If you didn't know, the MVS carts are the carts used in the arcade Neo setups. They are laid out a little differently than the AES/Home system, but contain the code for both the MVS version and the Home version (Vs mode and Practice are never available from an MVS system without a UNI Bios/4X BIOS on the MVS board)
If you already have a AES/Home system, you obviously have the controllers and connections, why not try to find the Phantom-1 from someone? Basically this is an "adapter" that allows you to plug an MVS game into, then plug the Phantom into your home system basically allowing you to play the arcade (MVS) carts on your AES system. The one stipulation is that not ALL games can work with it, though 90%+ do. The other 10% are rare, not worth playing or obtainable in other forms.
If all you wanted to play are MVS games and not any other JAMMA games, the best way to go may also be to get a consolized MVS system. Basically somoene takes a 1-6 slot MVS PCB/motherboard and builds a custom Super Gun onto it. Since most MVS boards have the Neo joystick connections on them, you can use the joystick(s) you already own for the home system on this systems. Several members here make a small business of building them and selling them to other members. Supergoose79 comes to mind. I've seen more than one of his consolized units and he appears to do some fantastic work.
If you wish to play other JAMMA games, such as Capcom fighters or one shot boards like SNK Vs Capcom: Chaos, THEN you would want to go with the Super Gun so that you could plug these games in. You don't have this option with the Phantom-1 or the consolized MVS systems.
I personally own a
MAS Systems Super Nova. The sticks are high quality and the workmanship is above average. I'd recommend it if you can't find someone to custom build or aren't capable of custom building your own. Do a search on the boards for the "Super Nova" or MAS Systems and you'll get a lot of feedback for both the "company" (basically a guy running a business from his home) and the system itself. If you get a Super Nova and get the controllers, be sure to ask for the "medium" stiffness joysticks. I have the "hard" ones and pulling off a dragon punch can be a pain in the ass and a half.
In order to play MVS games on a Super Gun, you would require 3 things:
The Super Gun
A Neo Geo MVS mother board (1-6 slot, some 1 slot boards have issues with ROTD and Matrimelee I think)
An MVS cart (or 2, or 10 or 20)
You plug the Super Gun into the TV, the MVS mother board into the Super Gun and the cart, obviously, into the MVS board. It's slightly more expensive to start off this way, since it'll run you about $300-$500 depending on what you get, but as you've seen, simply buying 1 or 2 MVS carts over the AES version can EASILY make that money back for you.
The downside is that you don't get the nice insert or instructions. You can pick up MVS kits which have the move stickers, the cardboard box it came in and the mini marquees, but it's still not as cool as owning the AES/Home version.
Personally I only want to play the games, not collect them, so getting the MVS was a no brainer for me. Sure, I pick up some kits because I can, but I'm still saving assloads of money over going the home route.
One other thing to note, is that there is NO WAY to plug a home game into an MVS board. So if you have any home carts and plan on getting rid of your home system, you may as well sell the games also.
I seen something called MVS which the carts were cheaper like $50 or $70 bucks. I also heard that a supergun well let you play these MVS games, where can I get a supergun, or which superguns are the best one to buy. I know someone out there can help me, come on neo freaks!
) on the super nova and a 1 slot and was just wondering where a jamma mobo can be found(if I want to pick that up later on), how expensive is it and finally how complex is putting on/ changing the mobo?