Will SNK on PS2 satisfy my Neo Geo fix?

[sketch]

Heh; yeah, well, I'm afraid I'm not tech savvy either, which is the main reason I don't want to get a cab. It seems like buying a cab is a lot like buying a classic car - you better enjoy working on it. Cabinets always require some maintenance and I'm not good with that stuff.

My latest idea for a good solution is an AES system with an MVS convertor. It would be an expensive initial investment, but it would be much cheaper in the long run. I could buy the more expensive games on MVS, and the commons on AES, and have the best of both worlds.

 

[sketch]

Well, I took the plunge. I got what I consider a good price on a slightly flawed AES from Lastblade, so I can now move from Neo Geo wannabe to Neo Geo owner (or at least, I can after I get the system in my physical possession). I think it fitting that I get a system from this site, since it has done so much to fan my Neo Geo fever...

The system comes with SSII, which is fitting because it is one of the few games I had exposure to in the arcades back in the day, and one that blew me away. I look forward to playing this again.

 

[ilazul]

If you can afford the real estate, craig's list works wonders for actual machines. I have now two american six slots, a goldie (needs work, but it's still beautiful), and a japanese MVU-4. Wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought it would be, and you make some great contacts that way.. I have another american six slot coming in august and one of the seller's is tracking down a neo candy for me. It's a blast to track em down, you really feel like you've won something and it makes you that much more attached to the machines.

Shock boxes with the pretty inserts are a collector's dream. Playing the games the way they're supposed to is something you can't copy with a poor "port" on another system.

 

[sketch]

I don't have the space right now for a cab, which is why I picked up the AES. The AES is only a partial solution, as I can't afford some of the cooler games (esp. the Slug games, which go for crazy money). So instead of being satisfied PS2 ports, I'll have PS2 ports and AES commons. I figure it's a good starting point; if I like the Neo enough, I might get a consolized MVS, or a cab (if I can free up the space). I'm basically putting my toes in the Neo Geo Waters

I've seen some good cabs on craigslist. There was a nice Candy for a very reasonable price. It is awful tempting with the cheap price of MVS games. My only concern is that I'm not especially handy, and cabs seem to need maintenance from time to time.

 

[Neo Alec]

Definitely get a consolized MVS instead of an AES with the MVS converter. The converter sucks. Between a modded AES with the converter and a consolized MV-1B or some shitty board like that with no memory card, the plain old consolized MVS should come out cheaper in the end.

 

[sketch]

That confirms the impression I had of the convertors. I was seriously pondering one, as it would be worth shelling out $250 or so in the long run, but I read far too many negative reports of performance. Thanks for confirming that I should steer clear of these. A consolized MVS might be in my future

 

[OrochiEddie]

Some great Neo Geo games will never see a port such as windjammers or pulstar, so it wouldn't be bad to eventually get more into it, but overall yes the PS2 will cover many of your NG wants and needs, but it is nowhere near the same as playing the real thing.

 

[KagerouSama]

Some great Neo Geo games will never see a port such as windjammers or pulstar, so it wouldn't be bad to eventually get more into it, but overall yes the PS2 will cover many of your NG wants and needs, but it is nowhere near the same as playing the real thing.

Nowhere near the same thing.....
So I'm guessing you keep the systems out of sight of each other to keep them both from getting jealous?

So they ain't 100% perfect. Boo Hoo.
Anything above KOF'99, think of it as the new NEO CD.

What's next, that weaksauce controller argument?
Give me a break, man. I just don't see the argument of not being anywhere close holding near all the water it held in the Genesis/SNES & Saturn/PSOne days.

Heck, the Saturn had pretty-darned-close ports.

Even then, I enjoyed the extras thrown in. Like AST and art galleries.

But then, that near 20-year-old piece of plastic can darn-well outlive the optical media. I''m'a enjoy my SNK/ADK games with AST on a system with minimal loading and next-to-no frame cuts while I can.

 

[ShYtFaCe]

Metal Slug Anthology is terrible, going with a consolized MVS is your best bet.

 

[Neo Alec]

What's next, that weaksauce controller argument?
Give me a break, man.

Okay, maybe if you have the PS2 Neo Stick or a decent arcade stick.

 

[evil wasabi]

playing the ports on the PS3 is very hard. The games feel like shit.

If you don't like the cost of the real games, get a modded xbox. It plays the games just as good as a neo geo, but with the added goodness of video filters, savestates, and physical space saved.

 

[Neo Alec]

If you don't like the cost of the real games, get a modded xbox. It plays the games just as good as a neo geo, but with the added goodness of video filters, savestates, and physical space saved.

In my experience, the XBox does a really decent job of emulation, but I think a lot of people would take issue with the idea that it's "just as good." I've heard there are sound and graphics discrepancies here and there in certain games. And it seems like with emulation there are always going to be some timing and lag issues. But you're right, it's damn close.

 

[sketch]

Everyone brings up good points. I don't want to get into the emulation vs. original hardware debate. From what I read on these boards, and from my personal experience with emulation in both its official and unofficial forms, the quality of emulation varies widely, and tolerances for emulation "discrepancies" also vary widely, so you'll get a wide range of viewpoints on the topic in general.

Shytface obviously isn't fond of Metal Slug Anthology for example. I can understand his objections to it. There are load times on both PSP and PS2/3, and the actual emulation on the PS2/3 makes the response a little sluggish. I find it tolerable to play, however, since I don't have the original to compare to, but I can see a purist hating it and a newbie loving it. I'm in the middle myself (on this particular port).

In general, I don't care much for emulation. I find glitches annoying, and the games tend to just "feel" wrong for lack of a better term. I appreciate the feedback on the Xbox emulation. If I go the emu route, it sounds like that would be the best way. I have an Xbox lying around so perhaps I can get it modded at some point. But personally, if I like the system enough, I'll want to get the "real thing" because I tend to get annoyed by the shortcomings of ports. It's just a personal preference. I also like collecting (although I can't afford a lot of the games on AES, obviously). If I keep going down the Neo Geo slope, a consolized MVS is still what I'm leaning towards.

AS for emulation vs original hardware, it really is a matter of both the quality of the emulation and the personal tastes of the player. I'm satisfied with the PS2 ports for some casual gaming, but would like to get my favorite NG games on the real hardware if possible. And since I'm a shooter fan, games like Pulstar and Blazing Star call me...

 

[evil wasabi]

In my experience, the XBox does a really decent job of emulation, but I think a lot of people would take issue with the idea that it's "just as good." I've heard there are sound and graphics discrepancies here and there in certain games. And it seems like with emulation there are always going to be some timing and lag issues. But you're right, it's damn close.

if people have problems with the roms on an xbox, I would imagine they should buy a new tv. It looks, sounds, and with a good joystick, feels like the original. In fact, the xbox emulation was so good that I did sell off my collection. Never looked back. I do have a lot of ports for the PSX, but I never play them because they suck so badly in comparison.

 

[jox43w]

The latest version of mame + an arcadevga card = perfection if you own a 2ghz c2d neo roms can easily play twice the speed mame ir really upto date now i use it to test games before i buy the carts imo its absolutly spot on it just pisses me off when people get all the games free but i take my hat off to mame for preseving the games

 

[Neo Geo MVS]

Get a consolized mvs 2-slot MV-2F, you wont regret it and it will definitely satisfy your neo geo fix.

 

[Neo Alec]

if people have problems with the roms on an xbox, I would imagine they should buy a new tv. It looks, sounds, and with a good joystick, feels like the original. In fact, the xbox emulation was so good that I did sell off my collection. Never looked back. I do have a lot of ports for the PSX, but I never play them because they suck so badly in comparison.

Perfection except you no longer own legit copies of the games, i.e. licenses that entitle you to play them. Emulators also gloss over slowdown that was a part of the original games, albeit an unintentional part.

 

[madman]

The latest version of mame + an arcadevga card = perfection if you own a 2ghz c2d neo roms can easily play twice the speed mame ir really upto date now i use it to test games before i buy the carts imo its absolutly spot on it just pisses me off when people get all the games free but i take my hat off to mame for preseving the games

Wow that was painful. I'd like to introduce you to a few of my friends:

 

[norton9478]

Perfection except you no longer own legit copies of the games, i.e. licenses that entitle you to play them. Emulators also gloss over slowdown that was a part of the original games, albeit an unintentional part.

Owning an original game does not usually give you a license to use a rom...

Unless you ripped the rom yourself.

 

[retro]

Emulators also gloss over slowdown that was a part of the original games, albeit an unintentional part.

Thats not true. While i havent played and compared THAT many games, i do know that Blazing Star on MAME plays identical to my MVS version, including all the slowdown that comes with it.

 

[evil wasabi]

Perfection except you no longer own legit copies of the games, i.e. licenses that entitle you to play them. Emulators also gloss over slowdown that was a part of the original games, albeit an unintentional part.

I'm ok with admitting that I use roms. I never said it was legal nor legitimate. Only that it's better.

 

[Neo Alec]

Owning an original game does not usually give you a license to use a rom...

Unless you ripped the rom yourself.

Yes, I definitely did not mean to imply that.

 

[Neo Alec]

Thats not true. While i havent played and compared THAT many games, i do know that Blazing Star on MAME plays identical to my MVS version, including all the slowdown that comes with it.

That's good. That has not always been my experience.

I'm ok with admitting that I use roms. I never said it was legal nor legitimate. Only that it's better.

Oh, now you're saying it's "better"?

Oops, this was not meant to be two posts.

 

[jeff bogard]

It really depends on what games in particular you want to play.

if you want to play any game pre playmore, then yeah an AES/MVS is recomendable.

and then there's also what type of pad you prefer or stick.

there are a lot of variations you may want to think of.

And although, yeah having the real thing MVS or AES does give you some sort of satisfaction and it just plays better than playing it on another system. Some ports although inferior are still playable.

on the issue Xbox vs pc roms, I think the question is again, what type of controller would you feel more comfortable with playing?

 

[evil wasabi]

Oh, now you're saying it's "better"?

Oops, this was not meant to be two posts.

yeah, I am. it's not going to take up all that space in your home, it's going to play perfectly, it's going to look great on your HD tv, and the hardware is updated enough to use wireless controls. The neo, honorable as it is, has limitations that cannot be improved upon...