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Funny Uncyclopedia King of Fighters article

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:42:24 -0700

Pretty funny article of the Uncyclopedia, a parody site of Wikipedia. Kof fans a must read! Article Link: Link

The King of Fighters Maximum Impact - Mission Mode Guide

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:40:34 -0800

Mission Mode FAQ

If you have the Japanese version of this game, here's a guide to all the challenges in mission mode. Some are self explanatory, while some are a little bit harder, hopefully this guide will help you through it! Many thanks to Mao2 from GameFAQ's.com's Forums, as he provided all the translations of each missions requirements.

LEVEL 1 Lv1-01 . Disabled: Special attacks & desperation moves . Hit the opponent 10 times. Lv1-02 . Disabled: Special attacks & desperation moves . Perform a 4 or more hits combo on the opponent. Lv1-03 . Perform a Counter Hit on the opponent. Lv1-04 . Perform a Guard Crush on the opponent. Lv1-05 . Defeat the opponent in 30 seconds. Lv1-06 . Win the first 2 rounds. Lv1-07 . Life gauge: 50% . Defeat the opponent. Lv1-08 . Guard gauge: 50% . Defeat the opponent without getting Guard Crushed. Lv1-09 . Power gauge: None . Defeat the opponent. Lv1-10 . Disabled: Special attacks & desperation moves . Defeat the opponent. LEVEL 2 Lv2-01 . Win 2 rounds straight. Lv2-02 . Defeat the opponent without getting downed for more than 3 times. Lv2-03 . Defeat the opponent with him downed 5 times or more. Lv2-04 . Defeat the opponent without guarding for more than 5 times. Lv2-05 . No damage: Desperation moves . Life gauge: 30% . Defeat the opponent with combination attacks. Lv2-06 . Power gauge: Max . Defeat the opponent. Lv2-07 . Achieve First Attack and defeat the opponent. Lv2-08 . Defense: 50% . Defeat the opponent. Lv2-09 . Attack: 50% . Defeat the opponent. Lv2-10 . Defeat the opponent with a desperation move. LEVEL 3 Lv3-01 . Life gauge: Regenerate . Defeat the opponent. Lv3-02 . Attacks with 2 hits and below do no damage . Defeat the opponent. Lv3-03 . Life gauge: Decrease . Defeat the opponent. Lv3-04 . Defense: 300% . Defeat the opponent. Lv3-05 . Attack: 300% . Defeat the opponent. Lv3-06 . Defeat the opponent without getting downed. Lv3-07 . Life gauge: 500% . Defeat the opponent in 99 seconds. Lv3-08 . Win 2 rounds in 30 seconds. Lv3-09 . Cannot guard . Defeat the opponent. Lv3-10 . Life gauge: 50% . Life gauge: 500% + Regenerate . Attack: 200% . Power gauge: Max . Achieve Time Up. LEVEL 4 Lv4-01 . Life gauge: Decrease . Life gauge: Regenerate . Defeat the opponent. Lv4-02 . Attacks with 3 hits and below do no damage . Defeat the opponent. Lv4-03 . Perform a 30 or more hits combo on the opponent Lv4-04 . No damage: Throws & command throws . Defeat the opponent in 30 seconds. Lv4-05 . Defeat the opponent with a Perfect. Lv4-06 . Defeat the opponent. [Opponent's life gauge recovers fully every 10 seconds] Lv4-07 . Life gauge: Decrease . No damage: Desperation moves . Attack: 150% . Defeat the opponent. Lv4-08 . Guard gauge: 20% . Life gauge: 70% . Attack: 200% . Defeat the opponent. Lv4-09 . Power gauge: None . Attacks with 2 hits and below do no damage . Life gauge: 150% . Guard Crush: None . Defeat the opponent. Lv4-10 . Guard gauge: 50% . Life gauge: 200% . Power gauge: Max . Defeat the opponent.

Chris Mullins Neo Geo FAQ

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 12:35:05 -0800

Chris MullinsCHRIS MULLINS'S NEO-GEO FAQ PDF Version 1.6/TXT version 12.0/PostScript version 1.2 Updated 12/2/2001 SNK is dead�.10/30/2001 This FAQ is made by Chris Mullins for reading to anyone who wants to know about the Neo- Geo Entertainment System, the Neo-Geo CD equivalent, and the MVS arcade system. Now, please enjoy this FAQ! TOTAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 61 FAQs ----Why did I create this FAQ? Well, there were many reasons, but the first, was that there was no other current Neo FAQ out on the internet. Ralph Barbagallo's FAQ was, in April 1997, 2 1/2 years without an update, and I felt I had to do something. I wanted to cover all aspects of the Neo, from getting games to work, to having a COMPLETE Game List, having answers about converting carts, etc. It took almost two years, but now, I can safely say that my FAQ is nearly complete. It will always get 'better' in some way, shape, or form, but with my hard work, and you guys(the FAQ readers) chipping in some great info, everyone will benefit. Thanks to all who helped me with this FAQ over the years, and special congratulations to Ralph Barbagallo, for making the first one. Without it, I wouldn't have had a measuring stick as to how to write a good system FAQ. ----What is the History of the NEOGEO? SNK originally intended for the NEOGEO to be a home rental system, as it was too expensive for most people at launch time. After two months though, SNK stopped doing this, and started to sell them vigorously, to the best of their ability. The Neo stood strong, after going through a motherboard change for the video output(they needed to have better composite output from the Neo, as the first NEOGEOs had horrid composite output). Who knows what could happen next? SNK tried to push the Neo-Geo, with Penthouse Magazine Ads, game leaflets, and a big packet of info(game lists, pricing, SS2 preview, etc.) that they would send prospective buyers. Since that didn't go over too well, the inevitable must come.... In 1994, after Samurai Shodown 2 in U.S.A. was released, the front-office of SNK US changed, with Chad Okada(the Game Lord)leaving for Sony, and new people taking the reins. And what a blow it took to SNK's credibility. No more marketing, no more advertisements, and that meant a dip in home sales for SNK. Even in 1998, SNK is still feeling the effects of the damage done in late 1994. No matter how profitable they become right now, SNK could always say, that they could've been bigger. Unfortunately, as of October 30th 2001, they have permanently closed their doors. ----Is the NEOGEO really worth the money? Well, no. It has never been worth the money, and sure isn't worth it now. I'd rather buy a Laseractive than a Neo-Geo now. In 1995-1998, I would never have said that, but the high costs of games sure got to me. The advent of Neo emulation has killed any reasonable market for the Neo; for unsold stocks of Home cartridge games are shuffled all over the place and MVS carts continue their downward spiral. ----What is a NEOGEO or NEOGEO CD, and what are the specs for it? The NEOGEO is an exact copy of SNK's MVS arcade hardware, with MVS standing for MULTI-VIDEO SYSTEM. SNK makes games in this order: MVS Cartridge, Home Cartridge, and CD-ROM(for the NEOGEO CD). Remember that there are very few games that are CD only, or are MVS only. Arcade operators have the MVS boards set up, to where you can play up to 6 games(can access different ones with a push of the button) while standing at one machine. There are also 4 game, 2 game (2 monitor), 2 game (1 monitor), and single units. The specs on this thing are pretty good (who cares if this is twelve years old!), including decent sound. Here they are: Processor: Motorola 68000(12 Mhz, 16-bit), Zilog-80A(4 Mhz, 8-bit) (technically a 16-bit machine, not 24-bit) Resolution: 320x224 Color Palette: 65,536 Maximum Colors On-Screen: 4,096 Maximum Sprites On-Screen: 380 Minimum Sprite Size: 1x2 Maximum Sprite Size: 16x512 Maximum Amount of Game Planes: 3 Sound Channels: 4-FM synthesis, 7-Digital, 3-PSG, 1-Noise channel Internal RAM: Work RAM: 64Kb Video RAM: 68Kb Z80 RAM: 2Kb Memory Card(see below) The NEOGEOCD has all, including a single-speed CD-ROM drive, 64Kb of Static RAM, 512Kb Video RAM, cool loading screens, and 56 Mbits of Dynamic RAM. The CDZ, likewise, except with more cache and a faster CD controller. ----How much does a NEOGEO system cost? The $64,000 question, I guess. When the NEOGEO first came out in 1990, it cost $650 with either NAM-1975 or Baseball Stars Professional, and games soon followed, costing $200 apiece. Now, you could pick a Neo up for about $200, but new games run you $300 apiece, due to the extremely large size and megabit count of them. But you could find old, used games for a lot cheaper (about $40-50 apiece), and a lot better bang for the buck that way.(See later in the FAQ for my counterpoint to the statement above.) The NEOGEO CD came out in 1994 as the supposed answer to SNK's gamut of problems, with cheaper games and a standard medium to put them on. It's still a viable system to purchase, because the new games are about $200 cheaper. But certain used games are cheaper on cartridge, and load time is a big problem (due to the demanding fighting games made for it, and it being a single-speed drive). The NEOGEO CD costs about $250 new, and games run about $50-70 apiece new for it. The CDZ, remember, which runs all CD games, costs $400 new. ----What accessories are available for the NEOGEO, and can I get substitutes for parts? Joystick: There are two kinds of joysticks available for the NEOGEO. First is the bigger, more stable joysticks, where motions can be done with ease(most, at least). But the others are lighter, more apt to break, and harder to even pull off motions on it. To some people, they don't like the fact that SNK doesn't make the older, heavier controllers anymore, only the smaller, sleeker controllers. You can use these controllers on the CD, CDZ, MVS, and Home cart system. Memory Card: This device on the NEOGEO Cartridge System can save any position in ANY game(from 19- 27 game positions saved), and can be put in an MVS arcade cabinet so you can resume playing from your saved game in the arcade(8 Kbytes of RAM). You can also use any memory card that has 68 pins, and JEIDA spec ver.3, or higher. Also, you can use bigger memory cards that fit the JEIDA standard as well, for more saved games! Joypad Controllers: Pretty good controllers, but may be hard to pull off certain motions on it, and may seem out of place on the NEOGEO. RGB/S-Video Cables: Yes! You can have arcade quality graphics with the RGB cable(and near-arcade quality with the S-Video cable)! But, you'll have to make your own, because all of the old peripherals are not made anymore. Nylon Carry Bags: Have you ever wanted to take your NEOGEO on vacation? To college, or to your Grandma's? Well, now you can, with these nylon carry bags, which are padded for the Neo's protection. Although these products are rather old, you can probably still find them at SNK, or at other retailers listed in the "Phone Numbers" section. AC and AV adapters: The AV adapters can be used by the Home Cart, CD, and CDZ system, provided you don't try to use the red jacks on the cart system. The AC adapters, are DIFFERENT for the Home cart, CD, and CDZ systems. :( You have to get stock SNK replacements... There are other products out there made by third-parties and other companies, but are not listed here(like tons of specialty controllers, which were mostly made back in 1993-1994). ----What Accessories were Proposed, but never released on the NEO-GEO? There were some accessories for the Neo-Geo, mainly back in the earlier years of its life, but never surfaced. Below, they stand: 1. The Neo-Geo Network: This was a network, which included games with built-in modems(only Minnasanno Okagesamadesu was made like that), for link-up play all across Japan and the USA! It only appeared in the USA in an advertisement for the Neo-Geo in 1990. In Japan, it was a prototype in 1990-1991. 2. Keyboards: There were two keyboards for the Neo-Geo...The first, is a Mahjong controller, with 8 buttons(no joystick itself, no directional up and down)..and the second, is a computer-style keyboard, for the Neo-Geo network. Both were shot down in late 1991, only prototypes exist. The MAHJONG controllers do exist in small quantities in Japan, but are very rare to find. 3. The Neo CD unit, which was supposed to attach on the Neo cart unit...which was unfortunately vaporware, determined to be that in 1993. ----Are Japanese games compatible with U.S. NEOGEO's? Yes they are, and will play in English, if you have an English system. If you have a Japanese system, English games play in Japanese. The same goes for European PAL systems, as well(play in European/English language of your system's heritage, US, Japan, Europe, etc.). NEOGEO CD systems are the same way; if you have a US Neo CD, and have a Japanese CD game, it will play in English. If you have a Japanese Neo CD, and a US CD game, it will play in Japanese. ----Are there any Third Party Game Manufacturers for the NEOGEO? There used to be several third party companies publishing in America, but now only produce in Japan(and let SNK publish them over here), such as Visco, Pallas, Video System, Alpha Denshi (ADK), Face, Saurus, Sunsoft, Aicom, DataEast, Tradewest, Hudson Soft, Nazca, Taito, Viccom, Technos, American Sammy, Monolith, Takara, Brezza Soft, Eolith, Success, NMK, Yumekobo, and Wave. They all publish games in Japan, or just stopped making games for SNK. To tell the truth, most of these were probably separate entities within SNK, such as ADK, Saurus, etc. ----What's this I hear about NEOGEO Emulation? That's right, you can now emulate Neo-Geo cartridge games on your own computer. After 3 years of updates and teasers, there are several well-done emulators (NeoRageX and Kawaks to name two), both able to run 138 games. There are a couple of flaws on them, such as minor graphics flaws, and joystick capabilities could be improved a little bit. There are not that many ROMs to get anymore, they're already all dumped (KOF 2001 is the last exception). There is sound available on the MAME/Kawaks and NeoRageX emulators, and they have emulated sound pretty well. I used to be turned off by emulation, but because of the bastardization and utter disillusionment with the collectors' market, emulation is the best route to enjoy Neo games nowadays. ----Can I put my ROMs from my computer onto an MVS, Home Cart, or CD? Theoretically, you could re-dump them onto an MVS or Home Cart. But, knowing where each bit of information goes and such, and which chip it goes on, that can be very time consuming, and not worth your time at all. You cannot put them onto a CD, and expect the Neo CD to play them. It cannot be done, as it needs the BIOS on EACH GAME. ----What is the Memory Card test and the Controller Test? The Memory Card test does test and let you format cards, delete saves, copy saves, and read files. You press and hold ABCD (on first controller) when a game is inserted, press reset, and it is activated. The Controller Test tests to see if you have a broken controller, and it is activated by inserting a game, turning on the power as you're holding ABCD, on the second controller. There is either a 0 or 1 when you press any button in the test. ----Are there extention cables for my controllers available? You can actually use PC controller 15-pin extention cables without any modifications necessary. ----What about the Multi-Link feature? Some games (Riding Hero, League Bowling, Thrash Rally, and the two Versus Prototype games) for the NEOGEO feature the Multi-Link Feature, which means you can network two NEOGEOs together, with two separate TVs. But the Multi-Link Cable is essentially a wire with two male mini-headphone jacks, one at each end. ----NEOGEO Cartridges with cardboard boxes? What the....? Yes, the above statement is indeed true. The first 18 games were released in Japan, with cardboard boxes not unlike the Nintendo (Famicom)game boxes. These are rarer than the other box forms, by far, and are desired by collectors everywhere. ----What about these "Prototype" cartridges I'm hearing of? These cartridges are not even prototype at all, at least games like Gururin, Panic Bomber, etc. These are bootlegged copies of them, stolen or given from SNK of Japan, are copied carts from Brazil, or are converted MVS carts. The following, are unreleased MVS games: Baseball Stars 3 Crystal Legacy Death Match Droppers Dunk Stars Fire Suplex 2 Fun Fun Brothers Fu'un Super Tag Battle Link-Up GhostLop Heavy Glove Boxing Magician Lord 2 (CD only) Mystic Wand Ninja Gaiden QP (CD only) Reactor Sunshine Warlocks of the Fates World Heroes Link-Up That's about it, but caveat emptor, as a few of the above have been pirated and copied for years in Latin America. The games that are MVS Only, if they are on home, are converted cartridges. ----Which Game Magazines cover the NEOGEO? Back from 1991, American magazines covered the Neo-Geo from day one, and there was a decent amount of hoopla surrounding it. And, it continued for several more years, in such magazines as Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Die Hard Game Fan, etc. But, in 1995, most of the magazines stopped covering the Neo(mainly because they were tired of going to the arcade to review the games), and readers had to turn to Japan for their Neo info. In 1996, Neo-Geo FREAK was introduced in Japan, which is the only all-Neo magazine to date. It still is around, bigger than ever. Also, Gamest DID cover the Neo in their magazine as well, before they went bankrupt. Then NGF went bankrupt in late 2000, so there is no other magazine covering the NeoGeo. ----What's the current status of the Neo? I see the Neo Home cart dying out by the start of 2001, because KOF 2000 is the last release. (note�it held on longer than expected, as Sengoku 3 was the last official SNK cartridge made) It was a good run, but the system should have been canned in 1997 when Last Blade was supposed to be the last fighting game. However, Vektorlogic states that they can fully reproduce the Neo boardset without SNK parts, so we may see more arcade releases even if SNK decides to shut down. There's always the perennial rumors of an SNK v. Capcom MVS title, but the death knell for SNK is coming fast... Several other entrepreneurs are aiming to produce home releases of MVS only cartridges, but it may be futile; I tried to get into the market, to no avail. I could have offered Breakers Revenge for $250 w/insert, manual, and everything else, but the advent of emulation and the game�s lack of appeal killed that prospect. ----Can I Contact SNK? To be honest, it isn't even worth contacting them. They are out of business in America and Europe, and will shut down South American operations as well. Contacting SNK Japan won't work, since they don't listen to us. With SNK bankrupt, who would care about this dead system? :( ----Why is SNK of America so complacent? First, after Bonnie Lais and Chad Okada left the company, SNK put a new director's board in charge of SNK of America. They appointed people to the positions of President, and Manager, and have their work cut out, to erase the damage done in 1994. Perhaps they are busy, as they have to put up with SNK of Japan, and if you're a regular customer of theirs, they'll put you on a first name basis. Well, all I have to say is, don't expect too much, as they are incompetent businesspeople that do not know how to administer a business. In fact, Aruze (parent company of SNK) shut down US and Euro operations, citing lack of revenue. Well, on the US side, you can take it up with the former operator, the Barones. ----I want the "Blood and Bouncy" code in King of Fighters '94? How do I Get it? First, you can either input the code normally (which is time-consuming), or you can have a language switch installed. In the following paragraphs I will explain how to do so in a NEOGEOCD(Z). This may also work for the cartridge system as well. Also, don't turn the switch when the system is on! It may damage the system! And I will NOT take responsibility for your mishaps on making this, should an accident occur. Now, here are the directions: 1. Unplug all cables from the NEOGEOCD(Z), and remove any disks that may be inside. 2. Turn over the NEOGEOCD(Z) and remove the four screws at the corner of the case. After removing the screws, carefully lift the TOP portion of the case so that it does not get stuck on the joystick connectors. 3. Place the top portion of the case next to the bottom so that the CD data cable does not get removed from its socket. 4. Look at the board with the joystick connectors. Carefully remove the Data Cable from its socket. Next, remove the six screws and carefully remove the board from its case. Also, be aware that there is a switch already present on the board. This is NOT a pre-installed language switch(DON'T TOUCH IT!). 5. Look at the jumpers near the Data Cable(at southwest position from the Data Cable, when the diagram near the Data Cable is facing north, relatively). If you have an American NEOGEOCD there will be a jumper located at JN1. If you have a European system, the jumper will be at JN2. On a Japanese NEOGEOCD(Z), there is no jumper set. 6. Look at the jumper diagram near the Data Cable. Now you have to decide what modes to switch from and to. If you have any remaining jumpers, remove them with a soldering iron. Also take the time to decide whether you want a remote switch, or one soldered to the board. 7. (FOR JAPANESE TO USA MODE)If you decided on a remote switch, solder a piece of wire to one terminal of JN1 and solder the other end of the wire to one of the terminals on the switch. Next, solder another wire to the other terminal of JN1 and then to the other terminal on the switch. You now have a working USA to Japanese mode switch. You can now cut a hole in the case of your NEOGEOCD(Z) and mount the switch( if you want to). If you wanted to switch between Europe and Japanese mode just substitute JN2 for JN1 in the above example. Also, if you did not want a remote switch, you can optionally mount the switch directly to the board. This makes it really hard to change modes when you want to. (ALL THREE MODES) If you wish to have all three modes you have several options. First, you can buy a three-way switch, that must support both JN1 and JN2 open, JN1 closed and JN2 open, and JN2 closed and JN1 open. Or, you can install two switches. In the second part, you could use USA mode by leaving the JN2 switch in Japanese mode and setting the JN1 switch for USA. European mode can be used by leaving JN1 in Japanese Mode and setting JN2 for European. Japanese mode would be accomplished by leaving both switches in Japanese mode. Please do NOT leave both switches in either USA or European mode. 8. Now reassemble your NEOGEOCD(Z). 9. Now reattach everything and try a game in Japanese mode and then try it in American mode. If it works both times, you have a successful switch! If you don't want to do this yourself, please contact MAS Systems, as they will modify your NeoGeo to show the blood with the flick of a toggle button. But, on newer games, you don't have to enter a code, or make a language switch for it, because they already contain blood and other adultish themes. ----I heard that MAS SYSTEMS does various modifications to Neo-Geo Cartridge Systems. Please tell me about it. I'll try to explain the best I can, but since I only own a simple Japanese modded system, I'll only go by what other reliable sources told me about them. Here it goes: Stereo-SVideo Mod: This mod enables you to use S-Video and Stereo outputs on your Neo-Geo system (instead of composite video and monaural sound). I think it costs about $100 to have done, courtesy of Mas Systems. Debug Mod: Or known as the "Arcade Mod", or the "Game Developer Mod", this mod does quite a few things. First, it's a language changer for older titles. Then, it's a "Game Genie" for the Neo, enabling you to access secret characters by using access codes and such. And, you can have unlimited continues, damaging hits, and the like. It costs about $80-$120 or so to have done, also at Mas Systems. Japanese Switch Mod: Many people can do this, it is described above. Mainly, only do this now if you desperately need to beat Burning Fight on Hard or something, it is unnecessary at this point. If there are any more that I don't know about, feel free to e-mail me. ----Can I convert MVS Games to Neo Home Games? The conversions require you taking the MVS chips out of the casing, putting them in the home cart, and re- wiring it to work. Plain and simply, this is what you need: $100-125+ per cart A host cart, to convert the MVS game to(118 Megs or bigger) The MVS Cart you want to convert MAS Systems' number is at the bottom of the FAQ. Almost all of the so-called 'prototypes' out there, are just converted carts. You can tell converted carts, when you open them up, they contain tons of re- wiring....regular ones do not. Remember, SNK had done this for years, in fact, they have always done it themselves. Why did Shock Troopers Second Squad come out on home cartridge 9 months AFTER it wasreleased on MVS form? Simply to get rid of MVS Stock. See, SNK has done it for years, but the general population had only known about it for a year. There's nothing wrong with them; in fact, I used to homebrew them myself, but realized that when I wanted to homebrew games aimed at the $269 level, no one would buy the "older" games, such as Breakers Revenge (see above), etc. ----Are you sure about the "converted" carts? Are they worth buying? To give you an idea, about 2 years ago, I converted a copy of Breakers Revenge for my own personal use, on my own. And let me tell you, it took a lot more than $125 and a cheap game to transfer the MVS cart to. I used to "homebrew" them myself, but because the collectors' market has been bastardized into paying outrageous prices for games, I cannot get games too cheap anymore. Moreover, games are not big in my life as they once was. If you want to throw away money on this stuff, then fine; otherwise, utilize emulation and be done with it. But even then, after a while one will get tired of the Neo and never play it again. As is the case with me. (20 Aug 2001) ----Man, the NEOGEO CD is too slow! Can't I put in an 8x CD-ROM drive in my NEOGEO CD? That's a tough one to answer. Well, it may depend on your computer skills, how you should wire the CD interface to the controller on the NEOGEO CD, if possible at all. If you succeed in doing so, you then haveto test it, to see if it will work. If not, try another, similar driveto the CDZ(like a Saturn drive). But all that work may be for naught, because most of the accesstime depends on what speed the games are produced at. Most are still produced at 1x,so anything higher than a 6x or 8x drive is not necessary at all. In fact, even a 4x drive may not be necessary, whichmeans you'll be partying with your NEOGEO CD(CDZ, perhaps?), taking awhile still to load games. Why? Well, faster load times may not be noticeable as much on 1x games, as they do with 8x games. It is EXTREMELY difficult, and only one place(MAS Systems) has pulled off a translation. And, it was a Saturn-CDZ....which had no speed increase in it at all. Now, a Saturn-CD conversion would be neat to have...but because the actual speed increase is the proprietary controller of the CD drive, it may not really benefit. ----I'm so sick of composite video. I want RGB! Have you got a PAL Neo-Geo with an RF, or composite cable? I can understand one�s anguish�:) Well, no need to scream, because it is very easy to make it look abouta hundred times better than RF output. Just two steps. 1. You need to force your Neo-Geo to display through the NTSC signal. Why? Because unlike the PAL signal it is 16% faster, full screen, and above all,it looks as the programmers intended. To do this, just open your Neo-Geo by unscrewing the four screws on the bottom (3 of the screws are hidden under the rubber feet; just remove the feet with a little screwdriver).Once your console is open, locate a small piece of bare wire (very short) in the area of the top right corner of the motherboard, it is called PAL 1. There is no need to be uneasy, it is marked as PAL 1. Now with a small cutter cut it in half, and make sure that no contact is made. That's all. If you did everything fine you should get full screen signal (NTSC). 2. Now for the optimum display (RGB) make a SCART/RGB (European SCART) cable.You can either get one from a store, like Telegames UK, or make your own. I donot have any info on how to make one, however. If you did all well, you should now get a perfect display from your Neo-Geo. You COULD be a bit unlucky and get a composite display (not real good colors) through that cable on your TV set, after all that is what happened to me. Well, getting around is a pretty simple affair. All you got to do is to put your TV in Teletext mode, and it automatically switches to RGB! Then, with the appropriate button, remove the teletext page number, and there you have it! ----Do you think the composite video problem I have is in the system? Well, first, make sure that you're using Composite video, with two AV jacks(one for monaural sound, one for video). If it still is excessively blurry, then read the following: There are three types of Neo-Geo cartridge systems. The first type, had poor composite output, but good output. It had a one-piece board on it as well. Well, in late 1992-early 1993, SNK released a new type of system, with a daughterboard on it, to help the composite signal. It did just that, but the RGB output suffered as a result. In late 1997, SNK seemed to finish the production of Neo cart systems in JAPAN (in the US, they ended sometime in 1995), but they were manufactured with the one-piece board. But, the output for both RGB and composite is clearer than the other systems. But what's different on the Japanese systems, is that they have 6V AC adapters, not 5V ones. ----What is a NEOGEO CDZ? That is a NEOGEO CD enhanced hardware, such as better caching capabilities. IT IS NOT ADOUBLE- SPEED DRIVE, it just seems like it. I've tested it, and opened the CDZ and CD, and there is the same drive mechanism. Right now, it is only available through Japanese importers, and plays CD games only in Japanese(on newer games, there is an option for the game to display English, Spanish, and Portuguese also). A problem; reliability has been a big problem for CDZ units, most will not last 3 years worth of use. The drive mechanism is similar to the Sega Saturn (first version)'s drive, and may work if you can wire it to the CDZ. Also, it is 115V, not 100V, and the board will probably fry, if you don't use astep-down converter(from 115 to 100). You can get one from any electronics store, and it seems to run smoother and better with one. ----Just how Time-consuming is the load time for the NEOGEO CD? Well, to put in in perspective, I'll tell it like this: Imagine the Sega CD's loadtime, and that is the Neo CD's load time. Or, on Bakumatsu Roman Gekkano Kenshi (The Last Blade), I could read 100 pages of Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" while playing through half the game. But, on games 106 Megs or lower, load time is not bad at all(i.e., it only loads a few times),but on games bigger than 106 megs, the load time starts to add up. You make the decision. The Neo CDZ does not play better than the CD anyway. ----What should I get, the CD or Cartridge System? It all depends on two things, how much you play games and how long you are willing to wait for a game. If you're like me, someone who has a lot of other things to do, but expect your game to work, and have NO load time, the cartridge is for you. Even though the games run from $30 to $299, they are QUALITY-built, and is designed for extended play. The Neo-Geo CD, on the other hand, is made for play, and are cheaper, from $20 to $50, and is made for the person who buys a lot of games, and only plays games in his/her spare time. But, the load time is horrendous, and is of a cheaper build quality. Even though you can find the CDs a LOT easier, you can find almost all carts by just checking all the retailers periodically. But a MAJOR problem with the top-loading CD/CDZ units, is that the CD lens itself gets wrecked, by almost any anomaly .So, the CD lenses on the CD units aren't of the best build quality. CD or Cartridge, it depends on what you can afford? The question should be, how many games can I afford? I used to have quite a collection, but now I have no video games period. Even though some carts are expensive, I don't buy every new one, because I'm saving for a car, taking care of others, etc. :) If you plan on buying more than 25 games new, go for CD. But if you have a decent job, can pay for games himself, and play them when you want to, go for cartridge. ----What should I get, the NEOGEO CD, or the NEOGEO CDZ system? Basically, it depends how much money you have, whether you want to play older games in English or not, and if you can find a NEOGEO CDZ. Even though the CDZ has faster caching capabilities, loading time is not twice-as-fast, more like a little faster, since SNK may make games at 1x speed. The CD unit has going for it, a sleeker design, more English games that can play English (CDZ, you're stuck in Japanese for some titles),and you can find the system easier. But, the load time can be awful, and on the older games, you either play them in English mode, or have a Japanese mod switch done on the system. The CDZ unit, loads a little faster (NOT 2x), you can have access to the blood codes(meaning Japanese mode), and it's easier to install a switch to Japanese mode on the system. But, it costs about $300-400 for the drive, which turns off some people. It also will fail, unless you use a step-down converter. Also, there is a limited edition, FRONT-loading Neo-Geo CD unit, which was the first NEO CD system that came out in 1994. Only 25000 units were made, but the drive is single-speed. The cost is about $280 on this one. It's entirely your decision, but this decision will come down to whether you have the money to buy the CD(Z) unit, or whether you can find one. Hope this helps in your quest to pick the right Neo system for you! ----What are HK's and CDR's for the NEOGEO CD? HK's (Hong Kong copies) are illegal copies of games for the NeoGeo CD. They runabout $10-$15 each for CDs, and contain some artwork (sometimes). CDR's are copies of games, and are $10 or so. They are just a CDR with a game for NeoGeo CD programmed on it. They are only legal if you own the game, or you must get rid of it within a week or so. Both run on the NeoGeo CD, but some of the newer ones don't run in the Neo CDZ. Whatever the case, this is the route for trying out a game, before you buy the original. ----I can't find the Home Cartridge games I want. Are you sure I can't use MVS cartridges in my Cartridge system? Yes, I'm sure, I speak that from experience (I bought a Ninja Master's MVS cart on about 1/20/97, and it wouldn't fit in my home system). And do you know the reason why SNK made the MVS and Home Cartridges incompatible? Simply because arcade operators couldn't buy the "cheap" home games for arcade use. Don't fret, you can try to find those hard-to-find games, if you look hard enough. ----What about an MVS->Home Cart converter? Considering that it should be technically infeasible, there has been some made that has been brought to my attention. However, long-term reliability of these units are very questionable. I'd say FORGET about these MVS->Home cart adapters, as you won't get the full functionality of the MVS system (some now claim to offer such, but I'd steer clear). This option is for the people who want the best of both for the cheapest as they can. For the cost of this thing, you can probably get a full size MVS cabinet. ----Are the NEOGEO MVS boards JAMMA? Of course they are, the main boards indeed have to be in order to run on mainstream cabinets and the Super Gun, you know. But, in order to play an MVS game, you need the main MVS board(1 slot through 6 slot),and a Super Gun, or a JAMMA harness and an arcade cabinet. ----Is It Possible to Hook up my Neo Controllers to an MVS board? From what I know about the MVS board, it is possible on the *older* boards to hookup the Neo controllers to the controller ports (where the joystick wires connect on the main board). That's it, there shouldn't be any modifications necessary. The new 1-slot MINI motherboards do not have Neo home joystick ports. ----Then, should I get the MVS 1-Slot, because it's cheaper? NO!! Most 1-slot boards do not have Neo controller hook-ups, which means modifications to the board and wiring itself. If you like doing that, then get a 1-slot. If not, like most of us, get a 2-slot, 4-slot, or even a 6- slot one. It'll pay off in the long run. But, if you know what you want, the mini 1-slot is perfect for most needs. ----Are 6-slots good to have in the home setup? Well, they are, IF you have a separate power supply. 6-slots need a lot of juice to powerup, and will eventually mess up the power supply in a Super Nova system. A dedicated cabinet, will have no problem with it whatsoever. ----What system should I get, the home cartridge or the MVS cartridge system? What kind of games do you want, rare games or not-so-rare games? Games such as King of Fighters '97 are not really rare, but ones such as Kizuna Encounter and Ragnagard ARE really rare. MVS games are also cheaper than the home games, and the so called "collectors" charge lots of money for rare Neo home games. What is this world coming to? $500 for a Neo home game?, Sometimes,the $500 carts are worth it(for me, never), but for the majority of Neo owners, it is not. Those are the decisions you must weigh if you make a decision on which one you prefer. The home system is carried by a close-knit group of vendors, who charge decent prices for games, and include nice boxes, I nstructions, and the like. But, the rare games, collectors will drive up the prices on them, disheartening the person who has to buy their own games. The MVS system has advantages, such as cheaper games (after a year however), games that are more easily found, and games that ARE the actual arcade games. But, you need either a Super Gun (a JAMMA board that allows to play arcade games on your TV), with a NEO MVS board (1, 2, 4, or 6 slot machines), or a cabinet designed to play Neo games. If all you are is a pure gamer (or someone who doesn't have much space, and doesn't want a Super Gun), then the home system is for you. But if you might want to make money with your cabinet, or have the TRUE arcade feel in your living room, the MVS is for you. Games on MVSare so cheap, such as AOF3 for $20, Puzzle Bobble for $40, that youmost likely will never go back to the Home system. ----What's this about a trackball setup? Yes, SNK has made a trackball game for the Neo-Geo, "The Irritating Maze". It is a totally analog motion as well. It utilizes a special MVS board(with air compressor hook-ups and a special trackball controller for the game(setup)), and the MVS Cartridge. That means you can't put the MVS Trackball game cart into a regular MVS board, it will not work. There are no other games planned on the trackball platform, so it's a dead type of Neo board. ----I want to get an MVS system (Arcade machine or Super Gun->MVS board), but where, or how do I go about finding one? That's a tough call. First, decide if you have enough money($1000 or so for a new 1-slot machine with a 25" monitor), and the space to hold a big arcade machine. If not, you can purchase a Super Gun system from MAS Systems, and attach an MVS board to it, in order to play MVS carts on your TV(costs $600-$750 for the package). If you want the Super Gun package, you can find it pretty easily. You call up MAS Systems, order the Super Gun, then you buy an MVS board and cartridges from the places listed below. But, if you want an arcade machine for Neo games, that's another matter...... Call up all the "Amusement Machines" dealers in the phone book n your area, and ask them these questions: 1. Ask if there are any arcade auctions in the area. 2. See if there are any machines for sale at the dealer. 3. Ask if any other dealers in your area might have what you're looking for. Then, you can check out the dealers(including the ones I listed below, and across the internet), and see if buying used, or buying one new makes sense. But, shipping is the most important deal, when it comes to purchasing an arcade machine. And, it's not cheap, like regular Neo-Geo home systems. Even if you buy one locally, you'll need to find a way to pick it up and deliver it safely to your destination. If you buy one from a dealer that's more than 100 miles or so miles away, the most(seemingly)effective way of shipping is by freight truck. Well, that adds about 2 weeks to your delivery time, and costs about $250 or so to ship. It costs money to actually get the machine, you know. So, you can make the most cost-effective decision that way, by knowing about your choices, and making the right one. But, please remember, that a video game is JUST a video game..... ----Is SNK going to upgrade the MVS Board? I've heard many rumors of SNK releasing an upgrade to the MVS board; a 32-bit upgrade of sorts, in late 2000 (that hasn't happened-20 Aug 2001). There are two sides to this; first, this will extend the life of the MVS greatly as it gives SNK more room to work with. But, SNK is so used to programming for the old board that the first few games for the updated board may not be up to par with the newer games on the "older" board. With SNK�s recent demise, I do not see any improvement on the Neo board. ----What if my new MVS game doesn't work? If you've bought an MVS game from someone, and it doesn't work when you get the game, there are many ways to get the game to work, when it appears that it doesn't. Here they are, below: 1. When you push the game in, push it in slowly; DO NOT JAM the game in the board. 2. When you insert the game to its fullest extent, let it back out of the board by a couple MILLIMETERS. You don't need to push the game ALL THE WAY IN. 3. Clean the contacts with isopropyl alcohol. Flip the dip switches at the back of the motherboard, the first one up only. That takes you into diagnostic mode. ----Why can't I find my favorite NEOGEO cartridge? When SNK makes games, they make very few cartridges now, but they used to make more than they did, due to the huge size of the games nowadays. Production is now in the low-to-mid hundreds (or even in the dozens, although the last few SNK games had print runs of a few thousand), so buy them when you can, and don't be afraid to spend $150 or more on a newer game, just not on anything older than that. Games older than that should be a lot cheaper (but may not be, if it is rare, like Sengoku 2, US version). ----Someone said that Metal Slug is a RARE game. Where do I get it? Metal Slug is indeed a rare game, as is a LOT of video games out on the Neo Cartridge and Neo CD (MVS? Fight Fever comes to mind). But do you really want the game, or want a rare piece of plastic? I've played Metal Slug, and I think it's too easy of a game, and not worth the hassle to get it. Most of the rare games are rare, because they never sold well in Japan, or the U.S.. If you really want a rare game, make sure that you want the game. I cannot emphasize that enough, it seems. Also, Japan is where you look for games, America isn't, because all the Japanese carts (at least most of them)are still over there, so... Don't let the prices on games like that scare you, if you want them that bad, you can afford to pay $800 for that cartridge. But, I personally don't think that any game is worth that much, because all it is, is plastic and silicon, when you're NOT making money on it. It's entirely your decision, but I'm just giving my two cents.... ----I'm tired of my Neo Cartridge(or CD). Where do I sell it? Well, I'm assuming that you don't know anyone else with your kind of Neo system (like myself). What you do, is follow this checklist below: 1. Make sure that you WANT to sell the game(s) in question. 2. Try to determine a good market value for your game, by checking out the various newsgroups associated with this( rec.games.video.marketplace comes to mind), and go from there. 3. Put Ads over the internet, telling how good of condition it is in, the price, does it come w/ box or instructions, and other general info that the people may need to make a judgment on the game. 4. Put it up for auction on www.ebay.com(eBay Auctions). 5. Sell your games to a company, such as GameDude, for some cash. But, they will not give you much for them, and the only good reason people have for selling them to GameDude is convenience. Make this the "last resort" option. That should be enough to get you on your way to selling games over the internet. ----How come my games look weird when I play them? Well, you either need to clean your games very well, and with SNK�s demise, there goes any warranty that could have been offered. ----How come my Neo games don't work? Well, you have to clean the games! I can speak from experience, and carts can get very dirty, and cleaning them shows you how much dirt there is on them. You take a solution of Isopropyl Alcohol and water, and clean the contacts with a Q-Tip. Also, if you just yank out the games instead of taking them out carefully, contacts, over time, will partly come off. So treat your carts well, and they will last a long time! Or, you could have pushed the cartridge too far in, which will make bigger games (i.e.King of Fighters '96) screw up. Put the carts in ALMOST all the way, and push them back up a LITTLE bit to make them work. Always put the cartridge in, game logo in front, or else you may mess up the system contacts. You could also have bad TV reception. Try using your Neo Geo system on different TVs, and see if that helps game play. The last reason, is if you have a Japanese/American switch on the back of your Neo-Geo (cart or CD), with it enabled in Japanese. Newer games will not work like that (from Fatal Fury 3-onward), so you must switch it back to American. I speak from experience (I bought a system from GameDude like that, and games like Crossed Swords and Fatal Fury 3 wouldn't work), so switch it back to American! The switch is usually between the power cord and AV plug-ins on the back of the Neo-Geo. ----I tried everything, but my screen looks garbled still! What should I do? Well, if you tried what I said earlier, and it still doesn't work, follow these steps(I will NOT take responsibility for anything bad that happens): 1. Open up your system (or call SNK and have them fix it for you, for a fee of course), and find where your AV and AC outlet wires plug into the back of the machine. Then find the cartridge port, and connect (or re-connect) the wires in all three, the AV, AC, and cartridge ports. MAKE SURE THE POWER IS NOT PLUGGED IN! 2. Well, if you know a lot about soldering and electronics in general, you can try to convert an MVS board into a home one, just take the AV ports, AC outlet plugs, and the cartridge plug(unless you want to play MVS games in your home system, which in order to do so, cut away the cartridge opening on the system casing). You may need an RGB-NTSC converter, depending on what you want to do (MVS or Home). However, these are very shallow descriptions, and are not attempted yet. Don't do this yet, but if you choose to, e-mail me first, and we'll talk it over. 3. Use a step-down converter, to convert 110V to 100V. This will make it run more efficiently, and may jump- start your system. It is safe, since this has been tested. I hope that solves your problems, if you have a Neo CD that needs fixing, just figure that when I say "cartridge port", I mean CD laser and mechanism(maybe controller to CD player, too, to run the drive) can be transported to the other system, if necessarry.. ----Are there any significant oddities pertaining to the Neo-Geo and its games? Well, there are 3 that I can think of right now (meaning to production oddities, not game translation quirks, which are too numerous, and funny to mention), which are the following: 1. Minnasanno Okagesamadesu, one of the Mahjong Cartridge games for Neo, seems to be the only Cartridge game without any Megabit Count specified on the box(no cart symbol with a number inside it). It was also the game which was made(in prototype form) with a built in modem, for the Neo-Geo Network.. 2. Twinkle Star Sprites, Alpha Denshi (ADK)'s last game on Neo, was made on Neo Cartridge in limited amounts. But, ADK ran out of instruction books for the cartridge version, so they made the rest with photocopied instructions. 3. Tokuten Ou (Super Sidekicks) , one of the first soccer games out on the Neo, was a great game in its time. One problem though, was that in championship mode, while facing the third team(?), the game will glitch up. This is on EVERY copy of Super Sidekicks, so when that happens to you, don't sweat it. 4. The Irritating Maze, a Marble Madness-type game, is on the Neo platform(has a specialized MVS board with it), but requires a TRACKBALL to play, not the joystick! And, Pop N' Bounce, you can play it with a paddle-type joystick, like Arkanoid's! 5. Mahjong Kyoretsuden and Mahjong Story, two different releases, by two different companies, but the SAME game? Well, ADK's Mahjong Story has a different cover and intro, but it's the same as SNK's Mahjong Kyo Retsuden, essentially. 6. The Neo-Geo Cart system, there were pics of it in 1996 issues of NeoGeo Freak, where it has red buttons on the joystick, and a red reset button(Japanese cart system, everything else is just like the regular cart system). This may be the last iteration of the Neo-Geo Cartridge system. 7. Stakes Winner, by Saurus, has 80 Megs in Japanese, and 98 in American! That's right, DIFFERENT Megabit counts! 8. Dunk Dreams is known as Street Hoop is USA, and Street Slam in Europe! Also, Miracle Adventure in Japan is known as Spinmaster in USA, and Spin Kids in Asia/Europe! ----Which games for the Neo-Geo are only available in Japanese? Well, this is a big list, all these games (Cart and CD) are only available in Japanese (NOT US) form. On MVS, most, are in American (European)form. The list below, means that none of the games below are in any American/European form. Here it is: ADK World Art of Fighting ~ryuukonoken gaiden~ Limited Edition Bakatonosama Mahjong Manyuki Band of the Fighters Chibi Marukochan Deluxe Quiz Crossed Swords 2 Idol Mahjong ~final romance 2~ Jyanshin Densetsu King of Fighters '96 CD Collection Mahjong Kyoretsuden Mahjong Story Minnasanno Okagesamadesu Neo-Geo CD Special Quiz Daisousa Sen Quiz King of Fighters Quiz Meintantei Neo Geo ~Quiz Daisousa Sen Part 2~ Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits Bushidoretsuden Syougi No Tatsujin ----How come new cartridges don't come with sealable stickers anymore? Well, up till ~Bakumatsu Roman~ Gekkano Kenshi (Last Blade) was released, SNK utilized sealable stickers on the side of the carts to determine that they were new. But, SNK just ran out of stickers, and since most carts are kept in 'like new' condition, they just didn't use them anymore. ----On NAM-1975, how come there's two stickers on the game, where it says NAM-1975? From NAM-1975 up till after the release of Samurai Shodown, for the US games, SNK just took production Japanese games, and slapped a US sticker on the Japanese game, to make US games. Showing their insolent laziness, SNK saved money by not removing stickers off of Jap games and just put the US ones over them. The games are legit; there's nothing wrong with them. But, sometimes, the double-stickering of the games looks unsightly. ----What games are recommended for the NEOGEO (CD)? There are many, many games to pick from on the NEOGEO platform, but picking through the bad ones can be time-consuming, and costly. Well, I've come up with a recommended list, as all these are recommended by myself, AND the plethora of video game magazines that once reviewed them. Here is the list: Art of Fighting ~ryuukonoken gaiden~ (Art of Fighting 3)(Fighting) King of Fighters '95 (Team Fighting) Shin Samurai Spirits ~Haohmaru jigokuhen~ (Samurai Shodown 2)(Fighting) World Heroes Perfect (Fighting) Garou Densetsu 3 ~haruka-naru tatakai~ (Fatal Fury 3)(Fighting) Last Resort (Shooter) Magician Lord (Action) 2020 Super Baseball (Sports) Dunk Dreams (Street Hoop)(Sports) That should get you started, with 9 quality games. Remember, this is what I recommend, as you may not like a certain game (you can always substitute), or you can't find a particular title, so this list is NOT set in stone. But if you want quality, these are the best ones to play! ----What is the Biggest Game for the NEOGEO currently? For games that are released, Metal Slug 3 is the biggest, at 708 Megabits! Just so you know, games with bigger megabit counts may not be always better, but most are indeed better((Magician Lord is better than Top Hunter, but Last Blade is a LOT better than Fight Fever) ----Can the NEOGEO handle more than 330 Megs? Of course, there is no limit to how much data can be fit onto a Neo cartridge, and the limit is not 330 Megs. Called the "Pro-Gear Spec", which is just a name for the ROM addressing technology of the Neo-Geo. Back in 1990, SNK had to give a certain Megabit count as their maximum, and they called it "Max 330 Mega". Now, there are games twice as big as 330 Megs (King of Fighters '98). ----Are NEOGEO games compressed? Compressing a Neo-Geo game? Haha...that's funny. SNK makes it a point NOT to compress a game, to try and get the high megabit counts in it, to boast about having the bigger game. As a general rule, NONE of SNK's games are compressed one bit. But, with KOF 99, SNK may be trying to compress information, for the first time in 10 years. ----What is GIGA POWER, which I've been seeing on intro screens on games like Real Bout Garou Densetsu 2. Is it more than a marketing tool? Yes, it is more than a marketing tool. Unlike Sega's 'Blast Processing', this 'GIGA POWER' allows SNK to address higher memory on the ROMs, making for games with a less grainy look to them, and optimizes them to run faster. For games Real Bout Garou Densetsu 2 and newer, they utilize the 'GIGA POWER' technology, for better quality games. For information purposes, Bakumatsu Roman Gekkano Kenshi (The Last Blade) is the biggest non-GIGA POWER game, weighing in at 474 Megs. ----Are there any Back-Up units for the NEOGEO? Man, I wonder what someone would need them for? :) Anyways, you could probably find one of the old Multi-Game Doctor units that could be floating around. But, since there are no more back-up units in production, and the Multi-Game Doctor cost about $1300 New, you'll have to pay a pretty penny to get your hands on one now. Unfortunately, I heard that it took about 10 minutes to load up a game on the device. And, it is very troublesome, so it would not be worth getting one. ----Are there ports of Neo games on other systems? Oh yes there are! I have found a list of the following Neo-Geo ports on other systems, here they are, in AMERICAN NAME: NES --- Fatal Fury Fatal Fury 2 Fatal Fury Special King of Fighters '97 PC-CDROM -------- Art of Fighting Fatal Fury 3 King of Fighters '95 Samurai Shodown 2 Samurai Shodown 4 Game Gear --------- Fatal Fury Special Samurai Shodown Bust-a-Move Dreamcast King of Fighters '98 King of Fighters '99 Last Blade 2 Garou: Mark of the Wolves Twinklestar Sprites Game Boy -------- World Heroes Perfect Fatal Fury 2 Real Bout Fatal Fury Special King of Fighters '95 King of Fighters '96 Samurai Shodown Samurai Shodown 3 3DO --- Bust-A-Move Samurai Shodown Sega Genesis ----------- Art of Fighting Fatal Fury Fatal Fury 2 King of the Monsters King of the Monsters 2 Samurai Shodown ViewPoint World Heroes Sega CD ------- Fatal Fury 2 Fatal Fury Special Samurai Shodown 2 World Heroes 2 PC Engine/Turbo-Grafix 16 ------------------------- Art of Fighting Fatal Fury 2 Fatal Fury Special World Heroes 2 Super Nintendo -------------- Art of Fighting Art of Fighting 2 Bust-A-Move DUNK STARS (proto Neo game) Fatal Fury Fatal Fury 2 Fatal Fury Special King of the Monsters King of the Monsters 2 Legend of Success Joe Magical Drop 2 Puzzle De Pon Samurai Shodown Sengoku World Heroes World Heroes 2 Fm Towns Marty -------------- Fatal Fury 2 Viewpoint World Heroes 2 Sega Saturn ----------- Galaxy Fight King of Fighters '95 King of Fighters '96 King of Fighters '97 Magical Drop 2 Magical Drop 3 Metal Slug Ragnagard Real Bout Fatal Fury Real Bout Fatal Fury Special Samurai Shodown III Samurai Shodown IV Samurai Shodown RPG Stakes Winner 2 Twinkle Star Sprites Waku Waku 7 World Heroes Perfect Sony Playstation ---------------- Double Dragon Galaxy Fight King of Fighters '95 King of Fighters '96 King of Fighters '97 King of Fighters '98 King of Fighters '99 Last Blade Magical Drop III Metal Slug Metal Slug X Real Bout Fatal Fury Real Bout Fatal Fury Special Samurai Shodown Samurai Shodown II Samurai Shodown III Samurai Shodown IV Samurai Shodown RPG Viewpoint X68000 --------- Fatal Fury Fatal Fury 2 If there's any more I forgot, e-mail me, and I'll credit you for the find. GAME LIST This is, IMO, the best part of this FAQ. I rate, not only the quality of the game, but also the PROFITABILITY of the game(for arcade operators), and give a decent review of each. Also, where it says MVS only...that means that it only comes in MVS form. If you come across a home of an MVS only title, then it's a Converted MVS->Home game. There are CD Only releases, meaning that the game is either CD only, or MVS and CD Only. Here it is: (1 being worst, 20 being best) All of the names are in Japanese form, or in translated Japanese form (not necessarily what SNK calls them in USA). (American translations of names that SNK uses for USA are below) 150 Separate Games Indexed ACTION: -------------- Burning Fight (54 Megs) --Quality 10/20 --Profitability 6/20 Like a poor man's Final Fight, this 1991 Neo-Geo game is a pretty decentcheap buy, but not something to spend $50 on(maybe $15). Decidedly average. Crossed Swords (50 Megs) --Quality 15/20 --Profitability 9/20 I give my hat off to Alpha Denshi, for creating a new genre of pseudo-3Daction that does well on the Neo. It doesn't do too well in the arcades, but forthe collector, this is a must-have game. Cyber-Lip (50 Megs) --Quality 8/20 --Profitability 4/20 As much as some say how good of a game this is(i.e., the predecessor toMetal Slug), this game is horrid. I wouldn't pay this game attention if I were you. Eight Man (46 Megs) --Quality 6/20 --Profitability 4/20 Just when I thought old Neo action games couldn't get any worse than Cyberlip, this one does it. I don't see the point of this game, even though it is relatively rare. Not a good buy at all (hell, I use this game as cannon fodder). A good game, if one forgets about Metal Slug. --The King of the Monsters Series-- King of the Monsters (55 Megs) King of the Monsters 2 (74 Megs) --Quality 9/ 7 --Profitability 8/ 7 After the first King of the Monsters, I expected an action packed sequel.I got an action packed sequel, but for 1 player ONLY! How is an arcade operator expected to make anything off this? Simply, they CAN'T. The first one was somewhat fun, but I got quickly tired of it. Magician Lord (46 Megs) --Quality 16/20 --Profitability 10/20 Considered SNK's best all time action game, this 1990 game stands the test of time, and passes it every time. Profitability is questionable; but for the home user, a classic that everyone shouldn't be without. --The Metal Slug Series-- Metal Slug (193 Megs) Metal Slug 2 (362 Megs) Metal Slug X (506 Megs) Metal Slug 3 (708 Megs) --Quality 15/ 15/ 17/ 19.5 --Profitability 17/ 15/ 18/ 19 Metal Slug has been one of SNK's best money makers of all time. Arcade operators love this series, game players love it, in fact the only people that don't like it are people that don't like action games to begin with. MS1 is a fantastic game, MS2 is great but with some slowdown, and MSX corrects the slowdown and spices things up a bit but is not worth the price if one has MS2 already. MS3 is the first all new Metal Slug game in about 2 � years. Expect great graphics and sound in this hit, and be prepared for all new characters and stages. After playing this game, I can safely say that SNK has mastered the 2D action genre. Miracle Adventure (90 Megs) --Quality 13/20 --Profitability 13/20 Whether you call it Spinmasters or Spin Kids, it's a decent game, especiallypopular among little kids. Easy to play, easy to getinto, it's a well-rounded game. --The Account of a Musashi style Series-- Musashi Ganryuki (178 Megs) --Quality 9/20 --Profitability 4/20 Visco's last Neo-Geo game, this really isn't anything special, and the profitability is severely questionable, as projected earnings are a lot less than normal. In my opinion, it's only worth it for collectors. The game itself, after playing, makes Eight Man look good. Mutation Nation (54 Megs) --Quality 7/20 --Profitability 3/20 Yet ANOTHER horrid Neo-Geo Final Fight ripoff, this time withless class than even Burning Fight. I wouldn't use this game aseven a "transition" game for arcade operators. Ninja Combat (46 Megs) --Quality 4/20 --Profitability 2/20 The Neo-Geo has a reputation for having money makers, but unfortunately, this is absolutely horrible. I've never seen a more pathetic example of Neo-Geo power. Even by 1990 standards, this is horrid. Ninja Commando (54 Megs) --Quality 13/20 --Profitability 9/20 I wouldn't say this game is one of a kind, but it has its good points. A decent vertical action game(along the lines of Shock Troopers), this is certainly worth $30 on MVS at least. Not the most profitable, but decent nevertheless. Raguy (47 Megs) --Quality 6/20 --Profitability 5/20 Maybe this game has some good points, but no matter how cutesy this game may seem, it scores pretty badly in my book. I wouldn't give this game the time of day, even if it is pretty hard. Robo Army (45 Megs) --Quality 10/20 --Profitability 12/20 One of the better buys in the Neo-Geo action scene, this game still stands the test of time, and can pull some quarters out on the street. A good, solid buy for around $40-50 or so. --the Warring States Tradition Series-- Sengoku Densyo (55 Megs) Sengoku Densyo 2 (74 Megs) Sengoku Densyo 2001 (364 Megs) --Quality 8/10/19.5 --Profitability 7/7/18 The first two Sengoku games are depraved versions of Final Fight, but provide a spin on the genre by placing the world into a realm like none else. Imagine samurai from years past traveling to kick your ass, and the way SNK delivered the perspective is done well. Now, I would not force these games on an enemy of mine. The new Sengoku however, is such a tremendous improvement, that I might buy an arcade machine again just for this game. The game looks that good. After playing, Sengoku 2001 IS that good. --The Shocking Troopers Series-- Shock Troopers (346 Megs, MVS Only) Shock Troopers ~second squad~ (514 Megs) --Quality 15/ 13 --Profitability 16/ 16 Whereas the first Shock Troopers is more like Ikari Warriors, the second one is a lukewarm sequel. ST2 takes a different direction than Shock Troopers does, as it's a "move-all-around" type of game. The game didn't do too well in arcades, as gamers preferred the first iteration of Shock Troopers. Super Spy (55 Megs) --Quality 13/20 --Profitability 13/20 A great game by any means, this game is pretty difficult, and is worth around $40. Arcade operators will like this game, as they will make some off this game, and since it costs so little, its value is supreme. And, who can forget the inventing of a genre as well? Top Hunter (110 Megs) --Quality 10/20 --Profitability 7/20 Another easy action game, this title is another run-of-the-mill action game, even though the graphics are pretty good, it doesn't do well in arcades. This game is only for collectors. -------------- FIGHTING: --The Swordsman Under a Moon Series-- ~Bakumatsu Roman~ Gekkano Kenshi (474 Megs) ~Bakumatsu Roman~ Dai Ni Maku Gekkano Kenshi ~Tsukini Saku, Tiriyuku Hana~ (554 Megs) --Quality 17/20 and 19.5/20 --Profitability 14/20 and 15/20 SNK's most original fighting game ever, this closely resembles Samurai Shodown in someways, yet the storyline is captivating(1850s Japan, before the Opium Wars between UK-China) the characters are well- 0drawn, the music is awesome, and the gameplay is superb. Whereas the first one was great, but needed tuning and was short some characters; LB2 shows why SNK can still make great fighters. My favorite fighter on the Neo is Last Blade 2; with good reason, the added characters and better music really make a good game great. My pick, Last Blade 2, although profitability is not yet proven for this game. --The Breakers Series-- Breakers (210 Megs) Breakers Revenge (242 Megs, MVS Only) --Quality 13/20 and 14/20 --Profitability 8/20 and 12/20 Another two of Visco's "hits" you say? Well, this is actually a decent series of fighters, with an uncanny resemblance to Street Fighter Alpha. The first Breakers set the standard for flashy moves, good graphics, and for being an all-around decent game. The second game, is nothing more than Breakers with changed backgrounds and one new character. That makes me want to give up Breakers, especially for arcades. Go with the second one anyways, as the price for MVS versions are the same. (Superman School Gowcaizer) Chojin Gakuen Gowcaizer (186 Megs) --Quality 9/20 --Profitability 5/20 Technos' Japan's fighting game, this anime based title suffers from poor control, although the graphics are well done, and the music is 'typical' kiddie-anime style. The characters are original, yet this game is not the one to get if your location has a strong anime contingent. Get Waku Waku 7 instead, or if you are high on Vicodin�� Double Dragon (178 Megs) --Quality 14/20 --Profitability 12/20 This game is NOT like the side-scroller beat-em-up Double Dragon that we all know and love; this title is actually one of the most original fighters on the Neo. Albeit showing some signs of extremism, this is a good all-around title, which won't go wrong when you buy it. The CD verison isn't too good, I'd stick with the cart version. Fight Fever (98 Megs, MVS Only) --Quality 2/20 --Profitability 1/20 This game should have never been made. Forget the good music, and this game is the worst fighting game on the Neo-Geo. Horrid control, absolutely horrible animation, and awful playability make this pure garbage. Don't play this game at all. Fighters' History Dynamite (122 Megs) --Quality 12/20 --Profitability 9/20 Data East's controversial fighting game series (Fighters History was ruled null, because Capcom levied charges that it was too much like the copyrighted Street Fighter), has come to the Neo-Geo, with not much fanfare. In fact, this game came with a whimper, and may have deserved more. FHD was a decent all-around game, if only average. Decent graphics and good animation/sound make this a decentbuy. Fire Suplex (106 Megs) --Quality 5/20 --Profitability 8/20 This horrid wrestling game has bad control, bad playability, and no ingenuity on behalf of SNK. However, the great difficulty and decent graphics make this barely playable. But, I wouldn't pay more than $10 or it. --The Wind and Cloud (Savage Reign) Series-- Fu'un Mokujiroku ~kakutou sousei~ or Wind and Cloud: The Revelation (190 Megs) (Wind and Cloud) Fu'un Super Tag Battle (242 Megs) --Quality 7/20 and 19.5/20 -

Neo Geo Prototypes

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 03:53:01 -0800

Here you will find pictures of some games that were in production for the Neo Geo, but have not been released. Games are often not released for many reasons (even if they are 100% complete in some cases), either due to the game not being of high enough quality, or because of doubts about whether the game will make enough money. A lot of the time, these games end up fading away and never being seen, but sometimes they end up being released many years later, which has been the case with games like Nightmare in the Dark and Bang Bead (from what I can gather this is a released game and not a prototype, although others disagree and say that it is... I'm not sure myself). Apparently they were developed some years ago, but were finally given the green light and released properly in the year 2000. This isn't always the case though - sometimes these games have been stolen from the developers by someone... and then either ended up in the hands of a collector (and become VERY valuable), or they are copied and distrubuted everywhere. One example of a prototype game being mass copied would would be the game Diggerman . It would be great if these games were made available at some point, although it is doubtful that we will ever get to play many of them. There are more than likely a lot of totally unknown prototypes that nobody outside of the software houses have ever seen too. Anyway, here are pictures of some of the known /images/prototypes/unreleased games: Action Pac - Kigyo 1996 - Possibly a fake! I can remember seeing an auction for this game quite a while ago, and it was at a ridiculous price. Despite the auction price ending very high, apparently the game was never sold to anyone, which is why this is thought of as being fake. It might be real, but we may never know. Bang Bang Busters - Visco 1994 Here's a platformer by Visco Games that was not released. Looks half decent as well... and it'd be nice to have a few more platformers in the vein of Mario Brothers - the only one Neo Geo fans really have right now is Blues Journey/Raguy . Rumour has it that this game is/was being considered for a release, but no news so far... I'd love to see this come out personally. Crossed Swords 2 - ADK 1995 Note: These screens are from the Neo Geo CD version! Here's another game that only made it onto the Neo Geo CD (like Ironclad). I've breifly played the Neo Geo CD version and it's half decent, but it'd still be great to see an MVS version (if one exists). Dunk Star - Sammy - Early 90's Fun Fun Brothers - Alpha Denshi - 1991 Ghost Lop - Data East - 1996 Iron Clad MVS Version - Saurus 1996 This game WAS released on the Neo Geo CD, but a proper MVS cart has been rumoured for ages (and lots of people keep claiming that they have it). Well, apparently it was shown at a game show in MVS form, so it seems certain that a prototype of it exists somewhere. Whether the people that keep claiming to have it are telling the truth though, remains to be seen :P Mystic Wand - Alpha Denshi - 1991 Ninja Sho - Yumekobo - 1996 Not much is known about this one at all! These screenshots were found on the internet a while ago it looks like a side scrolling beat 'em up, but that is about all I know. Herbeke's Pair Pair Wars - Sunsoft - 1996 Last Oddysey Pinball Fantasia - by ? 199? Apparently this is a Neo Geo game... but no other info at this time. I have no idea who it was made by and what year it's from, but I'll add anything I find out about it. Sunshine - SNK 1990 Warlocks of the Fates - SNK/Astec - 1995 I remember seeing shots of this game on the 'net, and it was labelled as "Warriors of the Fates", but a lot of people tell me it is actually "Warlocks of the Fates". I'm not sure which name is correct, but the game looks half decent to me, graphically at least - but perhaps the gameplay itself was lacking so much that they canned it. Whichever way, I doubt we will ever get to play it. Zintrick - SNK/ADK - 1996 Note: The Above Screens are from the Neo Geo CD version! I have played this game quite a bit on the Neo Geo CD and it is a fun puzzle game (review coming soon of the Neo CD edition!). Zintrick is thought to exist somewhere for the MVS because it was announced by SNK to be shown at an arcade show in 1996. For more info and a screenshot of this announcement, head over to this great prototype site!

Further Info:

There are other supposed prototypes out there, but I don't have screenshots or any more info about them. Here is a list of ones that are supposed to be around (info from various sources): Baseball Stars 3 Crystalis 2 Death Match Fire Suplex 2 Fu'un Super Tag Battle Link-Up (Kizuna Encounter) Gemfire Ghost Pilots 2 Heavy Glove Boxing High Voltage Irritating Maze Returns Magician Lord 2 (Not for MVS though, just for Neo Geo CD) Ninja Gaiden QP(CD only) SNK King of Athletes World Heroes Link-Up Please note: Most of the games on the list above are not confirmed to exist and some are just rumoured prototypes. If you would like to get some more info on prototype games as well as screenshots, I suggest you take a look at this prototype page as there is a lot of info there! You could also check out the master list on Neo-Geo.com , or Chris Mullins Neo Geo FAQ.

The Forum Moderator's Guide To Life

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:39:26 -0800

Some of the most powerful people on the Internet are commoners like you and me. The effective moderation of a successful forum takes a great amount of discipline and ability, but yields great success and respect. It�s very likely that these superusers are lingering in forums and communities across the Web. They might not be moderators in every case, but chances are they�re highly respected individuals with a lot of influence in the communities in which they participate. A big part of my personal success in this area comes from my passion for quality leadership. Leadership takes many forms and manifests itself in various ways in our lives. Individuals like Winston Churchill and Rudy Giuliani manifested leadership in their times of crisis. Leadership is influence, and these were among the most influential people of their times. Leadership Is Influence If you moderate a community, large or small, or you�re charged with the task of administering one, let this article be a challenge to you. A position does not make you a leader. Influence makes you a leader. The fact is that, as a moderator, you have a unique gift called leadership. This gift has given you the opportunity to work as a moderator on whatever board you�re part of. But leadership is simply a raw force -- an energy -- that drives us and influences others. It�s like fire, having the potential to both bring reward and cause harm. It depends on the person who wields that leadership, and the maturity with which he or she uses it. In every culture there is a point in time where the child crosses the line into adulthood. In some African tribes, rites of initiation must be passed through before a boy becomes a man, while others simply have a "graduation" ceremony � for example, the Jewish Bahmitzvah. In most western societies, a boy becomes a �man� when he reaches the age of maturity. Being a boy does not take masculinity from the boy: he is as masculine a boy as he will be a man (unless something happens in a hospital somewhere!). But he is only recognized as a man once he reaches a certain age, or displays a certain level of maturity. Similarly, in the world of influence, a leader is not made, but a leader is recognized. Tom Landry, the legendary former coach of the Dallas Cowboys once said: "Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." The key lies not in controlling the surroundings, but in being able to control your own responses to those surroundings... how you carry yourself, your composure and collectedness, how you ask and respond to questions. Leadership is defined by how you promote what you are trying to create, rather than how you denounce what you are against. People will, to a degree, more readily accept correction from someone who has a relationship with them than someone who just wants to lay down law. Work Yourself Out Of a Job One of the most critical links in the leadership chain is the mentoring process. This is often overlooked by those in leadership positions who are more concerned with their own personal power and control than in raising up effective leaders, and this alone can be the biggest stumbling block to community growth. There is a four-step process to nurturing fresh leadership. 1. Let them watch you do the job. This is the step where potential leaders are recognized. In this step, existing leaders notice those who naturally stand out and seem to attract others through natural charisma, knowledge and abilities. These individuals are not necessarily destined to be leaders, but they exhibit leadership traits. It�s at this step that a new candidate is chosen. 2. Teach them to do the job. At this stage, the candidate helps the leader perform his duties, learning the trade along the way. The leader will impart valuable insight and maturity throughout this process, instructing the trainee as they work together. A good example of this would be an electrician�s apprentice. 3. Make room for them to do the job. This is where the trainee gets all his practice. A wise leader makes room for failure, allowing the trainee to learn the hard way, by making mistakes, and shape his own philosophies and tendencies. An effective leader will not quench opposing ideas, but will corral these philosophies and traits toward a commonly-held positive goal, teaching the trainee how to use those qualities to have a positive influence on those that are being led. 4. Get out of the way and let the new leader do the job. This is the final step. The trainee has matured and gained valuable wisdom and insight through the training process. They�ve made mistakes and learned the hard way. They have established a rapport with those they�re to lead, who look to the leader for direction. At this point the leader can step back and allows the protege to do the job without individual restraint. New ideas and philosophies flow into the arena, and the new leader can begin to look among those he leads for people that exhibit the qualities of a future leader. And so the cycle continues. The Trust Factor A deciding factor in good leadership is to determine whether people are following the leader, or simply obeying him. Anyone can get into a community and start telling others what the rules are, but if that person doesn�t demonstrate that they can be trusted, the people will simply obey and not follow. How do you establish trust and confidence? Good question. One way is by communicating a vision of where you are going, what you are doing and what you believe. If people sense a lack of confidence or ability, they will not respect your place as a leader. It�s important to understand that the people make you a leader, not a higher-up. By establishing this respect with those you work with, you will be recognized as a leader. Quality Leaders Control Their Own Destiny �You can find smart, talented people who will only go so far because of the limitations of their leadership.� - John C. Maxwell Leaders are directly responsible for the way they�re perceived. This is not something that comes about through simply actions, though our behavior does play a significant role in how any of us is perceived. Instead, good leadership is, to a large degree, all about perceptions. A person is a good leader because of the way they�re perceived. When crisis strikes, the ability of a leader to calm the ensuing uproar rests upon his ability to create a perception of calm. When situations spin out of control, leadership is highlighted by the ability of the leader to convince the people that everything is under control. It very well may be that the whole operation is in danger of falling apart, but by creating the perception that they�ve got the situation well in hand, the leader instills confidence in his people. How does this leadership characteristic pertain to forums management? Leadership principles remain the same, no matter what the venue. Principles never change. In a community setting, there is often behind-the-scenes conflict. Often, there are factions within the hierarchy of community leadership, and when these factions disagree, each side can struggle over an issue at length. Frequently, there might be more than one issue, and different individuals can find themselves on different sides of each argument. Depending on how divisive the issue is, the divide can be quite harsh and defined. During times of internal debate, the leadership hierarchy might be perceived by an outsider as a war zone with smoke lingering over a battlefield and bullets flying back and forth. But, with good leadership, the outsider will never see that war zone. There will be a unified face put forward by the group. �But that�s lying,� you might say. Not really. An honest leadership organization will recognize that there will be conflict, and agree to disagree, instead, putting the best foot forward for the community. This sense of unity will inspire confidence in the membership of the community. They will see the forum being led and maintained by a unified group of individuals who respect each other, and comprise a group that�s devoid of internal bickering. This is usually in the best interests of the community as a whole. Good Leaders Nip Gossip in The Bud �Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.� - Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac Gossip among leadership will kill an organization like a slow poison. Whether you administer a healthy community, or are simply a moderator, beware! Take this situation, for example. Jack is an Admin of a major forum. He has six Moderators under him, among which are Bill and Kelly. During the course of a day, Kelly says something publicly that Jack feels needs to be addressed, so he sends Kelly an email that explains his position, and asks her to be careful in what she says. That evening, Kelly is chatting to Bill over instant messenger and starts talking about how Jack sent the email to her. She says that Jack has no idea what he�s talking about and that he�s got ill feelings toward her. Kelly�s pretty persuasive, and Bill has never known her to lie, so he thinks that what she says must be true. Later, in talking to another moderator, he mentions the scenario, and adds that Jack has it in for Kelly� In this situation, gossip has effectively set at least two community moderators in direct opposition to the leadership of the forum, and has effectively driven a wedge between people who are supposed to be members of a cohesive team. Precedent says that in this situation, Kelly should have kept her mouth shut and worked out any disagreements directly with Jack, but instead she has begun a slow-spreading poison that will ultimately hurt the community. Good Leaders Make Tough Decisions �When you come to a fork in the road, take it.� - Yogi Berra As Moderators and Administrators, you will find yourself in tough positions. Should you ban someone, or give them a warning shot? Should you enforce a guideline even though it�s only a small transgression and it probably wasn�t intentional, or should you let it slide so that you don�t appear tough, dictatorial, and uncompromising? For each situation and community, the approach the leaders take will differ. On boards I�ve moderated, there have emerged vast differences of opinion over how strict or loose guidelines should be. Often, moderators have strongly disagreed over the directions that should be taken in the community. In a responsible forum, these kinds of discussions among community leaders are taken up behind the scenes out of the public eye, but once a decision is made, there much be mutual support among forum leaders at all levels. Administrators have some of the hardest decisions to make, because whatever they do will affect the entire community, and indeed, their decisions may alter the future of the community. It�s like trying to engineer a satellite�s orbit. The smallest fraction of a degree off course, and the satellite will plunge to a fiery grave -- or hurtle into outer space. As an administrator, the simplest decisions, or off the cuff comments in the heat of the moment can alter the direction, mood and atmosphere of a community. That in itself could scare you, but for the Administrator, there�s often not a lot of room for second-guessing. In fact, when you make a decision as a community�s leader, it can be important not to second guess yourself. Often, it�s all too easy to get caught up in a never ending war of �what ifs�. Instead, have confidence in your ability to make wise choices -- with the advice of others, perhaps. You must make the decision and stand by it, never looking back.