Neo Geo AES question.

[todesengel]

I'll be getting a Neo Geo AES soon and was wondering which games where the cheapest/most affordable. Are most of the early titles relatively inexpensive? I'm not being picky about the games being complete with this system, although at least having the case would be nice.

[XYXZYZ]

I'll be getting a Neo Geo AES soon and was wondering which games where the cheapest/most affordable. Are most of the early titles relatively inexpensive? I'm not being picky about the games being complete with this system, although at least having the case would be nice.

Yeah, the old games can go for $20 to $60, fortunately there are some good classics in there- Fatal Fury 1/2/SP, Samurai Shodown I & II- the list goes on and... stops.

[todesengel]

I'm definitely trying to stay in the $20 range at the moment for games so that's good to know that they have some that cheap.

[allyourblood]

Magician Lord and NAM 1975 are about as cheap as they come. I played Magician Lord a lot in the arcade as a kid, so I think that one's a lot of fun still. You can probably pick up both for under 40 bucks. They may not have a lot of replay value depending on your tastes, but I think they're each a pretty good buy for how inexpensive they are.

[TurboGenesis]

quite a few old titles can be had cheap…

Magician Lord
Nam 1975
Blue's Journey
Ghost Pilots
Baseball Stars Professional
Riding Hero
Fatal Fury 1&2

[jammajup]

You might want to take a look at NAM1975 first,i know your looking for cheapest titles and it will be there i am sure.I have it on MVS and its not great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DgDisS2uf4

[tomwaits]

Unless you're into collecting expensive rarities, don't get an AES. AES is not a practical way to play Neo Geo. MUCH better off with a consolized MVS or MVS mobo/supergun. Actually, I'd even recommend the NGCD over AES if you need to ask about the price of games.

All of the good games are expensive on AES. There are about a dozen early games that are cheap for AES, but after that prices get ridiculous. Those dozen early games are also available on NGCD for about the same prices and NGCD offers most of the pre-1999 games at reasonable prices too. (although the NGCD's 1x load times were horrible for the larger games at the end of the NGCD releases)

MVS is by far the best way to play Neo Geo. The later releases were MVS exclusive and those are the games that really pushed the hardware. Many were never released on other consoles. A consolized MVS costs about the same as an AES... much less if you build your own. Add a unibios and it'll play in home console mode exactly the same as an AES. AES is all about paying hundreds (or thousands) for boxes, labels, and manuals. It's not the way to play Neo Geo.

[todesengel]

Unless you're into collecting expensive rarities, don't get an AES.
I've already got an AES being sent to me from a trade with a DP member. I know the majority of the games are going to be expensive but I couldn't pass up getting one considering I wasn't really paying any money for the console. Also with the Neo Geo I'll be happy with those handful of cheap games and if I can only get an expensive one every couple of years that's fine as well (I'm not one of those gotta have every game people).

Thanks for the suggestions everybody, I really appreciate it. To everybody that mentioned the cheaper MVS, isn't there an adapter that I can get that will let me play MVS carts on the AES, and if so how reliable is it?

[tomwaits]

There are a couple MVS->AES adapters... they usually cost $150-$200 and aren't compatible with all MVS carts (or MVS multicarts). Again, you could just buy/build a consolized MVS for a little more than the price of an adapter.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I've already got an AES being sent to me from a trade with a DP member. I know the majority of the games are going to be expensive but I couldn't pass up getting one considering I wasn't really paying any money for the console. Also with the Neo Geo I'll be happy with those handful of cheap games and if I can only get an expensive one every couple of years that's fine as well (I'm not one of those gotta have every game people.

I got my AES this year from a local retro store trade-in deal. I went with a unibios (ironically to play in either AES or MVS mode) socket installed it myself, and I'm getting a MVS cart adapter sometime down the road. IMO, the home console just looks nicer than a consolized MVS. For the AES money games, I'd rather buy an MVS cart and shockbox that sucker so it looks like an AES cart on the shelf.

Other cheapies

3 Count Bout
Ninja Combat
Sengoku

Also, there were some ebay sellers that have NOS (new-old-stock) lots of some of the early games. Also found some decent deals on NIB kidney sticks. Bundles are usually in the 5-10 game range. Also, Japanese carts are sometimes cheaper and they play in english on a US Neo. Not that language barrier is a problem with any other than a very few Neo titles, if any.

[todesengel]

There are a couple MVS->AES adapters... they usually cost $150-$200 and aren't compatible with all MVS carts (or MVS multicarts). Again, you could just buy/build a consolized MVS for a little more than the price of an adapter.
Well that's good to know that there are at least adapters I could get. Someday I'll probably get a consolized MVS, I have always wanted one. I knew I was going to be getting in deep with the AES but I'll definitely be happy with only a few games for it. Thanks for all the help tomwaits.


I got my AES this year from a local retro store trade-in deal. I went with a unibios (ironically to play in either AES or MVS mode) socket installed it myself, and I'm getting a MVS cart adapter sometime down the road. IMO, the home console just looks nicer than a consolized MVS. For the AES money games, I'd rather buy an MVS cart and shockbox that sucker so it looks like an AES cart on the shelf.

Other cheapies

3 Count Bout
Ninja Combat
Sengoku

Also, there were some ebay sellers that have NOS (new-old-stock) lots of some of the early games. Also found some decent deals on NIB kidney sticks. Bundles are usually in the 5-10 game range. Also, Japanese carts are sometimes cheaper and they play in english on a US Neo. Not that language barrier is a problem with any other than a very few Neo titles, if any.
Awesome to know about the ebay auctions, will definitely look into those. Is there any problems with games when you have the unibios installed? That sounds like it could be the best way to go for me is installing one of those if there's no problems with games when running it.

[Atariguy]

Unless you're a huge Fatal Fury fan, I recommend getting Fatal Fury Special and not bothering with the first two. FFS is basically to FF2 what Street Fighter II Turbo is to the original Street Fighter II, so there's little reason for most people to get both. Fatal Fury 1 hasn't aged that well, though I wouldn't say that it's a bad game.

As for something that I didn't see in this thread yet, I highly recommend Super Baseball 2020. It's baseball with women, robots, land mines, rocket packs, and a system to upgrade your players. Some people think of it as just a gimmicky version of Baseball Stars, but I always had a lot of fun with the thing.

And in case it isn't clear about the unibios: what it does (among other things) is make the game play as if it were running on an MVS. It does not allow you to play MVS games without a converter.

[todesengel]

Unless you're a huge Fatal Fury fan, I recommend getting Fatal Fury Special and not bothering with the first two. FFS is basically to FF2 what Street Fighter II Turbo is to the original Street Fighter II, so there's little reason for most people to get both. Fatal Fury 1 hasn't aged that well, though I wouldn't say that it's a bad game.

As for something that I didn't see in this thread yet, I highly recommend Super Baseball 2020. It's baseball with women, robots, land mines, rocket packs, and a system to upgrade your players. Some people think of it as just a gimmicky version of Baseball Stars, but I always had a lot of fun with the thing.

And in case it isn't clear about the unibios: what it does (among other things) is make the game play as if it were running on an MVS. It does not allow you to play MVS games without a converter.
I actually really enjoy Fatal Fury 1 still and when my PS2 was working I played the hell out of FF on the Fatal Fury Battle Archives release. I'm not a sports game guy but Super Baseball 2020 sounds pretty amazing. I thought that AES releases were basically the same as the MVS ones. What changes when you run an AES game in MVS mode? Thanks for clearing up the unibios info for me.

[Atariguy]

I actually really enjoy Fatal Fury 1 still and when my PS2 was working I played the hell out of FF on the Fatal Fury Battle Archives release. I'm not a sports game guy but Super Baseball 2020 sounds pretty amazing. I thought that AES releases were basically the same as the MVS ones. What changes when you run an AES game in MVS mode? Thanks for clearing up the unibios info for me.

Some games, such as the first Samurai Shodown, were censored in AES mode, and AES games generally limit your continues, while you can have as many as you want in MVS mode. THe unibios also allows you to change the region of the console, and I think that at least Magical Drop III had a game mode that for some reason was not available in the English release, and I think some games had Japanese vs. English censorship issues as well rather than just the AES/MVS thing. If you want to know more, you should probably ask the experts at Neo-Geo.com. I went the CD route with Neo Geo, so I haven't dealt with these things directly myself.

Edit: I just remembered that for some reason, they removed the option of 2 player simultaneous in Viewpoint for the AES. MVS mode at the right setting not only allows two players simultaneous, but even when only one person is playing, it makes it so that you start up again exactly where you died when you continue rather than going back to a checkpoint, which vastly changes the difficulty.

[buzz_n64]

How To Make Owning a Neo-Geo More Affordable
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/snkneo-geo/2008/11/how-to-make-owning-a-neo-geo-more-affordable.html

[retroman]

I agree...The older games are very cheap..check neo-geo.com you can get them new never opened..

[todesengel]

How To Make Owning a Neo-Geo More Affordable
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/snkneo-geo/2008/11/how-to-make-owning-a-neo-geo-more-affordable.html
Thanks for the link, was a lot of really good info in that article.


I agree...The older games are very cheap..check neo-geo.com you can get them new never opened..
Going to definitely check neo-geo.com out and see what they have. Might have to at least pick up one game from there as a Christmas present to myself.

I think in the long run I'll end up getting at least a converter to play MVS carts. Especially since I found a complete Japanese KOF 97 kit for only like $20.

[todesengel]

Well checked out neo-geo.com and man where they expensive. Only 1 game was NOS at a decent price and the rest were hundreds of dollars. At least they have an MVS converter that I can get from them someday.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Everything Neo Geo is expensive, it's the 40ft yacht of console gaming. LOL

Taking that analogy further, you know they say that their are two great days in a boat [Neo Geo] owners life. The day they buy their boat [Neo] and the day they sell it.

[StealthLurker]

Well at least now is a good time to get into AES collecting. In the past 5 or so years prices have come way, way down... at least for japanese home console versions. One example is the price of Real Bout Special. Several years ago when I picked up the jpn home version, it was about 150-200+. Now it can be found for under a hundred bucks.

I slap my forehead browsing through yahoo japan, ebay, etc etc seeing the current prices vs. what I paid not too long ago. The decline of the major retro collecting boom, economy and "budget" port/re-releases probably played a role in that. In addition there "appears" to be mass exodus of former AES collectors to MVS... which might have flooded the market a bit for a time with more sellers than buyers for certain titles (just my guess though). It's quite fashionable now on neo-geo.com to preach against AES ownership and try to convince you to go to the MVS side.

.

[Gamingking]

Cheapest you'll find common games are usually around $30-40. Shipping the cart alone was $12-15 for me. Neo Geo collecting isn't cheap, But damn they're are some awesome games to be played.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Well at least now is a good time to get into AES collecting. In the past 5 or so years prices have come way, way down... ...there "appears" to be mass exodus of former AES collectors to MVS... which might have flooded the market a bit for a time with more sellers than buyers for certain titles (just my guess though). It's quite fashionable now on neo-geo.com to preach against AES ownership and try to convince you to go to the MVS side.

I thought I detected that as well, and you know us contrary-ans. Going against trend can net you benefits that are not immediately obvious. AES hardware and MVS software I think is the smart play currently. It allows you partial access within expense reason, and gives you the flexibility to expand up as much as you want in increments. Of course, if money is your prime consideration, then one should probably opt for a Neo CD. Like I've said numerous times before, "One pays in either time or money." So pick one or walk away.

[Tron 2.0]

Nam 1975
League Bowling
Fatal Fury Special
Blue's Journey
Samurai Shodown 1&2
Baseball Stars 2:Well a little more pricey then pro but a better game still.
Spinmaster
Top Hunter

At least that's what titles i recomend todesengel.Still if you find aes to expensive for ya there's all ways mvs.Btw most have mention all ready mvs can be consolized for home use or run through a supergun.

[Blur2040]

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[Gamingking]

I feel I should mention the following to the OP.

It sounds like you only visited the Neo Store on Neo-geo.com. They also have a buying and selling forum much like the one on this this. There, you'll likely find much better deals on games.

For the record, I recommend buying in bulk, as shipping will screw you on Neo Geo games. Many people on eBay overcharge (15$ HA!).

Thats not overcharging, I have shipped Neo Geo games. They usually cost $12-15 to ship as I stated above.

[diskoboy]

Where's the love for The Super Spy? It can usually be found for around 50 or 60 bucks.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Thrash Rally too along with Super Spy. They are not always available though and sometimes dance above $50.

King of the Monsters (less frequently 2 even) can be had cheaply if your willing to wait a bit. I bought a NOS World Heroes 2 euro version off eBay some months ago for $40 shipped. The list can expand out a bit if your patient.

[Atariguy]

Well checked out neo-geo.com and man where they expensive. Only 1 game was NOS at a decent price and the rest were hundreds of dollars. At least they have an MVS converter that I can get from them someday.

As others have said, check out the buying/selling forum at Neo-Geo.com. I also wouldn't worry too much about eBay if you're sticking to the early common stuff, as those things are unlikely to be bootlegged for the AES. You can also check out JapanGameStock and especially Rising Stuff, as they have a few cheapish things there.

[todesengel]

Yeah I had only checked out the regular store section on neo-geo.com, will have to check out the forums when I get some extra cash. I just bought 3 cart only Neo games from a DP member for very cheap (all under $20), so I'll at least have Fatal Fury Special, King of Fighters 96 and Magician Lord along with whatever golf game is coming with the system. Count me in with you guys that like Super Spy, I played it years ago and had a blast with it. Thanks for all the help and recommendations everybody.

[todesengel]

For the AES money games, I'd rather buy an MVS cart and shockbox that sucker so it looks like an AES cart on the shelf.
Where's the best place to buy shockboxes, wouldn't be a bad idea to pick up a couple for the loose carts I'm getting.

[Insaneclown]

Where's the best place to buy shockboxes, wouldn't be a bad idea to pick up a couple for the loose carts I'm getting.

Check out Southtown it has the best Shockboxes and Inserts available to buy. That's where I go:

http://www.southtown-homebrew.com/


I bought my AES to MVS converter on the Neo boards last year. Works like a charm! I'm on the boards as well. So yeah AES is not cheap. They do have the odd game and I do buy mine from the Neo Selling section but the odd time on ebay as well. All depends what your looking for! Collectors = AES - Gamers = MVS

[todesengel]

Check out Southtown it has the best Shockboxes and Inserts available to buy. That's where I go:

http://www.southtown-homebrew.com/


I bought my AES to MVS converter on the Neo boards last year. Works like a charm! I'm on the boards as well. So yeah AES is not cheap. They do have the odd game and I do buy mine from the Neo Selling section but the odd time on ebay as well. All depends what your looking for! Collectors = AES - Gamers = MVS
Thanks for the link, definitely going to be buying some boxes and inserts from there. I still need to check out the Neo boards when I have time and money, probably after Christmas.

[Kiddo]

I'll probably be keeping track of this thread for a while.

... not that I'm expecting a NeoGeo AES at any point in the near future (I have a MVS/Supergun setup anyhow...), but, y'know, just in case...

[Tron 2.0]

Count me in with you guys that like Super Spy
Not me,while the super spy was cool to me in the early 90's not any more.I own it twice and i found the game to be to repetitive for my taste.If you ask me i think you would be better off with crossed swords at least ;)

[todesengel]

Not me,while the super spy was cool to me in the early 90's not any more.I own it twice and i found the game to be to repetitive for my taste.If you ask me i think you would be better off with crossed swords at least ;)
Was Crossed Swords the one with the medieval setting? Basically Super Spy but with knights?

[Tron 2.0]

Was Crossed Swords the one with the medieval setting? Basically Super Spy but with knights?
Pretty much think punchout but with the medieval setting and 2ps as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbutyXusuRs
Mostly i do prefer crossed swords sytle of gameplay more then the super spy.Btw crossed swords has a sequel to but it's exlclusive to the ngcd.