Neo Geo Pocket
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| Manufacturer | SNK |
|---|---|
| Product family | Neo Geo |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Fifth generation |
| Release date | |
| 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 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 an American release, being exclusive to Japan, Asia and Europe.
The Neo Geo Pocket received lower than expected sales and it was discontinued in 1999,[1] immediately being succeeded by the Neo Geo Pocket Color, 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.[2]
Games
The Neo Geo Pocket is forward compatible with the majority of Neo Geo Pocket Color titles, although games for the color system will play in monochrome on a Neo Geo Pocket. Likewise, the Neo Geo Pocket Color is backward compatible and the entire Neo Geo Pocket library can be played on the color system.
Only ten monochrome games were released for the Neo Geo Pocket before it was discontinued:
- Baseball Stars
- King of Fighters R-1
- Melon-chan's Growth Diary (no EU release)
- Neo Cherry Master (no EU release)
- Neo Geo Cup 98 (no EU release)
- Neo Geo Cup 98 Plus (no JPN release)
- Pocket Tennis
- Puzzle Link (no EU release)
- Samurai Shodown
- Syougi no Tatsujin - Master of Syougi (no EU release)
After the release of the Neo Geo Pocket Color, several of these titles began receiving re-releases, updated to include color. All but King of Fighters R-1, Melon-chan's Growth Diary, Samurai Shodown and the original Neo Geo Cup 98 (the "Plus" version was updated instead) were eventually re-released for the color system.
When playing the Monochrome Samurai Shodown in the color system the game will play in color.
References
- ^ 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.
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- Articles with short description
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- Neo Geo Pocket
- 1990s toys
- Computer-related introductions in 1998
- 1999 disestablishments in Japan
- Fifth-generation video game consoles
- Handheld game consoles
- Japan-only video game hardware
- Monochrome video game consoles
- Products introduced in 1998
- Regionless game consoles