![]() For both systems, games generally cost $200 or more, which was more than triple what Sega and SNES titles were asking. SNK would quickly release a “Silver System” which shipped at $399 with only one joystick and no in-pack game. The joysticks themselves were something of an anomaly.Ĭompetitor consoles shipped smaller controllers whereas the Neo Geo opted for a larger controller that emulated what gamers were used to with arcade consoles. For the price, buyers received two joysticks, a memory card, and a Magician Lord game cartridge. market, the “Gold System” quickly became a niche product. Priceīetween its specs and high price tag of $650 in the U.S. At the time of its launch, the Neo Geo was a direct competitor to the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. SNK claimed that the system was 24-bit when it was in reality a 16-bit console that had an additional 8-bit co-processor that doubled as a second CPU. Originally a rental-only unit, SNK would quickly pivot and sell the console at stores as it saw an uptick in console purchases by its competitors. Neo Geo Versions: Each Edition Neo Geo AESĪnnounced on January 31st, 1990, the Neo Geo, SNK’s first entry into the home console market, was released to the world on April 26, 1990. What they discovered was an opportunity to bring their popular arcade titles into the homes of video game fans all over the world. By 1988, SNK had created one of its most popular arcade cabinets with the Neo Geo MVS (Multi Video System), which was among the first to enable multiple game titles in a single cabinet.Īfter debuting the Neo Geo MVS in 1990 and seeing strong sales, SNK turned its eyes to watch the early 1990s “console wars” between Sega and Nintendo. Console OriginsĬoming out of the video game crash of 1983, SNK found a new income stream by licensing its games on the Nintendo Famicom in Japan as a third-party licensee. Prior to that, on October 20, 1981, SNK Corporation of America opened its doors in California with a focus on bringing the company’s arcade cabinets to the North American market.īetween 19, SNK would provide upwards of 23 separate stand-alone arcade games including its most popular title, Ikari Warriors. With the release of Vanguard in 1981, a side-scrolling space shooter, SNK began to gain international notoriety for its arcade consoles.Īfter a few years of success, SNK Corporation, which the company took on as its name in 1986, completely shifted its focus toward the development and licensing of video games for arcade use. SNK is best known for its Neo Geo console system and as a video game developer, hardware manufacturer, and publisher that initially focused on arcade cabinet-style games. Also known as Shin Nihon Kikaku, SNK was founded in Osaka, Japan on July 22, 1978, by Eikichi Kawasaki. The origins of Neo Geo began with its parent company, SNK. Puzzle Bobble, Power Spikes II, King of Fighters ‘96 Here’s a look at the history of Neo Geo’s consoles and a look at what could have been. Arcade gaming at bowling alleys and dedicated arcades still remained popular with kids and adults, so the concept of SNK bringing that home was a different way of thinking that Sega and Nintendo were not attempting. While they were not successful in their console efforts, the Neo Geo lineup of consoles and games still marks a moment when video arcade gaming truly entered the home. Part of the fourth generation of gaming, the Neo Geo was a cartridge-based console that marked the first time SNK, Neo Geo’s parent company, would try to counter the popularity of both Nintendo and Sega. While Sega and Nintendo are the two most memorable names of the 1990s console wars, they were not the only competitors vying for console space in your home. At present, Neo Geo remains a favorite among retro gamers eager to relive fond memories of an earlier era of gaming.However, the 40-minute battery life and lack of a backlit screen of the latter prevented it from being able to threaten the Game Boy Color’s dominance. The Neo Geo Pocket was released in 1998 but hastily withdrawn and the Neo Geo Color released.The Neo Geo AES/MVS, Neo Geo CD, and Neo Geo Pocket/Color were the Neo Geo consoles released.© Evan-Amos / Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication Key Facts ![]()
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