Beginners Guide 4 - The Neo Geo Guide

What is Neo Geo?

Neo Geo is a cartridge based game system developed by SNK. It is available as standard console for home use and also as an arcade version that plugs into an arcade machine.

What is Neo Geo MVS and Neo Geo AES?

MVS is the arcade version of the Neo Geo. Is is a pcb that you can plug into either a Jamma arcade machine or into a proper Neo Geo MVS machine. You can then change the game you want to play by changing the cartridge, just like you can with any home console.

AES is the home use version of the Neo Geo. You plug this into a TV and use joysticks or joypads as the controlls just like you do with any other console. The games come on cartridges and can be changed simply by plugging in different cartridges

Are the Neo Geo MVS and Neo Geo AES cartridges interchangeable?

Technically yes they are the same in the way that they work and the games contained inside them. Physically they are not the same. For example you cannoy plug a Neo Geo AES cartridge into an MVS pcb as it will physically not fit. There does exist an adaptor to allow you to plug Neo Geo MVS cartridges into a Neo Geo AES console, but these are both rare and expensive, you are better off sticking to the MVS system anyway as the AES cartridges are much more expensive then the MVS cartridges of the same game as AES cartridges are considered collectable items

Can I plug a Neo Geo MVS pcb into any arcade machine?

The Neo Geo MVS pcb will plug into any Jamma machine or proper Neo Geo MVS machine. There are some slight differences between the connector in a jamma machine and the connector in a proper Neo Geo machine, these differences are minor so the MVS will still work in a Jamma machine. The differnces are :- A proper MVS machine will have 4 fire buttons whereas a Jamma machine will only have 3. Not all Neo Geo games use all 4 fire buttons so you will still be able to play a very large number of games correctly on a Jamma machine. A proper MVS machine will have stereo speakers whereas a Jamma machine will only have one mono speaker. There is a switch on the MVS pcb that allows you to switch between Mono and Stereo so this is not usually a problem. A proper MVS machine will also have a game select button. This is only needed for MVS pcbs that allow you to insert more then one cartridge at any one time. The select button allows you to change between the inserted games while you are playing without having to turn the machine off. If you only have a MVS pcb with one cartridge slot then this will not concern you.

What is a 1 slot / 2 slot / 4 slot / 6 slot ?

Neo Geo MVS pcbs are available with different numbers of cartridge slots. The most common is the Neo Geo MVS 1 slot. This has one cartridge slot which you insert a game into, while the machine is turned off. When you turn the machine on you can then play the game. If you want to chage game you have to turn the machine off and then change the cartridge and then turn it on again, just as you would have to with any home console like the Sega Megadrive or Nintendo 64 as examples. If you have a Neo Geo MVS 2 slot then you can insert 2 game cartridges at the same time. Once you switch the machine on you can then select which of the 2 games you want to play by pressing the Select Button, you can then change between the 2 games anytime you want while the machine is switched on. The Same applies for the Neo Geo MVS 4 slot and the Neo Geo MVS six slot. With the Neo Geo MVS 6 slot you can of course insert 6 game cartridges and switch between all six in the same way you can with the Neo Geo MVS 2 slot by pressing the select button. The Neo Geo MVS 1 slot are the cheapest and most common and as you can imagine the price goes up the higher the number of slots you require.

Can I add the 4th fire button / Select button / Stereo speakers to my Jamma cab?

The answer is yes, you may even find when buying a Jamma cab that the previous owner may well have added the 4th fire button as this is quite common, some Jamma cabs also have stero speakers. A select button is not as common but can be added easily if you need to.

Where can I buy a Neo Geo MVS pcbs and MVS game cartridges?

Please check our forsale pages http://www.arcadeuk.com/pcbs_neogeo.htm as we often have a selection of Neo Geo MVS pcbs and games for sale.

What is the memory card slot for on the front of proper Neo Geo MVS machines?

The memory card slot allows you to load games that you have saved on a Neo Geo AES home console, onto the MVS machine by inserting the memory card you have saved games on. Not all MVS machines have the memory card slot, and its use was not common in arcades, never the less it is a nice novelty feature.

Are there different types of Neo Geo MVS 1 slot pcbs?

There are several variations in the Neo Geo MVS slot design, they all play the same MVS game cartridges and work in the same way, but some have features that others do not. Some models for example have a headphones socket or have joystick ports to allow you to plug in console joysticks or joypads (not quite sure WHY you would want to plug a joypad into an arcade machine) The size of the pcb and the quality of the construction dffer with the models as well. In my opinion the oldest Neo Geo MVS 1 slot pcbs are the best as the frame and cartridge slot is made from metal, making it impossible to break the cartridge slot with rough handling. Not long after the first production runs they moved to using plastic frames and cartridge slots to save costs. The size of the pcb also shrunk with almost every different revision. I am not a fan of the modetn new Neo Geo MVS pcbs. Although they are very compact compared to the older models, they have ommited many features to aid in the cost cutting, such as the removal of stereo sound.