Neo-Geo Gold X - 3DS & VITA DOOMED

[The NZA]

make way for the king

 

 

Following its first failed attempt with Neo Geo Pocket, SNK is lending its name to a new portable gaming device.

 

Famicom Plaza has a look at at the new device, which carries official licensing from SNK Playmore. The device has 4.3 inch screen, two gigabytes of internal storage, and ships with 20 Neo Geo classics built in:

 

1.WORLD HEROES

2.ULTIMETE 11

3.TOP PLAYER'S GOLF

4.SENGOKU

5.NAM-1975

6.MUTATION NATION

7.LAST RESORT

8.KING OF MONSTERS

9.FRENZY

10.CYBER LIP

11.FATAL FURY SPECIAL

12.ART OF FIGHTING

13.SUPER SIDEKICKS

14.LEAGUE BOWLING

15.METAL SLUG

16.MAGICAL LORD

17.BASEBALL STARS PROFESSIONAL

18.SAMURAI SHODOWN

19.KING OF FIGHTERS '94

20.FATAL FURY

 

The games are all the North American versions with English.

 

No details yet on pricing or release date. Famicom Plaza's report does not list the maker or provide ordering information.

 

Samurai Showdown, Fatal Fury, KOS, World Heroes (i dug it in the day...), even AOF are great here, but King of Monsters? fucking Metal Slug? Game over, man...game over.

[Maldron]

Wow, looks like that button is either select or menu depending on the model you get!

[The NZA]

SNK doesn't waste time with its revisions.

[The Instigation Station]

It does look promising, but if it isn't touch screen then I don't think there will be a point in even playing.

[Thelogan]

Retail price - $1299.99

[The NZA]

[C_U_SPACECOWBOY]

Awkward shoulder buttons...

[Visitant]

I feel like we're looking at one of those "all in one" gaming systems you see at shady corners of the mall. Still, Imma get one because I love me some Neo Geo.

[The NZA]

 

NEOGEO X GOLD ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM Announced for Worldwide Distribution

Tommo Inc. sets release date and price for revolutionary gaming "system within a system"

 

Los Angeles, Calif. - August 13, 2012 - Tommo, Inc., in partnership with SNK PLAYMORE, today confirmed that the NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system is scheduled for a worldwide release this December. Following the 20th anniversary of the ground breaking NEOGEO AES console, the NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system provides players with all of the features of a home arcade and the convenience of a handheld gaming device. The NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system is set for a worldwide release on December 6, 2012 for a suggested retail price of $199.99 (USD).

 

The NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system comes complete with the NEOGEO X Station, the NEOGEO X Handheld with 20 pre-loaded NEOGEO classic titles, and the NEOGEO X Joystick. In addition to coming pre-loaded with 20 NEOGEO classic titles, the NEOGEO X Handheld device features a crisp 4.3" LCD display, an expandable game card slot, internal stereo speakers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for a personal gaming experience you can take anywhere. The NEOGEO X Handheld device works with the NEOGEO X Joystick and NEOGEO X Station to charge the handheld device and transfer the action directly to a television set or monitor, via HDMI or A/V out, for a true arcade experience right at home.

 

The full list of NEOGEO X Handheld pre-installed games is as follows:

3 COUNT BOUT

LEAGUE BOWLING

ART OF FIGHTING II

MAGICIAN LORD

ALPHA MISSION II

METAL SLUG

BASEBALL STARS II

MUTATION NATION

CYBER LIP

NAM 1975

FATAL FURY

PUZZLED

FATAL FURY SPECIAL

REAL BOUT - FATAL FURY SPECIAL

THE KING OF FIGHTERS '95

SAMURAI SHODOWN II

KING OF THE MONSTERS

SUPER SIDEKICKS

LAST RESORT

WORLD HEROES PERFECT

 

"Great game consoles don't die; they're just reborn in much more affordable and convenient packages," said Tommo CEO Jonathan Wan. "The NEOGEO X GOLD is a love letter to one of my favorite consoles of all time, and working with SNK PLAYMORE to acquire the NEOGEO license, Tommo Inc. looks to provide gaming and entertainment enthusiasts with a classic arcade experience both at home and on the go."

 

 

Distribution of the NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system for European and Asian territories will be handled exclusively by BLAZE and Success Company. North American distribution of the NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system will be handled exclusively by Tommo, Inc..

 

For the latest news as it is released, and for additional information regarding the NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system, please visit: www.NEOGEOX.com.

 

About SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION:

Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION (SNK) develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Founded in 1978, SNK is one of the largest privately held interactive entertainment content providers in the world.

 

Known for such franchises as THE KING OF FIGHTERS, METAL SLUG, and SAMURAI SHODOWN SNK continues to be an industry leader by focusing on their rich arcade history. More information on SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION can be found at www.snkplaymore.co.jp SNK PLAYMORE USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION.

 

About Tommo, Inc.:

With over 20 years of experience in logistics and sales, a knowledgeable staff and sales representatives available nationwide, Tommo Inc. is one of North America's largest distributors of video gaming merchandises. Founded in 1989, Tommo has grown from a wholesaler of imported video games to becoming one of the nation's main suppliers of video gaming content to national retail chain stores as well as independent retailers.

 

About BLAZE:

Founded by Jason Cooper over 20 years ago, BLAZE now specializes in the creation and distribution of retro gaming devices. BLAZE currently distribute SEGA and ATARI branded consoles and, in Q1 2012, are set to release the "Gamegadget" games console, billed as the "iPod for games"

 

About Success Company:

Based in Hong Kong, Success Company are specialists in the distribution of all video games formats throughout the Asian region.

 

 

 

© SNK PLAYMORE "NEOGEO" is a registered trademark of SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION. Used under license from SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION.

 

goddamn, they're still charging baller money

[Thelogan]

Any word on how they intend to distribute additional games? It sounds like I'd be paying $200 to play 20 Neo-Geo games with a nice joystick or in the bathroom.

[IceManML]

Well I wasted my $ on the pocket color... Battery was pretty much worthless. But it was the only way to get my hands on a couple games I wanted w.o paying $74937;77388377;¥ per cartridge.

 

I'll def pick this up if the put the new kofs on there. N perhaps a new metal slug?

[The NZA]

 

can't lie, i kinda want one...but damn

 

 

already has more games than a vita for less cost

 

[Reverend Jax]

If it was reasonably priced, it just wouldn't be a Neo Geo.

[IceManML]

I was just bout to say... It looks pretty cheap vs 3ds n vita.. Either way it appears this thing is aiming at the old school audience who actually shelled out $2k for the original arcade cart consoles.

Tho I would find it hard to believe each one ofem saying to themselves "wtf was I thinking?!"

[Reverend Jax]

Either way it appears this thing is aiming at the old school audience who actually shelled out $2k for the original arcade cart consoles.

Tho I would find it hard to believe each one ofem saying to themselves "wtf was I thinking?!"

I think it's actually aimed at the much bigger group: the old school audience that had a SNES or genesis and WISH they could have had a Neo Geo to play the perfect arcade ports. They're hoping those people think "finally, this is my chance!"

[The NZA]

^yeah, good call Jax - turns out i'm one of those people

 

so yeah, the baller Gold X bundle retailed for $200, but when best buy was clearing them out recently, amazon price matched and dropped it down to $100 for a few days - i missed this, but got one resold for about the same price...here's my review!

 

- for @ $100, you're getting a portable Neo-Geo with a mock-system docking station (i don't have the USB to charge it otherwise, but battery seems okay for now...guide says 4 hours though? crap) and a classic AES stick that's smaller than the original. naturally everything about this feels a bit more plasticy/cheaper than the original hardware, as i'm told at least (you can see it in pics too) but it's cool for what it is. everything does feel pretty light though, if that bothers you i'd say save up for an OG unit but the games are still crazy expensive - stick/pad on the unit is super clicky too.

 

- the OS is nothing to write home about, you just select which game & play. the selection is pretty good right out of the box, Nam '75 is just awesome, and stuff like Metal Slug, Samurai Showdown, Fatal Fury etc are as good as i remember in the arcades...Magician Lord beats the crap out of m though.

 

- some units had control problems, i'm fortunate that mine doesn't. response times on the unit feel good, i'm told there's lag over the HDMI (to TV) but it wasn't noticeable during my time with it.

 

- Visuals, however, take a huge hit when put over said HDMI - the resolution used here isn't made for HDTVs and from what i saw of pics, the quality between HDMI & the composite options aren't as big a difference as you'd hope for. fortunately, plugging it into my XRGB upscaler fixed a great deal of this for me; there's one forum where a guy is finishing up an RGB internal mod of sorts, but my results look good as well.

 

- on that note: there's supposed to be new firmware on the game cards releasing next month, i'm debating getting volume 4 (3 games on each, this one brings Shock Troopers, Mark of the Wolf & another World Heroes), ill post back once things are updated but again im not really feeling the input/visual problems some reviewers have due to my setup.

 

- biggest complaints so far: the menu button - used to get back to select another game you'd like to play - is readily accessible on the unit, but not from the joystick or console shell, you have to open it and press the button on the unit itself (i seem to lose sound after doing this too much sometimes? i need to mess with some shit), there's gotta be a better way than that, for a library i like to jump in & out of sometimes

also, no save (without a forthcoming card) and no sleep mode, which was really unexpected for a modern portable, that one got me kinda down, especially given the battery life

 

TL;DR if you want a great 2D/arcade classic handheld this thing's awesome for the money, if you want something to play at home like a real Neo Geo and don't upscale you might wanna hold off & see where the scene goes in the coming months, or reign in your expectations. I'm having a blast with my unit personally, it's already got more games than the vita bwahaha wait i already used that joke here

 

pics forthcoming for anyone interested!

 

*edit to answer logans' prior question: 2nd joystick is said to be $43 at amazon, i know BB let them go for like $25 before...might grab another down the road. it's cool that i read you can use em for some PC & PS3 games (well, whatever only needs 4 buttons heh)