Neo*Geo FAQ Created and Edited by Ralph A. Barbagallo III rbarbaga@cs.uml.edu (c) 1993,1994,1995 Ralph A. Barbagallo III Disclaimer: HEY! This list is in no way endorsed or connected with SNK Home Entertainment. -What is the NEO GEO? The NEO GEO is the home version of SNK's arcade MVS (Multi-Video System). The MVS allows the arcade operator to house many different video games in one cabinet. The NEO GEO allows home play of these games via cartridges or CDROMs (with the new NEO GEO CD). In the arcade, the MVS is found in several different setups. The first, is the one game console. Essentially an MVS unit with a single game in the cabinet. There is also the 2 game/2 console setup which gives 2 independent screens for 2 player multi-link games (i.e. Riding Hero etc.). The most common is the 4 game setup, but there is also a 6 game model as well. -What are the capabilities of the NEO GEO? The NEO GEO is an outstanding home system. Of course, it's extremely expensive but here's what you get as far as hardware capabilities: Microprocessors: 12.5MHz 68000, Z80 Resolution: 320x224 Palette: 65,536 Maximum Colors On-Screen: 4,096 Maximum Sprites On-Screen: 380 Voices of Sound: 7-Digital, 8-FM (one source says it has 22 voices, 7 digital??) The NEO GEO CD has these same capabilities with 56 megabits of RAM a single-speed, 250ms CDROM drive, and internal backup RAM. -Is the NEO GEO MVS arcade kit JAMMA? Yes, the NEO GEO MVS arcade board is JAMMA, however it does use an extra wire for the 4 buttons and different board setups are used for the different models (1,2,4,6 game etc.). -What hardware is available for the NEO GEO? Here's just a sampling of some of the accessories available for the NEO GEO: NEO GEO Joystick: Pretty self-explanatory. This 8 way, contoured, rather large stick is the only input device I know of for the NEO GEO. There may be other joysticks that do work for the NEO GEO (Apollo?), but I am not aware of them. This joystick has the standard 4 buttons and two function buttons on the top of the unit. Its large size and heavy base give it that 'arcade feel'. NEO GEO Memory Card: This is the best piece of hardware available for the NEO GEO. This tiny device allows 19-27 game positions to be saved on a single card. Positions can be saved so that a game can be restarted from a saved level etc. Therefore, earlier levels don't have to be repeated etc. This card also works with the arcade unit so your saved games can be resumed in the arcades as well. NEO GEO RGB Cable: Available from several sources, this cable allows the NEO GEO system to be used with an RGB monitor such as the Commodore 1084S etc. I'm not sure on the manufacturer but I've seen it in several catalogs for around $30 or so. ARCADE STICK: This third party product from Game Innovation is a sturdy-looking joystick featuring multicolored buttons in a 6 button layout with two start/select buttons over the joystick. It also works on the Genesis, DUO, and SNES. NEO GEO SUPER PRO STICK: A critically acclaimed arcade quality joystick with slow motion and turbo firing. Also available as a 2 player unit. Configurable to work on other home systems as well. Available from MAS Systems. ULTRA STICK: Another third party product from Game Innovation, this multi-system stick (including NEO GEO) is a cord-less unit for tangle-free play. It looks similar in design to the original NEO GEO stick, but with Rapid Fire etc. ULTRA PAD: Finally! A wireless control pad for the NEO GEO. This is another multi-system controller from Game Innovation that does work on the NEO GEO. It has a 6 button layout with options for rapid-fire etc. NEO CD CONTROL PAD: This is the pad packaged with the Japanese NEO CD, but it does work with cart systems. Easily among the best controllers I've ever used. NEO CD JOYSTICK: Along with the release of the NEO CD in Japan, so did a new set of smaller joysticks. These have a smaller footprint than the original NEO GEO sticks and have a sleeker, rounder look to them. Also available are Nylon carry bags and padded system organizers that allow easy transport for the home unit. Call SNK for more info. (see the end of the FAQ for SNK's number) The cable for the Multi-Link feature is simply a cable with mini phono plugs on each end. They can be found at Radio Shack and other similar electronics outlets. -What games are available for the NEO GEO? In the U.S., all games that you find in the NEO GEO MVS unit either are available for the NEO GEO home unit, or will be shortly. Most games are produced for the MVS first and then produced in cartridge format for the home system a short time later. With the introduction of the NEO GEO CD, SNK has said that the CD versions will most likely come out before the cartridge release. The arcade versions usually cost a lot more than the home versions initially, but then drastically drop in price after the game gets a bit older. *NOTE: Some of these games are Japanese releases, but you still can get them at an importer. 'Nam-1975 (46 Mbits) :Action/Shooter 2020 Super Baseball (46 Mbits) :Sports (baseball) 3 Count Bout (106 Mbits) :Sports (wrestling) Aero Fighters 2 (98 Mbits) :Shooter Agressors of Dark Kombat (?? Mbits) :Fighting Alpha Mission II (55 Mbits) :Shooter Andro Dunos (34 Mbits) :Shooter Art of Fighting (102 Mbits) :Fighting Art of Fighting 2 (?? Mbits) :Fighting Baseball Stars Professional (50 Mbits) :Sports (baseball) Blue's Journey (47 Mbits) :Platform Burning Fight (54 Mbits) :Fighting Crossed Swords (50 Mbits) :Action/Adventure Cyber-Lip (50 Mbits) :Action/Adventure Double Dragon (?? Mbits) :Fighting Dunk Stars (?? Mbits) :Sports (basketball) Fatal Fury (55 Mbits) :Fighting Fatal Fury II (106 Mbits) :Fighting Fatal Fury III (?? Mbits) :Fighting Fatal Fury Special (?? Mbits) :Fighting Fighter's History Dynamite: Karnov's Revenge (?) :Fighting Football Frenzy (48 Mbits) :Sports (football) Galaxy Fight (?? Mbits) :Fighting Ghost Pilots (55 Mbits) :Shooter Joy Joy Kid (45 Mbits) :Platform/Strategy King of Fighters '94 (198 Mbits) :Fighting King of Fighters '95 (?? Mbits) :Fighting King of the Monsters (55 Mbits) :Action/Fighting King of the Monsters II (74 Mbits) :Action/Fighting Last Resort (45 Mbits) :Shooter League Bowling (26Mbits) :Sports(bowling) Magician Lord (46 Mbits) :Adventure Mah Jong (50 Mbits) :Puzzle/Strategy Miracle Adventure (?? Mbits) :Platform Mutation Nation (54 Mbits) :Fighting New Mah Jong (55 Mbits) :Puzzle/Strategy Ninja Combat (46 Mbits) :Action/Fighting Ninja Commandos (54 Mbits) :Action/Shooter Puzzled (46 Mbits) :Puzzle Quiz NEO & GEO (?? Mbits) :Quiz/Trivia Raguy (45 Mbits) :??? Riding Hero (42 Mbits) :Driving Robo-Army (46 Mbits) :Action Samurai Showdown (118 Mbits) :Fighting Samurai Shodown II (198 Mbits) :Fighting Sengoku (55 Mbits) :Action/Fighting Sengoku II (107 Mbits) :Action/Fighting Shin Samurai Spirits (?? Mbits) CDROM ONLY :Fighting Soccer Brawl (46 Mbits) :Sports (soccer) Spin Masters (?? Mbits) :Action/Platform Super 8 Man (46 Mbits) :Action/Platform Super Side Kick (54 Mbits) :Sports (soccer) Super Side Kick 2 (?? Mbits) :Sports (soccer) The Success of Legend Joe (46 Mbits) :Sports (boxing) The Super Spy (55 Mbits) :Action/Adventure Thrash Rally (46 Mbits) :Driving Top Hunter (?? Mbits) :Platform Top Players Golf (62Mbits) :Sports(golf) Viewpoint (74 Mbits) :Shooter Wind Jammers (?? Mbits) :Sports (frisbee) World Heroes (82 Mbits) :Fighting World Heroes 2 (146 Mbits) :Fighting World Heroes 2 Jet (?? Mbits) :Fighting Zed Blade (?? Mbits) :Shooter *NOTE -some are arcade releases only at the moment...and I concentrate on the cartridge titles, so the CD stuff isn't necessarily up to date* Coming Soon: Art of Fighting 3 :Fighting Crossed Swords 2 (CD only) :Action/Adventure Crystalis (around 200 Mbits) :Adventure Fight Fever :Fighting Gururin :Puzzle Magician Lord 2 :Action/Adventure Metal Slug :Shooter NBA Basketball :Sports(Basketball) Master Shougi :??? Ninja Gaiden :Action (?) Panic Bomber :Action Pulstar (305 Mbits ?) :Shooter Quiz King of Fighters :Quiz/Trivia Reactor :Platform Samurai Shodown RPG (CD only) :RPG Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood (298 Mb) :Fighting Skates Winner :??? Sonic Wings 3 (CD) :Shooter Super Sidekick 3 :Sports (soccer) Super Volleyball II :Sports (volleyball) Viewpoint 2 :Shooter Voltage Fighter Gowkaizer :Fighting -Are Japanese NEO GEO carts compatible with the U.S. system? Yes. They can be used without any modification. However some cartridges from countries using the PAL television standard will run, but the screen may appear a bit jumbled without a PAL or multi-standard TV. -Is it possible to play Samurai Shodown in a USA NEO GEO with red blood? Yes. Most NEO GEO games are programmed in 3 different languages: English, Japanese, and Spanish. The cartridge checks which system it is running on, and displays the text accordingly. However, using this method, SNK decided to censor the violence in Samurai Shodown by changing the color of the blood and eliminating the violent finishing moves. This can be averted. Dragon Video or MAS Systems will modify any NEO GEO with a toggle switch to play games as they would in a foreign system. This way, when Japanese mode is toggled on, the system will play Samurai Shodown as it were running in a Japanese system; with the blood. Newer games such as King of Fighters '94 and Samurai Shodown II are still censored, but contain codes which will restore the game to its original state. -Is it possible to play arcade MVS cartridges in home NEO GEO systems. Yes. While the cartridges are physically larger, the arcade MVS games will run on a home system. However, they require modifications to work. Dragon Video and MAS Systems will convert any MVS cartridge. Some of the older MVS games can be had for as low as $30. Check arcade game distributors such as Video Connection for MVS software. -Who are the NEO GEO 3rd party game manufacturers? There are several. Some of the 3rd parties' games are released under SNK's label but there are many independent game companies gearing up for future NEO GEO titles. American Sammy, ADK, Visco, Wave, Data East of Japan, Tradewest, and Sunsoft have signed on. -How do I use the Memory Card? Well, the Memory Card has a few different options. To get the Memory Card menu you must insert a game, then the Memory Card, and press all four buttons on controller 1. Move the joystick to the desired option and hit A to select. Card Format erases all data on the card. This data is permanently removed with this option. Display Data Name will show the level saved and the name of the games for each memory file. Copy Data allows the positions from one card to be transferred to another card. This can be done file by file or all at once. Delete Data allows the files to be scratched one by one. File User's Name allows the owner's name to be stored for identification. End exits the card menu. -What is the Controller Test Menu? This is a somewhat hidden menu that allows the NEO GEO user to see if the joysticks are working properly. To access this menu, insert a game then hold down A, B, C, and D. The Controller Test screen should appear. On the menu, the 0 or 1 shows if the position/button has been activated or not. -Can I get extension cables for the NEO GEO joysticks? Since the NEO GEO joysticks accept the same 15 pin connectors as standard PC game ports, any PC joystick extension cable will work. Apparently there is no need to reconfigure the pin order, they will work without modification. -What about the NEO GEO CDROM? Finally, at the spring 1994 Tokyo Toy Show, SNK held a press conference where they introduced the long-awaited NEO GEO CD. Contained in a new, rather boxy casing, the NEO GEO CDROM contains virtually the same hardware that was in the NEO GEO when it was originally released in 1989 besides the addition of a single speed CDROM drive and 56 megabits of RAM. Also, instead of using the traditional NEO GEO memory cards, game data will be saved in an unspecified amount of internal backup RAM. The NEO GEO CDROM can be had for around $400 on import. The discs go for around $80 or so for new titles. Most discs have rescored background music utilitizing surround sound. The limited edition front-loading systems have now been replaced by a sleeker, cheaper top-loading system. This is the unit that will be released in the US as well. The US release WAS severely delayed, but now SNK is hinting at an Xmas release of the NEO CD with a more-than-likely single-speed drive. -What's the deal with SNK's alleged 64-bit arcade system? There have been rumors floating around that SNK has a 64-bit modular arcade system in the works. Not much is known about this, although it has been said that it has an emphasis on polygon pushing. Some title names that have been floating around include a 3D Art of Fighting 3. -Are there any backup units for the NEO GEO? Yes and no. Yes there are backup units and no, they are no longer in production. The NEO GEO adapter for the Multi Game Hunter (Venus Computer) was canned and the $1300 Multi-Game Doctor has been scrapped too. However, you may still be able to find the $1300 setup somewhere...but is it really worth it? It reportedly takes 4-8 minutes to load up a game on the device. -Is there any way I can find an auto fire stick or other controllers? Game Stuff apparently does modifications to NEO GEO systems which includes auto fire NEO GEO sticks and other enhancements. Call or write to them for more info. The Apollo stick may also work with the NEO GEO, I'm not sure. Also, if you look above there should be a list of several NEW Neo-Geo controllers featuring auto fire, cord less control, etc. -What are the symptoms of having a faulty or PAL NEO GEO? Apparently, a lot of NEO GEOs have been imported from other countries to supply the US market, and a lot of these have faulty RF shielding and more serious problems. SNK will, if under warranty, fix these free of cost. Call them for more information. Some of the problematic games with the PAL systems are Fatal Fury II and Ghost Pilots. However, some users have said that when NTSC cartridges are used in their PAL units, the games are letterboxed (black bands on the top and bottom of the screen to compensate for the lack of vertical resolution) or the extra space is used as an on-screen storage area for 'graphic garbage'. Also, some new games have overscan graphics which actually fill the PAL screen because they go over the NTSC borders. -What about the Multi-Link feature? When the NEO GEO was first introduced, one of the more interesting features SNK seemed to be promoting was the ability to network 2 NEO GEOs together. This feature was never very popular, but it did appear in two cartridges. Both League Bowling and Riding Hero have a small jack on the cartridge where a cable can be connected linking the system to another NEO GEO with the same game inserted. The cable is not included with the games, but it can be found at most any Radio Shack or electronics store. Basically, it's just a small wire with two male mini-headphone plugs on each end. -Is there a NEO GEO mailing list? Yes, there is a NEO GEO mailing list. To subscribe, send the text 'SUBSCRIBE NEOGEO' in email to listproc@dhp.com. In order to post messages to the list, send mail to neogeo@dhp.com. Upon subscription, a message detailing usage of the list will be sent automatically. -Where can I get NEO GEO software and hardware? The NEO GEO is now mostly a mail-order item. In 1991 the NEO GEO could be found almost everywhere. This is no longer the case. A lot of retail chains have dropped the NEO due to low sales. You can find However, the NEO GEO is well supported in the mail order community. Great prices can be found by mail, and they are often way cheaper than the retail outlets that still sell NEO GEO items. Such places include: Dragon Video: (919) 954-0880 (919) 981-0958 FAX MAS Systems: (714) 831-5760 25825 Via Lomas Unit 206 Laguna Hills, CA 92653 DIE HARD: (818)774-2000 18612 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, CA 91356 Tommo: (213)680-8880 (dealers only) Game Stuff: (213)724-5733 2327 S. Garfield Ave Monterey Park, CA 91754 Japan Video Games: (818)291-9282 710 W. Las Tunas San Gabriel, CA 91776 Game Xpress: (818)760-GAME (4263) 11390 Ventura Blvd., Suite 1 North Hollywood, CA 91604 Telesauraus: (313)477-0067 Boston Technology: (617)617-3865 21 Linden St. Suite 125 Wollaston, MA 02146 Game Innovation: (800)-INNOVATE P.O. Box 360 Old Saybrook, CT 06475 Video Connection: (800)-444-6854 1150 Industrial Pl. #110 Dixon, CA 95620 (arcade kits and games only) *This is just a sampling of the multitude of NEO GEO dealers. -How can I contact SNK? SNK Corporation of America SNK Corporation of America 20603 Earl Street Torrance, CA 90503 Phone: (310) 371-7100 FAX : (310) 371-0969 References: Bonnie Lais (orders), Chad "Game Lord" Okada (questions) SNK Corporation SNK Corporation SNK BLDG., 18-12 TOYOTSU-CHO, SUITA-SHI OSAKA, 564, JAPAN Phone: (81)6-339-5577 FAX: (81)6-338-7175 SNK Asia Limited SNK Asia Limited SUITE 1101, TOWER 3, CHINA HONG KONG CITY 33 CANTON ROAD TSIM SHA TSUI, KOWLOON, HONG KONG Phone: (852)730-0420 FAX: (852)375-3203 SNK Europe Limited SNK Europe Limited 11 ALBEMARLE STREET LONDON WIX 3HE ENGLAND Phone: (44)71-629-0472 FAX: (44)71-629-0474 -Are there any 'Web resources for the NEO GEO? Yes, there are a few NEO GEO pages popping up here and there. Try 'http://panther.gsu.edu/~gs01zzf' for starters. In fact, I got a lot of the info for this new update from that page, it's pretty good. -The Game Lord is my hero, how can I contact his highness? Yes, my lad, we all worship Sir Chad Okada..the masterful Game Lord...alas, you can only hope to achieve his excellence... However, he is generous enough to bestow conversation on us unwashed masses. To parlay the illustrious Game Lord with video game banter, call (310)-214-9784... -------- Sources: Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Die Hard Game Fan, Videogames and Computer Entertainment, the SNK "Bigger Badder Better" NEO GEO inserts and mailings, and various contributers. Special thanks to the people that e-mailed me with specific information. E-Mail any changes or additions to rbarbaga@cs.uml.edu
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