How many games were released for the NGPC?

[Pedro Lambrini]

I have just bought my very first Neo Geo Pocket Color, the pack that comes with six games. I am patiently waiting for it to arrive and this has given me time to contemplate all things NGPC. This lead to the inevitable question:

How many games were released for the NGPC?

I have looked around but can't seem to find that much on this wee machine. Can anybody shed some light? Cheers, folks :)

BTW: Other than Beat 'em ups which games would you recommend?

[Cauterize]

About 32 in USA
About 44 in Europe
About 82 in Japan

[/b]

[Lone_Monster]

Actually, there's 39 UK releases.

I'd recommend:

Card Fighters Clash (Card game)
Dark Arms (RPG/Acttion/Adventure game)
Metal Slug 1st Mission and 2nd Mission
Neo Turf Masters (Golf)
NeoGeo Cup '98 (Soccer)
Cotton (Shooter)
Picture Puzzle (Picross Puzzle game)
Sonic the Hedgehog

For Fighters, I'll recommend:
SvC Match of The Millenium
KOF R-2
Samurai Shodown! 2

Also, if you want to import a game, I'll suggest Ganbare Neo Poke-Kun. It's a very odd game. But very cool nonetheless. You have a little guy named Ganbare live in your NGPC, and you control his environments. You make people come to his house by pushing A, you can watch him do things, like eat things off the floor, talk on the telephone, work out, etc. You can also drop things on his head, if your mad at him, or you can make his house burn to the ground :evil: But the greatest part about the game is that if you make him happy enough, he'll make games for you. These games range from Pong-like games to King of Fighter-like games. It's very cool, but you need a lot of patience.

[Aussie2B]

That's it? o_O I knew there weren't many, but I had no idea there was that few. How hard is it to get a complete US collection? Are any of them really expensive or rare?

[Pedro Lambrini]

That's it? o_O I knew there weren't many, but I had no idea there was that few. How hard is it to get a complete US collection? Are any of them really expensive or rare?

Yeah, I'd like to know that too! How expensive are the really rare ones, if there are any?!

I've found, looking on ebay etc, that nearly all the games come unboxed. Is there a reason for this? I'd've thought some people would've kept the boxes...

BTW: That Ganbare game sounds really pretty groovy - my kind of game. I'm definately going to keep my eyes peeled for it :)

[Mayhem]

Actually, there's 39 UK releases.

There's actually 44: 39 colour and 5 black&white. But in the sense of just for the NGPC, then 39 here ;)

Just go to the online database, it will have them all there. Apart from the "Best" releases which I didn't have enough data on rarity/price to put in.

[Aussie2B]

That's it? o_O I knew there weren't many, but I had no idea there was that few. How hard is it to get a complete US collection? Are any of them really expensive or rare?

Yeah, I'd like to know that too! How expensive are the really rare ones, if there are any?!

I've found, looking on ebay etc, that nearly all the games come unboxed. Is there a reason for this? I'd've thought some people would've kept the boxes...

I feel your pain about the boxes... Only one of my NGPC games has a box and manual. :(

As for prices, I looked through the rarity guide, and it appears that the highest the prices went was around $30. Not too bad. eBay could be higher of course, but at least it sounds pretty reasonable.

[RetroYoungen]

I don't think there are any really "rare" in the US, but the Euro and Japan releases have a few gems, most notably Pocket Reversi (it's the one most known for being uncommon). I don't know why so many people don't keep their boxes, sometimes they can make the real difference in rarity, like in the Pocket Reversi situation.

If you can find it though, Pocket Reversi is a pretty good game. I bought a copy which I think is the Euro version (no box though) and it plays really well. Other than that on recommends, pretty much the entire library is good. Cardfighters Clash, Millenium Fight, Biomotor Unitron, Neo Turf Masters, Puyo Pop, Pocket Tennis Color, Samurai Showdown II, King of Fighters R-2, and one ofm y personal favorites, Oekaki Puzzle (Japanese release similar to Mario Picross on the GB).

[mikeetler]

It's not a question of people keeping boxes, it that a large number of new games were never packaged. When SNK closed up shop in the US, a good number of cartridges were already manufactured but no manuals or boxes. Those are the majority of "loose" carts on eBay and sold in the packages at EB and the like. If that stash hadn't been sold, NGPC games would be a lot harder to come by.

-Mike

[Lemmy Kilmister]

That's it? o_O I knew there weren't many, but I had no idea there was that few. How hard is it to get a complete US collection? Are any of them really expensive or rare?

The u.s versions of Faselei! and Evolution are both pretty rare. Atleast last time i checked. :o

[Lone_Monster]

Ah yes, my mistake. I forgot about the Black and White games. Anyway, it's not too hard to get a complete US collection, but if you want to collect the UK releases like I am trying to do, expect to spend a lot of money. The rarest game, Pocket Reversi complete goes 300+. There's also Faselei! and Evolution which fetch roughly 80 some. I prefer the UK to the US because of the clamshell cases. They're so cool. They beat cardboard boxes any day.

[Lone_Monster]

That's it? o_O I knew there weren't many, but I had no idea there was that few. How hard is it to get a complete US collection? Are any of them really expensive or rare?

The u.s versions of Faselei! and Evolution are both pretty rare. Atleast last time i checked. :o

There is no US version of Evolution. There is a US version of Faselei!, but only cart only, and the same goes for the Last Blade.

[Pedro Lambrini]

How do you tell the difference between the Japanese carts and the European carts? I have just bought a copy of Pocket Reversi for £20 BIN. However, the auction didn't say what country it was from but the auction was in the UK so I took a gamble! So, how would I ID it? Thnks in advance :)

[Lemmy Kilmister]

That's it? o_O I knew there weren't many, but I had no idea there was that few. How hard is it to get a complete US collection? Are any of them really expensive or rare?

The u.s versions of Faselei! and Evolution are both pretty rare. Atleast last time i checked. :o

There is no US version of Evolution

My bad. I could have sworn their was a english release. Or was that just a u.k version?

[Lone_Monster]

Yep, just UK.

[Lone_Monster]

How do you tell the difference between the Japanese carts and the European carts? I have just bought a copy of Pocket Reversi for £20 BIN. However, the auction didn't say what country it was from but the auction was in the UK so I took a gamble! So, how would I ID it? Thnks in advance :)

Well, Japanese carts have Japanese writing on them... Also, most Japanese games come in Cardboard boxes, and all UK games come in Clamshell boxes. The Japanese ones that have clamshell boxes, you just have to see if the bottom of it has Japanese writing on it. The carts are the same. Just check if there's Japanese writing on it. I hope you bought that Pocket Reversi complete and UK, otherwise you just got ripped off.

[Pedro Lambrini]

How do you tell the difference between the Japanese carts and the European carts? I have just bought a copy of Pocket Reversi for £20 BIN. However, the auction didn't say what country it was from but the auction was in the UK so I took a gamble! So, how would I ID it? Thnks in advance :)

Well, Japanese carts have Japanese writing on them... Also, most Japanese games come in Cardboard boxes, and all UK games come in Clamshell boxes. The Japanese ones that have clamshell boxes, you just have to see if the bottom of it has Japanese writing on it. The carts are the same. Just check if there's Japanese writing on it. I hope you bought that Pocket Reversi complete and UK, otherwise you just got ripped off.

It's not complete but it definately is the UK version judging by what you've said. So, I'm quite happy with an unboxed version for £20 (it'll do me just now anyway!) since the boxed ones seem to be going fo about £140 @_@

[Mayhem]

Easiest way to tell what region a cart is from is by looking at the product code. UK carts have no suffix on them, US carts have a 1 suffix and Japanese carts have a 0 suffix. Use the online guide as I made sure every single product code was in there for the Advance Guide :D

As for paying £20 for a loose UK Pocket Reversi, you got "ripped off"; you can easily find it for less than £10 if you search well enough. In fact just about ANY NGPC game is not worth than much loose. Apart from say Koi Koi Mahjong, Nige-ronpa and a couple of other titles you'd be lucky to see in ANY form, let alone complete.

[Pedro Lambrini]

Easiest way to tell what region a cart is from is by looking at the product code. UK carts have no suffix on them, US carts have a 1 suffix and Japanese carts have a 0 suffix. Use the online guide as I made sure every single product code was in there for the Advance Guide :D


I have looked in the online guide but it doesn't seem to have any product codes. All there is, is a short description (with year of release and company) and and a scarcity score...Am I looking in the wrong place?

So, I've been ripped off for the Reversi cart? Oh well, you live and learn I suppose! :embarrassed:

[Mayhem]

Ah... yeah... poo. Sorry, the product numbers are only in the printed guide. Though I can send along to you a shortened version of it if you like.

As for Pocket Reversi, it has all this great mystique about being rare and valuable and all that. Okay, fact is it is the hardest to find UK release. That's about it though. It has no real intrinsic value still when loose (at least you didn't pay that much for it at least, I'd really be wringing my hands if you'd say paid more than £50 for it) mainly because you can quite often find the Japanese version for a cheaper price complete!

No one is entirely sure how many complete copies are out there, probably around 50-70. Loose copies no idea. It's far from the rarest NGPC title though; I'd put Koi Koi Mahjong and Nige-ronpa at least ahead of it, and possibly Hanafuda Dojo. The price comes from the rarity AND that UK releases are desirable for their clamshellness.

[Pedro Lambrini]

Indeed. Pocket Reversi doesn't seem to be that rare. The more I look, th more of them I find (complete or loose). Evolution, on the other hand, I can't seem to find the UK version anywhere!

Mayhem: If you could send me a PM with the serial for Pocket Reversi I'd be really grateful, thanks :)

I have to say the NGPC has really started to intrigue me. Maybe it's all the tasty games, or the groovy hardware. Or maybe it's that getting a complete collection seems quite attainable. The clamshell boxes for the UK are pretty nifty too, infinitely better than shitty cardboard boxes. (Yep, I'm looking at you Nintendo!)

Last thought (read question!): Does anyone know where I can get hold of the official carry case for it? I know it was never officially released but I have seen them in the past - just can't remember where...

[PhoeniX]

Easiest way to tell what region a cart is from is by looking at the product code. UK carts have no suffix on them, US carts have a 1 suffix and Japanese carts have a 0 suffix. Use the online guide as I made sure every single product code was in there for the Advance Guide :D

That sounds like a great trick... Interestingly, 4 of my carts (neo turf masters, pac-man, KOF r2, and Dark Arms) are aparently UK. They were purchased "new" (with the exception of dark arms) in one of those bundles that included the system and six games, I take it then in the wake of the break up of SNK unsold UK stuff was sold in the US. I had seen what I though were label variations of pac-man and turf masters, I guess these were the actual US releases... So much for being close to a US set... :(

[Aussie2B]

Interesting, my Neo Turf Masters is from the UK too. All my other games are US releases, though. For some reason my boyfriend likes the fact that his Turf Masters is from the UK despite the fact that we have it loose so it makes no difference. o_O He says "Because it was MEANT TO come in a clamshell case". Haha. :)