Neo Geo Pocket
The Neo Geo Pocket (NGP) is a monochrome handheld game console released by SNK. It was the company's first handheld system and is part of the Neo Geo family. It debuted in Japan in late 1998 but never saw a western release, being exclusive to Japan and Hong Kong.[1]
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| Manufacturer | SNK |
|---|---|
| Product family | Neo Geo |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Fifth |
| Release date |
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| Lifespan | 1998–99 |
| Discontinued |
|
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| CPU | Toshiba TLCS900H @ 6.144 MHz |
| Sound | Z80 & SN76489 compatible |
| Power | Two AAA batteries for 40 hours of play, CR2032 for backup memory and clock |
| Successor | Neo Geo Pocket Color |
The Neo Geo Pocket received lower than expected sales and it was discontinued in 1999,[2] immediately being succeeded by the Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC), a full color device allowing the system to compete more easily with the dominant Game Boy Color handheld, and which also saw an American release. Though the system enjoyed only a short life, there were some significant games released on the system such as Samurai Shodown!, and King of Fighters R-1.
Technical specifications
- 16-bit Toshiba TLCS-900H high performance core CPU
- 32-bit/16-bit register bank configuration at 6.144 MHz
- Virtual screen 256×256, 16 palettes per plane, 64 sprites per frame
- Z80 8-bit CPU to control the soundchip
- SN76489 soundchip equivalent (three square-wave tone generators, one white-noise generator, and direct access to two digital-to-analog converters)
- I/O serial SIO, one channel at 19200 bit/s
- 4-bit internal memory
Neo Geo Pocket cartridges are smaller than Game Boy cartridges.[3]
Games
Only nine monochrome games were released for the Neo Geo Pocket before it was discontinued. The Neo Geo Pocket is forward compatible with roughly half of Neo Geo Pocket Color titles, although games for the color system will play in monochrome on a Neo Geo Pocket. Likewise, the NGPC is backward compatible and the entire Neo Geo Pocket library can be played on the color system. After the release of the NGPC, several of these titles began receiving re-releases, updated to include color.
One additional game, a port of the 1979 SNK arcade game Yosaku, can be played by inserting the NGPC game The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise into a Neo Geo Pocket.[4]
| Title | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Re-released for NGPC | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseball Stars | Saurus, SNK | SNK | Yes | October 28, 1998 | ||
| King of Fighters R-1 | SNK | SNK | No | October 28, 1998 | ||
| Melon-chan's Growth Diary | ADK | SNK | No | October 28, 1998 | ||
| Neo Cherry Master | DYNA | SNK | Yes | December 25, 1998 | ||
| Neo Geo Cup '98 Plus | SNK | SNK | Yes | October 28, 1998 | ||
| Pocket Tennis | Yumekobo | SNK | Yes | October 28, 1998 | ||
| Puzzle Link | Yumekobo | SNK | Yes | October 28, 1998 | ||
| Samurai Shodown! | Saurus, SNK | SNK | No | December 25, 1998 | ||
| Shōgi no Tatsujin: Master of Syougi | ADK | SNK | Yes | November 20, 1998 | ||
References
- Kotaku (2012-02-12). "Screw the Vita, Let's Talk About the Other NGP". Kotaku. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- Snow, Blake (2007-07-30). "The 10 Worst-Selling Handhelds of All Time". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
- IGN Staff (2000-09-15). "NeoGeo Pocket Color". IGN. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- "Retro Re-release Roundup, week of November 10, 2022". Retronauts. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2023-09-06.