romset question (maws database)

[tikbalang]

in the data section of maws there is "version added" and "last changes" parts.

1. does this mean that the earliest version of mame to play the game must be equal or later than "version added"?

2. do "last changes" only refer to mame? do the contents of the rom zips change along with it?

for outrun (parent):
version added   .036b02
last change(s)   .111u6 .097u1 .092 .091

i am trying to run outrun with mame 0.56. i have romsets outrun, outrun1, outrun2, outrunb and dmamepp 0.36, 0.56, 0.69, 0.78, 0.96, 0.99, 0.100. i should be able to play using at least v0.36, correct?

i would prefer to use outrun (parent) and outrun1 (sitdown deluxe) with dmamepp 0.56.

[steveh]

the romsets are constantly changing.  you can run a check to see what if anything is missing from your set.  It escapes me right now the best way to do that tho (i have not checked a set in ages)

[tikbalang]

so eventually, older version will run out of romsets? why do they change anyway? aren't the roms on the pcb "read only" and must be preserved as dumped (provided it is good) since it is part of the entire arcade?

sorry for the questions, i am still in the process of understanding mame.

[ahofle]

To quote u_rebelscum:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56050.0

"Case 1: bad dump
Case 2: incomplete dump (X chip now emulated now needs Y ROM not needed before)
Case 3: new dump confirmed source, old dump unreliable/unknown source
Case 4: new dump real release, old dump hacked board
Case 5: new dump real release, old dump prototype
Case 6: new dump wider release, old dump local release

The first three add/replace to a ROM, the last three usually involve renaming."