Are there alternatives to the NEO GEO?

[Zing]

I agree that MAME and a CRT monitor should be more than enough if you want to play multiple platforms on the cheap. You can probably find a 21" Sony FD Trinitron for under $50.

[Crabmaster2000]

The alternative to owning a NEO GEO is being a weenie

[Majors]

The thing I don't like is it is running through an LCD. Sure I can tinker around forever, find a used arcade monitor, get that graphics card that runs at 15hz and MAYBE get it working, but I am scared of messing with TV tubes (too many horror stories of getting shocked).

So an ArcadeVGA card? I never messed with it since I run my MAME on a CRT TV with S-vid or VGA while I sit on my couch . I would assume you would need to wire up the video card to the arcade monitor, but that is not "shocking". I would suggest getting a working cab and get some experience with it, then you can decide what features you'll need on your next one.

Breetai said everything right. Japanese candy cabs are the best.

[G-Darius]

Mame is the best option,there was a Nintendo Vs system in the arcade too but to be honest the hardware was 8-bit Nintendo so you would just be playing NES games,the Neogeo MVS would have more titles too.

[shallowgamer]

The thing I don't like is it is running through an LCD. Sure I can tinker around forever, find a used arcade monitor, get that graphics card that runs at 15hz and MAYBE get it working, but I am scared of messing with TV tubes (too many horror stories of getting shocked).

So an ArcadeVGA card? I never messed with it since I run my MAME on a CRT TV with S-vid or VGA while I sit on my couch .

So let's talk about PC video cards with component or s-video out. Then you'd just need mame, some Hori sticks that support PC USB, and any old tube TV. Not terribly authentic, but saves a lot of space and money.

[shallowgamer]

The alternative to owning a NEO GEO is being a weenie

Yup, that used to be me. Now I'm a Real Hot Dog. With about $3000 less money in the bank.

[indecks]

Now please help me understand. " I would look at getting a single slot NeoGeo cab with 6 on-the-face and a Capcom kick harness, this gives you the best of both worlds." What does this mean..."6 on-the-face"? You mean 6 button controls? What does "Capcom kick harness" mean?

Thanks for helping a noob

6 on the face means literally 6-buttons for each player, like a standard Street Fighter II set-ups. Normally, a regular JAMMA unit (the standard arcade unit from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s) only supports 4-buttons. Lots of Capcom games, like fighters, used 6-buttons. A kick harness is basically a set of wires and connectors for 2 more buttons. You might need to solder them to connect them, or they may just click in. It depends on the set-up you get.

If you are able to score an arcade cab with a Capcom fighter already in it, especially with a CPS2 fighter like Super SFII, X-Men: CotA, Marvel Super Heroes, one of the VS. games, etc., you will probably already be set up with a kick harness and 6 buttons on the face. It will also be JAMMA, so you can easily hook-up a Neo Geo MVS unit, PGM, Atomiswave, F3, ST-V, CPS2 games, stand alone mobos (motherboards/PCBs), etc. to it. Games like Mortal Kombat series or Killer Instinct, and some Atomis 5-button games, can be a pain in the ass since you need more work arounds to get the controls working properly.

By the way, if you've been paying attention, you've just learned that the Neo Geo is not the only cartridge based arcade system. Even switching full PCBs isn't that bad if you've got everything organized and stored well.

Also, Japanese cabs are better than American cabs IMO. The controls are WAY better. The screens can also tate (turn from horizontal to vertical) in most units, so if you get some shoot 'em ups that need a vertical set up, you already will have the correct machine.

No point in getting an actual Neo Geo cab unless you have some nostalgic attachment to it or something like that. You can hook up a Neo Geo MVS mobo to any JAMMA cab.

The problem with multigame carts/PCBs is that the games often have problems; graphical glitches, sound inaccuracies, sometimes controls have a slight delay, etc. It's never fun to drop a few hundred dollars on a multicart/PCB, and then find out one of your favourite games is messed up somehow.

Finally, if you get into CPS2 games, research the terms "suicide battery" and "phoenixed."

JAMMA supports 3 buttons. Kick harnesses (also called an auxiliary harness) are for buttons 4, 5 and 6, not just the last two! Though sometimes with certain setups like the MAS SuperNOVA, the NeoGeo's D button is automatically mapped to button 4 (quick kick) on the MAS sticks.

Also, you can't just pop in a Neo MVS board into a JAMMA harness without slightly modifying either of them. It can burn out the audio amp on the MVS. The same applies for running a standard JAMMA board through an MVS JAMMA harness. They are slightly different.

edit: oh and it's also worth noting that the IGS PolyGameMaster (PGM) will slap into a NeoGeo MVS without any modification needed. It will play 100%. I still need to get one of those for Martial Masters. The emulation on MAME isn't all that great for it.

[Majors]

Also, you can't just pop in a Neo MVS board into a JAMMA harness without slightly modifying either of them. It can burn out the audio amp on the MVS. The same applies for running a standard JAMMA board through an MVS JAMMA harness. They are slightly different.

This is for true 2-4-6 slot MVS units. However you can get a single slot that runs stock JAMMA. This is what I ended with after going through big reds. It works better for me since I can drop a Neo in any cab I have. If I get a Neo Candy, I might consider getting a 4 slot again just for the whole package effect.