Neo Geo (system)

Neo Geo is a video game console, and an arcade system that has been developed by the company SNK.

MVS and Neo -Geo

With advent of game consoles and home computers in the late 1980s, the popularity of gambling halls fell sharply. Because until then for each new arcade game, a new arcade machine has been developed and sold, SNK came up with the idea, the Neo Geo MVS (Multi Video System) to develop. In this unit the arcade operators did not replace all the hardware, but the game module. In addition, the MVS could be fitted at the same time depending on the model with up to six modules in which you could choose.

It is also a home version, the Neo Geo AES (Advanced Entertainment System), the device was developed. First, this device was supposed to be awarded only video stores, but many Japanese bought the system. Even in the U.S. and Europe, you were on the Neo Geo attention due to its then outstanding technical performance. Since the system was not intended for sale to home users, but it was relatively expensive: the cost AES in the U.S. $ 600 and in Germany the equivalent of about 550 euros. A game cost around 200 to 300 dollars. This was due to the large storage capacity of the modules (up to 716 Mbps). A module consists of two superimposed boards.

The Neo Geo was the first console with a memory card slot, which made ​​it possible to save Scores and later to load even in the arcade again.

SNK developed games, which set new standards in terms of graphics, sound and music. Since the games are arcade games, they are mostly action -heavy. With the release of Capcom's Street Fighter 2 1991 beat ' em ups to one of the main arcade genre. SNK's Fatal Fury which also appeared in 1991, though had characteristics such as multiple levels, and a cooperative two - player mode, but was still often labeled as Street Fighter 2 copy. More fighting games are Art of Fighting, Samurai Shodown and King of Fighters, all of which were held with numerous sequels alive. The Neo Geo was known as the best fighting games platform.

The term AES (Advanced Entertainment System) is contrary to popular belief, not only for the home version of the Neo Geo. SNK even in his time also equipped Neo Geo machine housing for the arcades with the term Advanced Entertainment System and has the term AES never exclusively used for titling module home games, but they always called Home Cards.

Although it is known that the letters AES can also be found on the CD consoles and occasionally also on the arcade hardware, this symbol has prevailed for the home console.

Hardware

The hardware of the Neo Geo in Detail:

  • CPU: Motorola 68000 (12 MHz, 16 - bit)
  • Sound CPU: Zilog Z80A (4 MHz)
  • Resolution: 304 × 224 (320 × 240)
  • Color Palette: 65,536
  • Max colors at a time: 4096
  • Maximum number of sprites at once: 380
  • Min sprite size: 1 × 2
  • Max sprite size: 16 × 512
  • Sound: Stereo, 15 channels (7 Digital, FM 4, 3 ​​PSG, 1 noise channel)

For the resolution: Technically has the ability to display a resolution of 320 × 240 hardware. Due to a design flaw of the graphics hardware it is horizontal scrolling of the graphics to image distortion on the left and right of the screen, so at these locations an 8 pixel border to mask these errors had to be inserted. To get a 4:3 ratio, an 8 pixel border was also inserted at the top and bottom of the screen.

The advantage and at the same time also the reason why the Neo Geo as long was able to maintain among the game consoles and machines to the generously sized memory module. SNK specified module size first with 330 MBit, in fact, the console with up to 716 MBit large modules deal ( eight memory banks, each with 64 Mbps as well as a memory bank with 4 Mbit for graphics, eight banks of 8 Mbps for the program, 128 Mbps for the sound). Later games like King of Fighters 2000 used this also. Many effects which the CPU can not calculate in real-time, compensated by pre- motion graphics. This particularly emphasizes the picturesque effect of many games and leaves them with quality products for technically more powerful consoles keep up, at least as far as the 2D graphics.

Neo Geo CD and Neo Geo CDZ

Due to the very expensive games to SNK Neo Geo CD with the decided in 1994 to bring a console on the market, enabling even the less well-off players to enjoy the games. From art, the Neo Geo CD was identical to the module version, but it was equipped with a single-speed CD-ROM drive, so you could see the games sell much cheaper and thus open up a wider range of customers. The first version of the Neo Geo CD was a front loader version from which only 25,000 copies were made ​​, the second version was finally a top-loader variant, which was much cheaper from the production here.

However, the Neo Geo CD not prevailed, because the load times were enormously long and the unit only had an internal memory of 7MB. That was not enough to keep the much larger games in the store, which had to be recharged constantly. Because of this, SNK Neo Geo CDZ decided in 1996 to bring out that was equipped in addition to a slight design change with a larger drive cache, it was sold only in small numbers and only in Japan. Because the modules growing the Neo -Geo CD came from internal memory with no more, eventually the newer games were not implemented for the Neo Geo CD, as they had become very slimmed to still be reasonable run and playable.

Neo Geo Pocket / Neo Geo Pocket Color

The Neo Geo Pocket is a handheld game console from SNK. It was released in 1998 in Japan, in 1999 the production was stopped and the Neo Geo Pocket Color touted as the Neo Geo Pocket had sold worse with black and white screen as expected. Despite its short life time appeared some more elaborate games for the system, including Samurai Shodown and King of Fighters R -1. With some exceptions, the Neo Geo Pocket Color to the game modules for the Neo Geo Pocket is downward compatible.

In order not to let the software market for the Neo Geo Pocket dry with cessation of production, it was decided to Implementation of a black and white mode in many of the games for the Neo Geo Pocket Color.

Hyper Neo Geo 64

1997 SNK tried with the Hyper Neo Geo 64 to establish a new, modern slot machines. The attempt failed because graphically the ambitious hardware could not compete with established boards, such as the Sega Model 3 board. Home reactions on Playstation and Saturn were not convincing due to the lower resolution and frame-rate fluctuations, which at the time outstanding 2D skills could be guessed at most by some background graphics.

Together with the commercial flopped Neo Geo Pocket Handheld sealed the HNG64 arcade board SNK's demise. King of Fighters 2002 was the last game of SNK, which were later bought by Playmore, which for further developments (eg Metal Slug 6, Samurai Showdown 6, King of Fighters successor ) is now based on the slightly better on the Dreamcast Atomiswave sets arcade platform.

Neo Geo Station

Since late 2010, selected NeoGeo games on the service Neo Geo Station for PlayStation 3 and PSP can be downloaded. Payment is made via the PlayStation Network. The games can be played together or against each other online. In addition to other features can be saved at any time of the game.

Neo Geo X Gold

Together with the publishers Blaze ( Europe) and Tommo (USA) SNK brings in December 2012, the Neo Geo X Gold to market worldwide. The package is located next to the Neo Geo Neo Geo Station X X handheld and a Neo Geo X Joystick. The Neo Geo X station serves as a charging station for the handheld and allows these to be connected via an HDMI or AV cable to a TV. In addition, the station has connections for two joysticks, which are modeled after the original AES joystick.

The resolution of the handheld corresponds with 480x272 pixels of the Playstation Portable. About an extension slot games can be used on memory cards ( Game Cards ). On the device already 20 classic Neo -Geo titles are pre-installed, with more to appear at a later date. Included with the appearing in December 2012 Limited Edition the game Ninja Masters is contained on a Game Card.

List of preloaded games:

  • 3 Count Bout
  • Alpha Mission II
  • Art of Fighting
  • Baseball Stars II
  • Cyber ​​-Lip
  • Fatal Fury: King of Fighters
  • Fatal Fury Special
  • King of Fighters '95
  • King of the Monsters
  • Last Resort
  • League Bowling
  • Magician Lord
  • Metal Slug
  • Mutation nation
  • NAM -1975
  • Puzzled
  • Real Bout Fatal Fury
  • Samurai Shodown II
  • Super Sidekicks
  • World Heroes Perfect

In the U.S., the recommended retail price is 199.99 U.S. dollars.

Cartridge (electronics) Arcade system board Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association Video game arcade cabinet Street Fighter II: The World Warrior Samurai Shodown (series) The King of Fighters Sprite (computer graphics) SNK Playmore Metal Slug (series)
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