Cover variants thread/debate.

Originally posted by moog:
<strong>

I have these two variants of samsho2.

I disagree that they are both euro, I think the 'faces' version is Asian. I never saw this variant for sale in the UK when the NGPC was around.

The faces version has SNK's Jap office address on the back, and is lacking German and Italian, whilst the other has an address in London, with German and Italian translations.

How are you able to confirm that both versions are Euro?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hmmm,
Well, I bought most of my games before the SNK pullout from the UK. I only bought a few from specialists afterward. So most of my games came from the big chain stores.
So for instance, Metal Slug second mission, which is the last "official" UK release, I bought from MVC (Woolworths grp) Has the one language cover with the European Union "ESLPA" age rating symbol, and only one manual.
Now thats just an example, Turf masters is the same. I bought my Turf Masters in EB and thats the one manual English cover version.

There is just NO WAY that its that simple (EURO/ASIAN).
Ive often wondered about it myself, and just to make it more confused, some retailers supplied the English Games with only the English Manual, even though they had the 3 language covers!

Also, if the single language versions are for the far eastern market, Why put the European Union CE and ELSPA markings on them?

Also, if the multi lan, 3 manual versions are the official UK releases, then games like SONIC, MS2, Turf Masters, Dark Arms, Dive Alert, and all the games that were only "officially" sold in the UK in the single lan variant, were all "asian" versions???
Obviously not.

In fact I have half a dozen spare covers fom the Electronics Boutique release of SONIC and they are all the standard English only, one manual version!

Here's my take on it.
This is a mixture of evidence and deduction, but I'll happily back up any of it if asked!

All the early releases were shipped with the 3 manuals.
Most also had the triple lan covers, although I have a Pac-Man with triple manuals and single lan cover. (But I'll get to that in a min)
At some point SNK in its infinite wisdom actually realised that it should be putting a CE mark on anything it sells in Europe, and that the packaging should carry the ELSPA mark/age rating, which I would suggest means that the artwork/manuals were printed etc, long before the EU had issued the ratings for these games. This explains why some retailers actually used self adhesive ELSPA labels, as well as the bar code ones.
At some point between the Aruse takeover, and SNKs losing interest in foreign markets, they realise that they can save money and not break the law by adding the required marks (once they had gotten permission) and dropping manuals that were not needed!
Hence all releases from AT LEAST Match of the Millenium onwards are Single Lan/man versions.
IF ANYONE HAS A MULTI VERSION OF ONE OF THE LATE GAMES LIKE FASELEI, LAST BLADE, MS2, SONIC, etc. Then Clearly that would poke a hole in my theory!

Now, as the NGPC actually started to sell, obviously SNK would have made more copies of the early games (it would be stupid even beyond SNKs normal lunacy to produce large numbers of games for a system that may flop after a month!)
This is why IMHO there are "crossover" versions of some of the early games!
eg. Pac-Man with 3 manuals but only an English cover, or triple language cover versions being sent out with only English Manuals.
Pac-Man and Crush Roller being sent out with or without crossrings (Cheapskates)
Now if this is a correct assumption, then the re-designing of the cover for SS2 could be that the Faces version was a second run of the game, re-covered to look more different from MOTM, which the original closely resembles!

Lastly, If anyone is interested, and supposing that one already dosent exist, I could put together a list of NGPC releases in Chronological order. As I have copies of both issues of "Neo Geo News" along with some copies of release lists that SNK UK sent me.
Im sure if there are any gaps we could fill them between the knowledge of the members here?
We could also include information on cover variants etc?

Could be worthwhile.

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Originally posted by Gamemaster:
<strong>I bet that the 2 SamSho2 versions are booth UK releases. Because they got booth the same catalog number. Asian and US catalog numbers vary from the UK ones but its still the same game.

have a look at some scans i upped today for ray_7

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/andibcool/" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/andibcool/</a>

There u can see they got the same numbers but look at the other games the numbers vary when it is a US or asian version.</strong><hr></blockquote>


LOL!
Yeah, good point!
I hadnt thought that different regions had different cat n#'s.

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Originally posted by Metal Slug:
<strong>Rain.
The second issue of Neo-news is the one with Sonic on the front. Seen it?
I only have one of them, whereas I have about 8 of the first issue with the Aqua neo on the cover. So I guess it might be un-common?
Ironically enough, the last page has the "GAME OVER BOYS" Ad on it! <img src="graemlins/spock.gif" border="0" alt="[Spock]" />
Hmm, The contents basically concern the up-comming games Like MOTM, Gals Fighters, Faselei, Last Blade, Baseball 2000 (Dynamite Sluggaer?), Pro Wrestling, and more interestingly, Ikari Returns!

Perhaps the funniest thing is an article on page 7!
"A NEW ALLIANCE FOR SNK. Aruze Helps To Secure The Future of SNK"

Anyone smell Bullshit?

Yeah Geezer, you'd think right?
Actually I was only half way through all the waffling I wanted to do, when I realised how long I'd been banging on for and called it a day! </strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah, I guess it is.... I've never seen it. I only saw Issue 1 when MVC were clearing out all of their stock

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