Does mame version have to equal rom version?

I just downloaded MAME 0.126 and I'm looking for roms but all the roms are listed as earlier versions, 0.125, 0.124, and so on. Can I run those earlier version roms on the new version mame?

Most of them will run fine. Various roms are updated with each mame release, so there will be a few games that have been updated that won't work, but the majority will still be ok from 0.124 or 0.125.

Check out the MAWS website for more info on whats updated when.

I was able to work it.

But how are you supposed to work the controlls! Wow... I looked at the control 1 input and there is like 50 buttons. How am I supposed to remember all that lol. I don't even know what most of them even mean.