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Neo-Geo is the name of a Cartridge -based Arcade and home Video Game system released in 1990 by Japan ese game company SNK . The system was years ahead of other home systems of its time, offering huge, 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) and the '''MVS''' (Multi Video System). HISTORY Initially, the home system was only available for Motorola 68000 Main Processor running at 12 MHz and a 8-bit ZiLOG Z-80A coprocessor running at 4 MHz. The system's main CPU was 50 percent faster than the 68000 processor found in Sega 's Genesis console. The NeoGeo AES also had the benefit of it's specialized audio and video Chipset s. A custom video chipset allowed the system to display a whopping 4,096 Color s 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 CD -quality sound with seven channels reserved specifically for digital sound effects. Surround-Sound was also built into many games for a truly state-of-the-art sound experience. Nonetheless, this type of power carried a large price tag; 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 . s.]] 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 for the Neo-Geo system, Samurai Spirits Zero Special, was released on October 19 , 2004 . 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 span of support from its manufacturer makes it the longest-lived arcade or home system, significantly longer-lived than either the Sega Naomi or the Capcom Play System 2 . TECHNICAL ASPECTS Each joystick controller was a full 2½ inches tall, measured 11 inches long by 8 inches across, 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 EPROM s 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. 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 1 Gigabit . These new cartridges also caused the system to display "GIGA POWER" upon startup, indicating this enhancement. |
Image:Nam-1975png''
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/NAM-1975" class="copylinks">NAM-1975 ''<br> SNK - 1990 |
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Image:Fatal Furypng''
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Fatal_Fury" class="copylinks">Fatal Fury ''<br> SNK - 1991 |
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Image:King Of The Monsters 01png''King Of The Monsters''<br>
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/SNK" class="copylinks">SNK - 1991 |
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Image:Art Of Fightingpng''
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Art_of_Fighting" class="copylinks">Art Of Fighting ''<br> SNK - 1992 |
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Image:Puzzle Bobblepng''
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Puzzle_Bobble" class="copylinks">Puzzle Bobble ''<br> Taito - 1993 |
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Image:Samurai Showdownpng''
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Samurai_Shodown" class="copylinks">Samurai Shodown ''<br> SNK - 1993 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Metal_Slug" class="copylinks">Metal Slug ''<br> Nazca - 1996 |
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Image:The Last Bladepng''
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/The_Last_Blade" class="copylinks">The Last Blade ''<br> SNK - 1997 |
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Image:Shock Troopers Gameplay Screenshotpng''
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Shock_Troopers" class="copylinks">Shock Troopers ''<br>Saurus - 1997 |
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