Neo Geo (console)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Neo-Geo | |
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| Manufacturer | SNK |
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Fourth generation |
| First available | 1990 |
| CPU | Motorola 68000, Zilog Z80 |
| Media | Cartridge |
| Units sold | 1 million |
Neo-Geo is the name of a cartridge-based arcade and home video game system released in 1990 by Japanese game company SNK. The system offered comparatively colorful 2D graphics and high-quality sound. A major platform for arcade games at the time, the system was also available as a costly home console. The two versions of the system were known as the AES (Advanced Entertainment System, the Home Version) and the MVS (Multi Video System, the Arcade Version).
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[edit] History
Initially, the home system was only available for rent or for use in hotel settings, but SNK quickly began selling the system through stores when customer response indicated that people were willing to spend the money. Compared to the other consoles of the time, the Neo Geo AES was incredibly powerful, thanks to its high-end graphics and sound chipsets. The home system featured two CPUs: a 16-bit Motorola 68000 main processor running at 12 MHz and an 8-bit ZiLOG Z-80A coprocessor running at 4 MHz. The system's main CPU was over 50 percent faster than the 68000 processor found in Sega's Genesis console (12MHz vs ~7.6MHz). The Neo Geo AES also had the benefit of its specialized audio and video chipsets. A custom video chipset allowed the system to display 4,096 colors and 380 individual sprites onscreen simultaneously (compared to 64 simultaneous colors and 80 individual sprites for the Genesis), while the onboard Yamaha 2610 sound chip gave the system 15 channels of sound with seven channels reserved specifically for digital sound effects. Surround-Sound was also used in a number of games.
The console was planned to debut at $599 USD and included two joystick controllers and a game (either Baseball Stars or NAM-1975). However, this plan was quickly scrapped and when the system had its national launch it debuted at $649.99 with two joysticks, a memory card, and a single pack-in game, Magician Lord (the early Neo Geo boxes had a gold sticker announcing the inclusion of Magician Lord over the initially planned choice of two games), this package was known as the "Gold System". The system was also released in a "Silver System" package, which included one joystick controller and did not include a game or memory card. Other games cost $200 and up — each. With these "premium" prices though, most gamers weren't able to afford the system and so the console was only accessible to a niche market.
The Neo Geo was only to be driven further into cult status by changing mainstream tastes which soon demanded flashy, 3D graphics. Yet, the quality of Neo Geo games kept it alive in arcades, particularly in Japan, where the newest installment of the flagship King of Fighters was certain to cause a stir with each release.
The last game by SNK for the Neo Geo system, Samurai Spirits Zero Special, was released on October 19, 2004. SNK decided to abandon the hardware due to the rampant piracy of games built for the system, which SNK believed was partially responsible for their bankruptcy in 2000. SNK ceased to manufacture home consoles by the end of 1997, but software for both formats and arcade hardware was produced for many years after. Measured from the introduction of the arcade hardware in 1990 to the release of the last home cartridge in 2004, the Neo Geo's 14-year official span of support from its manufacturer makes it the second longest-lived arcade or home console system ever produced, only behind the Atari 2600, which was supported from 1977 until 1992.
Despite the end of official support from SNK, many titles are still expected to be launched by third party developers. For example, a new cartridge-based game called Last Hope was released for the home console in 2006 by the independent NG:DEV.TEAM, running at 60 fps and showcasing the continued ability of the Neo Geo even sixteen years after its debut. The game features both hand-drawn and CG graphics with transparency and lighting effects as well as a techno soundtrack.
[edit] Emulation
The GameTap subscription service currently includes a Neo Geo emulator and a small library of Neo Geo games.
In February of 2007 Nintendo announced on their Japanese website that Neo Geo games would appear on the Wii's Virtual Console in Japan. There are no announcements of the appearance on the Wii's outside of Japan as of yet.
[edit] Technical aspects
Each joystick controller was 280mm (width) x 190mm (depth) x 95 mm (height) ( 11 x 8 x 2.5 in.) and contained the same four-button layout as the arcade MVS cabinet.
The arcade machines had a memory card system by which a player could save a game to return to at a later time, and remarkably, to be used to continue play on the SNK home console of the same name.
The arcade version of the hardware is often referred to as the "MVS," or Multi Video System (available in 1-slot, 2-slot, 4-slot, and 6-slot variations, the latter being capable of up to six cartridges loaded into one machine), with its console counterpart referred to as the "AES", or Advanced Entertainment System (most likely to distinguish it from the Nintendo Entertainment System, the dominating console on the market at the time).
The programming code is the same on both the MVS and AES hardware. In fact, owners could move EPROMs from one type to the other, and the game would still run. The program specifics for both MVS and AES game options were contained on every game ROM, whether the cartridge was intended for home or arcade use. However, the arcade and home cartridges do have a different pinout. They were designed this way to prevent arcade operators from buying the cheaper home carts and then using them in arcades.
[edit] Rom sizes and startup screens
Specification for ROM size was up to 330 megabits, hence the system displaying "MAX 330 MEGA - PRO GEAR SPEC" upon startup. While no technical changes were required to achieve it, some games over 100 megabits followed this screen by displaying an animation touting "The 100 Mega Shock". The original ROM size spec was later enhanced on cartridges with bank switching memory technology, increasing the maximum cartridge size to around 716 Mbit. These new cartridges also caused the system to display "GIGA POWER" upon startup, indicating this enhancement.
 Original |
 100 Mega Shock |
 Giga-Power |
[edit] Specifications
[edit] Processor
- Main Processor: Motorola 68000 running at 12 MHz
- Co-Processor: Zilog Z80 running at 4 MHz. This is used as an audio controller.
- Sound chip: Yamaha YM2610 15 Sound Channels. 7 Digital, 4 FM synthesis, 3 PSG, and 1 Noise Channel.
[edit] Memory
- Main Memory (used directly by 68K): 64 KiB
- Video Memory: 68 KiB
- Sound Memory (used directly by Z80): 2 KiB
[edit] Display
- Display resolution: 304x224 (320x240 with 8px borders on each side)
- Color Palette: 65,536
- Maximum Colors On-Screen: 4,096
- Maximum Sprites On-Screen: 380
- Minimum Sprite Size: 1x2
- Maximum Sprite Size: 16x512
- Maximum Planes: 3
- Aspect ratio: 4:3
- A/V output:RF, composite video, RGB (with separate 21 pin cable FCG-9).
[edit] Power
[edit] Dimensions
- Console: 325mm (width) x 237mm (depth) x 60 mm (height).
- Controller: 280mm (width) x 190mm (depth) x 95 mm (height).
[edit] Storage
- Removable Memory Card: 8 KiB or 68-pin JEIDA ver.3 spec memory
- Any 68-pin memory that fits the JEIDA ver.3 spec will work
[edit] Collecting
[edit] Home cartridges
There is a thriving collectors' scene for the Neo Geo home systems, especially the original AES home console. This is mainly because of the limited runs received by cartridges, the massive arcade library available, and the system's reputation as a 2D powerhouse. It is still common even to this day for both Neo Geo consoles and cartridges to fetch extremely high prices on eBay and other auction websites, particularly English versions of cartridges as these were produced in fewer quantities. A handful of the rarest Neo Geo games can sell for well over $1,000 on eBay. This gives the system an almost cult following, as owners see the system as more of an "investment" rather than an ordinary videogame console. This leads to high resale value on most Neo Geo systems and games and makes the console a "must-have" for a number of video game collectors. The most expensive cartridge for the Neo Geo home system is the European-localized version of Kizuna Encounter: there are only four known copies of the game, with the most recently sold copy selling for $12,000 USD.
[edit] Arcade cartridges
Another sub-scene within the Neo Geo collector's market involves the MVS cartridges. Although these were initially designed for arcade use, a strong market has developed around collecting this particular format. The MVS market can be divided into two distinct groups: those who are looking for cheaper alternatives to the expensive rare home carts, and those who are interested in paying premium prices for complete arcade kits.
For those interested primarily in lower prices on rare home games, MVS carts, particularly loose carts or incomplete kits, can offer a cost effective alternative. Most MVS cartridges go for substantially less money than their home counterparts. This lower price can be associated with their lack of decoration as most were for inside arcade cabinets and lack cartridge artwork or box artwork, the high set-up cost of purchasing the MVS system, and the prevalence of bootleg cartridges. Many of the most common MVS games go for prices between $10-$150.
However, in recent years a growing market has emerged for complete MVS arcade kits. These consist of all the materials that would be initially sent to an arcade operator, including the brown cardboard shipping box (with label), the insert materials to decorate the marqee and arcade cabinet (including separate move lists), warning information, dipswitch settings, in some cases even posters and/or any packing materials. Because many of the items in an MVS kit were designed to be discarded by arcade operators, finding complete arcade kits can be difficult and thus the prices for some complete MVS kits can be quite high.
Because of the conflicting requirements and desires of the two MVS sub-groups, they rarely compete with each other for games.
Counterfeit or bootleg software is regarded in the collectors community as having zero value or very low value. Such software has a reputation for audio and video flaws, and is generally disparaged by fans of the Neo Geo systems. This software is identifiable by visual inspection of the game PCBs, or by comparison of ROM CRC values using a specially designed BIOS.
[edit] Other Neo Geo systems
Several home console systems were created based on the same hardware as the arcade games, as well as two handheld systems under the name Neo Geo Pocket.
- Hyper Neo-Geo 64 (New Hardware, Arcade only)
- Neo Geo CD
- Neo Geo CDZ
- Neo Geo Pocket
- Neo Geo Pocket Color
[edit] The Graphical Development of Neo Geo
The Neo Geo was particularly notable for its ability to bring arcade-quality graphics directly into the home. As time went on, programmers were able to further tune the games to produce higher quality graphics than previous years and eventually beyond what was initially thought possible for the system.
One of the pack-in games with the original Japanese release was NAM-1975, a side-scrolling shooting game that featured multi-layer scrolling backgrounds (Fig. 1). However, the initial Neo Geo games were, graphically speaking, a little less polished than SNK's non-Neo Geo games. By 1991, games like King of the Monsters demonstrated the Neo Geo's ability to produce graphic detail that matched or surpassed contemporary arcade games from the period (Fig. 2).
In 1992, SNK's Art of Fighting marked the beginning of a series of 2-D fighting game innovations. This landmark game brought visual graphic damage to the characters faces when hit, as well as large character sprites in combination with zoom effects to intensify the action (Fig. 3). This zoom feature was also used in the following year's Samurai Shodown, whose even more elaborate graphics and gameplay won it Electronic Gaming Monthly's award as the 1993 Game of the Year and launched a successful franchise. The Neo Geo also became known for its shooters, with the first successful title coming with 1994's Aero Fighters 2. The following year's Pulstar managed to up the ante on both graphics and gameplay.
By the mid-1990s, SNK was trying to move onto a new platform, notably the Hyper-64. When the new 3-D system failed to take off, however, SNK found itself still developing games for its old 2-D engine. This led programmers to come up with ways to increase the limits of what was initially thought possible for the system.
Six years after the Neo Geo's initial launch, Nazca surprised the video game industry with Metal Slug: an update of the Contra series run and gun shoot 'em up that featured cartoonish, hyper-active graphics and gameplay that also launched a very successful franchise (Fig. 4). Since the Neo Geo was unable to produce the 3-D games that began dominating arcades in the 1990s, SNK focused on mastering the realm of 2-D. With the launch of The Last Blade in 1997, SNK programmers demonstrated that the Neo Geo was still capable of producing artistically rendered graphics to match the gameplay(Fig. 5).
While the system became primarily known for its fighting games in the late-1990s, notably the King of Fighters series, 1998's Blazing Star updated the previous Pulstar with more detail. This trend of adding more detail to 2-D environments reached a plateau with 1999's Garou: Mark of the Wolves (Fig. 6), an update of the Fatal Fury series, as well as 2000's Metal Slug 3, which was the most highly rated chapter in the six-part series on the Neo Geo. By the final Neo Geo-based edition of the longstanding King of Fighters series, The King of Fighters 2003, had stagnated to the level that was initially achieved at the turn of the century. In its 14 year lifespan of official support, the programmers for the Neo Geo appeared to bleed out all that the system's hardware was capable of.
[edit] Screenshots
 NAM-1975 (SNK) |
 Art of Fighting (SNK) |
 Metal Slug (Nazca) |
 The Last Blade (SNK) |
 Garou: Mark of the Wolves (SNK) |
[edit] References
- NeoGeo Master List: a comprehensive listing of all Neo Geo games, int'l release dates, formats, meg sizes and other information (English)
- Statistics on the releases and sizes of Neo-Geo games (French)
- A wealth of information on the various Neo Geo consoles
[edit] Notes
[edit] See also
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| First generation |
| Magnavox Odyssey • PONG |
| Early second generation |
| Atari 2600 • Interton VC 4000 • Odyssey² • Intellivision |
| Later second generation |
| Atari 5200 • ColecoVision • Emerson Arcadia 2001 • Vectrex |
| Third generation |
| NES • Master System • Atari 7800 |
| Fourth generation |
| TurboGrafx-16 • Mega Drive • Neo Geo • SNES |
| Fifth generation |
| 3DO • Amiga CD32 • Jaguar • Saturn • PlayStation • Nintendo 64 |
| Sixth generation |
| Dreamcast • PlayStation 2 • GameCube • Xbox |
| Seventh generation |
| Xbox 360 • PlayStation 3 • Wii |
- List of Neo-Geo games
- SNK Playmore, formerly just SNK, original creators of the Neo-Geo, were bought by Playmore corporation and are now known as SNK Playmore.
- NeoRageX Neo-Geo emulator
- GnGeo, a Neo-Geo emulator for Unix
[edit] External links
[edit] Official
- SNK Playmore USA official web site: Through no longer producing Neo-Geo consoles or games, still produces newer versions of Neo-Geo games for current consoles and handhelds.
[edit] Stores
- Arcade Shock: source of SNK and Capcom games, with an emphasis on arcade format
- Universe Bios: Unofficial homebrew alternative bios for Neo Geo systems that allows you to unlock arcade and home options on any system, as well as cheats and a jukebox player.
- Neobitz: source for Neo-Geo system modifications, offering Component Video, SVideo, Digital Audio, etc.
- Neo Geo Shop carrying games, consoles, and accessories
- Southtown Homebrew: printer of custom shock box inserts
- Neotropolis: a website devoted to the modification/consolization of SNK's Neo Geo AES & MVS platforms
[edit] Fan sites
- Neo-Geo.com, a popular site with information on Neo-Geo collecting.
- SNK-Capcom: Large fan site with forum, chat, reviews, etc
- HardMVS: MVS-related site with pics, reviews, and tech diys
- Daddelkingz: German NeoGeo community & NeoGeo review archive
- Planet-SNK: All about SNK and NeoGeo
- NeoGeoForLife: UK-based Neo-Geo and SNK fan site, with a large database of SNK reviews and other material
- Neo-Alec's Unofficial Neo Geo Page: Older fan site that used to be one of the largest, and housed one of the biggest online Neo Geo communities on its message boards for a time before Neo-Geo.com.
- System16.com: NeoGeo MVS Hardware information at System 16 - The Arcade Museum.
- Defunct Games :Neo*Geo Review Archive
- HwB - connector pinouts
