Neo geo or neo geo CD and other questions to get me started.

[dlmvii]

I picked up a Neo Geo CD last month and I love the thing, yeah it has alot of loading, but what CD console didn't back in the 90's?

I'd say start with the Neo Geo CD, play through the library and see what you like. If you love the system and feel you want to go further; upgrade to the the cart format.

I just bought a ngcd for myself, gets here on wednesday. i'm pumped!

[crux]

Sorry, I got my terminology confused. I've never bothered with an AES or Supergun, clearly. Everything else I said still stands though.

I also recently noticed that Ironclad was just released this last week on the American Virtual Console. That game would be the only reason I'd have ever considered a Neo Geo CD, so with the MVS version now existing (in one form or another), even that reason is gone. I'll look into the other CD exclusives sometimes to see if any of them can justify themselves. MVS has a great deal of exclusives due to the fact that they were the original games in the arcade. AES received a great many games from the arcade (MVS), but certainly not all of them. CD received even less, but had a few exclusives besides.

Buying consolized MVS systems outright is expensive, but if you can figure out how to do it yourself it's quite affordable. Even buying it outright is way cheaper than buying an AES and games, and as everyone has already said, loading times and the more limited library of CD games are two major negatives. Dollar for dollar though, if none of the MVS games are interesting for you, CD is definitely the most affordable route.

[Unleaded Logic]

I picked up a Neo Geo CD last month and I love the thing, yeah it has alot of loading, but what CD console didn't back in the 90's?

I'd say start with the Neo Geo CD, play through the library and see what you like. If you love the system and feel you want to go further; upgrade to the the cart format.

I just bought a ngcd for myself, gets here on wednesday. i'm pumped!

Nice! Enjoy it!

[dlmvii]

I just hope the loading is not as terrible as everyone says....I've been reading up on it, and it seems like it might be.

Although, honestly, if it means waiting for a minute or so, I can deal with not having to pay upwards of $50 for any decent game on the system.

[itsmattxp]

On the later games the loading time is ~1 minute to ~1.5 minutes and even more if they're in games like KoF '99 which loads between each round!

[sneth]

the load times are very reasonable on most titles.
It only gets out of hand on the later fighters like Last Blade and KoF 99. Metal Slug 1 loads no problem, but Metal slug 2 had break mid stage for loading. It's doesnt kill the game at all really, just breaks it up.

The system had more memory than the PS1, so after the initial load everything is stored. That's why you really only notice it on fighters when it has to reload a new character and stage. I used to duel my friend in Last Blade, but we would use the same stage and characters a couple times in a row.. The rematches would only take a few seconds to load.

It was a glorious system when you needed to play Neo but couldnt afford the newest carts. I had both a cart system and the CD during their original lifetimes.

[GamerMON]

I can't remember where I read it but I heard the 6-slot is the most fickle of the MVS cabinets.

[crux]

It's indeed the most temperamental, not coincidentally being the most complicated due to all the slots. The 2-slot is the only board with a built in memory card reader, though all the multi slots can accept the MV-IC Memory Board, as well as the original and giant MV-1 single slot.

Other board differences and such here: http://www.hardmvs.com/html/PCBcompare.htm

[holyver]

here's my opinion (I own a Neo Geo AES homecart system)

1. How much is a Neo geo cd gonna run me with a few decent games
most of the system I saw, with games are in the $100 range, but of course every deal is different right?
2. Is the neo geo CD better then the neo geo in terms of game library? im a fan of shmups puzzlers and fighters mostly (ie metal slug, samurai showdown, last blade ex-cetera)
yes and no: the neogeo Cd has very few exclusive game, but they are not that great, and not worth getting a CD system just for them. The AES system has more game available especially the "latest ones" which have not been ported on the CD system. The lastest shooters of the Neogeo AES (like Blazing Star) are superb games but the catch is that they are available on the AES system but at crazy expensive prices ($300, $400 range). The good thing with the Cd system is that some of the older game are cheaper on CD than their equivalent on the AES system. And you get some extra features like image galleries on CD. but some games on CD may miss some sprite animation vs. the AES version.
3. Is that controller with the odd looking d-pad as awesome as it looks?
It seems to be a great one, especially for shooters. But you can also get a neogeo arcade stick, it will work on the neogeo cd system.
4. Is it more expensive to buy for neo geo or a neo geo CD
As far as the systems are concerned, normally the neogeo AES is more expensive, but when you start adding the games, well it really depends on what you want to get. For example, Last resort on CD can be around $30, while on cart it should cost you close to $100.

Basically NeoGeo Cd seems to be a good system if you do not play to play the "newest fighters".
For me I am 100% w/ the homecart system, this is a great system. If you can/want to afford it, I do not think that you will ever regret it.

[holyver]

I have to add that since a while you can see some offers on ebay from some american sellers for some AES system and 9 to 11 games. When you do the math, these are really interesting deals.
even when you buy the set of 9 or 11 games only. Roughly you end up paying $20-$25 per games. They are not all great games, but it is a very nice way to start playing on the system.