Neo Geo (2011) short film status - Release on Feb. 16th!

[Frank_fjs]

That's mainly what I meant. I got lucky with my AES, the box and inserts are in great condition.

[PCEngineFX]

I just bought the AES not too long ago from Japan and was the best condition unit in-box I could find at the time.  As far as the MVS goes, it will be represented by a one slot Japanese unit in motherboard form only.  I would have loved to film with a cabinet, but didn't pan out.

[SignOfZeta]

Do you still leave in/near Seattle? There's probably a Neo Candy machine or a dozen of them around there. Hell, there HAS to be a nice American red MVS. There's probably some dude with three of them within 10 miles.

[OldRover]

I missed this thread back when it was first posted, so I'll post my thoughts now...

To me, Neo Geo is all about the King Of Fighters. I won't play a KOF game if it isn't on the Neo Geo.

[SignOfZeta]

Almost anything on Neo Geo is good. Even a game that is ultra bland and nothing special at all, somehow becomes awesome just by being on Neo Geo. League Bowling, for example, which is simpler than most cell phone games, is fun just because of the Neo Geo-niss of it all.

[Frank_fjs]

+1 to League Bowling being a great game.

I used to play it on my original Xbox back in the day, via an emulator. A friend came over, saw me playing it, asked to have a shot and was hooked. His jaw hit the floor when I told him it was a 15 year old game being played via emulation. Testament to the fact that with Neo Geo, the future is now.

[Mathius]

SNK had some of the most memorable magazine ads too. I still can remember reading ads in EGM like "I remember when he couldn't keep his hands off me," with the hot girl looking irritated, and her white collar stud playing Cyber-Lip in the background. Good stuff.

[SNKNostalgia]

I always liked the weenie vs hot dog and the ad: "You need a pair of these (picture of steel balls) to own one of these (picture of Neo Geo AES)!"

They did the best they could marketing wise with what they had. Straight facts about the specs of the system vs. other systems. Also, it was aimed towards teenagers and up since no kid's parents would buy one. SNK was smart enough to know that. I am glad it was too expensive in those days. It makes it all more enjoyable now to play it after being deprived from getting one for many years.

You really did get what you paid for back then, an arcade system at home. I remember wanting one after finding out there was a home version after playing Baseball Stars, King of The Monsters, FF1 and then FF2 a little later on. The graphics, sound and gameplay of most of these games were just amazing for their time. This is before they refined their games more like KOF, Real Bout, Last Blade and Metal Slug.

BTW, since Last Blade 1 and 2 never got a proper port, I highly suggest trying these games out. Yes, they are worth $150-$200 on AES... no doubt about it. If you haven't played them, you don't know what your missing. I personally think it is the best weapons based fighter series made. Also, Art of Fighting 3 is a great unique fighting game they made. The character line-up is a little odd compared to 1 and 2, but the game plays very well in its own way. Check out some other games like: Shocktroopers 1 (One of the best overhead shooters ever made to me), Blazing Star, Top Hunter, Spinmaster and Windjammers. Those are some good somewhat overlooked titles.

[SignOfZeta]

BTW, since Last Blade 1 and 2 never got a proper port, I highly suggest trying these games out. Yes, they are worth $150-$200 on AES... no doubt about it.

Last Blade is great. This is a highly overlooked series, and its worth whatever you have to pay.

However, nothing on AES makes sense anymore. L33t-ness aside, its pretty pointless to pay $200 for an AES game when you can get the exact same thing on MVS for $50, and MVS systems will do everything and more than an AES will do.

When home carts were $250 and MVS were $750, it made sense, but now...collectors only. I just bought Metal Slug 3 on MVS for $36 the other day. $36!  You can get the entire MS series on MVS for what it costs to own one MS game on AES and the ROMs are identical. Is a case and instruction manual really worth a couple hundred dollars?

BTW, the NGP version of Last Blade is great too. It starts out as LB1, but as you play it the game sort of morphs into LB2. Its also got cool minigames.

[TR0N]

+1 to League Bowling being a great game.

2nd such a addictive game to play yet so simple.To this day the neo-geo has aged well,any time i want that pick'up&play i fire up my cmvs.

Btw i all ways recomend league bowling to any one aes or mvs owners.

[PCEngineFX]

Just posted up a quick finished clip of the current footage I'm shooting now:

[Frank_fjs]

Nice, but much too short and too much of a tease!

Looks like this will be a very polished production, can't wait.

[Joe Redifer]

Pretty awesome looking!  What I might try if I were you (and I'm not) is crop out the light and leave the Neo & stuff in for the final, edited version.  Looking forward to it!

[PCEngineFX]

The motorized light is an integral part of the hardware sequence of the film - don't worry you'll see ... and if you thought that shot of the AES looks good, man the close-ups are absolutely BEAUTFIUL!!  I really can't wait to get this film done.  I have to do some re-shoots of the MVS motherboard next then I'll be shooting the games sequence.

[PCEngineFX]

Alright people, here is the official trailer!  Just a taste of things to come!

[Mathius]

I commented over a NG.com already, but damn Aaron! That trailer gave me chills just like when I saw the trailer for Cowboys and Aliens when I went to see Deathly Hollows last week!

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Heh.  I like the subtle NeoGeo logo smiley face lens flares.

[Frank_fjs]

Looks brilliant, congratulations and keep it up. You definitely have talent.

[PCEngineFX]

Windows Media & Quicktime H.264 720p versions of the trailer are now available for direct download.  Forget YouTube - this is how it was meant to be seen!

Windows Media (19MB) - Lost: aaronnanto.com/NeoGeo2011/NeoGeo2011_Trailer_720p.wmv
Quicktime H.264 (54MB) - Lost: aaronnanto.com/NeoGeo2011/NeoGeo2011_Trailer_720p.mp4

[Joe Redifer]

Actually .MP4 is not Quicktime, though it can be played back in the QT Player.  .MOV is Quicktime and it can also have H.264.

Anyway, looking good, can't wait to see the whole thing!  Though I imagine the dramatic lighting will piss off the Neo-Geo forum community for whatever reason.  "That's not what the Neo Geo meanz to meee!!"

[Mathius]

Actually .MP4 is not Quicktime, though it can be played back in the QT Player.  .MOV is Quicktime and it can also have H.264.

Anyway, looking good, can't wait to see the whole thing!  Though I imagine the dramatic lighting will piss off the Neo-Geo forum community for whatever reason.  "That's not what the Neo Geo meanz to meee!!"

Yeah, he had one yahoo on there tell him to "Go all, or go home," saying if Aaron didn't put every conceivable piece of SNK hardware in his short film that he should just shut down production. It's that kind of mentality that I hate about NG.com, and why I don't bother much with the site other than buying goodies. I must point out though that I have made a handful of good friends there. But, finding people like that is like searching for a stalk of hay in a needle stack.

[Joe Redifer]

He should have every game in there as well.  Both AES and MVS.  Complete. Mint.  Never touched.

[SignOfZeta]

While I sort of agree with what some of those guys were saying over there in spirit (the AES is just a plastic shell, what matters in the games, I don't just stare at systems, etc) those guys are DICKS of the highest order. Fuck them.

[Joe Redifer]

If the AES is just a shell, then why is it so goddamn sexy?  It's probably in my top 6 or 7 favorite system designs ever.

[geise]

I have to agree Joe.  That's one of the best system designs to me. 

Aaron I am very looking forward to the finished movie.  Thanks for the devotion and time spent on this project of yours!  I'm sure most people here appreciate what you do!

[PCEngineFX]

Yah, I don't let the guys at NG.com affect me any longer.  When I first posted up there, I was shot down pretty bad, but now that I am committed to the film, I don't care if they hate it now.

[geise]

Man I know how it feels.   I do computer animation for a living.  I have been doing it since 96.  I used to like posting my work on forums, especially CG Channel and some others.  My work is never perfect and I always welcome constructive criticism.  However over these past 5 years there's all kinds of people coming out of the woodwork acting like professionals, when in all reality couldn't even begin to do the work I do.  It's like some people think there's a magic button.  I will never get into doing video games, because the market sucks and the kids that are into new games now a days could really care less how much time and effort is spent.

Man I would've thought people over at NG.com would be loving what you're doing.  I do know what goes into your work I'm glad you're doing it the way you want it.  That's what matters.  It's your project.   You do very professional work.  I take it you do video for a living?

[SignOfZeta]

Its always hard dealing with people who don't understand the realities of your profession. I'm an automotive technician, and IMO pretty good at it, but people basically just assume I'm a incompetent gomer thief hack. This is why I got out of dealing directly with customers and now work as a test technician for engineering labs.

[guyjin]

haters gonna hate.

[blueraven]

Yah, I don't let the guys at NG.com affect me any longer.  When I first posted up there, I was shot down pretty bad, but now that I am committed to the film, I don't care if they hate it now.

Who cares what their opinion is; they haven't updated their website since 1997.

Good job dude.

[rodek]

Amazing cinematography in these films you are making.

made me remember i still have a Neo Geo magazine poster from my childhood.

[PCEngineFX]

Filming has continued after a 3 week break (due to camera dead pixel problem).  Shooting the game segment now...

[Joe Redifer]

When you're done shooting, please send me a Metal Slug.  Thanks.

[PCEngineFX]

Just some of the seals I had to break for the film...

[Mathius]

Was this an existing collection, or a recent acquisition?

[PCEngineFX]

All recent

[Mathius]

All recent

I thought I heard a checking account scream in agony somewhere towards the northwest.

[SignOfZeta]

See...that's where I can relate to some of the nega-hype you got from the pricks are NG.com. I mean...an artsy shot of $5000 worth of AES packaging really does represent the worst aspect of Neo Geo; hype, money...a downward spiral of bling and consumption and silliness.

Some dude trying to 1CC a home made bootleg Ironclad cart on a cobbled together supergun...that's the real Neo Geo to me, and I would pay money to see a movie like that.

[PCEngineFX]

Those seals represent only a $200 investment... I'm using the beauty of movie magic to create an illusion... nothing more.  I would never pay thousands of dollars for games...well, maybe for the Turbo...

[esteban]

Alright people, here is the official trailer!  Just a taste of things to come!

I finally watched this trailer... . GREAT STUFF.

One minor quibble: I would have chosen different music for the trailer--music that, to nearly all Neo Geo fans, truly represents and reflects the essence of Neo Geo, such as Hootie and the Blowfish (or Dave Matthews). Otherwise, your trailer was perfect.

[Mathius]

I would have gone for pre-Black Album Metallica. Like chocolate and peanut butter.

[Joe Redifer]

I thought all Neo Geo fans loved them some Nirvana.  Or Whitney Houston.

[Mathius]

I thought all Neo Geo fans loved them some Nirvana.  Or Whitney Houston.

Whitney Houston.

[esteban]

I thought all Neo Geo fans loved them some Nirvana.  Or Whitney Houston.

And the Spindoctors! Don't forget them.

[SignOfZeta]

I think Neo Geo fans have a pretty wide taste in music, and some of it rather good. There are however a lot of those type of dudes that still think AC/DC and Aerosmith are are the best thing ever though, mainly because they haven't actually listened to any music since they graduated from high school 20 years ago.

If I were to be positive about it, I'd say they like pre-Black Album Metallica. If I were to be negative about it, I'd say they like post-Black Album Metallica. I'm pretty sure none of them like Whitney Houston.

[Joe Redifer]

Yes they do.  They told me.  They also like The White Stripes.

[esteban]

Yes they do.  They told me.  They also like The White Stripes.

As Amazon's suggestion algorithm reveals, 97% of folks who purchased King of Fighter's / Metal Slug also purchased Whitney Houston's Greatest Hits...

[PCEngineFX]

I am very happy to announce that work is wrapping up as I speak for my upcoming Neo Geo short film and is planned to be released online on the evening of the 16th.  Links will be posted here once online.

Stills from the final film:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pcenginefx/5440559223/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/pcenginefx/5440577391/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/pcenginefx/5441182074/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/pcenginefx/5440582979/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/pcenginefx/5441188264/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/pcenginefx/5440595497/

[esteban]

Gorgeous.

[Joe Redifer]

Just so you know, Youtube does allow 1080p uploads.  Upload it in 1080p and it will also be available in 720p, 480p, 360p and 240p.  Don't letterbox, upload in 16:9.  Better than Vimeo, for sure.