM and ST-V have partial support.

Data files go in {system_dir}/mame2003-plus/. Samples in samples/ subfolder, artwork in artwork/ subfolder (both per-game ZIPs). hiscore.dat is compiled into the binary and auto-generated on first run if absent.

21 files | 16 required, 5 optional | 19 in repo, 2 missing Categories: 4 game data, 17 BIOS ZIPs

`hiscore.dat` -optional, game_data

- Source: `src/hiscore.c:15,248`
- high score definitions, compiled into binary and spawned on first run

`cheat.dat` -optional, game_data

- Source: `src/cheat.c:383,8249-8255`
- cheat definitions, requires cheats core option enabled

`history.dat` -optional, game_data

- Source: `src/datafile.c:327,608`
- game history and information database

`mameinfo.dat` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Source: `src/datafile.c:327,638`
- technical driver information, appended to history display

`neogeo.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: snk-neogeo-mvs
- Source: `src/drivers/neogeo.c:1677-1714`
- Platforms: batocera, emudeck, lakka, recalbox, retroarch, retrobat, retrodeck, retropie
- MVS/AES BIOS, 15 variants including Universe BIOS 4.0
- Contents (18 entries):
  - `sp-s2.sp1` -Europe MVS v2, default
  - `sp-s.sp1` -Europe MVS v1
  - `usa_2slt.bin` -US MVS v2
  - `sp-e.sp1` -US MVS v1
  - `asia-s3.rom` -Asia MVS v3
  - `vs-bios.rom` -Japan MVS v6
  - `sp-j2.sp1` -Japan MVS v2
  - `uni-bios_4_0.rom` -Universe BIOS 4.0, hack
  - `uni-bios_3_3.rom` -Universe BIOS 3.3, hack
  - `uni-bios_2_0.rom` -Universe BIOS 2.0, hack
  - ... and 8 more

`pgm.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: igs-pgm
- Source: `src/drivers/pgm.c:3459-3468`
- Platforms: lakka, retroarch, retrodeck, retropie
- PGM system BIOS - 68K program, text tiles, samples
- Contents (3 entries):
  - `pgm_p01s.rom` -68K BIOS -128.0 KB
  - `pgm_t01s.rom` -text tiles -2.0 MB
  - `pgm_m01s.rom` -samples -2.0 MB

`stvbios.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: sega-stv
- Source: `src/drivers/stv.c:3741-3767`
- Platforms: lakka, recalbox, retroarch, retrobat, retrodeck, retropie
- ST-V (Saturn-based arcade) BIOS, 6 region variants
- Contents (6 entries):
  - `epr19730.ic8` -Japan
  - `mp17951a.s` -Japan alt
  - `mp17952a.s` -USA
  - `20091.bin` -Japan alt 2
  - `mp17953a.ic8` -Taiwan
  - `mp17954a.s` -Europe

`megaplay.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: sega-megaplay
- Source: `src/drivers/segac2.c:5794-5804`
- Platforms: retrodeck
- Mega Play BIOS, 2 versions
- Contents (2 entries):
  - `ep15294.ic2` -Mega Play BIOS v1
  - `megaplay.bin` -Mega Play BIOS v2

`megatech.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: sega-megatech
- Source: `src/drivers/segac2.c:5434-5437`
- Platforms: retrodeck
- Mega Tech BIOS - menu/instruction screen processor
- Contents (1 entries):
  - `epr12664.20` -Mega Tech BIOS -32.0 KB

`decocass.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: deco-cassette
- Source: `src/drivers/decocass.c:696-727`
- Platforms: lakka, retroarch, retrodeck, retropie
- DECO Cassette shared BIOS - 6502 CPU, sound, MCU, PROMs
- Contents (7 entries):
  - `v0a-.7e` -6502 BIOS variant A
  - `rms8.cpu` -6502 BIOS variant B
  - `rms8.snd` -audio CPU -2.0 KB
  - `cass8041.bin` -MCU -1.0 KB
  - `dsp8.3m` -PROM
  - `dsp8.10d` -PROM
  - `rms8.j3` -DRAM banking PROM

`playch10.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: nintendo-playch10
- Source: `src/drivers/playch10.c:815-827`
- Platforms: retrodeck
- PlayChoice-10 BIOS - Z80 main CPU + character ROMs + PROMs
- Contents (7 entries):
  - `pch1-c.8t` -Z80 BIOS -16.0 KB
  - `pch1-c.8p` -character ROM
  - `pch1-c.8m` -character ROM
  - `pch1-c.8k` -character ROM
  - `82s129.6f` -color PROM
  - `82s129.6e` -color PROM
  - `82s129.6d` -color PROM

`nss.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: nintendo-nss
- Source: `src/drivers/nss.c:260-269`
- Platforms: retrodeck
- Nintendo Super System BIOS - SPC700 boot ROM + BIOS CPU
- Contents (3 entries):
  - `spc700.rom` -SPC700 boot ROM -64 B
  - `nss-c.dat` -NSS BIOS CPU -32.0 KB
  - `nss-ic14.02` -NSS BIOS CPU alt -32.0 KB

`skns.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: super-kaneko-nova
- Source: `src/drivers/suprnova.c:1226-1229`
- Platforms: lakka, retroarch, retrodeck, retropie
- Super Kaneko Nova System BIOS, 4 region variants
- Contents (4 entries):
  - `sknsj1.u10` -Japan BIOS -512.0 KB
  - `sknse1.u10` -Europe BIOS -512.0 KB
  - `sknsa1.u10` -Asia BIOS -512.0 KB
  - `sknsu1.u10` -USA BIOS -512.0 KB

`konamigx.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: konami-gx
- Source: `src/drivers/konamigx.c:2404`
- Platforms: retrodeck
- Konami System GX BIOS
- Contents (1 entries):
  - `300a01.34k` -GX BIOS -128.0 KB

`cpzn1.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: zn1-capcom
- Source: `src/drivers/zn.c:1016-1018`
- Capcom ZN-1 BIOS (PS1-based). Most games NOT_WORKING
- Contents (1 entries):
  - `coh1002c.bin` -Capcom ZN-1 BIOS -512.0 KB

`cpzn2.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: zn2-capcom
- Source: `src/drivers/zn.c:1274-1276`
- Capcom ZN-2 BIOS (PS1-based). Most games NOT_WORKING
- Contents (1 entries):
  - `coh3002c.bin` -Capcom ZN-2 BIOS -512.0 KB

`taitofx1.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: zn1-taito
- Source: `src/drivers/zn.c:1579-1581`
- Taito FX-1 BIOS (PS1-based). Most games NOT_WORKING
- Contents (1 entries):
  - `coh1002t.bin` -Taito FX-1 BIOS -512.0 KB

`tps.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: zn1-tecmo
- Source: `src/drivers/zn.c:1466-1468`
- Tecmo TPS BIOS (PS1-based). Most games NOT_WORKING
- Contents (1 entries):
  - `coh1002m.bin` -Tecmo TPS BIOS -512.0 KB

`sncwgltd.zip` -optional, bios_zip, missing from repo

- System: zn1-video-system
- Source: `src/drivers/zn.c:1555-1557`
- Video System KN BIOS (PS1-based). NOT_WORKING
- Contents (1 entries):
  - `coh1002v.bin` -KN BIOS -512.0 KB

`acpsx.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: zn1-acclaim
- Source: `src/drivers/zn.c:1815-1817`
- Acclaim PSX BIOS (PS1-based). NOT_WORKING
- Contents (1 entries):
  - `coh1000a.bin` -Acclaim PSX BIOS -512.0 KB

`cvs.zip` -required, bios_zip

- System: century-cvs
- Source: `src/drivers/cvs.c:475-482,1393`
- Contents (3 entries):
  - `5b.bin` -sound CPU -2.0 KB
  - `82s185.10h` -PROM -2.0 KB
  - `82s123.10k` -PROM -32 B

Generated on 2026-03-25T14:56:43Z