Neo-Geo : The Game Console That Won't Die

xonox writes: "Perhaps you heard about the Neo-Geo game console when it came out some 12 years ago. Most people remember it because it was very expensive. Well, after 12 years, it is still alive and getting brand new commercial games for it. It may be a bit of a niche item but still. The Neo-Geo console was essentially the arcade hardware of the same name inside a prettier case. 3 games have been produced this year for the arcade hardware and two of those 3 have been released for the home console. If you think 2d games are cool, then you should check out http://www.neo-geo.com for more information about one of the greatest 2d platforms of all time. I'm picking playability over 3d anyday :)"

"I'm picking playability over 3d anyday :)"

[DarkDust]

That's why my girl-friend and me were playing SNES and Genesis games the last weeks :-) Toe Jam and Earl rules ;-) Besides, is it just me or are there really fewer types of games released today ? I mean, have you seen any scrolling shooters like R-Type lately, or adventures ? Even jump'n'runs seem to be rare today :-( Damn 3D-philia !

Mod Parent Down

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, let's encourage piracy of games for a game system that's on it's last legs.

Great way to keep it alive people.

Re:Playabilty...

[mccalli]

Anyone remember Gauntlet?

I do. I remember it to be a fantastic game, and spent hours and hours playing it. Sadly, the harsh reality of MAME emulation means that I can play today what I simply remembered before. It can be unforgiving experience - loading it up now I find the magic has gone.

However, your general point on playability is well taken and I entirely agree. How about Jumping Jack Flash on the Spectrum? Mono graphics, a stick figure and some 2-pixel high black lines with gaps. A fabulous game that I still play today.

Cheers,
Ian

Why it failed

[Chardish]

Yeah, the performance was great, but a $1,000 system with games that cost $100 a piece was not going to be picked up by the gaming public in an era where the primary game players were under 18 at the time. Also the hardware was ahead of the time, but Neo-Geo emulates fine on my secondary PC (333 mhZ K6-2 with only 64 MB of RAM).

Bottom line? Stick with a PS2 or GameCube, you get more bang for your buck. (But less geek appeal...)

-Evan

Instant gratification

[Ixohoxi]

Games and gamers are like a binary star, each revolves around the other. Change in one influences the other, recursively. Yesterday's game maker had to make a great game to make alot of money. Now that there are so many more gamers, the stakes are higher. Marketing can turn a mediocre game into a money-maker.

Take that recipe, and repeat over and over. Eventually, the game landscape looks like it does today. Tons of 3-D intensive games, loads of RTS and their offspring, and a slew of sports games. Indeed, what happened to innovative side-scrollers, stimulating puzzlers, and more traditional games?

Kids today are obsessed with visuals. If the game doesn't look kick-ass, they don't want to play it. If the game doesn't involve fragging and dying every 30 seconds, they don't want to play it. Most of today's kids want the immediate gratification that games like Q3, UT, HL, etc. offer.

True, there are some types of thought that these gamers are exhibiting, that more traditional games might not bring out. But today's game doesn't make gamers really think. Many of today's games are simply proceed to the next goal, then repeat. Whatever happened to games that you wanted to play until you mastered them?

Those types of games are not conducive to money-making in today's gaming market. You have to buy the sequel! The upgrade! The expansion pack! You can't just pay $35 to have a game you want to play over and over. Like Tetris. If games were drugs, the addictiveness of Tetris is like cocaine, whereas that of say a highly popular FPS is like crack. That's why. Don't increase replayability, increase addictiveness!

Re:"I'm picking playability over 3d anyday :)"

[beleg777]

I think the technology is actually having a detrimental effect on games now. It's become such a big deal to make a game that games feel like they should be bigger and better. There isn't enough time for variety when it takes so long and so much effort to make one good game.

Of couse the 3D thing probably doesn't help anyway. If game makers would relalize that games don't have to have 3d cameras to be popular it would help things a lot.

Although if you want a next gen game that still has some roots in the good old days check out ICO for the PS2, or MDK2 for any system (I've only played it on PC, but I've seen it on consoles). Both have the feel of an older style game, but updated.

Re:Instant gratification

[svwolfpack]

You should definately try Icy Tower, which can be freely downloaded from here [freelunchdesign.com]. Unfortunately, their other games are pretty crappy, but Icy Tower directly caused the collective failure on exams for my floor.

Re:Mod Parent Down

[Anonymous Coward]

You may not be able to try out the game at EB, but you can still find them in arcades!

There are still quite a few arcades that have the multi-video system cabinets for you to try them out on.

So stop deluding yourself that its your _right_ to download that ROM since you are just trying it out.

Arcade operators don't have this right, and neither do you.