Neo Geo AES... recommendations?

[SignOfZeta]

Don't feel ashamed about owning bootlegs or conversions, so long as they work and you didn't break the bank to get them.

Conversions are fine, outright bootlegs...not as much since cut-rate EPROMS have a way of just...not working eventually.

[Mishran]

Don't feel ashamed about owning bootlegs or conversions, so long as they work and you didn't break the bank to get them.

Conversions are fine, outright bootlegs...not as much since cut-rate EPROMS have a way of just...not working eventually.

Low end boots use EPROM chips, better made boots (multicarts for example) use standard PROM. I have a Metal Slug bootleg that came with my cab, and the thing is notorious for reseting the machine on a regular basis. As many times as I tried to finish it, never have due to resets. Surprisingly, you can find authentic carts that have EPROMS, though mostly found in repaired carts. I have a few.

It's often frowned upon, but multicarts are a great option. A 161-in-1 multicart has (I think) 97 original SNK games, while the remaining 63 are hacked versions of some games. It's a great way to an instant collection if you can get your hands on a reliable cart. Sometime you'll get hit with the occational reset, just like a bootleg, but it's rare and the 161 game cart can be had for around $100. It's unfortunately missing several of the best games on the system though, so purchasing the remainder as standalone carts is necessary if you want the entire line-up. I'm not ashamed to admit I own the 161-in-1 and don't regret buying it.

[Joe Redifer]

Just get an MVS-to-AES converter and one of those 160-in-one carts (or however many games they include.  That way you can play a bunch of MVS games on your AES which will work fine at a tenth (or less) of the price of buying them all on the MVS.  I'm kind of tired of the CONSTANT anti-AES whining I hear.

I have yet to get one, though and am not even sure of where to get it.

[Mishran]

Not all of the converters work with the multicarts. Only one I'm aware of that does is the new Daedalus, or whatever the hell it's called... and the thing is $400. For that price, a nice CMVS can be purchased.

The AES is and awesome gaming monster, but the whining is well justified. The game prices are rediculously outrageous and the bootleggers and scammers have all but ruined collecting for the system. Who wants to pay a grand for a copy of Metal Slug AES, just to find out it's a boot??? For a good example, go over to N-G.com and see the bullshit that is currently boiling over.

[Joe Redifer]

A link would be better.

[Tatsujin]

I get nothing out of boots. For me it's the very same as playing some MAME etc.

[SignOfZeta]

Not all of the converters work with the multicarts. Only one I'm aware of that does is the new Daedalus, or whatever the hell it's called... and the thing is $400. For that price, a nice CMVS can be purchased.

Yeah, converters are possibly the stupidest solution of all. A buggy expensive converter combined with a shitty multicart that will probably shit out in 3 or 4 years and all the games set to Level 8 by default...f*ck, I'd much rather just used MAME.

And yes, the whining is justified. Any Neo collection should have SamShowIV in it. What is the difference between AES and MVS price, probably $400/$50, something like that? That one game alone would save you enough money to buy an MVS.

This isn't 1991 anymore. I honestly can't think of one good reason to buy AES other than cases/manuals, and cases/manuals aren't worth hundreds, if not thousands, each.

And then there is the hardware itself. AES systems basically require some sort of video upgrade, and the serious player is going to build a pair of sticks so...you're 2/3 of the way to a CMVS right there.

An AES is more expensive than a CMVS, but a proper set-up, quality sticks, component video, and a copy of Mark of the Wolves, is WAY cheaper MVS-style.

[Joe Redifer]

Well, if people owning AES pisses YOU off (which it seems to), then nothing will ever make you happy.  Whine all you want, it changes nothing.  You're just wasting energy.

There's not really a lot in the Neo library I want.  I don't care too much for their fighters.  I have one conversion.  I wouldn't mind having the Metal Slugs, but there is really no reason to have them on the Neo since they are available EVERYWHERE else for way cheaper than any MVS cart.  The RGB bypass on my AES was simple and I used already existing hardware that I own to convert that to component, s-video or whatever the hell I want to convert it to.  I didn't molest my unit by putting jacks on it.

[Tatsujin]

Yeah, last resort is an absolute must have on the AES.

Not exactly a "value" recommendation though.  I don't have that pricey ass shitz.

well, it goes for a mere of about 100~120 bucks usually. You won't get much more excellent shewty entertainment for your bucks than with this one.
looked at that way, it is more of a bargain aquisition than a pricey ass shitz, because you really get what you pay for.

[SuperDeadite]

SamShoIV is expensive and out of reach?  LOL, the USA version maybe, but the Japanese version?  This is less then the price of 2 brand new PS3 games...
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/surugaya-a-too-plus/178441-1/  And yes, this place will ship straight to your door, no proxies needed.

If someone thinks that's too much for the game, fine for them.  But I'd say about 75% of the AES library is quite affordable these days.  I've said it many times, if you look around, you can find great deals for just about any system.  But you do have to actually look, and have patience.

[SignOfZeta]

SamShoIV is expensive and out of reach?  LOL, the USA version maybe, but the Japanese version?  This is less then the price of 2 brand new PS3 games...

Well the MVS version is less than the price of one used PS3 game. Either way, maybe that was a bad example. Since you live in Japan and know all the stores and prices that only %0.01 of the world can take advantage of, I'm sure you can think of another example, an AES game that goes for 10x the MVS equivalent. There are probably a few that go for 50x.

Well, if people owning AES pisses YOU off (which it seems to), then nothing will ever make you happy.  Whine all you want, it changes nothing.  You're just wasting energy.

There's not really a lot in the Neo library I want.  I don't care too much for their fighters.  I have one conversion.  I wouldn't mind having the Metal Slugs, but there is really no reason to have them on the Neo since they are available EVERYWHERE else for way cheaper than any MVS cart.  The RGB bypass on my AES was simple and I used already existing hardware that I own to convert that to component, s-video or whatever the hell I want to convert it to.  I didn't molest my unit by putting jacks on it.

What I don't get is why you even have an AES. You seriously have a Neo but you don't have a single Metal Slug? That's just...sad. I mean, I actually feel sorry for you. Metal Slug 3 is, IMO, one of the top ten 16-bt games of all time, and its two player. Its my most played Neo game and it cost me $40.

So you don't want MS or KOF, and if games are available on other systems then you don't need the Neo versions...so what does that leave? What is the list of non-MS, non-KOF, Neo exclusive games that justify the purchase of an AES?

The Super Spy? Legend of Success Joe? And you are saying other people should buy an AES and put themselves in this position?

Actually, I think The Super Spy might actually be on PS2, I can't remember.

Its not that I'm angry at the existence of the AES, its just that if someone is getting in to Neo now they are painting themselves into a corner. They will wish for those $400 games and probably never buy more than one, which results in their Neo collecting dust until they eventually sell it. I'm saying this because I've seen it dozens of times. If these people had bought a cab off Craigslist or a CMVS for the price of a single AES game they could play any game they wanted, most for less than $50, many for $10.

I'm not telling people to burn their AES (although at this point I'm pretty sure there are 10x as many AES systems as there are people will to pay for a decent AES collection) I'm just saying that if, like the OP, you currently have nothing, and you actually want to play these games (instead of just wowing your imaginary friends by showing them the most bad-ass console ever) then it makes zero sense to by AES.

[Mishran]

Isn't worth buying the system for exclusively, but I like Crossed Swords. Can't recall ever seeing it on any other system except AES, MVS, and Neo CD. The sequel is good too, but CD exclusive.

Sengoku series is good too, with 3 being the best of the 3.

Mutation Nation and Robo Army are good beat-em-ups.

Also has some quality shooters worth playing.

None are worth the prices the AES games fetch now.

[Joe Redifer]

And you are saying other people should buy an AES

I am?  Where did I say that other people should buy an AES?  I just said it's pointless to whine about it.  Unless you have an AES, of course.  Then you can whine all you want.  I did have a Metal Slug once.  I think Metal Slug 4.  But I got rid of it.  I have the entire series elsewhere.

[SuperDeadite]

Did you not read my post Zeta?  That link I provided will ship anywhere in the world, you just need a credit card.  You know how I found that link? By doing a google search.  If it's really too difficult to copy paste the japanese name of a well known game into google, and see what comes up?  Yes I'm in Japan, but that is irrelevant here.  Yes some AES games are still very expensive.  But, they typically hold their value very well.  Some dude on NeoGeo found out I have a legit Blazing Star, and he offered me $2,000 for it, which is over 3 times what I paid originally.

[SignOfZeta]

Yes, I saw your link to a $123 copy of SamShow IV, and I agree that's not too bad, but there is a dude on eBay with 8 copies of the MVS version for $30 each or best offer. So for the same money you could have SamShow IV...or SamShow 1 through 4. These too will hold their value...because they really can't get any cheaper!

I paid $90 for my MVS Pulstar, and its the most expensive Neo game I own...at, evidently, 1/20 of what your AES version is worth.