Neo Geo

Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System (AES)

The Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System (AES) was originally released in 1990 as the home version of the arcade machine, which was known as the Multi Video System (MVS). The home console, as can only be expected, took on one cartridge at at time, but the MVS was known for housing multiple ROMs, including an arcade cabinet had held as many as six games. The Neo Geo AES is officially part of the same generation of video game systems as Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, placing it in the 16-bit era of video gaming. In all, the AES received fourteen years of support before the last home cartridge was launched in 2004.

Absolute Powerhouse

The Neo Geo, rightfully so, earned the reputation as being a 2D graphical powerhouse. The visuals available on the Neo Geo AES were unrivaled in the home arena, powered by not one, but two processors. The primary unit was a 16-bit 12MHz Motorola 68000; this was 50% faster than the 68000 found in the Sega Genesis. The backup processor was an 8-bit 4MHz ZiLOG Z-80A.

The graphics were bright and vibrant, with a 65,000 color palette, allowing up to 4096 colors to be displayed on the screen at any given time.

The sound department wasn't exactly something to be sneezed at either. With a Yamaha 2610 sound chip, the Neo Geo AES had 15 channels of CD-quality sound. This was incredible for the time.

There were three versions of cartridges made for the Neo Geo through its history. Each of the ROM cartridges brought up different start up screens, just as they did in the arcade MVS. At the smallest end was the 100 megabit (100 Mega Shock); the most common was a 330 megabit cartridge (Max 330 Mega - Pro Gear Spec); the largest was a whooping 1 gigabit version (GIGA Power).

An Elite Machine

SNK originally had no intention of a wide commercial release of its Neo Geo AES. Instead, when they developed the "home" system, it was marketed for use in hotel settings and for rental only. The public expressed their intense interest in taking a Neo Geo system home for good, and SNK granted that wish.

However, the suggested retail price put the Neo Geo AES out of reach for most gamers, especially those on a tight budget. At launch, there was only one version of the system available, and it retailed for $650. In the package, you'd find the system itself, two joysticks (i.e, not controllers. These were replicas of what was found in the arcade, measuring 11 x 8 inches, and 2.5-inches tall), a memory card (which could also be used in the arcade machines), and the single game "Magician Lord." Other titles cost at least $200 a cartridge.

This created a very niche market that continues to this day. In fact, particularly popular (and notably rare) cartridges are known to go for over $1000 on eBay.

Timeless Classics Still Popular Today

Anyone who spent a lazy afternoon in an arcade during the 1990s is probably all too familiar with many of the franchises found on the Neo Geo MVS. These same titles were available for the home AES as well, and easily the most popular of these is the King of Fighters franchise that grew out of an amalgamation of SNK's other fighting games. Notable titles found in Neo Geo's library include:

• King of Fighters
• Fatal Fury
• King of the Monsters
• Art of Fighting
• Puzzle Bobble
• Samurai Shodown
• Metal Slug
• Shock Troopers
• Aero Fighters 2
• Baseball Stars 2