NEO GEO X - New SNK Games Console

[Mishran]

I attempted the sd adapter thing, but my soldering iron is shot and can't afford a new one.

Couldn't get the solder to stick to save my life had more gopped up on the iron than on the wires. And I've always been really good with an iron too.

[fraggore]

I used flux does the job, but its some dame small soldering and cutting traces to get the thing re wired.
Much easy to use 2 SD adopters and some ribbon cable.
Connect one side of the ribbon cable to the inside of the first SD adapter 1 wire for each pin glue it back together. And then solder to the out side of the second SD adapter reversing the 2 end wires on both sides.

That's by far the easiest way of doing it modding the adapters  is a pain in the arse.

Basically need to do this but just use the pins on the inside of the first adapter glue it back together and it should fit nicely inside the neo geo x.

Also here is a diagram for modding just 1 SD adapter.

[xcrement5x]

Thanks for the images!  Will give it a try when I get my console in

[ParanoiaDragon]

I just received the Volume 1 box.  Somehow I missed that it comes in what I think mimics the old AES cases!  I could be wrong, since I never had one, but it seems about the right size.  I haven't had a chance to mess with any of the games or the update yet, probably will do that tomorrow.

[Joe Redifer]

It is pretty much the exact size of an AES case. According to reviews online, it fixes the sound, improves controller lag a bit, gets rid of the nasty sharpening halos on HDMI video, worsens composite video and does absolutely nothing about the screen tearing.

[Mishran]

As much as I like my X, I think I'm waiting for the inevitable (two-three months) price drop before I consider dropping money on the mega pack. I know it's not very supporting, but Tommo's support for the thing has been lacking as well. Why must we purchase something to get an update that should be free to all owners.

[tpivette]

I just ordered the Mega pack today.

I'd wait, but I'm worried that since this system is so niche, that production is going to be very limited and in a few months won't even be availible anymore. Then the gougers will be selling these for $200 on ebay and I'll be SOL

[geise]

Would be better off putting money on a supergun/mvs/multicart setup if you want to do neo geo without collecting.  I can't believe the thing uses final burn alpha.     I'm glad people like it but the thing just seems like one big mess to me.

[jeffhlewis]

If the price drops to $75 or so I'll jump...I just don't need another portable system I'm never going to play laying around.

[munchiaz]

i posted this up on the neo-geo forum

I discovered today that it's my mega pack SD card and not the console that is having issues with the update. I used a friends mega pack to update my neo geo x and it worked just fine. After the update my neo geo x does not recognize my mega pack, but it does recognize my friends, it also is able to see my ninja warrior SD card

[SignOfZeta]

I updated today without issue.

[SignOfZeta]

Would be better off putting money on a supergun/mvs/multicart setup if you want to do neo geo without collecting.  I can't believe the thing uses final burn alpha.     I'm glad people like it but the thing just seems like one big mess to me.

You know, I have an MVS, and you know what? The carts themselves are several times the size of a Neo Geo X, not to mention the PCB, the display, and the 110VAC power supply...

I find the NGX nice because its *slightly* more portable.

[Mishran]

Can't please everyone, Zeta. This thing is what it was meant to be... a handheld. I think it would have been better if they had kept it as so and axed the console bullshit. I've used it as a console a couple times and didnt like it. Everything has remained in the box except the handheld which gets a lot of play time.

The problems that people bitch about, muffled sound, screen tearing, control lag. All issues with the dock. Sure you have some tearing on the portable screen, but I'm having such a blast playing the games, I don't notice it.

I'd love to see this thing continue to get support from Tommo, but they are handling everything like a bunch of amateurs. Rocket cable? Joke. Having to dish out more money to get an update for things they screwed up on? Ridiculous. Using FBA in the unit without the authors permission. Dickheaded. Tommo should be receiving all the ridicule, not the handheld. The X does what it was designed to do, and it does it well.

[Mishran]

If the price drops to $75 or so I'll jump...I just don't need another portable system I'm never going to play laying around.

Then why bother buying it at any price?

[seieienbu]

When I first heard about the Neo Geo X I decided I'd buy one if I could get Pulstar.  With Blazing Star in the mega pack I'm left with a conundrum of "is this close enough?"  Perhaps I should just bite the bullet and pick one up.  Mark of the Wolves is a fantastic game and one of my favorite fighters. 

My big problem with this is SNK's business model of selling games more or less in their original release order.  I don't care about the early Neo Geo titles, it's why I didn't buy any of the stuff they released on Wiiware but bought Mark of the Wolves and a couple others the moment they were available on XBLA.  There are Neo games that I like but almost all of them came out late in the lifespan of the system.  Oh well, now that Samsho 3 is released perhaps they  can finally release the Samurai Shodowns that I like, 4 and 5 special.

[SignOfZeta]

Blazing Star and Pulstar are only close to each other in the sense that they are both horizontal shooters and they both have "star" in the name. There isn't much else relating them.

Also, they aren't releasing things in original order at all. Metal Slug, KOF 95, Real Bout Special, and World Heroes Perfect came with the unit and they were all 4-6 years into the Neo's life. It's true they aren't giving us the really late and impressive stuff like they should, but there is no relationship to original release order at all.

[TheClash603]

If the system would've been released handheld only for $100 originally, I think there would be far less backlash as well.  The console emulation they tried to go for is where they were not as successful and it seems that is what everyone was most excited for.

I think this system is very much in the "okay" rating range.  Which I guess for me is...  okay.

[geise]

Blazing Star and Pulstar are only close to each other in the sense that they are both horizontal shooters and they both have "star" in the name. There isn't much else relating them.

Don't forget that Dino 246 are both playable ships in each game.

[seieienbu]

Blazing Star and Pulstar are only close to each other in the sense that they are both horizontal shooters and they both have "star" in the name. There isn't much else relating them.

Also, they aren't releasing things in original order at all. Metal Slug, KOF 95, Real Bout Special, and World Heroes Perfect came with the unit and they were all 4-6 years into the Neo's life. It's true they aren't giving us the really late and impressive stuff like they should, but there is no relationship to original release order at all.

That's the thing, I love Pulstar but Blazing Star isn't as good, sequel or otherwise.  The other stuff though, it sure seems to me that SNK releases earlier games in a series rather than the games I'd actually want to play.  Look at Fatal Fury.  In recent times, Fatal Fury 1 has been re-released on Wii and PSN, Fatal Fury 2 on Wiiware, and Fatal Fury Special is on Wiiware, PSN, and Xbox 360.  Meanwhile, the Real bout series is actually good but doesn't get a modern re-release.

[SignOfZeta]

Real Bout is pre installed on every NGX. Unfortunately Real Bout 2 isn't, and that's my favorite. All (non-MotW) Fatal Fury games have been released, perfectly, on PS2 for ridiculously low prices.

[SMF]

Sh!t I better pick this up before the ebay gouging starts lol.

[EvilEvoIX]

I can overlook a lot of its short comings (Mixed stereo out, how is that even passing the quality control!) but the delayed controller response is unforgivable.  Especially in shooters.  I may get one to collect, but I am sorely disappointed.  Just one failure after the next.

[seieienbu]

I've got the PS2 collection, I just want to be able to play Real Bout Special on a modern TV without lag with a modern joystick.

[SignOfZeta]

I've got the PS2 collection, I just want to be able to play Real Bout Special on a modern TV without lag with a modern joystick. 

If your TV has lag then your TV sucks. What are you playing PC Engine on?

If you can't find a joystick for PS2, of all systems, that isn't as good as anything ever made then I don't know what to tell you.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Yeah, mine ain't updating....I'm hoping there will be some work around so I don't have to send it back.

[SignOfZeta]

Dang. This sure is happening to a lot of people.

But then, Sony just bricked untold thousands of PS3s last week, and they're a multi-billion dollar corporation so...expecting more from Tommo is perhaps stupid.

[TheClash603]

Dang. This sure is happening to a lot of people.

But then, Sony just bricked untold thousands of PS3s last week, and they're a multi-billion dollar corporation so...expecting more from Tommo is perhaps stupid.

The difference is Sony bricked 1% of PS3s and it seems that Tommo has bricked at least 50% of the NGX.  I have been looking at my new games for days now, too horrified to try the update.

[SignOfZeta]

I'm pretty sure they didn't brick %50 of the units or anywhere close to that. There are a lot of failed updates, but from what I can tell most of those are just that, failed updates. It usually doesn't kill the unit.

If you are that sure the update is going to kill the system then I suggest you do so and then get it replaced. What else are are you going to do, be the sort of idiot that gives someone $80 for a box and some stickers?

[GohanX]

Check the firmware of your NGX (press the menu key at the game selection screen.) It is the 337 firmware that is getting bricked, if you have 330 you should be okay.

I updated mine, they didn't fix everything but my eyes do not want to bleed while playing in HDMI anymore. Just needs vsync and scanlines, really. Unforunately, my hacked SD card adapter doesn't work anymore. Good thing I have a spare X that I didn't update!

The case it comes in is an almost exact replica of the Neo Geo snaplock case. I haven't tried putting an actual neo cart in it, but it would probably fit fine. The plastics they use are different though, so it doesn't feel expensive like a real Neo case, but I'm fine with that. If I could somehow buy those cheaper cases for the price of a shockbox (around 8 bucks) I would get a bunch to replace some ratty cases I have.

[SignOfZeta]

Mine is a 337 and it updated flawlessly.

[Mishran]

Seems to me like user error. But of course, not all X's are built the same. Could be one little file being different that could be causing the problems, but I'm gonna still chalk it up to user error. That and poor quality of the system, "rocket" cable, and game cards.

[futureman2000]

Are those joysticks pretty nice, though? I'm thinking about getting one to use with my pc, and I've heard mixed opinions.

[Mishran]

If you haves used an original neo stick, you will notice a considerable difference. The sticks aren't bad though IMO. I've used one of my sticks on a PC a few times and it works good. May require some fiddling with the emulator setting to make it register the joystick. Sometimes windows sees it as a hat switch instead as a regular stick.

[SignOfZeta]

The NGX stick is nearly identical to the AES one but not quite. With a bit of work (that Tommo should have done) you can make it perfect. I've used it on OSX and PS3.

[TheClash603]

The NGX stick is nearly identical to the AES one but not quite. With a bit of work (that Tommo should have done) you can make it perfect. I've used it on OSX and PS3.

What is this work of which you speak?

[whisper2053]

The NGX stick is nearly identical to the AES one but not quite. With a bit of work (that Tommo should have done) you can make it perfect. I've used it on OSX and PS3.

What is this work of which you speak?

More than likely replacing the stick and buttons/switches with quality parts (as opposed to what is inside them being NOT quality...). Makes all the difference in the world once you have some Seimitsu or Sanwa stuff in there.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Mines 337.  It hasn't bricked, it seems to work ok, it just won't flippin' update!

[xcrement5x]

Check the firmware of your NGX (press the menu key at the game selection screen.) It is the 337 firmware that is getting bricked, if you have 330 you should be okay.

I updated mine, they didn't fix everything but my eyes do not want to bleed while playing in HDMI anymore. Just needs vsync and scanlines, really. Unforunately, my hacked SD card adapter doesn't work anymore. Good thing I have a spare X that I didn't update!

The case it comes in is an almost exact replica of the Neo Geo snaplock case. I haven't tried putting an actual neo cart in it, but it would probably fit fine. The plastics they use are different though, so it doesn't feel expensive like a real Neo case, but I'm fine with that. If I could somehow buy those cheaper cases for the price of a shockbox (around 8 bucks) I would get a bunch to replace some ratty cases I have.

This is interesting.  I haven't built an SD card adapter yet but just in case I will be holding out for awhile then.  I wonder if they changed the file structure of the cards now or something?

[tpivette]

Just got my Mega Pack today and tried the upgrade process... I followed the instructions carefully, however, the logo screen does not come on when inserting the rocket cable while holding the start button (handheld is switched off). However, I am getting the rapidly flashing blue light and after releasing the start button, the switching blue/red lights indicating the upgrade is downloading (according to the rocket cable anyway). I waited about 10 minutes and got no indication that the upgrade was finished (instructions say it takes 5 - 7 minutes, then the system will reboot) so I disconnected the cable. My system did not recognize the SD card after this, however, so I am repeating the process (still with no flashing logo or "upgrade in progress" display on the screen). I checked my system firmware and its 370.

So does this seem to be defective SD cards and/or rocket cables? Or are some handhelds just not compatible with the new product?

[tpivette]

UPDATE... I noticed there is a small yellow switch on the SD card. I pushed this switch down (mine was up before) and repeated the update process... and got the double logo flash followed by the "update in progress" screen! Crossing my fingers...

UPDATE COMPLETE! The firmware was successfully downloaded and the handheld now recognizes the new game SD card. Seems like the card switch position was what did the trick for me

[SignOfZeta]

I don't think that switch is actually connected to anything so it looks like "keep trying" was your fix.

I know some people have known-bad SD cards and since the Rocket Cable is the cheapest piece of shit cable I own I wouldn't be surprised if that was sometimes the issue as well.


As for how to fix the stick, no, I'm not talking about rebuilding it with arcade parts. If your're going to do that you might as well just use a PS3 HRAP. The buttons aren't the problem anyway, its the stick. There is one piece in the stick that isn't a carbon copy of the original. I haven't modified mine, but it can't be that hard.

[OldMan]

I don't think that switch is actually connected to anything....

According to sandisk, the switch is a lock. Sort of like the old floppy write-protect tab.
Makes sense that the update fails if the card is locked. It probably can't unpack the files to a read-only card.

[SignOfZeta]

Yeah, normally, but on the Ninja Masters card, IIRC, it isn't actually hooked to anything.

That might have been a dream I had...

[ParanoiaDragon]

UPDATE... I noticed there is a small yellow switch on the SD card. I pushed this switch down (mine was up before) and repeated the update process... and got the double logo flash followed by the "update in progress" screen! Crossing my fingers...

UPDATE COMPLETE! The firmware was successfully downloaded and the handheld now recognizes the new game SD card. Seems like the card switch position was what did the trick for me

Dag nabbit!  I was hoping this would work for me, but so far, nope.

Bah, I went ahead & sent Amazon a message about it, & will be getting a replacement that I hope actually works.

[GohanX]

Yeah, the stick isn't arcade quality, so people who are used to HRAP EX's and Madcatz TE's aren't liking them, but they are still pretty good "not quite arcade quality" parts. They are still fairly nice sticks, especially if you can get them cheap.

I also swapped the stick from one of my old beat up neo old style sticks. I used the stick assembly from the old stick with the new switches from the X. Feels like butter now.

[munchiaz]

SO im done with this thing,and Tommo. So i got a replacement mega pack a few days ago. I pop it in and it works just. Then i try to play it later on and the mega pack no longer works. I check my ninja maters SD card and it works just fine. I try a few more times, turning it off and on, and what not. No dice, shit still doesn't work. I returned it to amazon today, and made a post on the neo geo x facebook page about this shitty product.

I guess i will just emulate neo geo stuff on my psp, until i can afford the real deal

[Nando]

Well, looks like this thing is dead

http://blog.retrogamer.net/general/neo-geo-x-cancelled/

From the article:

"It would appear that the Neo Geo X is no more.

The console was a collaboration between SNK Playmore and Tommo, and was released to middling reviews when gamers realised the emulation quality wasn't up to the standard of past compilations.

SNK Playmore has now revealed that the licence agreement between the two companies is now cancelled, making it highly unlikely that we'll ever see any more game packs for the system.

The good news is that this now means the machine should drop in price shortly, which is one of the biggest issues we had with it on release. It's also worth seeking out the Neo Geo X Gold Volume One pack, which has some true classics in its 15-game line-up, including The Last Blade, Shock Troopers and Garou: Mark Of The Wolves."

[Mishran]

I still play mine and enjoy the thing, but I gotta say that SNK did the right thing. Tommo screwed up on what could have been such a kick as system. They couldn't even get the newly added scan lines right.

[TheClash603]

Do the handhelds have some sort of link play?

Maybe I will pick up a second if a good clearance sale pops up.

[Opethian]

no the whole unit is a handheld abortion