Japanese gaming news magazine, Famitsu, has posted a video to their youtube channel demonstrating SNK Playmore’s new portable console, the NeoGeo X Gold. The NeoGeoX Gold runs on the Linux operating system, emulating classic SNK titles. There are many units like this that emulate consoles past on Linux based portables, mostly they come out of Hong Kong. This one happens to be officially licensed and specifically designed to make SNK fans happy.
Some features to note…
20 preloaded Neo Geo games
Those who had a NeoGeo will attest to the value of this. To get 20 NeoGeo games will cost you well over 200 dollars.
4 Button layout
This matches the NeoGeo’s button layout
Clicky Joystick
Once again, remaining faith to the classic hardware it emulates, the joystick clicks, which was a trademark of the NeoGeo. Some people may find this annoying, but in fact its a useful indicator of when a movement on the controller has been made.
Base station and Joystick
Although it is a portable system, there will also be a base station you can connect it to that will allow you to play the Neo Geo games on your TV in 1080p (ahh… tile sized pixels). There is also a replica of the Neo Geo’s classic arcade stick controller.
Form Factor
The device seems very attractively designed and doesn’t look like a toy. It has a sort of iPhone like design to it while still satisfying its primary function of being for gaming.
One thing about the system that looks like it could be concerning, in terms of authenticity, is whether or not the graphics are at the correct aspect ratio. Hard to tell from this video. Multiple stretching options would make sense in this situation, for example full screen, original and fit. Another thing that would be interesting AND awesome would be if SNK released a Neo Geo SDK for indie developers to make new software for the Neo Geo platform. With retro gaming being all the rage on smart phones, why not develop games for a system that is emulating one of the best classic consoles of all time.
This is a list of games that will be included on the NeoGeo X…
- 3 Count Bout
- Alpha Mission II
- Art of Fighting
- Baseball Stars II
- Cyber-Lip
- Fatal Fury
- Fatal Fury Special
- King of Fighters ’95
- King of the Monsters
- Last Resort
- League Bowling
- Magician Lord
- Metal Slug
- Mutation Nation
- NAM-1975
- Puzzled
- Real Bout Fatal Fury
- Samurai Shodown II
- Super Sidekicks
- World Heroes Perfect
The Neo Geo X has a release date of December 6, 2012. The Neo Geo X Gold, which includes the base station and the controller will retail for about $200 and the standalone portable unit will be $129. No world yet on the price for additional Neo Geo X controllers. Some gamers have complained about the price, but if you take into consideration what it would cost to get the real hardware… between games, console, and controllers this is way cheaper. Also… its portable. On a side note, since its running Linux and has an SD Card slot, we’re certain it will be hacked in no time allowing you emulate various other systems. If $200 is too steep and you don’t care about TV play, then its still just $129, but what’s the fun in that?
The Neo Geo X Gold is being distributed in the US by Tommo Inc who specializes in import games and hardware.