Neo Geo Pocket
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Neo Geo Pocket Color. (Discuss) Proposed since September 2024. |
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| Manufacturer | SNK |
|---|---|
| Product family | Neo Geo |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Fifth |
| Release date |
|
| Lifespan | 1998–99 |
| Discontinued |
|
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| CPU | Toshiba TLCS900H @ 6.144 MHz |
| Sound | Toshiba T6W28 (Z80 & SN76489 compatible) + two 8-bit PCM DACs |
| Power | Two AAA batteries for 40 hours of play, CR2032 for backup memory and clock |
| Successor | Neo Geo Pocket Color |
The Neo Geo Pocket[a] (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 and was primarily sold in Japan and Hong Kong. The system and all five English games saw limited distribution in the West, where it could be ordered directly from SNK USA.
The Neo Geo Pocket received lower-than-expected sales and was discontinued in 1999, 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 and European 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.
History
[edit]It was the company's first handheld system and is part of the Neo Geo family. It debuted in Japan in late 1998 and was primarily sold in Japan and Hong Kong.[1] Neo Geo Pocket was scheduled to release on October 22, 1998 with eight titles at launch.[2] The system and all five English games saw limited distribution in the west, where it could be ordered directly from SNK USA.[3]
The Neo Geo Pocket received the Good Design Award in 1998.[4] It received lower-than-expected sales and it was discontinued in 1999.[5]
Technical specifications
[edit]
- 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
SNK released the Neo Geo Pocket in eight color variations: Platinum Blue, Platinum Silver, Platinum White, Carbon Black, Maple Blue, Camouflage Blue, Camouflage Brown, and Crystal White.[6]
Neo Geo Pocket cartridges are smaller than Game Boy cartridges.[7]
Games
[edit]Only nine monochrome games were released for the Neo Geo Pocket before it was discontinued. The Neo Geo Pocket is forward compatible with 39 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, six titles received re-releases, updated to include color.
One additional game, a remake 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.[8]
| 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 |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Kotaku (2012-02-12). "Screw the Vita, Let's Talk About the Other NGP". Kotaku. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "「SNK「ネオジオポケット」モノクロ版は10月22日 同時発売ソフトは格闘ゲームなど8作」" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 571. September 1, 1998. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ "NEOGEO POCKET". SNK USA. 1999-10-05. Archived from the original on 1999-10-05. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Neo Geo Pocket NEOP 10010". Japan Design Promotion Association (in Japanese). 1998. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ ネオジオポケット [Neo Geo Pocket]. ハンディゲームマシンコンプリートガイドデラックス ゲームギア・ワンダースワン・ネオジオポケットEdition [Handy Game Machine Complete Guide Deluxe: Game Gear, WonderSwan, Neo Geo Pocket Edition] (in Japanese). Shufunotomo. October 2020. p. 142, 143. ISBN 9784074447602.
- ^ 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.
- Neo Geo Pocket
- 1990s toys
- Computer-related introductions in 1998
- 1999 disestablishments in Japan
- Discontinued handheld game consoles
- Fifth-generation video game consoles
- Handheld game consoles
- Japan-exclusive video game hardware
- Monochrome video game consoles
- Products introduced in 1998
- Regionless game consoles