Neo geo (new worlds) is a video game console and a Arcade system, which were developed by the company SNK.

MVS and Neo geo

With the arising of play consoles and home computers into the late 1980er years decreased/went back the popularity of the play halls strongly. Since up to then for each new Arcade play also a new Arcade automat was developed and sold, SNK came on the idea the Neo geo MVS (Multi video system) to develop. With this equipment the play hall operator had to exchange not the entire hardware, but only the play module. In addition the MVS could be equipped depending upon model with up to six modules at the same time, under which one could select.

Since many people played rather at home than in the play hall, one in addition a home version of the equipment developed, the Neo geo AES (Advanced Entertainment system). First this equipment should be lent actually only over video bars, but many Japanese bought the system. In addition, in the USA and Europe one became attentive to the Neo geo due to its technical achievement protruding at that time. Since the system was not meant of home users for the sales, it was however comparatively expensive: the AES cost about 550 euro in the USA 600 dollar and converted into Germany. A play cost dollar around the 200 to 300. This was because of the large storage capacity of the modules (to 716 MBit).

The Neo geo was the first console with a MEMORY Card Slot to store and load even in the play hall again it later permitted

SNK had the advantage that they had very capable developers in the own house, that developed plays, which set new yardsticks in things diagram, sound and music. Since the plays are all Arcade plays, they are usually actionlastig. With the appearance of Capcoms Street Fighter 2 1991 became Beat 'em ups one of the most important Arcade category. SNKs Fury that likewise 1991 appeared fatal, pointed peculiarities like several levels, and a cooperative 2-Spieler mode up, however nevertheless often as Street Fighter 2 copy one stamped. Finally Capcoms became generally accepted kind of the Beat 'em ups. Further flogging plays are kind OF Fighting, Samurai Shodown and King OF Fighters, which was alive held all with numerous continuations. The Neo geo became famous as optimal flogging play platform.

The term AES (Advanced Entertainment system) does not only stand against the extensive opinion for the home version of the NeoGeo. SNK equipped at that time also NeoGeo automat housing for the play halls with the term Advanced Entertainment system and never used the term AES exclusively for calling of home module plays, but these always as Homecards designates.

Although admits is the fact that the letters AES also on the CD consoles and isolated also on the Arcade hardware is to be found has itself this contraction for the home console interspersed.

Hardware

The hardware of the Neo geo in the detail:

• CCU: Motorola 68000 (12 MHz, 16-Bit)
• Sound CCU: Zilog Z80A (4 MHz)
• Dissolution: 304x224 (320x240)
• Farbpalette: 65.536
• Max. colors at the same time: 4096
• Max. number of Sprites at the same time: 380
• Min. Sprite size:
• Max. Sprite size:
• Sound: Stereo, 15 channels (7 digital, 4 FM, 3 PSG, 1 noise channel)
• RAM:
  • 68000:64 KB
  • Video: 68 KB
  • Z80 RAM: 2 KB

To the dissolution: The hardware saw the ability a dissolution of 320x240 technical representing. By a Design error of the diagram hardware it comes with the horizontal the scrollen diagram to image interferences at the left and right edge of screen why in these places 8 pixels a broad edge to the cover of these errors to be inserted had. Around the relationship 3:4 to receive was likewise inserted to above and lower edge of screen 8 pixels a broad edge.

The advantage and also the reason, why the Neo geo could hold itself so long under the play consoles and automats, the generously dimensioned module memory is simultaneous. SNK specified the module size first with 330 MBit, actually can the console with modules large up to 716 MBit deal (8 memory banks with in each case 64 MBit as well as a memory bank with 4 MBit for diagram, 8 banks with in each case 8 MBit for the program, 128 MBit for the sound). Later plays such as King OF Fighters 2000 also used this. Many effects, which the CCU cannot compute in real time, are compensated by prefabricated diagram animations. This particularly emphasizes the pictorial effect of many plays and lets it qualitatively with products for technically more efficient consoles keep up, at least, which concerns 2D-Grafik.

Neo geo CD and Neo geo CDZ

Due to the very expensive plays SNK decided to bring with the Neo geo to CD in the year 1994 a console on the market, it also the fewer well betuchten players permitted into the benefit of the plays to come. From the technology the Neo geo CD was identical to the module version, however it was equipped with a single speed CD drive assembly, whereby one could sell the plays substantially more favorably and open thus a larger clientele. The first version of the Neo geo CD was a front load he version, by which however only 25,000 copies were manufactured, the second version was finally a Top Loader variant, which was substantially more favorable from production.

The Neo geo CD did not become generally accepted however, since the load times were enormously long and the equipment only an internal memory of 7 MT had. That was not enough to hold out around the substantially larger plays in the memory, whereby had to be constantly reloaded. Therefore SNK decided to bring 1996 the Neo geo out CDZ apart from an easy Design change also with a larger drive assembly the Cache was equipped, it however only in small numbers of items and exclusively in Japan was sold. Due to that ever more largely becoming modules did not come along the Neo geo CD of the internal memory, whereby finally the newer plays no more were not converted for the Neo geo CD, there them too much to be abgespeckt had over still reasonably executable and playable to be.

Neo geo pocket/Neo geo pocket Color

The Neo geo pocket is a Handheld console of SNK. Appeared 1998 in Japan, 1999 production was adjusted and the Neo geo pocket Color announced, since the Neo geo pocket with monochrome screen had more badly sold itself than expected. Despite its short lifetime some plays for the system appeared, under it Samurai Shodown and King OF Fighters g 1. Except for some exceptions the Neo geo pocket Color is downward compatible to the play modules for the Neo geo pocket. In order not to let the software market for the Neo geo pocket drain with attitude of production, one decided to the implementation of a black-and-white mode in many of the plays for the Neo geo pocket Color.

Hyper Neo geo 64

1997 tried SNK with the hyper Neo geo 64 a new to establish modern play automats. The attempt failed, because graphically the ambitionierte hardware could not to be measured with established plates as the Sega Model 3-Board. Home conversions on Playstation and Saturn could not convince due to the lower dissolution and Framerate fluctuations, which know fantastischen at the most by some background diagrams are suspected.

Together with the commercially gefloppten Neo geo pocket Handheld sealed the HNG64 Arcade board SNKs fall. King OF Fighters 2002 became the last play of SNK, which by Playmore was bought up later now, which improved for advancements (e.g. Metal Slug 6, Samurai Showdown 6, King OF Fighters successor) on the something, on the Dreamcast which is based Atomiswave Arcade platform sets.

Related links

• Daddelkingz "“German NeoGeo Community/NeoGeo Review of archives"”
• Neo-Geo.com "“The Net's Largest Neo geo cousin"”, A popular site with information on Neo geo collecting.
• Planet SNK "“universe about NeoGeo and SNK Playmore!"”
• SNK Playmore the USA official web site Through NO more longer producing Neo geo of consoles or games, quietly produces more newer version OF Neo geo of games for current consoles and Handheld.

See also

All Neo geo plays, SNK would list

Articles in category "Neo geo"

We found here 6 articles.

Related Websites

We found here 5 related websites.

• Kazuya's NeoGeo Reviews And FAQs Site
  The best resource for Neo Geo Reviews, FAQ's and much more!


• Neo-Geo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  Compared to the other consoles of the time, the NeoGeo AES was incredibly ... The last game by SNK for the Neo-Geo system, Samurai Spirits Zero Special, ...


• Neo-Geo.com
  Active forums, reviews, screenshots, price guides, & neo store. All dedicated to SNK


• Rage Homepage
  Home of NeoRage a fast Neo Geo emulator, also of the discontinued Rage emulator.


• SNK PLAYMORE USA OFFICIAL WEBSITE
  Copyright 2004-2005 SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION All Rights Reserved. "SNK" and "NEOGEO" are registered trademarks of SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION ...