NEO GEO X - New SNK Games Console

[Frank_fjs]

That is going to be so easy to hack.

There's an open sourced handheld called the GCW that runs a modified version of Linux created for handhelds (Open Dingux) and it's using the exact same CPU. The benefit of this is that there's already an OS and emulators ready to go and most likely fully compatible with this Neo device after some recompiling and modifications to suit the LCD.

[Mishran]

I've been playing using the stick and dock and gotta say, I'm none too impressed. Composite didn't look bad at all, but HDMI looked pretty bad even on my tv. The bad video was mostly noticeable on the faster paced games. More specifically, the fighting games.

Joystick? Well, not sure what everyone else feels when using it, but when your reach the "edge" of the stick's movement, I get an extra bump with the sound of plastic scraping against plastic. Never used a new Neo joystick, so maybe it's normal to hear that until the stick gets broken in? Aside from that, it's very responsive and feels very AES like.

I do believe I'll hold onto the gold bundle cause there is much potential hidden away in this little handheld. Perhaps perfection is only a firmware update away.

[GohanX]

Are you saying the thing looks worse than an AES using OEM composite out on an HDTV?

I don't have an HDTV, but I do believe the composite out is worse than an AES with bad composite video. It's been years since I used an AES in composite though, so my memory may be fuzzy.

[psychobear]

It looks like crap on HDTV, I hook it up to my old Sony triton and it looks better, and by better I mean better then HDTV still looks like poop thought.

[GohanX]

I should note, as bad as it is, it still doesn't prevent me from using it. I had a hell of a good time with Real Bout Special last night!

[TheClash603]

Just got my stick today!  It was fun circling the joystick and pressing buttons...  lol.  The actual system will be mine on Christmas day

I will say though that I really thought the stick came in classy packaging and I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't in some toy looking crap with a cartoony logo on the front.

[turbokon]

It's say to leave it in the dock and switch it on, the dock switch, to charge. This seems odd to me. I would think it should default to charge when off and in docking station. You have to leave the system on to charge?

[Frank_fjs]

It appears that this is using FBA for its emulation, which doesn't come as a huge surprise. The door for adding more roms to this device are rapidly being pushed open!

I wonder what people who care about 'legally' owning roms think about the fact that Blaze didn't 'legally' license the emulation software?

[Frank_fjs]

It's say to leave it in the dock and switch it on, the dock switch, to charge. This seems odd to me. I would think it should default to charge when off and in docking station. You have to leave the system on to charge?

This isn't uncommon with these types of handhelds. They usually charge from a powered USB source and the console needs to be on to receive power from it.

[GohanX]

Apparently you can charge from a micro usb cable/charger. I'll have to see if I can find a cheap one somewhere.

I'm pumped that this thing is basically a Dingoo with a faster processor.  Also since the emu is FBA, it should be relatively simple to replace the bios with a Unibios and set the thing to V sync.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Finally tried on my tv with HDMI, I suppose it could be worse, but, yeah, it's pretty un-crisp IMO.  I have a NGCD going thru S-video, I'll do some testing back n' forth eventually.

2 things, first, does everyone's joystick on the "AES" controller feel kinda loose?  Mine seems too loose, as I can slightly pull the stick up(though, not out of the controller).

The other thing, & they may sound stupid, but, is there any way the video signal can be upgraded thru firmware, or is that strictly limited to the hardware itself?

[GohanX]

The stick sounds normal. In most microswitched sticks you can actually pull them up a little, they have a spring mounted in there. Basically, you're compressing the spring a little.

As far as the video quality, NG: Dev has theorized that if some video setting were changed in the emulator the images would be quite a bit more crisp through HDMI. Not as good as a real Neo on a CRT, but better than what it gets now. I don't think anything but a hardware mod can help the composite video.

It's mostly if not all software.

I see 3 main problems.

1. A wrong video resolution is used
The NEOGEO uses 320x224, but the NGX scales it to 320x240 and upscales it to 640x480 for HDMI.

Scaling 224px to 240px is a bad idea.
This also results in a 2nd problem that if you apply scanlines with a videoprocessor those are off.

Solution: don't scale to 240, just add 8px borders at top and bottom. Then scale pixel perfect to 640x480

2. The NEOGEO uses an odd video refresh rate 59.18hz, but HDMI requires 59.94hz

This results in tearing, no vertical sync possible.

Solution: speed up the emulation to 59.94Hz/60hz.

3. Sound lag.

Solution: Unknown. Probably just a bug, maybe hardware problems too?

[ParanoiaDragon]

Cool, glad my controller isn't defective, didn't look forward to sening it in.

I'll be using HDMI so hopefully a firmware update will fix the glitch someday.


Ah, & I'm hoping someday they make a USB NGCD pad.  I love that pad, & I've always prefered pads over sticks.

edit-looks like there was a pad made, though it's 50 bucks n' up from what I can find.  Hopefully they'll do a new one that's further down the scale on price!

[jelloslug]

Did you guys look at the pics of the inside?  There is a 2 GB sd card on the inside of the handheld that stores everything.

[storino03]

Yeah, 2GB micro-SD card instead of (soldered) unboard memory lol.