Are there alternatives to the NEO GEO?

[treepop]

I have been looking for a while for a neo geo, because I liked the idea of having one cab and tons of games. My question is: Are there any alternatives to the neo geo? A cab that supports multiple games, cheaply and easily?

Thanks!

[Erik_Twice]

Well, if we consider the Neo Geo cheap, a JAMMA cab should be around the same price and support more games than any other cab.

[treepop]

Well, if we consider the Neo Geo cheap, a JAMMA cab should be around the same price and support more games than any other cab.

How does a Jamma cab work? I thought you had to basically change motherboards anytime you wanted to change games...or am I mistaken?

What I meant by cheap and easy is, on a neo geo you pull the cart out and plop in another one. You can have up to 6 games at once by just hitting a button.

It doesn't have to support 6 at once or anything, but I would like a similar cart based or cd/dvd based design if possible.

Thanks!




*EDIT*
Looking into Jamma arcades, this is promising. So I guess my question is, Which would be the best most compatible Jamma Cabinet to own? Where can I buy games? Are the games expensive?

Thanks!

[Erik_Twice]

How does a Jamma cab work? I thought you had to basically change motherboards anytime you wanted to change games...or am I mistaken?

Yes and no. You can have several boards at the same time with a switch. This would require extra wiring but I doubt you will have many games at once.

So I guess my question is, Which would be the best most compatible Jamma Cabinet to own?

As far as I know, all Jamma cabs are as compatible as each other. Now, remember that a shmup would require a vertical monitor while most games require a horizontal one.

Where can I buy games? Are the games expensive?

Online and through ebay.

On price, they are and aren't expensive. You can have many good titles for around what you would pay for a big edition of a current game nowadays but for big titles you are really spending some cash, specially if we talk about shmups.

So not too different from a Neo Geo.

[treepop]

How does a Jamma cab work? I thought you had to basically change motherboards anytime you wanted to change games...or am I mistaken?

Yes and no. You can have several boards at the same time with a switch. This would require extra wiring but I doubt you will have many games at once.

So I guess my question is, Which would be the best most compatible Jamma Cabinet to own?

As far as I know, all Jamma cabs are as compatible as each other. Now, remember that a shmup would require a vertical monitor while most games require a horizontal one.

Where can I buy games? Are the games expensive?

Online and through ebay.

On price, they are and aren't expensive. You can have many good titles for around what you would pay for a big edition of a current game nowadays but for big titles you are really spending some cash, specially if we talk about shmups.

So not too different from a Neo Geo.

Good stuff. So, is there a "Multicart" for Jamma, like there is for Neo Geo?

Thanks for this info!

[Erik_Twice]

Good stuff. So, is there a "Multicart" for Jamma, like there is for Neo Geo?

Thanks for this info!

You have multiboards, which run an old version of MAME. Their quality tends to wildy vary but it won't be great.

[treepop]

Good stuff. So, is there a "Multicart" for Jamma, like there is for Neo Geo?

Thanks for this info!

You have multiboards, which run an old version of MAME. Their quality tends to wildy vary but it won't be great.

Is there a super high quality multiboard? Is the ArcadeSD the best of the best?

[Majors]

Are there any alternatives to the neo geo? A cab that supports multiple games, cheaply and easily?

Does a PC in a cab running MAME not work for you?

There are a few arcade systems that are like NeoGeo (MVS) that use cartridges: ST-V, PGM, Naomi, CPS2/3 and F3 to name a few. You can get them all to run on JAMMA if they're not already native. 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.

If you think the multicade route is for you, then this thread is dead to me.

[treepop]

Are there any alternatives to the neo geo? A cab that supports multiple games, cheaply and easily?

Does a PC in a cab running MAME not work for you?

There are a few arcade systems that are like NeoGeo (MVS) that use cartridges: ST-V, PGM, Naomi, CPS2/3 and F3 to name a few. You can get them all to run on JAMMA if they're not already native. 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.

If you think the multicade route is for you, then this thread is dead to me.

I already have a mame machine. 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). Also, I just don't think it will be the same as running native. Don't get me wrong, I love my mame cab with Hyperspin front end. I am just looking for native hardware.

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

[Breetai]

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."