Neo Geo is the REAL DEAL

[Joe Redifer]

Way back about 900 years ago I wrote a letter to SNK about their advertising tactics and claims for their Neo Geo system.  I had already rented the system by this point and unfortunately I don't have the original letter I sent them (it was probably a bit fanboyish, but with relevant points).  What I do have, however, is SNK's hilarious reply.  I absolutely love this letter.  Here it is:



A few comments about each point:

1 - This is awesome.  I wonder how he feels about this now that we can see exactly how they were measured.  Magician Lord = 46 MegaBYTES?  The real game is only 5.6 Megabytes or so uncompressed, which equals around 46 megabits... or so.  Of course ANY technician could prove me wrong... right?  But I am a movie theater projection technician....  shouldn't I be able to prove myself wrong?

3 - This is the same reason the Genesis is 24-bit.  And even the SNES.  Goodness, how many bits would the Saturn be?  Heh.

4 - Uh oh.  Did he just say that?  Oh no he di'int!  Now it's on!  How pissed are all of you on a scale of 1-10?  15?  256?

5 - According to this, the Playstation 3 has the best, most fun games ever.  Either that or the Neo Geo can run Playstation 3 games since it has infinite power and all.  Great stuff!

Anyway I'm sure I replied with some smarmy comments, but I don't have a copy of that letter, either.  Maybe the Game Lord does.  Anyway I rented the Neo Geo again and I eventually bought one.  It really is THE REAL DEAL.

[nat]

Hahaha, great stuff. That letter sounds like it was written by a 15 year old.

I wonder what "problems" Chad Okada felt the TurboGrafx-CD had.

This sentence really had me going: "Realistically, we are faster than any 32-bit system because we can 'bite' off about 330 MEGabytes at any one time."

What the fuck does that even MEAN?!?

[SignOfZeta]

This sentence really had me going: "Realistically, we are faster than any 32-bit system because we can 'bite' off about 330 MEGabytes at any one time."

What the fuck does that even MEAN?!?

Honestly, that's the most intelligent thing in this amazingly stupid letter. He's saying that 32-bit systems had memory problems, which they certainly did. The "Giga Power" (although back then it was just after the 100 Mega Shock era) sure kicks the crap out of the 2MB of RAM (or less) most 32-bit systems had. A gigantic cart never loads and has constant high speed random access. This is the whole reason why the Geo is so fucking awesome; huge carts.

SNKUSA has never really known WTF they were selling. Take the recent example of them describing KOF XII as having a "cell shaded look".

This letter is so amazing. Even for SNKUSA its infantile.

[Joe Redifer]

While I agree with you on the memory issue, Zeta, take a look at the date on the letter.  1991.  32-bit home systems weren't to come out or even be announced for quite some time.

[Turbo D]

lmao, thats some good readin' Joe! I'm glad you harassed them! I don't know what his beef with tgcd is though. He'd be shocked to play the great arcade cd ports of neogeo games!

[Joe Redifer]

I can't remember the point I made that he is replying to.  I think I may have said something about how the Neo Geo could not do a game like Ys Book 1 or 2 (with audio intact) or maybe that how Ys 1 & 2 contained lots of memory and stuff like that yet cost only what a normal game costs.  I'm only guessing what I likely said.  It hadn't been long since I had beaten Ys 1 & 2 when I sent him the letter, I can tell by the date.

[guyjin]

that letter looks like a bad forum post! 

[OldRover]

A gigantic cart never loads and has constant high speed random access.

Well, almost. Ever played Street Fighter Alpha 2 for the SNES? It's probably the highest memory cart for the system, but has terrible load time. But that's the exception to the rule.

[Tatsujin]

awesome stuff..HAHAHA!!

[Ceti Alpha]

That is hilarious. Now every one knows for certain that the Neo Geo destroys everything in its path.

[Sinistron]

That's some long ass piece of paper they sent letters out on! 

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Awesome letter, Joe; thanks for sharing.  Only a professional tool bag would sign a letter as "The Game Lord", so this incoherent mess isn't too surprising.  Here's my thoughts on a couple of his points:

4)  I always wondered why Cinemaware didn't do so well; good to know it's because of the TG-CD's poor sales and not because the games were so lackluster (the majority of which weren't even CDs anyway).  I have no idea what to make of "Judging by NEC, I think we'd sell less for more that way." 

6)  Maybe he should've consulted one of his technicians before spouting such drivel.  Surely they could've let him in on the secret that both the all powerful NeoGeo and the lowly Genesis are built around the same processors. 

While I agree with you on the memory issue, Zeta, take a look at the date on the letter.  1991.  32-bit home systems weren't to come out or even be announced for quite some time.

Maybe he was referring to the then new System 32 arcade board, though that would render any memory arguments moot.

P.S. - Fun is a strong word. 

[Ceti Alpha]

That's some long ass piece of paper they sent letters out on! 

haha sin. I really didn't even notice that, but yeah, that's crazy long.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

That's some long ass piece of paper they sent letters out on! 

haha sin. I really didn't even notice that, but yeah, that's crazy long.

Agreed.  Perhaps it was written on toilet paper; that's about all it's good for - wiping my ass.

[MurderDate]

 oh man -  great thread !!

[guyjin]

3 - This is the same reason the Genesis is 24-bit.  And even the SNES.  Goodness, how many bits would the Saturn be?

168. At least.

Edit: new sig. you like?

[Joe Redifer]

It was two piece of paper that I combined into one image.  The first page was official SNK letterhead and had kind of a nice texture to it.  The second page is just plain ol' white paper.  If you look at the image, you can tell where the second page begins because the paper texture stops.

[CrackTiger]

As entertaining as the letter is overall, most of it is particularly ironic given how the Neo Geo ports that later appeared on PC Engine CD turned out.

[termis]

The letter is simply awesome.   

I can't imagine anyone from Sony or MS to taking their time out to vehemently defend their system in such a tone.

[Joe Redifer]

Yeah, I like your sig Guyjin (I had to look at your profile to see it since I normally have them turned off).

[Keranu]

Hahaha, that is just too, too awesome! I had a hard time believing it at first glance because of how ridiculous it was. That is some cool paper though, to give THE GAME LORD credit.

[Turbo D]

I should have known better than to fall for ol' Redifurs tricks! lol.

[Joe Redifer]

No trick!  'tis real.

[MurderDate]

so Joe - do you like the Neo Geo then or not ?   Do you enjoy the games ?

I do .. but it's no Turbo Grafx.  They are similar in some superficial ways but the games feel worlds apart.    Hard to explain.   For awhile I was playing 10 TG16 games a day,  just stuffin' em in and rippin' em out and having a good time but with the Neo it's better to leave the cartridge in and pound away.  I'm stuck on Art of Fighting - I just love it.  (Talk about a game that feels like a true classic).  The games deliver more when you stick with them.     I dunno - maybe you'd say that's true of the Grafx as well.    Compare Shadow of the Beast and Magician Lord. d-d-d-d-Do it - NOW !

[Keranu]

Hah Shadow of the Beast and Magician Lord! That's a pretty interesting comparison actually.

[extrarice]

The Game Lord apparently is working for EA now

[PCEngineHell]

The Game Lord apparently is working for EA now

I wanted to release Madden for the REAL DEAL Neo Geo system  but EA locked me up for mentioning the raw power of the REAL DEAL system and was forced to work with Mexican laborers in the basement floor of the EA HQ making 3D models of John Madden's toes.   

I love how no matter how boring it can get,theres ALWAYS someone more retarded then Kits to laugh at.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

I approve of this topic. Long time no talk Joe Redifer-san!

You're obviously an impostor, as the Real Deal Chad Okada (patent pending) would tap the infinite power of the Neo Geo to help formulate more entertaining posts.  I seriously doubt you've ever even touched a Neo Geo.

[PCEngineHell]

Ha ha,after posting all that nonsense he changed his name back. I told him now his post looked even more retarded so he removed them. What a sucker lol.... Stuff of Kits legend for sure.

[Alt-Nintega]

LMAO that was a hilarious letter. 

[Joe Redifer]

Well at least the deleted posts were quoted for posterity.

MurderDate:  Of course I like the Neo Geo, do you think I am a communist?  I own the damn thing and 13 or so games.  It's the Real Deal.

It looks the The Game Lord has his own web site and it is Chad, not some other game deity.

[Turbo D]

If its the real chad game lord, you should link him this thread, lol. I bet he'd get a kick out of it!

[Joe Redifer]

He'll find it the next time he Googles himself maybe. 

[Rainbow_Bright]

great start to the day Thanks guys!

[guyjin]

But I am a movie theater projection technician....  shouldn't I be able to prove myself wrong?

Totally offtopic: I don't suppose you're certified to project nitrate film?

[Joe Redifer]

Nitrate film is pretty much banned from every location in the world except for a select few labs.  It is not used for exhibition.

To those who may be asking "WTF?"  Nitrate film was used in the old old old days to project movies and is HIGHLY flammable.  It has killed many projectionists as well as many audiences and caused the charred destruction of many theaters.  It was replaced completely by the 50's, but I could have my decade wrong.

Go to http://www.film-tech.com and click on VIDEOS to see a video of Nitrate film burning.  It burns very hot very fast.

[Tatsujin]

of course it's dangerous as hell, since it's made of pure cellulosenitrat. laul.

[Keranu]

I think burning nitrate film only adds to the cinematic experience.

[Joe Redifer]

Only if you consider dying a fiery, smoldering death part of the cinematic experience.  Still, recent technology allows homes to have similarly intense fires, just spring a natural gas leak, wait an hour and then ignite a spark.  It may even exceed the cinema experience!   

[Keranu]

I'll try that out tonight while playing Lords of Thunder and let you know how it goes! I think it will go well with the powerful soundtrack.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Only if you consider dying a fiery, smoldering death part of the cinematic experience.  Still, recent technology allows homes to have similarly intense fires, just spring a natural gas leak, wait an hour and then ignite a spark.  It may even exceed the cinema experience!   

That'll cause an explosion.  For a conflagration, you'll want to light that candle immediately and then pull out the marshmallows.

[guyjin]

Nitrate film is pretty much banned from every location in the world except for a select few labs.  It is not used for exhibition.

I thought that might be the case.

To those who may be asking "WTF?"  Nitrate film was used in the old old old days to project movies and is HIGHLY flammable.  It has killed many projectionists as well as many audiences and caused the charred destruction of many theaters.  It was replaced completely by the 50's, but I could have my decade wrong.

1951: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrate_film

Go to http://www.film-tech.com and click on VIDEOS to see a video of Nitrate film burning.  It burns very hot very fast.

Neat video, but I've been looking for an alleged navy training video where they light some on fire and submerge it, and it just keeps burning.

I ask because of that studio fire yesterday. Turns out the film wasn't involved, but it made me think of this.

[nat]

This thread title needs to be changed to "Nitrate film is the REAL DEAL"

[Keranu]

I'll try that out tonight while playing Lords of Thunder and let you know how it goes! I think it will go well with the powerful soundtrack.

I died.

[Joe Redifer]

Neat video, but I've been looking for an alleged navy training video where they light some on fire and submerge it, and it just keeps burning.

I ask because of that studio fire yesterday. Turns out the film wasn't involved, but it made me think of this.

One of the videos on Film-Tech (there are three) shows nitrate film burning fully submerged.  Film was destroyed in the Universal Studios fire.  From Universal themselves:

It is with great sadness that I must inform you that yesterdays fire destroyed nearly 100% of the archive prints kept here on the lot. Due to this we will be unable to honor any film bookings of prints that were set to ship from here.

Over the next few weeks and months we will be able to try and piece together what material we do have and if any prints exist elsewhere. For the time being please check your rental confirmations and look under shipping instructions. If the print was set to ship from the studio then you date is now canceled. If the shipping instructions say ship from Deluxe then those dates are still good.

Attempt to get back on topic:
Universal should have known that the Neo Geo is the REAL DEAL.  If they made their movies in the REAL DEAL Neo Geo format instead of wimpy film, this wouldn't be a problem.

[guyjin]

lessee.. even the largest neo geo cartridge can hold only about 87 megabytes. An HDTV Camera generates 227 megabytes of video data per second. So, for a 90 minute HD movie, you would need... 14,140 neo geo cartridges, and you would need to change them 2 and a half times per second...

the world simply isn't hardcore enough.

[Joe Redifer]

Ummm... excuse me?  Are you perhaps insinuating that maybe, just maybe the Neo Geo isn't the REAL DEAL?  How DARE you!

[guyjin]

I AM saying it's the real deal, but we just aren't awesome enough to use it.

[Tatsujin]

An HDTV Camera generates 227 megabytes of video data per second.

i bet you mean "per minute"?

else those hdtv camera producing 1.23 terabytes for a 90min. movie.

[guyjin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-2

An HDTV camera generates a raw video stream of up to 233,280,000 bytes per second.

and clearly, any compression would not be 'the real deal', and thus unsuitable for NEO-GEO cartridges.