which Neo Geo console should i buy?

[pragmatic insanester]

i know that the cart system and games are usually more expensive. are there any perks of the cd games/console to compete with having load times and whatnot?

[Kroogah]

Cheaper, and arranged soundtracks. That's about it.

[D-Lite]

Buy an MVS board and a supergun. It is the best way to play, uses the cheapest game format, and you can use the supergun to play tons and tons of other JAMMA arcade boards.

[anagrama]

are there any perks of the cd games/console to compete with having load times and whatnot?

A couple of exclusive titles that weren't released for AES/MVS. And the load times aren't really unbearable except for the later fighters - you can see a load time comparison chart here: http://www.egameaddiction.com/neogeocd/loadtimes.html

[kedawa]

Neo Geo CD will play CD-Rs without modifications.
Aside from the obvious benefits of this, there is at least some homebrew potential.

[Vectorman0]

AES is out of the question since you will be so limited by the prices of some games. The CD may have cheaper games, but it doesn't have the same library that MVS does. MVS may be a little more expensive to get a hardware setup, but it is well worth it. Also, you might be able to pick up a neo cab for cheaper than a good quality supergun and mvs board.

[Nez]

Go with a neocd, load times arn't that bad (If you've played pc games then load times won't annoy you as much). Everyone is spoiled with the load times of console games. Yes the bigger fighters have long load times but the majority are livable.

[Whiskers the Wonder Cat]

Load times can take up to 20-40 seconds. PER round.

If you really want to play SNK games that bad. I suggest you to get a Saturn or a import PS2, and import PSone games and PS2 games.

[anagrama]

Load times can take up to 20-40 seconds. PER round.

For some of the later fighters, yes. However, as can be seen in the link I posted above, for almost all other games, the load times are no more than you would find with most PSX or Saturn games. People get far too hung up on this.

[MrSmiley381]

I like the AES, but that's probably because I got it for $20 and there are only a few more Neo games I plan to buy, NeoCD has load times. MVS has cheapest cartridges.

[CosmicMonkey]

Go for an MVS set-up.

Much as I like CD-based systems, the Neo CD just isn't worth it. Aside from the load times, there's absolutely loads of games that never got a CD release. And Chotetsu Brikin'ger isn't really much of a consolation for no Metal Slug X,3,4,5 or BlazingStar.

The AES has it's problems too, hence the existence of fully modded 'MegaNeos'. There's no power light and if you want decent RGB output you need one of the first 90,000 units, or it's a modding mission. Then there's the price of the games. Metal Slug is an excellent game, but I'd never pay $3000 for it. Admittedly you can get cheaper converted carts, but you're still looking at over $100 for one of those.

So yeah, get an MVS MoBo, a Neo stick/pad and build/buy a Supergun. You can even get Razoola's UniBIOS and switch the MVS into AES mode. This will cost more than an Ebay AES, but you immediately save money when you buy your first game. I have all 6 Metal Slugs, and each one didn't cost more that £20-30. Even when you add in the cost of Shockboxes and printing inserts, the cost of MVS games is super cheap.

The last time VGI had a copy of Blazing Star, it was £850!! My whole consolized MV-1C set-up I built and 18 games has probably just about hit that.

[D-Lite]

The problem with the CD unit isn't just load times. And the lack of games is also pretty bad. But the big problem is that even the game that got a CD release are gimpy. To make the load times even what they are, the games have missing materials. Play Neo Turf Masters on MVS then CD and tell me the experience :angry:

And to say play them on a PSX or Saturn you must be nuts. A handful of the titles and you still aren't playing a Neo Geo.

And yes, you may be able to get a cab for a bit cheaper than a MVS + supergun, but you'd have to spend <$300 INCLUDING SHIPPING unless you're lucky enough to find one locally. And then you need to have the space for it.

[Captain Wrong]

Isn't this round #93845 for this topic?

The answer is always the same:

If you want (for the most part) the cheapest games, don't mind not having the newer games, have patience for load times or really want arranged soundtracks, get a CD.

If you want "collectablilty," don't mind paying an arm and a leg for the best games or are planning to get a Phantom 2, go with an AES system.

If you want cheaper games but don't mind paying a little more for hardware, the most number of games or don't mind not having a "real" console, get a MVS/Supergun combo.

If you're really cheap, lazy or wear an eye patch, ROMZ BABY!!!!!!111!!!!!!


At the end of the day, this is a religion/politics kind of topic but you're NEVER going to convince me that anything other than an MVS is the best way to go.

[CosmicMonkey]

Hurrah, for the MVS love. My MV-1C looks like a proper console in a nice white casing ;)

And yeah, don't bother with ports, at least play the games on proper Neo hardware. As for CD games, what happened to that guy who was converting cart games over to CD? I'm sure he'd got about 7 games done, but you had to donate.

[rjohnson]

get get get an MVS cabinet...

go to a local arcade and see if they have any you can offer to buy (i did) or look in the ads online (craig's list) or look for arcade supply shops...ask around for an MVS cabinet...

they are big, fun and for gaming...the REAL deal... no super gun needed, and with MEMORY card support!

i bought mine (Big Red) with 6 games for $400...

an MVS red original SNK Neo Geo 4 slot AND it ALL works...

never looked back... one of the best purchases i have (game wise) made.

8-)

[CosmicMonkey]

I'd love a four or six slot MVS in a cabinet. However, there's not enough room in the house. When we have our own house I'll have a cabinet in the conservatory or somewhere.

For the moment I'm having to consolize arade systems for TV usage. Reckon I'll have a crack at a CPS2 next. Alien Vs. Predator & Progear: Yay. And it's a pity all the Cave shooters on PGM hardware are in single board form and didn't get released as PGM carts. That'd be an amazing system.

[Raedon]

I will always love my CDZ system.. it's the little things like the cool Japanese loading icons and anime.. the hand controller is THE greatest pad design on the planet.

[-hellvin-]

Unless you're really interested in playing only newer release, neo cd. Cheapest, biggest neo selection. Load times are pretty good, except for something like Last Blade, which is just untolerable. After that, I'd recommend MVS. Cheap compared to AES and easier to find most of the popular games.

[Julio III]

And yeah, don't bother with ports, at least play the games on proper Neo hardware. As for CD games, what happened to that guy who was converting cart games over to CD? I'm sure he'd got about 7 games done, but you had to donate.

I think one of the people who made a Dreamcast NeoCD emulator is working on something to convery cart games to CD games

[Trebuken]

I think getting a cabinet would be the best...I have a Neo CD and a consolized MVS. I think the CD is great for many games, just not the fighters...silly waiting....the MVS is awesome (I need an RGB mod to it though). You can get many of the older games cheaper than theor Neo CD counetrparts too. If I had to do it again I'd get this:

http://www.gwtrading.com/hga.shtml

The addtional Jamma and other capabilities are just cool...

Later,
Trebuken

[Tron 2.0]

MVS+Supergun
Consolized MVS
MVS cab

There ya go 3 choices you can't loose either way.

Sure the set up isn't cheap but the, MVS cartridges are dirt cheap unlike AES :P

[fishsandwich]

I recommed the Dreamcast and then the Saturn. I know, I know, they aren't Neo-Geo machines and the selection of real NG games is small, but either is a hell of a lot cheaper.

That's my 2 cents, and that's really all it's worth.

:/

[XianXi]

I have 3 Neo CDs and I love them, if you really have a problem with load times I would suggest buying just the games and trying to find and emulator and playing it on your PC. 1x speed drive vs. 50x speed drive will make a difference in the load times.

I am trying to find a fully detailed diagram to hook up my neo pad to my PC, I guess more googling.

[Nez]

I have 3 Neo CDs and I love them, if you really have a problem with load times I would suggest buying just the games and trying to find and emulator and playing it on your PC. 1x speed drive vs. 50x speed drive will make a difference in the load times.

I am trying to find a fully detailed diagram to hook up my neo pad to my PC, I guess more googling.

Wouldn't you just hook it up to the old pc serial game port?

[XianXi]

I have 3 Neo CDs and I love them, if you really have a problem with load times I would suggest buying just the games and trying to find and emulator and playing it on your PC. 1x speed drive vs. 50x speed drive will make a difference in the load times.

I am trying to find a fully detailed diagram to hook up my neo pad to my PC, I guess more googling.

Wouldn't you just hook it up to the old pc serial game port?

the serial port is female just like the controller itself but you can get a gender changer and plug it in but I am not sure if the pin settings are the same as the console. Like if I try to press A and then it jumps like I was pressing up kinda thing.

Does anyone know which emulator is best?

[Jibbajaba]

When we have our own house I'll have a cabinet in the conservatory or somewhere.

Careful. Colonel Mustard might be waiting to ambush you with a lead pipe.

Chris