Solution: This is almost always a missing BIOS. Download a complete neogeo.zip (for SNK games) or cps2.zip (for Capcom games) that matches the 0.2.97.44 dat file. Tools like ClrMamePro can help you rebuild your ROM set.
Even a stable version has quirks. Here is how to fix the most frequent problems. fb alpha v0.2.97.44
FB Alpha is an open-source emulator originally based on the FinalBurn emulator by Dave. Over the years, it absorbed code from other projects to become a multi-system arcade emulator. Unlike MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator), which prioritizes 100% accuracy and documentation often at the cost of performance, FB Alpha prioritized playability and speed. Solution : This is almost always a missing BIOS
v0.2.97.44 was one of the last builds released before the project eventually forked into FinalBurn Neo following internal team disagreements. This makes it a historical "freeze-frame" of the emulator’s legacy codebase. Even a stable version has quirks
Before FinalBurn Neo took over, v0.2.97.44 was the go-to choice for RetroArch’s netplay features. Because all users in a netplay session must have the exact same emulator version and ROM set, large communities formed around this specific build. Finding opponents for fighting games is often still easier if everyone agrees to use the "old reliable" 97.44 core.
Emulation enthusiasts know the pain of "ROM rot"—when a dump is no longer supported. The ROM set associated with v0.2.97.44 (a "FB Alpha 0.2.97.44 ROMs full set") is widely preserved and does not suffer from the frequent naming changes seen in MAME. Once you have the set for this version, it stays functional.