Awesome stuff you've just bought (+pics please)

[Strider77]

The loading isn't bad on a CDZ.

[MintyTheCat]

God fucking damn. I wish I had a Neo Geo CD and Pocket Color

I have not used a NGCD or CDZ myself but for me I went for the AES option but I spent some time working out which games I wanted before hand and decided it was just about cost wise in favour of the AES.

I think the CDZ is quite expensive these days and I would always be worrying about the laser or drive assembly failing on me.
You can pretty much repair AES/MVS machines though so you might want to get an MVS instead.

You can find NGPC fairly easily. I have one myself but the screen is not the best.

[CIT]

People used to always rant on Neo Geo CD loading times, but compared with PS4/XB1 they're the definition of speed.

[DQ187]

People used to always rant on Neo Geo CD loading times, but compared with PS4/XB1 they're the definition of speed.

I've been kinda thinking the same. I kept hearing how bad it was but had wanted to get into Neo Geo and little and didnt want to try and get into AES. I dont really think they are that bad compared to modern consoles.

[Skykid]

On some games they're horrible. I got rid of my Neo CD many years ago because the loading times were annoying. Playing fighting games like KOF are terrible because they load the next character in between rounds.

[wgogh]

On some games they're horrible. I got rid of my Neo CD many years ago because the loading times were annoying. Playing fighting games like KOF are terrible because they load the next character in between rounds.

The regular Neo Geo console was more expensive, right?

[Shoryukev]

The regular Neo Geo console was more expensive, right?

The Neo Geo AES system itself isn't terribly more expensive, but depending on the games you want.....they get outrageous. I have an AES and about 6-7 games, but could never afford the ones I truly want LOL

[FinalBaton]

Definitely getting an MVS pcb when I'll be ready to get into Neo Geo hardware.

The carts are cheaper than AES carts. And you get no loading time.
The sought after carts are expensive but there are a lot of good deals to be found on ebay for MVS carts.

[Shoryukev]

Definitely getting an MVS pcb when I'll be ready to get into Neo Geo hardware.

The carts are cheaper than AES carts. And you get no loading time.
The sought after carts are expensive but there are a lot of good deals to be found on ebay for MVS carts.

The MVS is definitely the way to go! I wish I had gotten one instead of my AES when I bought it 10 years ago. Consolizing one looks very easy too, especially if you have an RGB capable display to plug it into. Right now I'm debating either selling my AES or getting an MVS cartridge converter.


Something awesome came in the mail saturday, an Extron VSC 200. I hooked it up to my PC and ran it through my mame system and it looks much better than what I was using before. It has both horizontal and vertical filters, and I was able to get a solid looking display by outputting 480p from my computer and using this box to convert it to 480i with it doing an anti-flicker thing that made it look fairly close to 240p. Still need to find an Extron RGB to finish the setup, but much happier with my MAME cabinet than I was before. Both the lit marquee and the TV look terrible in this picture, but it looks much better in person (it isn't as bright as it seems LOL). You can see the green display on the VSC happily lit-up in the bottom left corner

Spoiler

[FinalBaton]

The MVS is definitely the way to go! I wish I had gotten one instead of my AES when I bought it 10 years ago. Consolizing one looks very easy too, especially if you have an RGB capable display to plug it into. Right now I'm debating either selling my AES or getting an MVS cartridge converter.


Something awesome came in the mail saturday, an Extron VSC 200. I hooked it up to my PC and ran it through my mame system and it looks much better than what I was using before. It has both horizontal and vertical filters, and I was able to get a solid looking display by outputting 480p from my computer and using this box to convert it to 480i with it doing an anti-flicker thing that made it look fairly close to 240p. Still need to find an Extron RGB to finish the setup, but much happier with my MAME cabinet than I was before. Both the lit marquee and the TV look terrible in this picture, but it looks much better in person (it isn't as bright as it seems LOL). You can see the green display on the VSC happily lit-up in the bottom left corner

Spoiler

Nice! That's a cool setup. And a good looking cab.
Champion Edition/Hyper Fightin' is my fave SF2 version, followed very closely by SSF2T

Glad you're getting an even better picture now. For an RGB interface I suggest you pick up a 580xi as it's confirmed to work. That's the one I have and it works great for converting my ps2 480i titles in 240p. looks very authentic. I also like it's "peak" and "level" pots, I use them to tune the picture of those console that have a very bright RGB output(snes, ps1 and ps2). That way I don't have to fiddle in my monitor's menu to tweak brightness and contrast.

[Shoryukev]

Nice! That's a cool setup. And a good looking cab.
Champion Edition/Hyper Fightin' is my fave SF2 version, followed very closely by SSF2T

Glad you're getting an even better picture now. For an RGB interface I suggest you pick up a 580xi as it's confirmed to work. That's the one I have and it works great for converting my ps2 480i titles in 240p. looks very authentic. I also like it's "peak" and "level" pots, I use them to tune the picture of those console that have a very bright RGB output(snes, ps1 and ps2). That way I don't have to fiddle in my monitor's menu to tweak brightness and contrast.

Thanks! I like champion and Hyper the best as well, though Alpha 2 might be my favorite despite not being as good at it (I play Ken mostly and I have long hair so it speaks to me LOL, plus I love the art styling). I made it a few years ago out of 3/4" plywood. The 32" TV in there will soon be RGB modded as long as I don't screw it up when the parts get here LOL. I'll check out the 580xi! Being able to tune things easily is a godsend. I'll probably end up using this TV for all my gaming once it's RGB modded.....I wish I could run scart inputs into them for the V and H position knobs on the front so I can fix the NES games and other consoles that are shifted from one another.

[FinalBaton]

Thanks! I like champion and Hyper the best as well, though Alpha 2 might be my favorite despite not being as good at it (I play Ken mostly and I have long hair so it speaks to me LOL, plus I love the art styling). I made it a few years ago out of 3/4" plywood. The 32" TV in there will soon be RGB modded as long as I don't screw it up when the parts get here LOL. I'll check out the 580xi! Being able to tune things easily is a godsend. I'll probably end up using this TV for all my gaming once it's RGB modded.....I wish I could run scart inputs into them for the V and H position knobs on the front so I can fix the NES games and other consoles that are shifted from one another.

I love Alpha 2 also but just like you I'm not as good at it, as I am at SF2

There are actually Extron RGB interfaces that have knobs on the front for adjusting horizontal and vertical picture position. But I'm not sure if the 240p trick works on them

BONUS ROUND!

Here's how the ps2 works for me with the Extron 240p trick. excuse the overly soft picture, I took these with my shitty phone camera >_<

Before :


After :

[Shoryukev]

There are actually Extron RGB interfaces that have knobs on the front for adjusting horizontal and vertical picture position. But I'm not sure if the 240p trick works on them

I'll look around and see what I can find. Luckily a lot of these things are cheap, so it isn't a huge deal if I buy something that doesn't work as I need it to. I already have the VSC unit for the computer so I can reposition that image just right.....just hoping I can find something to pass my consoles through via RGBs and adjust it a little bit.

That is a huge improvement with the 240p trick! Hopefully I'll get the same results with my computer running through the VSC and RGB once I get my TV RGB modded! Right now I avoid playing a lot of games on my MAME setup since they look so much better on my Sega Saturn in 240p

[Shoryukev]

FINALLY found a copy of Phantasy Star for less than $40. It's not in the greatest shape, but the fact that I own the game is good enough for me

[iconoclast]

Spent the weekend in NYC to see the last two shows of Perfume's Cosmic Explorer tour. While I was there I got a shirt, towel, CE on vinyl, a postcard from their gallery, and some flyers and cards they were giving out. And of course the shows themselves were amazing. The Navigate -> Cosmic Explorer intro is probably the coolest thing in the history of the world.

[caincan]

DQ187 must be a clone of Stealthlurker. high graphics pics .
__
harsh but real(m). finally it's okkkkk for my 3 minicabs. all is running quite good. (just joysticks are quite different in feeling)

[FinalBaton]

FINALLY found a copy of Phantasy Star for less than $40. It's not in the greatest shape, but the fact that I own the game is good enough for me

noice

[Heavy Viper]

Nice little finds in a new local retro store. Toaplan <3

[wgogh]

Didnt knew about that controller, looks awesome. Hope that works good with the Fire Shark.
I really like that game, although I took a while to get used to, being everything so big and slow. Same with Tatsujin and V-V

[BrianC]

Didnt knew about that controller, looks awesome. Hope that works good with the Fire Shark.

It's a SMS controller and kind of odd with the joystick on the right and buttons on the left. SMS controllers don't work with Genesis games, so I don't think it would work out for Fire Shark.

[BIL]

I didn't know there was a version of Fire Shark that kept the JP cover's badass Mifune-esque pilot. Very cool! The NTSCU one went with some Biggles chap, who's definitely got a reserved dignity but naturally enough can't match the smouldering bloodlust of the SameSameSamurai.

[MintyTheCat]

Didnt knew about that controller, looks awesome. Hope that works good with the Fire Shark.

It's a SMS controller and kind of odd with the joystick on the right and buttons on the left. SMS controllers don't work with Genesis games, so I don't think it would work out for Fire Shark.

Yes, it is a bit weird in that it was not very well balanced as a joystick. The MD Arcade stick is better as it is nicely balanced.

[wgogh]

I didn't know there was a version of Fire Shark that kept the JP cover's badass Mifune-esque pilot. Very cool! The NTSCU one went with some Biggles chap, who's definitely got a reserved dignity but naturally enough can't match the smouldering bloodlust of the SameSameSamurai.

Yeah, but even the "鮫! 鮫! 鮫!" on the original cover is cooler and fit better. I even happened to post on the Favorite Posters thread.

[Kiken]

Just arrived! SFC Super R-Type (in a not-so-super box) and JP MD Elemental Master (sadly missing the manual... along with the little teeth in the box that would hold said manual).



Kinda shocked by the completely different background in stage one of Super R-Type. I always thought the US version had a really bland backdrop... not sure why they changed it from the massive Saturnian rings in the Japanese original... I suppose they though it was too busy.

[BIL]

Ah, damn it - I wish ChurchOfSolipsism's photo of his Super R-Type cart was still up. It was a vision of secondhand cosmic horror.

I can't believe I didn't bag Elemental Master the instant I got into the MD, waiting several months while the copy I ended up getting sat in a buddy's shop. My reasoning was "where's the tension if I can guarantee a 1CC?" but that was very dumb because holy fuck it chases you up and down and all around the screen relentlessly. Essential MD shooter imo, and a masterpiece of accessible yet frenetically-paced action.

[Kiken]

Ah, damn it - I wish ChurchOfSolipsism's photo of his Super R-Type cart was still up. It was a vision of secondhand cosmic horror.

The cart itself is in fairly good condition.. just the box has seen far better days (the manual is kinda beat-up too... and the plastic insert tray is missing). Now, I have a US cart-only of R-Type III which appears to have been partially melted (still functions just fine though). That and my US cart-only of Gradius III is a Brendan Cart (some kid's name is scrawled across the back in indelible black ink). I think if you buy used carts, you're going to have at least one Brendan Cart in your collection.

I can't believe I didn't bag Elemental Master the instant I got into the MD, waiting several months while the copy I ended up getting sat in a buddy's shop. My reasoning was "where's the tension if I can guarantee a 1CC?" but that was very dumb because holy fuck it chases you up and down and all around the screen relentlessly. Essential MD shooter imo, and a masterpiece of accessible yet frenetically-paced action.

Can you believe that I've gone all this time without ever playing the game? Tonight was the first 3 credits I've ever spent with it. Right before getting involved with EM, I finally managed my first Normal difficulty all-clear of Thunder Force II MD. So I guess I've been on something of a TechnoSoft kick lately.

[Squire Grooktook]

Indeed, I've been replaying Elemental Master a lot recently alongside Biometal. The dual masters of 16-bit console shmupping intensity IMO*

Excellent game and still manic fun even on the 3rd 1cc in a row.

*oh and super aleste

[BIL]

Can you believe that I've gone all this time without ever playing the game? Tonight was the first 3 credits I've ever spent with it. Right before getting involved with EM, I finally managed my first Normal difficulty all-clear of Thunder Force II MD. So I guess I've been on something of a TechnoSoft kick lately.

That does surprise me, you're among the fixtures of this community I spent much of my early years taking notes from. :O I still refer back to your NGCD+MVS videos, been considering getting into the latter at some point. So much ground to cover in this hobby, haha... it's why I never sweat much over its future. Hope you enjoy EM as much as I do.

[Skykid]

DQ187 must be a clone of Stealthlurker. high graphics pics .
__
harsh but real(m). finally it's okkkkk for my 3 minicabs. all is running quite good. (just joysticks are quite different in feeling)

Oh wow, they are beauties. Real vintage JP arcade machines. Would love one - and you have three!

[MintyTheCat]

Ah, damn it - I wish ChurchOfSolipsism's photo of his Super R-Type cart was still up. It was a vision of secondhand cosmic horror.

I can't believe I didn't bag Elemental Master the instant I got into the MD, waiting several months while the copy I ended up getting sat in a buddy's shop. My reasoning was "where's the tension if I can guarantee a 1CC?" but that was very dumb because holy fuck it chases you up and down and all around the screen relentlessly. Essential MD shooter imo, and a masterpiece of accessible yet frenetically-paced action.

I tend to put Undeadline and Elemental-Master in the same box and both are really decent and worth having. I still play EM from time to time but I have not played UL for many years. Both have some really music too.