BUG in ALL releases of 2014 / backwards save compatibility?

[[Unknown]]

No, savestates are not backwards compatible. If you saved normally within the game, it should be, though.

What I'd do is load the new version of the emulator, load the state, and then go somewhere you can save (regular in game save.) Save, and then quit.

Now copy the memstick directory to the place you have the old version of the emulator.

Start the old version, and then instead of using a savestate, just load the game normally.

-[Unknown]