Category Archives: Neo-Geo Reviews

Already a powerhouse in the arcade industry, SNK released the Neo-Geo platform in 1990 in 2 forms. The Neo-Geo MVS (Multi-Video System) was an arcade system that allowed the operator to invest in only one cabinet, and then buy games in cartridge format which could easily be swapped in and out of the cabinet. The MVS cabinet came in several varieties, each of which could hold different numbers of user-selectable games. At the same time, SNK released the Neo-Geo AES (Advanced Entertainment System) which was a home console version of the MVS. Although the cartridges were not identical (preventing arcade operators from buying the more affordable home releases for use in their cabinets) the games were identical. The two systems even shared the same memory card technology, so that an AES user could bring his memory card from home and insert it into an MVS cabinet in the arcade. For the first time, a home console was successfully able to bring the arcade-perfect experience out of the arcade and into the living room. This luxury didn’t come cheap, however. The AES system retailed for $649 at launch, and came bundled with 2 arcade sticks and one game. Later on, a more affordable bundle was released for $399, but this only included one controller and no game. Games themselves retailed for around $249 each. In 1994, in an attempt to make their home offering more affordable, SNK released the Neo-Geo CD system. The system was priced at $300, but perhaps more importantly CD technology allowed the games to be sold at the average video game price point of around $50 each. Unfortunately, the CD system never took off due to both some technical issues and the coming of the Playstation and Saturn consoles which provided a more “modern” gaming experience. Although the home console was a tough sell to all but the most hardcore of gamers, the platform enjoyed longevity both among loyal home users and in the arcades, finally being discontinued in 2004. Games are still being developed for the platform today, and the Neo-Geo still enojoys strong support from its legions of fans.