Neo Geo is a family of video game hardware developed by SNK. On the market from 1990 to 2004, the brand originated with the release of an arcade system, the Neo Geo MVS and its home console counterpart, the Neo Geo AES. The Neo Geo MVS was successful with arcade operators worldwide. Both the MVS and AES were powerful for the time, and the AES allows for fully authentic versions of games released for the MVS. However, the high price for both the AES console and its games prevented it from directly competing with its contemporaries, the

Sega Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Syst ...

Super NES The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in E ...

, and TurboGrafx-16. Years later, SNK released the Neo Geo CD, a more cost-effective console with games released on

compact disc The compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then released in Octo ...

s. The console was met with limited success, due in part to its slow CD-ROM drive. In an attempt to compete with increasingly popular 3D games, SNK released the

Hyper Neo Geo 64 The Hyper Neo Geo 64 is an arcade system created by SNK, and released in September 1997, as the successor of the Neo Geo MVS, within the Neo Geo family. It is the first and only SNK hardware set capable of rendering in 3D, and was meant to ...

arcade system in 1997 as the successor to its aging MVS. The system did not fare well and only a few games were released for it. A planned home console based on the hardware was never released. SNK later extended the brand by releasing two handheld consoles, the Neo Geo Pocket, and later

Neo Geo Pocket Color The is a 16-bit color handheld video game console manufactured by SNK. It is a successor to SNK's monochrome Neo Geo Pocket handheld which debuted in 1998 in Japan, with the Color being fully backward compatible. The Neo Geo Pocket Color w ...

, which briefly competed with Nintendo's

Game Boy The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America later the same year, and in Europe in late 1990. It was designed by the same te ...

. Soon after their release, SNK encountered various legal and financial issues - however, the original Neo Geo MVS and AES continued getting new games under new ownership until officially being discontinued in 2004, ending the brand. Regardless of the failure of later Neo Geo hardware, games for the original MVS and AES have been well received. The system spawned several long-running and critically acclaimed series, mostly 2D fighters, including ''

Fatal Fury ''Fatal Fury'', known as in Japan, is a fighting game series developed by SNK for the Neo Geo system. Games Canon * '' Fatal Fury'' – The first game of the ''Fatal Fury'' series allowed players to select one of three characters, Terry ...

'', ''

Art of Fighting is a fighting video game trilogy that were released for the Neo Geo platform in the early 1990s. It was the second fighting game franchise created by SNK, following the '' Fatal Fury'' series and is set in the same fictional universe as a p ...

'', ''

Samurai Shodown ''Samurai Shodown'', known in Japan as is a fighting game series by SNK. The series began in 1993 and is known for being one of the earliest in the genre with a primary focus on weapon-based combat. Plot The stories in the series take place ...

'', '' The Last Blade'', '' World Heroes'', and ''

The King of Fighters ''The King of Fighters'' (''KOF'') is a series of fighting games by SNK that began with the release of '' The King of Fighters '94'' in 1994. The series was developed originally for SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade hardware. This served as the main ...

'', as well as popular games in other genres such as the '' Metal Slug'', ''

Twinkle Star Sprites is a 1996 in video gaming, 1996 competitive Shoot 'em up#Scrolling shooters, scrolling shooter arcade game originally created by ADK (company), ADK. It was ADK's last production for the Neo Geo (system), Neo Geo platform. The gameplay, which can ...

'' and '' Baseball Stars'' series. In December 2012, SNK Playmore released a handheld console based on the original AES, the Neo Geo X. As of March 1997, the Neo Geo had sold 980,000 units worldwide. The Neo Geo Pocket Color also has been given praise for multiple innovations, and a very substantial library, despite its short life.

Home arcades and consoles

Neo Geo MVS and AES

SNK's first two products using the Neo Geo name are an arcade system called the Neo Geo Multi Video System (MVS) and a companion console called the Advanced Entertainment System (AES), both released in 1990. The MVS offers arcade operators the ability to put up to six different arcade games into a single cabinet, a key economic consideration for operators with limited floorspace. It comes in many different cabinets but basically consists of an add on board that can be linked to a standard JAMMA system. Neo-Geo-AES-Console-Set

The Advanced Entertainment System (AES), originally known just as the ''Neo Geo'', is the first

video game console A video game console is an electronic device that outputs a video signal or image to display a video game that can be played with a game controller. These may be home consoles, which are generally placed in a permanent location connected to ...

in the family. The hardware features comparatively colorful 2D

graphics Graphics () are visual images or designs on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, screen, paper, or stone, to inform, illustrate, or entertain. In contemporary usage, it includes a pictorial representation of data, as in design and manufacture, ...

. The hardware was in part designed by Alpha Denshi (later ADK). Initially, the home system was only available for rent to commercial establishments, such as hotel chains, bars and restaurants, and other venues. When customer response indicated that some gamers were willing to buy a US$650 console, SNK expanded sales and marketing into the home console market. The Neo Geo console was officially launched on 31 January 1990 in

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...

, Japan. The AES is identical to its arcade counterpart, the MVS, so arcade games released for the home market are nearly identical conversions.

Neo Geo CD

The Neo Geo CD, released in 1994, was initially an upgrade from the original AES. This console uses CDs instead of

ROM cartridge A ROM cartridge, usually referred to in context simply as a cartridge, cart, or card, is a replaceable part designed to be connected to a consumer electronics device such as a home computer, video game console or, to a lesser extent, electron ...

s like the AES. The unit's (approximately) 1X CD-ROM drive was slow, making loading times very long with the system loading up to 56 Mbits of data between loads. Neo Geo CD

game A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (su ...

prices were low at US$50, in contrast to

Neo Geo AES The , stylised as NEO•GEO and also written as NEOGEO, is a cartridge-based arcade system board and the fourth generation home video game console released on April 26, 1990 by Japanese game company SNK Corporation. It was the first system in ...

game cartridges which cost as much as US$300. The system could also play Audio CDs. All three versions of the system have no region-lock. The Neo Geo CD was bundled with a

control pad A D-pad (short for directional pad or digital pad; officially referred to by Nintendo as a +Control Pad) is a flat, usually thumb-operated, often digital, four-way directional control with one button on each point, found on nearly all modern vid ...

instead of a joystick like the AES. However, the original AES joystick can be used with all 3 Neo Geo CD models (top loader, front loader and CDZ, an upgraded version of the CD console, that was only released in Japan), instead of the included control pads.

Hyper Neo Geo 64

The Hyper Neo Geo 64 is SNK's second and final

arcade system board An arcade video game takes player input from its controls, processes it through electrical or computerized components, and displays output to an electronic monitor or similar display. Most arcade video games are coin-operated, housed in an arc ...

in the Neo Geo family, released in 1997. The Hyper Neo Geo 64 was conceived as SNK's 3D debut into the fifth generation video game consoles. It provided the hardware basis for a home system that would replace their aging Neo Geo AES—one that SNK hoped would be capable of competing with fifth generation video game consoles. In 1999, the Hyper Neo Geo 64 was discontinued, with only seven games released for it in two years.

Future systems

In April 2019, SNK announced at a conference in Seoul that they plan to release a Neo Geo 2 console and later a Neo Geo 3. They plan for the Neo Geo 2 to be a semi open platform console, where they will be built in games, as well as additional games that can be purchased separately. These are planned to be spiritual successors to the original Neo Geo arcade and home systems.

Handheld and other consoles

The Neo Geo Pocket was SNK's first handheld console in the Neo Geo family. Featuring a

monochrome A monochrome or monochromatic image, object or palette is composed of one color (or values of one color). Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale (typically digital) or black-and-white (typically analog). In physics, monochr ...

display, it was originally released in late

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...

exclusively within the Japan and Hong Kong market. Lower than expected sales resulted in its discontinuation in 1999, whereupon it was immediately succeeded by the Neo Geo Pocket Color, which had a color screen. This time it was also released in the North American and European markets. About two million units were sold worldwide. The system was discontinued in 2000 in Europe and North America but continued to sell in Japan until 2001. In December 2012, Tommo released a new Neo Geo handheld in North America and Europe, licensed by SNK Playmore. It is an open-source-based handheld like the Dingoo, but closed to emulate Neo Geo games, with 20 built-in games, called the Neo Geo X. Effectively October 2, 2013, in order to protect its intellectual property such as 'NEOGEO' and 'SNK', SNK Playmore decided to terminate the license given to Tommo and ordered to immediately cease sales of the Neo Geo X Arcade Stick. SNK added that "decisive measures will be taken against all unapproved NEOGEO X products not subject to the License Agreement."

Neo Geo Mini

On June 9, 2018, SNK announced the Neo Geo Mini (officially NEOGEO mini), a miniature sized semi-portable arcade cabinet (loosely resembling the appearance of a Japanese Neo Geo MVS) which features built-in 40 SNK titles, and was released on July 24, 2018 in Japan to celebrate SNK's 40th anniversary. The company announced; "This year, SNK celebrates 40th ICanniversary," the company said in a tweet. "It is with gratitude towards the fans who have supported SNK's titles, including ''The King of Fighters'', ''Fatal Fury'', ''Samurai Shodown'' and ''Metal Slug'', that we introduce a new game machine that compiles the popular titles of Neo Geo! Please look forward to it The Future Is Now!" The games on the system are the AES home console versions with limited continues, however, the Neo Geo Mini features the save/load state system which allows players to save and load the game at any time to continue the game and has up to four save files per game. The Neo Geo Mini also allows itself to be connected to a TV screen by connecting it with its very own

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a proprietary audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controll ...

cable (sold separately), including a headphone jack and two ports for external Neo Geo Mini Pad controllers (also sold separately), which are the re-design of Neo Geo CD controllers, allows it to have two players play on the system at once. On July 19, 2019, SNK announced the discontinuation of the original Neo Geo mini. SNK also announced the Neo Geo Mini International Version, which was released outside Japan on October 15, 2018 and later in Japan on November 15, 2018. The international version contains the same features as the Japanese Neo Geo Mini but with 14 out of 40 different titles (including all of the ''Metal Slug'' games) and a different interface. As such, both versions have 54 different SNK titles in total. On July 19, 2019, SNK announced the discontinuation of the international version in Japan. In December 2018, a limited edition Christmas themed Neo Geo Mini was released. A red Neo Geo Mini unit with two red control pads, power cable, an HDMI cable, two screen protectors, seven stickers and an anti slip cushion. This edition has 48 games, nine of which were previously unreleased on the other two versions, as well as a mixture of games from both the existing releases. On June 27, 2019, a limited edition called "Samurai Shodown" was released, in three colors; white, red, and blue, with a black edition being released later on. This edition has 40 games, featuring all of the ''Samurai Shodown'' games, including three new games that have never been included in prior versions. These will also include two controllers, a USB cable, an HDMI cable, an anti slip cushion and a collectable character card. On September 30, 2019, a limited edition called "Samurai Spirits Kuroko" was released. This edition has 48 games. 40 of them are exactly the same as the previous "Samurai Shodown" and "Samurai Spirits" editions, and the other 8 were all available previously in other editions (no new games are included). This version was released exclusively for Japan. This edition also has a gold trim on the box, instead of a silver one present on the international "Samurai Shodown Kuroko" edition, which only has the same 40 games as the other Samurai Shodown editions. The other Samurai Spirits versions from Japan are also the same as the international versions with the same 40 games on each.

Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro

In September 2019, SNK announced the release of the arcade controller Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro, a large white arcade stick complete with joystick and 8 buttons. It can be used on any of the Neo Geo Mini units via an included adapter and is also backwards compatible with the game pads released for the Mini. It will have 20 built-in games, with the possibility of future games being added to it later, as well as HDMI output for TVs. SNK also plan to release additional covers and branded

joystick A joystick, sometimes called a flight stick, is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. A joystick, also known as the control column, is the principal cont ...

ball covers for the system at the same time. The 20 in built games will all be fighting games; The King of Fighters '95, The King of Fighters '97, The King of Fighters '98: The Slugfest, The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle, The King of Fighters 2000, The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle, Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III, Samurai Shodown IV Amakusa's Revenge, Samurai Shodown V Special, Fatal Fury Special, Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Kizuna Encounter Super Tag Battle, Ninja Master's,

, The Last Blade 2, World Heroes 2, World Heroes 2 Jet, and World Heroes Perfect. Over the course of the year 2020, SNK plan to release updates to unlock more games to the Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro, two additional games per month, bringing the total to 40 games. However, hackers have been able to expose what the titles are without having to wait until the end of the year to obtain all the games. The unlockable games are revealed to be as follows; Metal Slug,

Metal Slug 2 is a run and gun video game developed by SNK. It was originally released in 1998 for the Neo-Geo MVS arcade platform as the sequel to the 1996 game ''Metal Slug''. The original version of the game had extensive slowdown and performance issues, ...

, Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug 4,

Metal Slug 5 is a Run and gun (video game), run and gun video game for the Neo Geo (console), Neo-Geo created by SNK Playmore. It was released in 2003 for the MVS arcade platform and is the fifth game in the Metal Slug (series), ''Metal Slug'' series. The gam ...

, The Last Blade, Shock Troopers, Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad, Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior, Fatal Fury: King of Fighters, Fatal Fury 2, Real Bout Fatal Fury Special, Super Sidekicks,

League Bowling is an arcade game released in 1990 by SNK for the Neo Geo console and arcade systems. The players controls characters with red and blue hair and can select balls from 8 to 15 pounds. It is the only bowling game released on the Neo Geo. Modes '' ...

The Super Spy is an early Neo Geo game released by SNK in 1990. It is a first-person shooter and beat 'em up game with action role-playing elements in which players move through the many floors of an office building shooting terrorists. It is a first-pers ...

, Ninja Combat, Samurai Shodown (1993), Savage Reign, and Soccer Brawl. In November 2020, a special limited Christmas edition of the Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro was released. The contents include a Neo Geo CD style control pad, a cover for the arcade stick, an arcade stick ball cover, a sticker sheet and a Neo Geo 30th anniversary artbook. The games included are the same 40 games as the standard edition, only all 40 of the games are all unlocked.

Neo Geo MVSX

In August 2020, the company Unico announced that they are planning to release the Neo Geo MVSX, an arcade table top system capable of playing MVS and AES titles that are pre-installed on the system itself, with 2 player support with a 17-inch screen. It can also have the option of displaying images as the original arcade version did as well as a CRT display. It also has the option of coming with a 32-inch base to place the table top system on top of to complete the look of it resembling a real MVS arcade cabinet. It has a USB connector that could be used for future firmware updates. It will come pre-loaded with 50 games;

94-2003, Metal Slug 1–5 and X,

1–5 and 5 Special, all eight

series games including Garou: Mark of the Wolves, the

Sengoku The was a period in Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615. The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the feudal system of Japan under the Ashikaga shogunate. Variou ...

trilogy, all four World Heroes games, The Last Blade and The Last Blade 2, Savage Reign and its sequel Kazuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle, Shock Troopers, Football Frenzy, Super Sidekicks, Magician Lord, 3 Count Bout, Top Player's Golf, Baseball Stars Professional, Art of Fighting and Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior. Oddly enough despite having several complete series on this system, the Art of Fighting games are incomplete as this machine omits Art of Fighting 2. The machine itself and the 32-inch base will be sold together or both separately in North America from November 2020.

Home arcades and consoles

Neo Geo MVS and AES

Neo Geo CD

Hyper Neo Geo 64

Future systems

Handheld and other consoles

Neo Geo Mini

Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro

Neo Geo MVSX

See also

Explanatory notes

References

External links