NEO GEO MVS Arcade Units - Questions

[Phyeir]

Hey guys,

I've been on consoles games pretty much my entire life. I've managed to pull down 3 kiosk so far which is cool, but I'd really like to break into getting a Neo Geo MVS cab. I was hoping to get some advice from some of the people who are in the know when it comes to arcade units, so this seemed like a great place to start.

First, I'd like to know what price I should look to pay for a unit whether it is a 1, 2, 4, or 6 slot. There are a few units within my local range (talking hundreds of miles I am willing to drive for pickup) that are anywhere in price from $150 for a one slot with 4 games and up to $1200 for a 4 slot (which doesn't sound right to me) mentioning no games.

Second, what should I be looking at when I do go to see one of these units? Outside of playing things, trying out games on each slot, and the aesthetics of the unit (which is obvious), what else should I be checking the condition of?

Any advice is appreciated on the subject, thanks!

[madman77]

Prices will vary between regions, Craigslist is a good place to get an idea of prices. $1200 for a 4 slot is way too much, I've seen people find them for $400 with games. The biggest thing to look for is how the monitor looks. Anything else can easily and cheaply be replaced. You'll probably want to replace the joysticks and buttons when you get it, so I wouldn't worry about those.

[Videogamerdaryll]

You might find someone selling a cab here..

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/index.php

[Blur2040]

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[Phyeir]

^
Blur2040:
Wow, lots of useful advice there. I wasn't looking to really bring the price down by looking at all the cosmetic issues because, as you said, most units have been in an arcade and it's annoying.

I didn't even know/think about the idea of doing a cold start to test the monitor, I'll DEFINATELY keep that in mind when I go, along with the checking of loose parts. Is there anything you can do about that, like just bring some foam along to fill in the spaces during transport? Nothing tough, just something to do shock prevention.

Videogamerdaryll: Also, I checked neo-geo forums and the closest unit to me is North Carolina, and that's a day drive out, unfortunately. Slim pickings there, but I can keep my eye out there. Probably best chance of top notch equipment there.

Madman77: From my limited exposure, I thought $1200 was way too much (that didn't even pass my common sense test) but good to hear comfirmation. I was thinking about $100 per slot would be about what they run for an arcade unit.

Thanks for the advice so far, I'll take anymore that people could give. Probably one of the best things to do is to not jump into the first one you see unles it's actually everything you want.

[otaku]

neo geo is a great place to find them-good guys over there-actually enthusiasts
also craigslist I've found a number of nice machines that way and then of course local arcades or arcade auctions.

MVs is a great system. If I were you I'd go for a 4 or 6 slot-big red. My fave anyway

[Blur2040]

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[shawnbo42]

Pretty much what everyone else said. A few words of advice for you, though. Buy a dedicated Neo if possible (i.e. big red cabinet, or the "gold", 19" version with wood grain sides). Conversion Neos are 1. Usually done pretty poorly and 2. Almost NEVER take advantage of the neo's sound output (stereo as opposed to mono).

Also, with a big red, you'll get the headphone jacks, and memory card slots. You'll probably never use them, but it's nice to have the option.

Another thing to keep in mind is the original monitor in the big red is a Wells-Gardner k7000. While this probably means nothing to you at this point, it is generally one of the most reliable monitors out there, and is very easy to reapir/maintain (even if you don't do it yourself).

If you have space restrictions, go for the gold. While it loses the headphone jacks and memory slot, the smaller footprint makes it a very versatile cabinet. And, it is a 2-slot.

When you go to buy your game, as was stated earlier, check for full operation of the carts. Watch especially closely for graphics glitches. Those Neo slots are well-known for having bent/broken connection pins, due to operators moving games WITHOUT removing the carts or just jamming new carts in and out all the time, and never cleaning anything.

Make sure the monitor looks the way it should. Is the picture awfully bright, or "washed-out"? Is it the right size (as in, not stretched off the screen)? Is there any "fold-over" of the picture, either at the top or the bottom? Are your three colors present (red, green and blue)? This is probably your single most important issue is the monitor. Everything else in the cabinet can be replaced for fairly cheap. A new 25" tube is going to run you around $500 with shipping, and while a new monitor is nice, throw that on top of your initial cost to buy, and what have you got? Is it worth it?

As far as a "cold start", I wouldn't worry too much about it. Any problem that's going to be found will usually happen AFTER the machine is warmed up, not before.

Before you go, get a GOOD picture of what an actual dedicated Neo looks like, that way you know what you are looking for. Don't let somebody tell you that Neo Geos never had "insert part/piece here".....Just get a good idea cosmetically what you are looking for before you go.

Internally, you should have a whatever slot the machine has a marquee (top sign) for. If it has slots for four title cards, it should have a 4-slot board in it, etc. Of course, what yoy pay should be dependent on what it is. A single-slot should not sell as much as a 4-slot, unless it is mint out of the box, and the four slot has holes smashed in the side of it. The monitor that's installed should have a tag on it somewhere near the circuit board that will say Wells-Gardner Kxxxx (7921, 7219,7104, etc..). That means it's probably the original monitor, as the wells were what was installed at build. The power supply for the machine should be a large silver box right at the floor of the machine dead center on the back. It uses a computer style plug. If you see a hole there with a cord running INSIDE te machine, somewhere down the road the original power supply died, and osmeone hacked something else in there. Yes it will work, but I prefer it original. It's much easier to replace down the road. (And yes, this component WILL die eventually).

Check and see what games you are getting with your cabinet. I agree with everybody, Metal Slug is a good game, but it's at best a $30 cart. Shy away from Samurai Showdown, Art of Fighting, World Heroes, Super Spy, Ninja Combat, and King of Fighters. They are some good games, in their own right, but there are thousands of them out there, and that's why every time you see a Neo for sale, those are the games included. (Hint: They don't make money for operators anymore, so if they can get rid of junk, and end up raping YOU for an extra hundred bucks or so, they'll do it, believe me.)

When you do get your game, check the floor for water damage (swelling, mold, mildew, etc). You DON'T want a moldy game in your home, either on carpet or in your basement. Make sure the monitor is properly mounted/secured. Ask the seller to take it apart for you if you need to, they should be able to show you how to do it. Make sure your speakers are secured, I had one fall off a game once and take out a monitor for me. Make sure the marquee panel is locked, pull the mini-marquees out of it, put them in the cash box (where the quarters go) along with any carts (you can fit 3 in there), and carry all that with you in the front of the truck. Make sure the power supply (if it's original) has the 4 screws holding it in place (they're on the outside of the cabinet running through the wood). Also be sure the board is mounted down. Sometimes if someone changed out a PCB (game board) they may have just tossed it in there, as it sits flat and not cared. Make sure it's screwed down. REMOVE THE CARTRIDGES. I can't stress this one enough. The WORST thing you can do for your Neo is bounce it around for a hundred miles with the carts in place. May as well just throw the board in a blender at that point, or make pens out of it. Make certain the coin door and the frame are mounted properly. Take the six screws out of the back door (the lower part) and you should be able to see the mountings for the coin door (they're small clips that hold the frame of the coin door to the wood of the cabinet).

After you've read this book, you should be good to go. I don't think I missed too much, hopefully this will help you in your Neo-Quest....Hey that sounds like a good game, lol. Seriously, I hope you find a good machine. Where are you located at? I am in Connecticut and have a few Neos F/S. Fair prices, and decent machines, if you're interested. Good luck!

[shawnbo42]

Pretty much what everyone else said. A few words of advice for you, though. Buy a dedicated Neo if possible (i.e. big red cabinet, or the "gold", 19" version with wood grain sides). Conversion Neos are 1. Usually done pretty poorly and 2. Almost NEVER take advantage of the neo's sound output (stereo as opposed to mono).

Also, with a big red, you'll get the headphone jacks, and memory card slots. You'll probably never use them, but it's nice to have the option.

Another thing to keep in mind is the original monitor in the big red is a Wells-Gardner k7000. While this probably means nothing to you at this point, it is generally one of the most reliable monitors out there, and is very easy to reapir/maintain (even if you don't do it yourself).

If you have space restrictions, go for the gold. While it loses the headphone jacks and memory slot, the smaller footprint makes it a very versatile cabinet. And, it is a 2-slot.

When you go to buy your game, as was stated earlier, check for full operation of the carts. Watch especially closely for graphics glitches. Those Neo slots are well-known for having bent/broken connection pins, due to operators moving games WITHOUT removing the carts or just jamming new carts in and out all the time, and never cleaning anything.

Make sure the monitor looks the way it should. Is the picture awfully bright, or "washed-out"? Is it the right size (as in, not stretched off the screen)? Is there any "fold-over" of the picture, either at the top or the bottom? Are your three colors present (red, green and blue)? This is probably your single most important issue is the monitor. Everything else in the cabinet can be replaced for fairly cheap. A new 25" tube is going to run you around $500 with shipping, and while a new monitor is nice, throw that on top of your initial cost to buy, and what have you got? Is it worth it?

As far as a "cold start", I wouldn't worry too much about it. Any problem that's going to be found will usually happen AFTER the machine is warmed up, not before.

Before you go, get a GOOD picture of what an actual dedicated Neo looks like, that way you know what you are looking for. Don't let somebody tell you that Neo Geos never had "insert part/piece here".....Just get a good idea cosmetically what you are looking for before you go.

Internally, you should have a whatever slot the machine has a marquee (top sign) for. If it has slots for four title cards, it should have a 4-slot board in it, etc. Of course, what yoy pay should be dependent on what it is. A single-slot should not sell as much as a 4-slot, unless it is mint out of the box, and the four slot has holes smashed in the side of it. The monitor that's installed should have a tag on it somewhere near the circuit board that will say Wells-Gardner Kxxxx (7921, 7219,7104, etc..). That means it's probably the original monitor, as the wells were what was installed at build. The power supply for the machine should be a large silver box right at the floor of the machine dead center on the back. It uses a computer style plug. If you see a hole there with a cord running INSIDE te machine, somewhere down the road the original power supply died, and osmeone hacked something else in there. Yes it will work, but I prefer it original. It's much easier to replace down the road. (And yes, this component WILL die eventually).

Check and see what games you are getting with your cabinet. I agree with everybody, Metal Slug is a good game, but it's at best a $30 cart. Shy away from Samurai Showdown, Art of Fighting, World Heroes, Super Spy, Ninja Combat, and King of Fighters. They are some good games, in their own right, but there are thousands of them out there, and that's why every time you see a Neo for sale, those are the games included. (Hint: They don't make money for operators anymore, so if they can get rid of junk, and end up raping YOU for an extra hundred bucks or so, they'll do it, believe me.)

When you do get your game, check the floor for water damage (swelling, mold, mildew, etc). You DON'T want a moldy game in your home, either on carpet or in your basement. Make sure the monitor is properly mounted/secured. Ask the seller to take it apart for you if you need to, they should be able to show you how to do it. Make sure your speakers are secured, I had one fall off a game once and take out a monitor for me. Make sure the marquee panel is locked, pull the mini-marquees out of it, put them in the cash box (where the quarters go) along with any carts (you can fit 3 in there), and carry all that with you in the front of the truck. Make sure the power supply (if it's original) has the 4 screws holding it in place (they're on the outside of the cabinet running through the wood). Also be sure the board is mounted down. Sometimes if someone changed out a PCB (game board) they may have just tossed it in there, as it sits flat and not cared. Make sure it's screwed down. REMOVE THE CARTRIDGES. I can't stress this one enough. The WORST thing you can do for your Neo is bounce it around for a hundred miles with the carts in place. May as well just throw the board in a blender at that point, or make pens out of it. Make certain the coin door and the frame are mounted properly. Take the six screws out of the back door (the lower part) and you should be able to see the mountings for the coin door (they're small clips that hold the frame of the coin door to the wood of the cabinet).

After you've read this book, you should be good to go. I don't think I missed too much, hopefully this will help you in your Neo-Quest....Hey that sounds like a good game, lol. Seriously, I hope you find a good machine. Where are you located at? I am in Connecticut and have a few Neos F/S. Fair prices, and decent machines, if you're interested. Good luck!

[shawnbo42]

Double post, sorry.

[tholly]

I got my mint 4 slot with 4 games for $350. Granted, I got an amazing price, but realistically, I'd say $700 is probably a fair price for a fully loaded 4 slot.

[Phyeir]

Pretty much what everyone else said. A few words of advice for you, though. Buy a dedicated Neo if possible (i.e. big red cabinet, or the "gold", 19" version with wood grain sides). Conversion Neos are 1. Usually done pretty poorly and 2. Almost NEVER take advantage of the neo's sound output (stereo as opposed to mono).

Also, with a big red, you'll get the headphone jacks, and memory card slots. You'll probably never use them, but it's nice to have the option.

Another thing to keep in mind is the original monitor in the big red is a Wells-Gardner k7000. While this probably means nothing to you at this point, it is generally one of the most reliable monitors out there, and is very easy to reapir/maintain (even if you don't do it yourself).

If you have space restrictions, go for the gold. While it loses the headphone jacks and memory slot, the smaller footprint makes it a very versatile cabinet. And, it is a 2-slot.

When you go to buy your game, as was stated earlier, check for full operation of the carts. Watch especially closely for graphics glitches. Those Neo slots are well-known for having bent/broken connection pins, due to operators moving games WITHOUT removing the carts or just jamming new carts in and out all the time, and never cleaning anything.

Make sure the monitor looks the way it should. Is the picture awfully bright, or "washed-out"? Is it the right size (as in, not stretched off the screen)? Is there any "fold-over" of the picture, either at the top or the bottom? Are your three colors present (red, green and blue)? This is probably your single most important issue is the monitor. Everything else in the cabinet can be replaced for fairly cheap. A new 25" tube is going to run you around $500 with shipping, and while a new monitor is nice, throw that on top of your initial cost to buy, and what have you got? Is it worth it?

As far as a "cold start", I wouldn't worry too much about it. Any problem that's going to be found will usually happen AFTER the machine is warmed up, not before.

Before you go, get a GOOD picture of what an actual dedicated Neo looks like, that way you know what you are looking for. Don't let somebody tell you that Neo Geos never had "insert part/piece here".....Just get a good idea cosmetically what you are looking for before you go.

Internally, you should have a whatever slot the machine has a marquee (top sign) for. If it has slots for four title cards, it should have a 4-slot board in it, etc. Of course, what yoy pay should be dependent on what it is. A single-slot should not sell as much as a 4-slot, unless it is mint out of the box, and the four slot has holes smashed in the side of it. The monitor that's installed should have a tag on it somewhere near the circuit board that will say Wells-Gardner Kxxxx (7921, 7219,7104, etc..). That means it's probably the original monitor, as the wells were what was installed at build. The power supply for the machine should be a large silver box right at the floor of the machine dead center on the back. It uses a computer style plug. If you see a hole there with a cord running INSIDE te machine, somewhere down the road the original power supply died, and osmeone hacked something else in there. Yes it will work, but I prefer it original. It's much easier to replace down the road. (And yes, this component WILL die eventually).

Check and see what games you are getting with your cabinet. I agree with everybody, Metal Slug is a good game, but it's at best a $30 cart. Shy away from Samurai Showdown, Art of Fighting, World Heroes, Super Spy, Ninja Combat, and King of Fighters. They are some good games, in their own right, but there are thousands of them out there, and that's why every time you see a Neo for sale, those are the games included. (Hint: They don't make money for operators anymore, so if they can get rid of junk, and end up raping YOU for an extra hundred bucks or so, they'll do it, believe me.)

When you do get your game, check the floor for water damage (swelling, mold, mildew, etc). You DON'T want a moldy game in your home, either on carpet or in your basement. Make sure the monitor is properly mounted/secured. Ask the seller to take it apart for you if you need to, they should be able to show you how to do it. Make sure your speakers are secured, I had one fall off a game once and take out a monitor for me. Make sure the marquee panel is locked, pull the mini-marquees out of it, put them in the cash box (where the quarters go) along with any carts (you can fit 3 in there), and carry all that with you in the front of the truck. Make sure the power supply (if it's original) has the 4 screws holding it in place (they're on the outside of the cabinet running through the wood). Also be sure the board is mounted down. Sometimes if someone changed out a PCB (game board) they may have just tossed it in there, as it sits flat and not cared. Make sure it's screwed down. REMOVE THE CARTRIDGES. I can't stress this one enough. The WORST thing you can do for your Neo is bounce it around for a hundred miles with the carts in place. May as well just throw the board in a blender at that point, or make pens out of it. Make certain the coin door and the frame are mounted properly. Take the six screws out of the back door (the lower part) and you should be able to see the mountings for the coin door (they're small clips that hold the frame of the coin door to the wood of the cabinet).

After you've read this book, you should be good to go. I don't think I missed too much, hopefully this will help you in your Neo-Quest....Hey that sounds like a good game, lol. Seriously, I hope you find a good machine. Where are you located at? I am in Connecticut and have a few Neos F/S. Fair prices, and decent machines, if you're interested. Good luck!

I'm at the right place, cuz I'm in CT, you've been PM'd sir! (and all the new advice is much appreciated)

[channelmaniac]

If you can find a cheap one with a broken game board in it, GET IT.

I specialize in fixing broken Neo Geo game boards.

RJ

[OMF2097]

After you've read this book, you should be good to go. I don't think I missed too much, hopefully this will help you in your Neo-Quest....Hey that sounds like a good game, lol. Seriously, I hope you find a good machine. Where are you located at? I am in Connecticut and have a few Neos F/S. Fair prices, and decent machines, if you're interested. Good luck!


I may have someone here in CT as well that may be interested in a Neo. I've sold my big reds for candies but I'm always looking for local gear.


If you can find a cheap one with a broken game board in it, GET IT.

I specialize in fixing broken Neo Geo game boards.

RJ

RJ's the man for the repairs and questions:)

[CosmicMonkey]

I'd recommend a 4 slot board over a 6 slot one. The 6 slots are unreliable in my experience and are incredibly power hungry. I've never had a problem with a 4 slot board, although I would definitely change the battery. Oh, and get a UniBIOS.

[chrissylas]

Good luck Phyeir! I just picked up my first MVS cab over the weekend. It's got some cosmetic damage but works great.

I am not a huge fighter or shooter nut but so far it's been nothing but awesome. I could play Puzzle Bobble all day :)

[Chainclaw]

If you can find a cheap one with a broken game board in it, GET IT.

I specialize in fixing broken Neo Geo game boards.

RJ

This is what I ended up doing.

I bought a 4-slot from channelmaniac last summer for like $120 or something. I was using it in a supergun for a few months, and then found a cabinet locally for $80 (with 3 games, World Heroes 1, 2, and 2 Jet) that had a broken 2-slot board. Swapped the boards, and it's running great.

It is a conversion and not original big red, but I like the rounded marquee on the Data East cab, although I wouldn't mind having stereo audio instead of just mono.

I'll probably end up sending the broken 2-slot board to channelmaniac, although I'm still trying to fix it myself but haven't gotten anywhere.

[mrmark0673]

I've sold my big reds for candies but I'm always looking for local gear.


Same here. I had a beautiful 4 slot big red, that later changed to a Super Neo 29, then a Capcom Mini cute, then a Namco Cyberlead, and finally my current Taito Egret 29. Nothing touches a good candy cab...

[Joe West]

I agree: a good candy cab...is hard too beat

[Phyeir]

Thanks for the advice guys. Going to Neo-Geo.com worked out good, cuz I was able to find out what was reasonable and all of the different type of cabs that are out there. Ended up finding a nice Gold cab on Craigslist, that I got yesterday. If any of you happen to have MVS carts for sale, I'd be rather interested. I posted more about that here... http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130562

[shadowkn55]

Watch out for bootleg mvs carts especially when buying the more popular titles. Ebay auctions that describe the cart as "100% working" with no mention of authenticity are a dead give away for a boot. Ask for pictures of the boards if you are not sure. Boards populated with mostly eproms or MX flash chips are generally signs of a boot. The boot or no boot sub-forum in tech support at neo-geo.com is a good place to start.