Neo Geo
| Neo Geo | ||||
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| Manufacturer | SNK | |||
| Type | Game console / arcade system | |||
| generation | 4th generation of consoles | |||
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| Main processor | Motorola 68000 | |||
| Storage media | Modules | |||
| Units sold | 1 million | |||
| Most successful game | Samurai Shodown | |||
Neo Geo is a stationary game console and arcade system developed by the SNK company .
MVS and Neo Geo
With the advent of game consoles and home computers in the late 1980s, the popularity of arcades declined sharply. Since a new arcade machine had been developed and sold for every new arcade game by then , SNK came up with the idea of developing the Neo Geo MVS (Multi Video System). With this device, the arcade operator did not have to replace all of the hardware, only the gaming module . In addition, depending on the model, the MVS could be equipped with up to six modules at the same time, from which one could choose.
A home version, the Neo Geo AES (Advanced Entertainment System), of the device has also been developed. Initially, this device was only supposed to be rented out through video stores, but many Japanese bought the system. The Neo Geo was also noticed in the USA and Europe because of its outstanding technical performance at the time. However, since the system was not intended for sale to home users, it was comparatively expensive: the AES cost 600 USD in the US and the equivalent of around 550 euros in Germany. A game cost around $ 200 to $ 300. This was due to the large storage capacity of the modules (up to 716 MBit). A module consists of two boards on top of each other.
The Neo Geo was the first console with a memory card slot that made it possible to save scores and later even reload them in the arcade.
SNK developed games that set new standards in terms of graphics, sound and music. Since the games are all arcade games, they are mostly action-heavy. With the release of Capcom's Street Fighter II in 1991, beat 'em ups became one of the most important arcade genres. SNK's Fatal Fury, which was also released in 1991, had peculiarities such as multiple levels and a cooperative 2-player mode, but was still often stamped as a Street Fighter 2 copy. Other fighting games include Art of Fighting , Samurai Shodown, and The King of Fighters , all of which have been kept alive with numerous sequels. The Neo Geo became famous as the ultimate fighting game platform.
Contrary to popular belief, the term AES (Advanced Entertainment System) does not only refer to the home version of the Neo Geo. At that time, SNK itself also equipped Neo-Geo machine housings for the arcades with the term “Advanced Entertainment System” and never used the term AES exclusively to name home module games, but always referred to them as home cards.
Although it is known that the letters AES can also be found on CD consoles and occasionally also on arcade hardware, this abbreviation has established itself for the home console.
hardware
The hardware of the Neo Geo in detail:
- CPU : Motorola 68000 (12 MHz, 16-bit)
- Sound CPU: Zilog Z80 A (4 MHz)
- Resolution: 304 × 224 (320 × 240)
- Color palette: 65,536
- Max. Simultaneous colors: 4096
- Max. Number of sprites at the same time: 380
- Min. Sprite size: 1 × 2
- Max. Sprite size: 16 × 512
- Sound: Stereo, 15 channels (7 digital, 4 FM, 3 PSG, 1 sound channel)
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RAM :
- 68000: 64 kB
- Video: 68 kB
- Z80 RAM: 2 kB
About the resolution: From a technical point of view, the hardware has the ability to display a resolution of 320 × 240. As a result of a design error in the graphics hardware, when the graphics are scrolled horizontally, image interference occurs on the left and right edges of the screen, which is why an 8 pixel wide border had to be inserted at these points to cover these errors. In order to maintain the ratio 4: 3, an 8 pixel wide border was also added at the top and bottom of the screen.
The advantage and at the same time the reason why the Neo Geo has been able to hold its own among game consoles and machines for so long is the generously dimensioned module memory. SNK initially specified the module size as 330 Mbit, in fact the console can handle modules up to 716 Mbit (eight memory banks with 64 Mbit each and one memory bank with 4 Mbit for graphics, eight banks with 8 Mbit each for the program, 128 Mbit for the sound). Later games like King of Fighters 2000 also took advantage of this. Many effects, which the CPU cannot calculate in real time, are compensated for by ready-made graphic animations. This particularly emphasizes the painterly effect of many games and lets them keep up qualitatively with products for technically more powerful consoles, at least as far as 2D graphics are concerned.
Neo Geo CD and Neo Geo CDZ
Because of the very expensive games, SNK decided to bring the Neo Geo CD to the market in 1994, which would allow less well-heeled gamers to enjoy the games. In terms of technology, the Neo Geo CD was identical to the module version, but it was equipped with a single-speed CD drive , which meant that the games could be sold much more cheaply and thus opened up to a larger group of customers. The first version of the Neo Geo CD was a front loader version, of which only 25,000 copies were produced, the second version was finally a top loader version, which was much cheaper to produce.
However, the Neo Geo CD did not catch on because the loading times were extremely long and the device only had an internal memory of 7 MB. That wasn't enough to keep the much larger games in memory, which meant that they had to be reloaded constantly. Therefore, in 1996, SNK decided to bring out the Neo Geo CDZ which, in addition to a slight design change, was also equipped with a larger drive cache, but it was only sold in small numbers and exclusively in Japan . Due to the ever-growing modules, the Neo Geo CD could no longer keep up with the internal memory, and finally the newer games were no longer implemented for the Neo Geo CD, because they had to be slimmed down too much to still run and play properly.
Neo Geo Pocket / Neo Geo Pocket Color
The Neo Geo Pocket is a handheld console from SNK. It was released in Japan in 1998, production was discontinued in 1999 and the Neo Geo Pocket Color was announced because the Neo Geo Pocket with black and white screen had sold worse than expected. Despite its short lifetime, some more elaborate games appeared for the system, including Samurai Shodown and King of Fighters R-1 . With a few exceptions, the Neo Geo Pocket Color is backwards compatible with the game modules for the Neo Geo Pocket.
In order not to let the software market for the Neo Geo Pocket dry up with the end of production, it was decided to implement a black and white mode in many of the games for the Neo Geo Pocket Color.
Hyper Neo Geo 64
In 1997, SNK tried to establish a new, modern slot machine with the Hyper Neo Geo 64 . The attempt failed, because graphically the ambitious hardware could not compete with established boards such as the Sega Model 3 board. Home conversions on Playstation and Saturn could not convince due to the lower resolution and frame rate fluctuations, the 2D capabilities that were outstanding at the time could only be guessed from a few background graphics.
Together with the commercially flopped handheld Neo Geo Pocket, the HNG64 arcade board sealed SNK's decline. King of Fighters 2002 was the last game from SNK , which was later bought by Playmore, which was now used for further developments (e.g. Metal Slug 6, Samurai Showdown 6, King of Fighters successor) on the slightly better Atomiswave based on the Dreamcast -Arcade platform sets.
Neo Geo Station
Since the end of 2010, selected Neo Geo games can be downloaded via the Neo Geo Station service for PlayStation 3 and PSP . Payment is made through the PlayStation Network . The games can be played online together or against each other. In addition to other special features, the game status can be saved at any time.
Neo Geo X Gold
Together with the publishers Blaze (Europe) and Tommo (USA), SNK launched the Neo Geo X Gold worldwide in December 2012. In addition to the Neo Geo X station, the scope of delivery included the Neo Geo X handheld and a Neo Geo X joystick. The Neo Geo X Station served as a charging station for the handheld and made it possible to connect it to a television using an HDMI or AV cable. In addition, the station offered connections for two joysticks, which were based on the original AES joystick.
The resolution of the handheld corresponded to that of the Playstation Portable with 480 × 272 pixels . Games on memory cards (game cards) could be used via an expansion slot. 20 classic Neo-Geo titles were already preinstalled on the device, another 15 games (published in packs of three or as a collection of all 15 games in NeoGeo X Mega Pack Volume 1 ) appeared at a later date. The scope of delivery of the limited edition published in December 2012 also included the game Ninja Masters on a game card. This game could no longer be started after the update to firmware version 5.0a (necessary to play Mega Pack 1).
List of pre-installed games:
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In the US, the suggested retail price was $ 199.99 .
Neo Geo Mini
In 2018, SNK released the Neo Geo Mini. The 15 cm high device is based on the design of a slot machine and has a built-in screen (3.5 inches / approx. 8.9 cm), which was incorporated into a small housing reminiscent of an arcade machine. It has a built-in joystick and buttons. It can be connected to a television via a mini HDMI output. The Neo Geo Mini appeared in different versions that differ in terms of design, but also in terms of the choice of games. 40 games are pre-installed on the device. The Samurai Shodown Edition is a revised and improved version. The Neo Geo Mini gamepads are based on those of the Neo Geo CD.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ The top-selling Neo Geo games. In: vgchartz.com. Retrieved December 8, 2019 .
- ↑ NEOGEO X GOLD ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM Announced for Worldwide Distribution . In: [1] . August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ↑ Benjamin Herbst: Retro Consoles 2019 - SNES Mini, PS Classic, Mega Drive HD and more in comparison. In: GamePro . July 25, 2019, accessed September 8, 2019 .
- ↑ Matthias Oertel: Test: Neo Geo Mini - Samurai Shodown Edition. In: 4Players . August 28, 2019, accessed September 8, 2019 .
- ↑ Chris Kohler: Neo Geo Mini Is Cute, But An Imperfect Nostalgia Trip. In: Kotaku . September 13, 2018, accessed September 8, 2019 .