Neo Geo general discussion thread Options

[tomwaits]

As DCrip suggested, starting a new thread to consolidate any further Neo Geo chatter.

Lots of Neo Geo discussion in these recent threads:
http://www.jaguarsector.com/index.php?showtopic=30553
http://www.jaguarsector.com/index.php?showtopic=30345

[T2KFreeker]

Neo Geo is another awesome system, but it's still too rich for my blood. I do still regret selling off my NGCD system though. I used to have quite a bit of fun with it. Being on a fixed income sucks.

[tomwaits]

I rambled for a while in the first link above about building an MVS supergun. It's about as easy as building a PC and costs $120-$150 depending on how fancy you get with components. Once you get an MVS setup, Neo Geo commons are really cheap. Not for everyone since it's a little bit of a project, but if you really wanted to get into Neo Geo it's the cheapest way to go and has the most available games.

[T2KFreeker]

I rambled for a while in the first link above about building an MVS supergun. It's about as easy as building a PC and costs $120-$150 depending on how fancy you get with components. Once you get an MVS setup, Neo Geo commons are really cheap. Not for everyone since it's a little bit of a project, but if you really wanted to get into Neo Geo it's the cheapest way to go and has the most available games.

You gonna' build one for me? I'd pay for it. My eyes aren't what they used to be or I'd do it myself.

[tomwaits]

It's VERY easy to build using one of these Vogatek superguns. Unfortunately, he only has the SCART RGB Mk. 3 version listed right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MK-III-neogeo-mvs-arca...=item3a58ab8bba

The only non-standard parts that you need to add are the controller ports and video cable. Sending you a PM with details of what I can help with...

[tomwaits]

Grabbed a cheap Neo Geo MVS cart lot. $45 shipped for KoF 99, Sam Sho 4, Sam Sho 1, and an unlabeled mystery cart. The unlabeled cart has a blue shell, so there are only a few late 90's titles that it could be... I'm hoping for a Metal Slug X, but it's probably just KoF 98 since that's one of the most common blue carts.


Anyway, wanted to post as an example of how cheap MVS games are... $11.25 each shipped. If I order boxes to match my other games, the shockboxes/inserts/postage will make the boxes more expensive than the carts.




EDIT: The unlabeled blue mystery cart is... KoF 98. Still a great set of games and the other 3 all have clean US cart labels with serial numbers intact. (Serial numbers are usually scraped off or markered out on cheap MVS carts)

This post has been edited by tomwaits: Apr 12 2010, 05:38 PM

[NeoGeoNinja]

AS FOR BUILDING...
your own CMVS1, it must be nice to have the technical inclination to attempt a project by yourself. I however, am strictly a gamer. I buy the consoles, games etc and play them. I have no interest in the construction - whether it be some 'easy' soldering or 'cutting' a few holes here and there... I'm sure you get my point.

THE NEO•GEO...
is indeed an awesome machine - the best games console ever I'd say!

As I have mentioned before, I don't actually own any NeoGeo hardware BUT I do plan on investing at some point. Considering the cost associated with owning and buying for the NeoGeo, I think it may be one of the last consoles I ever buy... unless I take the CMVS route.

IN FACT...
I have a couple of questions for you! I am in actual fact (short-term) considering a CMVS1, however, I have a very specific 'design' in mind... controversial as it may be! I'm after an AES > MVS conversion as my CMVS... basically an AES converted into an MVS! This is my preferred design, as I'm not at all keen on the other ones I have seen (a shell of metal with a rectangular cut-out OR a MegaDrive II!!). Do you think you could build (me!) one of those?? I'd be awfully interested if you could, or indeed, know someone who could! Failing being able to meet my stringent outlines, I may just have to settle for a good old AES - Shame I'll NEVER be able to afford Pulstar, Blazing Star, Rage of the Dragons, Ninja Masters or SS5sp!!!

Also, I'm not a fan of the ABCD button configs. I'd prefer A= HP, B= HK, C=LP & D=LK... so, are these configurable either in Uni-Bios or in the AES settings for the games? I'm curious.

Another thing... do you think it would be possible to make a CMVS or AES read 6-button inputs?? For example, I would love to be able to use a Saturn Controller or 6-button stick and have the Hardware 'somehow' recognize the 5 and 6 buttons as HP & LP and HK & LK... if you see where I'm going with this (SS5/5sp, SS1 & SS2, WHP etc).

[tomwaits]

Honestly, I don't think I'd have the patience to build a CMVS. Building a CMVS involves hand-wiring each of the pins off the JAMMA harness into an attractive casing... either a shell from an existing console or a homemade case. CMVS units are usually expensive because there's a lot of build time. Also, I suspect that if a wire was knocked loose when the unit is moved it could cause major problems, so some on-going maintenance might be required anyway. Too time-consuming and expensive for me.

The Vogatek supergun is a small, 15GBP circuit board that consolidates most of the JAMMA wiring mess to standard connectors. All the JAMMA power-related pins are routed to an ATX PC power supply connector. All the video-related pins are routed to a SCART RGB connector. Audio is routed to a headphone jack. (uses passive speakers only) The only actual 'wiring' is for the controller ports, but it's just putting wires into holes and tightening the screws. Any soldering is optional to add extra functionality.

As far as building a case or enclosure, I abandoned the idea after getting my first couple arcade PCBs. There's no standard for the JAMMA connector height or surrounding components on arcade PCBs, so any cosmetic casing around the Vogatek would just get in the way. If you wanted to marry a dedicated Vogatek with an MVS motherboard it would probably be easy to build a small enclosure, but it isn't really necessary. My setup isn't pretty, but it was cheap and it works great. The way I look at it anything more is paying $$ for aesthetics and I'd rather spend the $$ on games. (or shockboxes)


Not sure about re-assigning buttons in the unibios or AES setup... I'd have to check. But, the Vogatek makes it easy to change button mapping directly. Just loosen screws and arrange the controller port wiring however you want.

I don't think there would be any way to make Neo Geo games recognize extra buttons. You could easily wire any of the controller's buttons as A,B,C,D but the JAMMA connector only supports 4 buttons per player. You'd need to build a custom circuit to overlap buttons 5 or 6 as a simultaneous press on the corresponding pair of A,B,C,D inputs. Easier to just push two buttons at once...

This post has been edited by tomwaits: Apr 9 2010, 07:18 PM

[NeoGeoNinja]

THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE...
even though it would appear we have opposite opinions on the points raised (i.e. 'Easier to just push two buttons at once'). It's having to do this that ruins many of the NG's premium titles for me... takes me back to pressing both buttons for jump in Double Dragon! It's just so impractical - thus why SS3 & SS4 changed to a 4-button layout. However, I like your idea about the custom circuit. I'd much rather investigate that possibility as opposed to the whole 2 buttons thing. Seriously, I'd sooner not buy a game than take the 2-button risk!

ALSO, REGARDING...
aesthetics etc regarding consoles, superguns and the like; I personally would like a nice looking CMVS myself, and I think, for me, it is worth spending the extra on... as opposed to games. However, I do understand your standpoint... who cares what it looks like as long as it plays the games? Unfortunately... I do.

In respect of the Vogatek/Supergun... I can understand why you would forfeit a casing due to the nature of the shape irregularity of the PCBs.

I WOULD ALSO...
imagine we have similar taste in games. I'd be keen to learn of your preferred games for specific systems (shmups, fighters etc).

[tomwaits]

I did a quick search about adding buttons for Neo Geo combined presses and found this old thread:
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190184

The explanation seems right, and it would only require 4 diodes and some wire.


Thinking about your request for a CMVS in an AES shell, there's only one 1-slot MVS model with a vertical cart slot. If the MV-1C motherboard doesn't fit properly in an AES console shell there might be additional work/cost involved... if it's even possible. The MV-1C has some limitations too... it has a soldered bios, so there's extra work to add a unibios socket. The MV-1C also needs a small mod for stereo sound, and it has no memory card connector. I ended up getting both MV-1 and MV-1C motherboard models. I use the MV-1 like a virtual AES via unibios and a memory card reader. I usually just use the MV-1C with the multicart. A couple of the late release games have compatibility issues with the ancient MV-1 motherboard. I paid around $50 each (plus postage) for the motherboards and the MV-1 came with the unibios installed... MVS motherboards are pretty cheap. More info on the different versions here:
http://www.hardmvs.com/html/PCBcompare.htm

If you don't mind paying extra for appearance and less risk of maintenance, you might just want an AES console and an MVS->AES converter. Probably cost even more than a CMVS though... esp if you want a unibios installed. And, MVS multicarts don't like MVS->AES converters so that might be a concern too.



As far as comparing favorite games or hidden gems, just start a thread...




EDIT: Also wanted to note that a couple of the 1-slot Neo Geo MVS motherboard models have controller ports on them. So there's no need to deal with hand wiring anything on the Vogatek supergun if you only wanted to use standard 4 button Neo Geo ports. Or, if any of the JS2 regulars decide to wire up their own Vogatek, I've got a few extra Neo Geo controller port stubs that I'd pass along cheap...

This post has been edited by tomwaits: Apr 10 2010, 09:07 AM

[T2KFreeker]

Well, taking the plunge again and getting a Neo Geo CD system again. Been awhile as the other one I had went bye bye sadly. Hopefully this will not be the case this time around . . .

[NeoGeoNinja]

Well, taking the plunge again and getting a Neo Geo CD system again. Been awhile as the other one I had went bye bye sadly. Hopefully this will not be the case this time around . . .

THAT'LL BE RAVENS...
NGCD console then eh? Very nice. Great starter package really as it contains a lot of decent titles to get you off the ground (AOF2, KOF 94, FF3, SW2 etc). I also REALLY like GanGan/AoDK, although it's an acquired taste tbh

I know those DVD boxed games also have the original cases, but I actually think the DVD cases look pretty smart - of course, I haven't seen them up close though

A pad AND a stick too - the best of both worlds... nice. Personally, I actually prefer 'that' stick (kidney shape) over the classic style one - not aesthetically, but in terms of build and feel.

If you fancy any advice or recommendations (based on tastes and experiences), hit me up with a PM! I'll get back to you with as much help as I can...

Happy NEO•GEO gaming to come...

[T2KFreeker]

Well, taking the plunge again and getting a Neo Geo CD system again. Been awhile as the other one I had went bye bye sadly. Hopefully this will not be the case this time around . . .

THAT'LL BE RAVENS...
NGCD console then eh? Very nice. Great starter package really as it contains a lot of decent titles to get you off the ground (AOF2, KOF 94, FF3, SW2 etc). I also REALLY like GanGan/AoDK, although it's an acquired taste tbh

I know those DVD boxed games also have the original cases, but I actually think the DVD cases look pretty smart - of course, I haven't seen them up close though

A pad AND a stick too - the best of both worlds... nice. Personally, I actually prefer 'that' stick (kidney shape) over the classic style one - not aesthetically, but in terms of build and feel.

If you fancy any advice or recommendations (based on tastes and experiences), hit me up with a PM! I'll get back to you with as much help as I can...

Happy NEO•GEO gaming to come...

Hey dude, I'm all good man. I actually had a NEO GEO CD system for quite some time but I had to sell it and the games, sadly. I am aware of the choice, and awesome titles for the system though. I adore the system as I am a huge SNK fan. I do still have a few of my old discs though as I wasn't about to sell my Metal Slug discs, knowing that I would have the system again down the road. I still have my Last Resort disc and one of the Ghost Pilots games too, just can't recall which one at the moment. Whoops, almost forgot my Magician Lord disc that I still have also!

This post has been edited by T2KFreeker: Sep 15 2010, 05:35 AM

[DreamcastRIP]

With all the current excitement surrounding the upcoming release of Fast Striker on Dreamcast I just now thought to check out what the original Neo Geo version of the game looks like at Youtube.

Having viewed this vid and this one too, amongst others too at Youtube, it to my eyes looks to be a vertically scrolling 2D shmup of great promise.

I've not chosen to place a pre-order (DC version) as to be completely honest I'm a little underwhelmed at the prospect of playing yet another "bullet-hell" vertically scrolling 2D shmup. Saying that's not to be interpreted as me in any way criticising this game's potential though as I'm buzzed to see yet another quality game coming out soon on both consoles all these on from both systems' commercial demise.

[tomwaits]

Welcome back to the NGCD T2K.


This post has been edited by tomwaits: Sep 15 2010, 09:40 AM

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