|
Post by Darth Gecko on Jan 7, 2014 0:23:50 GMT -5
Firstly, a sincere hello to all you Neo Geo X folk! This is my first post.
I used to own a NeoGeo Pocket some 10 years ago or so, I was convinced into selling it to buy a GBA. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but within a month I had serious buyers remorse and lamented the loss of my beloved SNK handheld and all the games I'd collected. I look back now with nothing but regret, it was the first and only SNK console I ever owned. I never owned a NeoGeo CD or AES, I was never able to justify the cost (I lived with my parents then), but I do love their games and hardware. I'm not really the XBox or Playstation type, but I have been buying SNK games on Android - Metal Slug and Blazing Star on a touchscreen without physical controls is not satisfying.
My wife is very understanding of my SNK nostalgia and agreed that in a fortnight when I'm paid next, I can buy a NeoGeo X and the Mega Pack - yay!!!
So, brimming with anticipation and excitement I thought I'd join a NeoGeo forum. So I went to neo-geo.com and was absolutely crestfallen by what I read and the attitudes of their members.
I cannot find anything concrete, no proper facts, just an overall consensus that the NeoGeo X is s*** and people laughing their butts off over SNK's (stupid) termination of the agreement with Tommo. But I don't understand why. People saying it's garbage, they'd throw it away if they could, etc. etc. I could go on. Basically, pure unadulterated hatred. This is what I do not understand, what's the deal?
What is so wrong with the NGX to foster such hatred? I can't see how buying a SNK branded handheld is bad, it comes with load of games, and I'm intending to get the remainder of games with the Mega pack. I love the idea of the AES style dock, it looks (from what I've seen) fantastic AND comes with a arcade stick like the original so it can be played on TV, what's not to love? Any potential problems I have read about elsewhere, seem to be addressed by the v500 firmware update, so that can't be the problem.
Is there something I'm missing? Is it some kind of purity issue? You know, if it's not a MVS or AES then it's nothing kind of attitude? I don't get it, I'm willing to buy a new piece of SNK kit and buy the games in a physical format, does my intent count for nothing unless I'm prepared to consolize a MVS and scour the planet for 20 year old cartridges? How does that profit and support SNK right now?
I really would appreciate the views of you guys, because if I ask on that other forum, I'm just going to get a load of abuse without even understanding why. Also if someone can explain why SNK has terminated the agreement with Tommo I'd love to understand it, it just seems like SNK is run by idiots at the moment who want to pi$$ off potential customers like myself eager to buy their stuff.
Anyway, thanks for your time. SNK forever!!! ;-)
|
|
|
Post by neogenesis on Jan 7, 2014 1:14:49 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. It's a troll-fest around there at neo-geo.com. A lot of the people there just like bashing the NGX mainly because they like comparing it to an actual AES which isn't fair since the NGX is a handheld that runs on emulation while the AES is an advanced and expensive piece of hardware that runs the actual arcade games. Anyway, I created a thread a few months ago that may be of interest to you. Here's a link: neogeox.proboards.com/thread/104/common-complaints-neo-geo-valid
|
|
|
Post by Darth Gecko on Jan 7, 2014 2:08:12 GMT -5
Hi Neogenesis, thankyou for replying to me.
I naively assumed any NeoGeo hardware would be accepted and celebrated for what it is, by people who are supposed to be SNK/NeoGeo fans. It must be as you say a troll-fest over there, but I fail to see why. It reminds me of being at school when people were comparing ZX Spectrums and Commodore 64s while saying "mine's better than yours". I would have thought actually supporting SNK (until the license termination) by buying their hardware and software now is far better than trading half busted 20 year old carts and boards, which does nothing.
As for emulation, well it must come down to a 'purist' attitude then. It's going to be far easier and economically viable to create a modern version of an older system using a reference board, embedded Linux and emulation rather than having to design and commission custom chips. I worked for a fibre optics company some time back, they made these crazy boxes filled with custom and expensive chips. I was involved in using embedded Linux to create newer versions of these boxes, you could say using software emulation rather than custom hardware. It was cheaper to produce and worked just as well. I dare say they probably did consider custom hardware for the NeoGeo X, but I would bet the costs would have made the end product even more expensive. I've no problem with emulation, nor the (shock-horror) discovery of an SD card inside the machine, as long as it works ok.
I'll have a read through that thread, thanks again for replying. ;-)
|
|
|
Post by haironimus on Jan 7, 2014 4:19:05 GMT -5
Hi mate,
Wouldn't worry about what anyone else thinks at all. I didn't and I think it's a great little piece of kit, especially for the price now. All of the reasons people are hacked off with it are based on unreasonably high expectations of what a couple hundred quid gets you these days. As you said, miniaturising the actual hardware and then manufacturing a new rom based cartridge system for it, the costs would be astronomical and we'd be Paying quite a lot more for not a lot of improvement IMO.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2014 4:51:49 GMT -5
The main problem was when it was first released on 370 firmware Tv output was not great, it was good on a CRT tv only.
Firmware 500 broke the AV output for pal and ntsc with fuzziness and off centre.
The AV output was fixed in firmware 500a, which is also used in the new jailbreak hack.
Im over the moon with my x, Games are mint and its great playing real bout fatal fury 2 and all the classics.
|
|
|
Post by haironimus on Jan 7, 2014 5:09:05 GMT -5
Yeh me too, just need another stick now. Megapack's on the way.
|
|
danthor
Global Moderator
Posts: 306
|
Post by danthor on Jan 7, 2014 10:55:30 GMT -5
First, Welcome to the board! Second, other members here have pretty much hit the nail on the head for your reception elsewhere. To be fair, the packin firmware does have its share of issues, as outlined in another thread already linked in this one! Including screen tearing, incorrect resolution output when using the dock, input lag with certain TVs.
That said, however. With your getting the Mega Pack, the firmware update fixes those issues, improves the sound output, and HDMI output, and even adds memory card emulation support for all titles (excluding the Ninja Master's pack in card) and that function alone is the difference between some games being great, and just plain awesome (examples: Super Sidekicks, Baseball Stars, and anything, really.)
And moreover, it's not like you can't improve your experience even more. For instance, if you're reasonably handy with a soldering iron, you can swap out the buttons on your stick for some better ones (this is a fairly popular and simple mod for both NGX and OG hardware users alike) and of course, there's the Jailbreak firmware, which REALLY opens up the system possibilites. It does enable even more system emulators if that strikes your fancy (myself, I did the jailbreak firmware, but I still keep my NGX for neo gaming only) But this will open up pretty much the entire NeoGeo catalog to you, which is wonderful if you'd like a broader selection than your starting pack of the 21 initial games and the Mega Pack's additional 15. All you'll need for that particular mod is the Rocket Cable that you'll already have in your Mega Pack, and a Procard (you can get these with free shipping from the user OMGNGX here, they've got a site with all kinds of NGX goodies to make your experience better.) and spare time!
As for the attitude towards emulation, that really varies from person to person. Some insist it's gotta be OG hardware, or nothing, some are a bit more flexible. Obviously everyone on this site is fine enough with it! Just using examples here, myself, I use both OG hardware (I've got an AES, NGCD, and NGPC) and NGX. When I'm home, I usually use my AES, unless I want to play a game that's not in my library. But having all my faves on the go is nice. Then there's Crujones4life. He's also an OG hardware user, but decided to use the NGX predominantly, as it takes up a ton less space to have all the games already in one unit.
|
|
|
Post by steryan on Jan 7, 2014 11:20:33 GMT -5
They are just snobs that are pissed off because they paid obscene amounts of money for say METAL SLUG which is in-built in this system de-valuing their stupid collection, I've got an MVS and have had an AES and I love the NEO-GEO X, for what it costs it's a bargain, I say ignore the collectors who are more obsessed with the value of the game/s, and just play the awesome 20 *free* games.
|
|
|
Post by Darth Gecko on Jan 7, 2014 19:59:15 GMT -5
@haironimous: Hi mate, I'm not going to worry now. If they don't want to welcome new hardware and potential new users then it's their loss. I'll be a very proud chap to own my own NeoGeo kit, whatever form it's in. @@legacy: Hi, so it's fair to say then, that most of the criticisms are based on niggles which are fixed now. I'm glad you're happy with your NGX and that jailbreak sounds very interesting. @ danthor: Hi, thanks for the welcome. I'll have to look into the Procard, I'm still confused about what exactly is needed to JB the NGX but I'll have a good read up about it. I was under the impression it would require some hardware to be hanging out of the machine which would limit the portability. There are a couple of titles I would like to see on my NGX not covered by the default selection or Mega pack though. @ steryan: LOL, yeah but Metal Slug is a damn good game. From my point of view I WILL be a collector, I'll have some 36 games, bought and paid for legally. I don't care if it's on a MVS cart or SD, it's the same 1s and 0s. ;-) Thanks guys for weighing in on this, you've made me feel a lot better about joining the NGX ranks. Hurry up pay day!
|
|
danthor
Global Moderator
Posts: 306
|
Post by danthor on Jan 7, 2014 20:43:34 GMT -5
@ danthor: Hi, thanks for the welcome. I'll have to look into the Procard, I'm still confused about what exactly is needed to JB the NGX but I'll have a good read up about it. I was under the impression it would require some hardware to be hanging out of the machine which would limit the portability. There are a couple of titles I would like to see on my NGX not covered by the default selection or Mega pack though. Not at all! Mine is using the jailbreak, nothing hangs out at all. It simply allows you to use a microSD card loaded with NeoGeo games, instead of the standard SD gamecard. You use the Rocket Cable included in the Mega Pack to apply the jailbreak firmware in the exact same way you'll be doing the firmware update with your Mega Pack when you get it. Once both updates are done, bam! Toss the whole catalog onto a microSD, put it in your system, and you're ready to go! You'll even be able to use the new features the Mega Pack firmware brings, such as memory card savegames on the microSD roms. Instant all in one portable or home NeoGeo machine with a catalog of your choosing, no hardware modding required. The reason you need to get the other kind of micro reader (the one I suggested in my earlier post) is that the ones made to use NGX roms are wired differently than standard microSD readers.
|
|
|
Post by Darth Gecko on Jan 8, 2014 19:29:53 GMT -5
So this jailbreak would let me play Viewpoint?
If only I could play NeoGeo Pocket games on it too, that would be a dream come true.
|
|
|
Post by chansterling on Jan 8, 2014 20:45:07 GMT -5
Darth - I'm hoping we can get a NGPC emulator soon. It's probably my favorite console and I cannot wait to emulate some of those games with a truly clicky joystick. Otherwise, I'll probably never play Faselei!
|
|
|
Post by Darth Gecko on Jan 8, 2014 21:50:53 GMT -5
Darth - I'm hoping we can get a NGPC emulator soon. It's probably my favorite console and I cannot wait to emulate some of those games with a truly clicky joystick. Otherwise, I'll probably never play Faselei! WOW! Now that would be something wouldn't it? A NeoGeo handheld with everything, even NGPC games - the ultimate SNK all-in-one. I loved Sonic on it, Pacman, Biomotor Unitron, KOF R-2, Fatal Fury, Metal Slug.. ..thinking about it I loved every game on it. I really miss my old NeoGeo Pocket, I would start hunting one down and buying the carts, but I think the wife's patience won't quite stretch that far... ...yet. ;-) I've only just convinced her of the merits of a jailbreak. I suppose I could sell one of my Atari XEs on eBay.
|
|
|
Post by neogenesis on Jan 8, 2014 22:05:30 GMT -5
I just got into the NGPC recently. I got one around the latter part of the year. I have 14 games for it so far. I still don't have Sonic though. My favorite game for it is SNK vs. Capcom. It's amazing how a fighting game can be that good on a handheld.
|
|
|
Post by Darth Gecko on Jan 8, 2014 22:41:32 GMT -5
That was a good game, I had that too. If you like Sonic, I would recommend it - worthy of collecting. If there was one problem with the device (apart from SNK not supporting it for longer and making more - sound familiar?) it was the lack of a backlit screen. Apart from that they were great machines, I could kick myself now for selling mine. After SNK stopped them, GAME sold them unboxed in a pack with a ton of games at one point, for a stupidly low price if I remember correctly years ago, I ALMOST bought one then.
As an update, the wife has just given Royal Assent to me collecting NeoGeo Pocket Color stuff. She thinks it's a good idea as I'm mad about all things NeoGeo. I'm sorting out my old Atari XE stuff tomorrow, that will raise some funds and I've found someone nearby that sells NGPCs and games among other things.
This year will be my NeoGeo year :-)
|
|