Does anyone think it could be possible for the Neo to make a come back on The Market?

[NeoFreakWolf]

Hello Hardcore Gamers, it's me once again. Tonights topic is weither the Neo could actually make a come back on The Market or not? I mean it's not impossible, just improbible. Now I know the idea of 3d vs. 2d scares some of us out there, and in some cases it's diffinently warented. But 3d is in alot of ways is simply the school yard bully to poor little 2d, sure he looks bigger an meanner, but on the inside 3d's full of less stamina. His following is greater than 2d, but that's only because of two things; one being money, two being a sheep-like mass public in general. I don't think that the Neo would ever out sell anything, but I do think it's sales would certainly turn some heads in the industry, especially giving the age of the little black box. I think that Shawns site, Ray's site, Playmore, and the rumored to still exeist SNKUSA should all get together an exchange ideas on a limited rerelease of the system. They could rerelease the system and a few "Greatest Hits" selection of games, and when they felt that the point was made, stop production and wait for the reaction. Now I leave this to hear you, the peoples thoughts.
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[strangelycravingneo-geo]

Neo Freak Wolf, that's an interesting proposition, but I think you'd have to wait a decade. Remember the lava lamp. Plus I doubt in today's commercialized soceity, that pop culture kids would be interested in something that wasn't teeth-rotting candy. If it made a comeback I speculate it would be an underground one. I do believe that for all of us neo-geo fans a limited release would be greatly appreciated, but are we asking to much? The amazing thing about the Neo-Geo system is its nostalgic and cutting edge at the same time. What if mainstream exposure destroyed that quality?

 

[Tadaima]

Yes, indeed: that's a very intereting question. I agree with strangelycravingneo-geo, in the way that it could only be a come-back meant for Neo Geo fans. I don't think that the kids of today would enjoy playing a system. Today's going 3D. But who knows? Maybe?...

 

[NeoFreakWolf]

I doubt that Strangelycraving, the destructine mass marketing you're thinking of usually has the letters 3d somewhere on it. And as far as the teeth-rotting market goes, I demoed the NGPC to some of my friends who had never even heard the words Neo Geo before, and they all asked me where they could get one. There is a market still out there for the little black box, I spend a lot of time in EB, Funcoland, and local arcades and game stores, and not one time goes by when someone of the Proto Age dosen't mention something about how video games used to be a lot more fun back in the day, and they always bring up the Neo. And regaurding the target audience for the video game market, remember it's not childrens money they want, it's there parents... and ours.
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[strangelycravingneo-geo]

You bring up a good point NeoFreakWolf, I have to agree. I've also heard many a conversation about the "old" systems, and not just in game stores. If it was given the right support, and had good word of mouth it might be successful, but that's the problem I think when things make it all the way to the top, they start selling out, and you lose the genuine enjoyment of your system. It becomes a pathetic race of best graphics or most bits, when all you really want to do is play a great game on a great system.

 

[NeoFreakWolf]

It's our market, because we are the ones with jobs to buy this stuff. Even if it would be for only 6 months to a year sales time for the re-release, it would be nice to be able to walk into a Wal-Mart and see a brand new Neo Geo priced at $199 to $299 right next to an Xbox or a GameCube. The shockwave alone through out gaming mags everywhere would be tremendous.
<img src="graemlins/multi.gif" border="0" alt="[Multi Color Bouncey]" />

 

[strangelycravingneo-geo]

I understand what you're saying... I don't doubt that it would cause quite a comotion within the gaming community. In my opinion, I would rather it stay underground, let it keep it's myth and mystery, I think if brought into mainstream marketing it would lose it's genuine quality, but let me say again, I think it should be released in limited qualities, first, and if it makes alot of noise ,maybe then I could see it going mainstream

 

[Caris Nautilus]

No.

 

[JLukas]

I couldn't see a mainstream console (like the 8-bit NES) making it back to retail shelves, much less a niche console like the Neo. But I think it could work if it was done through an online store. For example, last I saw NES Top Loaders CIB were going for $150 on eBay, obviously there is a market for them. What if store.nintendo.com did a re-release of them at $50 or so? The technology is very old so units would be really cheap to produce, surely they could make a profit with this. And the internet, word of mouth and Nintendo Power could be used to promote it.

I guess the same could be done with the Neo, but obviously it will be a bit harder since it is a much smaller market. I wonder how much it would cost to make an AES system these days? That'd be something if they could build an online store under that new English SNK site they're making, and offer new Neo's and re-released games for cheap. Then place a few ads in EGM or whatnot. Of coruse, a limited run of everything to test the market.

Has anything like that really been tried before? Majesco re-released a bunch of SNES games for TRU stores ($9.99 SNES Castlevania IV <img src="graemlins/drool2.gif" border="0" alt="[Drool 2]" /> ) and the local one sold out pretty fast..

Doubtful any 'dead' console will be re-released, but its an interesting topic..

 

[Caris Nautilus]

The Turbo Grafx would have a better chance of making a comeback, and we all know that ain't gonna happen.

 

[BIG BEAR]

Make a comeback? The Neo never left the market...
SCREW the "mainstream"
Mainstream appeal would actually ruin the unique quality of Neo Geo titles..
Yours truly "THE FAN MAN"
-BB

 

[BeefJerky]

I think older arcade freaks would consume rereleased Neo-Geos. It would be awesome to see them spring up in Software ETC. every once in awhile.

BTW, JLukas, I remember the Majesco rereleases of the SNES and the Game Gear. That's how I got both of those. The SNES was $50 (mine was $30, I had a TRU Big Toy Book coupon) and the GG was $30. All the games were $10, and my TRU still gets new stock in for both of those systems, and they all seem to get sold, even the GG games. If the NG was rereleased it would do well. Hell, if the Game Gear can, A Neo Geo can.

 

[Mike]

The only way in HELL that the neo could come back would have to be a great reduction in the price.

The Neo is a great system even by today's standards. The kids of today LOVE the neo. Just take your neo to a local EB, or Gamestop, plug in Samurai Shodown 1 and you'll see the flock of kids passing the PS2, GC, and Xbox to play your NEO. Try it, and you'll see what I mean.

Back to the original thought now... PRICE. NOBODY would pay $399, $299, or even $199 for a new neo geo. Granted, the fans would, but the neo would have to be priced at or around what the Dreamcast was going for recently to make a mainstream comeback. That means UNDER $100.00

The games are the expensive part...we all know that... There is no way in hell mainstream is going to drop $300, $200, or even $100 on ANY neo geo game. Be it Mark of the Wolves, or Metal Slug 1...

Games would have to be around $60 at the most for high meg count games which we all know will NEVER happen.

If those issues could be met, You can bet your ass that the system would sell out and make a huge comeback... But money drives this world..

[ April 25, 2002: Message edited by: Mike ]</p>

 

[garou_d]

sorry folks, but neo will never come back !

don't be stupid... and it's better that way.

ok, new carts are coming, but be serious. most of gamers never hurd about neo and never seen those big carts. but who care. I know, and YOU know what that system worth.

all we can do is to keep the legend alive, cause legend never die.

 

[toy_brain]

I also doubt that the Neo could really make a comeback, but if one were to be attempted then I think 2 things would have to be implemented in order to stand a chance.

1) Reduction: As in both price and size of the unit. The NEO is a really bulky piece of kit, and thats what may put a lot of people off. A neo-geo game collection of more than 15 will dominate an entire desk! Nowardays the trend is for more compact devices with a slightly 'kitch' design. This would appeal to consumers looking for something 'funky' and unusual to have under their telly. That should appeal to the 20-somethings. It should also reduce production costs - which brigs us nicely to....
The price, which obviously has to come down because £200 is way too much for most gamers to spend on a copy of KoF.
As stated before, the games should fall in line with conventional pricing, mabye slightly higher to give the machine that 'exclusive' edge. After all, thats what draws some Neo fans here to the machine. But games should not cost more than £70.

2: Market the nostalgia: Lets assume that we are selling to the 20-somethings (they seem to have the most cash to throw arround). It would make sense to play on the whole nostalgia thing. The people you are selling the games to probably grew up with videogames, and will remember the Neo as a machine they could never quite afford to own.
So the opportunity to catch up on a lot of games that they missed in their youth, as well as play newer games that are done in the 'classic 2D' style (like the good old days)should be pretty tempting.

OK, so it wont ever sell better than the PS2, but if it were done right, it could fill its own 'niche' market - just like its doing now.....only more so.


The chance of this ever happening ... about 0.2% if you ask me.

 

[ocsmod]

The only way to return to the mainstream would be releasing a new 128 bits Neo, AES & MVS compatible, with new Giga-Cartriges of 4Gbits and with a price of 200USD and games for 60USD.
Anyway, who wants to return to the mainstream. Being an underdog is cool

 

[Wolf]

I oficially name this thread The Newbie Thread

 

[sluttygirls]

the revolution will not be televised

 

[rugal2000]

Its so strange but the neo geo brand name is still very well known even amongst mainstream game fans aged 16-20.Amongst gamers aged 21-35 of course it is still very well known.Also amongst "street kids" and inner city gangs in the 90s the neo geo was a household word because it was the machines they played in the arcade between smoking/selling dope, pulling chicks. I mean look at innner city areas in london even now there are arcades that carry loads of old neo titles.And until 2000, there were 3 huge arcades in centrel london housing 100's of machines inc neo geo.

2 months ago I was in a staples, in a queue waiting to scan neo geo aes inserts....this"business like " guy in his mid 40's started chatting, and when he saw the inserts to my suprise he recognised them, and said "wasnt that the really expensive system".........and just this week, I was talking about how I sell neo geo games to make a little bit of money with my manager at work, and again to my suprise this 18 year old girl started going on about how she knows about that machine...granted she probably meant the pocket...but still.

But a comeback is never going to happen..the neo geo will become a collectors item like the sinclair c5....an idea ahead of its time and underappreciated when it happened.

[ April 25, 2002: Message edited by: rugal2000 ]</p>

 

[NeoFreakWolf]

Wow, good feedback everybody. This is the type of stuff I like talking about. The setting up a Neo at a local EB sounds like a really interesting idea, I'll have to pull some strings and try that. It seems with out a doubt that if it were to come back, it would simply be for us. And as far as pricing goes, that's the beauty of a limited time offer, a test market. You can price it incredibly low, but once it's gone, it's gone. That's the same stratagy that my local Childrens Palice did when it closed way back when, but they called it a liquidation sale though. It's was a good time to be a kid when that happened, you could find all sorts of Robotech & Transformers toys at dirt cheap prices. Now I'm not a fool, I know that this type of promotion would never even come close to the numbers of Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox. But it would do well for some of us to have better access to these wonderful machines, it saddens my when I walk into a Game Exchange, a place that supposedly deals in vintage & high tech gaming, ask about the Neo and hear a sloppy, overweight sale clerk furough his forehead, and rudely say "We don't carry that shit". All I've wanted since I was 10 years old is a Neo Geo, and now I can get one but I have to deal with people in places as far away as Canada to get the best deal, and buying on the internet is not easy if you've never done it until now. Easier access to quality gaming merchandise is all I'm asking, is that a crime? No, because we of Protoculture Gaming Socity want only the best that's why, hell, we are only the best. We've dispatched Modden, Orochi, Howard, and Amakusa, not easy tasks, and that's why we deserve something like this. I agree that it's cool to be the underdog, but sometimes an underdog needs to bark a little, so as not to be forgotten by the bigger, more popular dogs. And yes I agree that mainstream sucks, but there are other good games out there that are in The Market, but still not mainstream.
<img src="graemlins/multi.gif" border="0" alt="[Multi Color Bouncey]" />

 

[BeefJerky]

NeoFreakWolf, that was beautiful man! Excuse me I need a hanky... <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[Crying]" />

 

[NeoFreakWolf]

Thank you, thank you, I think that speech just got me elected Neo Geo World Ambassador or something. But for a freaky coincidences, check out the Playmore partnerships with... topic in News & Rumors. I just read it today.
<img src="graemlins/glee.gif" border="0" alt="[Glee]" /> <img src="graemlins/multi.gif" border="0" alt="[Multi Color Bouncey]" />

[ April 26, 2002: Message edited by: NeoFreakWolf ]</p>

 

[BeefJerky]

Cool, I just read it myself. NG World Ambassador sounds as if it would suit you fine. I second that motion! <img src="graemlins/drool.gif" border="0" alt="[Drool]" />

 

[NeoFreakWolf]

Thanks Matt, you just helped me think of the arcade I want open up. Neo Geo World, has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
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[BeefJerky]

Indeed. I have had similar thoughts as well. I saw this infomercial of some guy named Matt Lesko, he says the government gives grants to regular people so they can do something for the community. I was thinking a big building filled with MVS cabs. Neo Geo Preservation Society is what I'd call it. NGPS for short. It'd be so cool, one day admission would be about $5 and every machine would be free to play. There would also be 1 year memberships for I don't know how much yet. And when people signed on for a year membership we could give them those NG fan club lapel pins they have on the Neostore. Ah, sweet dream. <img src="graemlins/drool.gif" border="0" alt="[Drool]" /> <img src="graemlins/glee.gif" border="0" alt="[Glee]" />