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| Manufacturer | SNK |
|---|---|
| Product family | Neo Geo |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Fifth |
| Release date | Neo Geo Pocket
|
| Introductory price | |
| Discontinued | |
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| CPU | Toshiba TLCS900H core (16-bit) @ 6.144 MHz Zilog Z80 @ 3.072 MHz for sound |
| Memory | 12 KB RAM for 900/H 4 KB RAM for Z80 64 KB ROM |
| Display | 2.7", 160x152 resolution, 146 colors on screen out of a palette of 4096 |
| Sound | T6W28 (enhanced SN76489), 6-bit DACs |
The Neo Geo Pocket[a] is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Japanese video game company SNK. The original model was released in 1998 in Japan with a monochrome display, but was quickly superseded by the more mass-produced Neo Geo Pocket Color[b] worldwide in 1999, which had a color display and full backward compatibility with the games for the original model. The hardware marked SNK's entry into the handheld gaming market, competing with Nintendo's long-running Game Boy line.
The Neo Geo Pocket Color was first released in Japan in March 1999, reaching North America in August and parts of Europe in October. The system received a generally positive critical reception for its microswitched joystick and a library of games featuring SNK franchises such as The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, and SNK vs. Capcom. In October 1999, a smaller and lighter revision of the hardware was released exclusively in Japan as the New Neo Geo Pocket Color, offering improved ergonomics and minor technical enhancements.
Despite its strengths, the Neo Geo Pocket struggled commercially due to limited third-party game support, low retail visibility, and intense competition from the Game Boy Color and WonderSwan in Japan. Following SNK's acquisition by Aruze and the company's subsequent bankruptcy in 2001, the Neo Geo Pocket line was discontinued, marking the end of SNK's final venture into hardware manufacturing.
History
Monochrome system
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SNK, known for its successful Neo Geo arcade and home console systems, entered the handheld gaming market for the first time with the release of the Neo Geo Pocket in 1998. The market had been dominated by Nintendo and its Game Boy, but SNK believed that the Pocket would target a "slightly different" audience.[3]
The device featured a monochrome display and was primarily released in Japan and Hong Kong.[4] It was sold along eight titles at launch, including Baseball Stars, a port of the 1989 game, and King of Fighters R-1.[5]
SNK released the Neo Geo Pocket in various color variations, such as Platinum Blue, Platinum Silver, Platinum White, Carbon Black, Maple Blue, Camouflage Blue, Camouflage Brown, and Crystal White.[6] The Neo Geo Pocket received the Good Design Award in 1998 from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.[7] The system experienced limited commercial success, leading SNK to discontinue it in favor of a color model.[8]
Color model
In response to the market's shift towards color displays, SNK announced the Neo Geo Pocket Color in January 1999. This upgraded handheld featured a non-backlit, full-color screen and was released in Japan in March 1999 with seven launch titles, including , and Puzzle Link and Samurai Shodown! 2.[1] The Neo Geo Pocket Color was designed to compete with Nintendo's Game Boy Color and Bandai's WonderSwan.[9][8]
U.S. release and marketing
SNK never officially released the monochrome Neo Geo Pocket in North America or Europe, though customers in these regions could mail-order the system and its games through SNK's website beginning in April 1999. However, just two units were sold before the launch of the Neo Geo Pocket Color in the United States in August 1999.[10]
The Neo Geo Pocket Color debuted in the U.S. in August 1999, initially available exclusively through the online retailer eToys.com. It launched with six titles and carried a price of US$69.95 (equivalent to $132 in 2024). The U.S. version came in six colors: Camouflage Blue, Carbon Black, Crystal White, Platinum Blue, Platinum Silver, and Stone Blue. In its first two months, the Neo Geo Pocket Color sold 25,000 units.[10] Ahead of the 1999 holiday season, distribution expanded to major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Toys "R" Us, and other national chains. SNK also spent US$4 million (equivalent to $7.6 million in 2024) on television ads airing on MTV, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.[10]
By May 2000, the system held a modest 2% share of the U.S. handheld console market, tiny compared to Nintendo's dominant Game Boy and Game Boy Color, but enough to turn a profit for SNK USA.[10]
Revision
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On October 21, 1999, SNK released a redesigned, slimmer version of the handheld, known as the New Neo Geo Pocket Color, exclusively in Japan, selling at ￥6,800 (equivalent to ￥6,912 in 2019).[11] This model was 13% smaller than the original and featured improved sound output.[12]
Financial troubles
Despite a good start to sales in both the U.S. and Japan, the Neo Geo Pocket Color faced challenges. The console had low retail support in the U.S.,[13] limited third-party support due to a lack of communication with third-party developers by SNK's American management,[14] and stiff competition from other handhelds, driven by the popularity of Nintendo's Pokémon franchise,[15] and strong competition from Bandai's WonderSwan in Japan.[10]
Meanwhile, SNK had been in financial trouble for at least a year, and in January 2000, the company was acquired by pachinko manufacturer Aruze.[10] Conflicts with the new Aruze leadership led to the departure of SNK's founder and several employees, who formed a new company, BrezzaSoft.[10][16] On June 13, 2000, Aruze ceased SNK's operations in North America and Europe.[10] The handheld continued to be sold in Japan until SNK declared bankruptcy on October 30, 2001.[17][18] After emerging from bankruptcy, the company did not pursue further development of handheld consoles.
Features
The Neo Geo Pocket is a horizontally oriented handheld console, similar in form factor to the Sega's Game Gear, in contrast to Nintendo's vertically oriented Game Boy. The device features a finger groove on the back for improved grip, and game cartridges are inserted into a rear slot. Both models include two action buttons, along with "Power" and "Option" buttons. A notable feature is the microswitched thumb pad, which offers joystick-style eight-directional input and was generally regarded as more precise than conventional d-pads.[19]
The original Neo Geo Pocket featured a monochrome liquid-crystal display capable of displaying eight shades of grey. It offered approximately 20 hours of battery life using two AA batteries, with a CR2032 battery used to retain saved data and maintain the internal real-time clock. The Neo Geo Pocket Color introduced a reflective color TFT screen and extended battery life to around 40 hours. Both systems include a stereo headphone jack and, like other non-backlit handhelds of the era—including the Game Boy line—require adequate external lighting for optimal visibility.[19]
In addition to gaming functions, the Neo Geo Pocket and Pocket Color include basic PDA-style utilities such as a clock, calendar, and a horoscope generator.[19]
Cables for linking multiple Neo Geo Pocket systems were available, as well as a cable to connect the Neo Geo Pocket Color and the Dreamcast, as part of a partnership between SNK and Sega.[3] Supported Neo Geo Pocket Color games include King of Fighters R-2 (which links with The King of Fighters: Dream Match 1999 and The King of Fighters' 99: Evolution), SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium (links with Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000), SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash (links with The King of Fighters' 99: Evolution), SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters 2 Expand Edition (links with Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000), and Cool Cool Jam (links with Cool Cool Toon).[citation needed]
At the September 1999 Tokyo Game Show, SNK unveiled a wireless adapter for Neo Geo Pocket Color units, designed to enable wireless communication between systems.[20]
Technical specifications
 |
| Model | Neo Geo Pocket | Neo Geo Pocket Color | New Neo Geo Pocket Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPUs | Toshiba TLCS-900/H core (16/32-bit CISC based on Z80) @ up to 6.144 MHz | ||
| RAM | 12 KB for 900/H, 4 KB for Z80 (shared with the 900/H), 4 KB of tilemap RAM, 8 KB of character RAM | ||
| ROM | 64 KB BIOS | ||
| Interfaces | SIO 1 channel 19200 bit/s, 5-pin serial port | ||
| Display | 2.6-inch (diagonal) reflective monochrome liquid-crystal display (LCD) | 2.6-inch reflective thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD | |
| Resolution | 160 × 152 (256 × 256 virtual screen) | ||
| DMA | 4 channels, integrated in TLCS-900/H core | ||
| Colors | 8 shades of grey | 146 (or 20 in monochrome mode) on-screen out of 4096 | |
| Palettes | 16 palettes per plane, 64 sprites per frame | 16 for sprites, 16 per scrolling plane, additional 8 sets of 8 colors each assigned to the 6 monochrome-mode palettes (2 for sprites, 2 per scrolling plane), backdrop, and window | |
| Characters | 512 8 × 8 characters, transparency + 3 colors per character | ||
| Sprites | 64 8 × 8 sprites, each can be placed behind, in-between, or above the scrolling planes, no arbitrary scanline limitation | ||
| Scrolling | 2 scrolling planes, 32 × 32 tilemaps with 8 × 8 character tiles | ||
| Special effects | Character flipping, sprite chaining, sprite coordinate offsetting, windowing, color inversion | ||
| Sound | T6W28 (enhanced SN76489 with 3 square-wave tone generators + 1 noise generator, stereo capability), dual 6-bit digital-to-analog converters. Sound system controlled by a Z80 processor @ 3.072 MHz. | ||
| Cartridges | Up to 4 MB ROM and 0.5–2 MB of RAM | ||
| Batteries | 2 × AAA batteries for 40 hours of gameplay, CR2032 battery for backup memory and clock | 2 × AA batteries for 40 hours of gameplay, CR2032 battery for backup memory and clock | |
| Width | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 126 mm (5.0 in) |
| Height | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Depth | 24 mm (0.94 in) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Weight | 130 g (4.6 oz) | 145 g (5.1 oz) | 120 g (4.2 oz) without battery |
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Neo Geo Pocket motherboard -
Neo Geo Pocket Color motherboard
Game library
Only nine games were released for the original monochrome Neo Geo Pocket, all of which are backward compatible with the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Six of these nine games were later re-released in updated color versions for the Pocket Color. Some Pocket Color titles can also be played in monochrome on the original system.
A total of 73 games were released for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Most were developed by SNK, including entries from its established franchises such as Fatal Fury, Metal Slug and The King of Fighters.[19]
Some major third-party developers contributed to the library, including Sega with Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, a title based on Sonic the Hedgehog 2 that has been cited as one of the best games produced for the system.[21][22][23] Capcom collaborated with SNK on several crossover titles, including SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium and the SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters series. Namco published a version of Pac-Man that included a plastic cross ring designed to restrict the system's microswitched joystick to four directions; this version has been regarded as one of the best home ports of the game.[22][24]
Cartridges
Neo Geo Pocket cartridges are smaller than Game Boy cartridges.[25] Games were initially packaged in small, clamshell-style plastic cases with colorful cover art, resembling the packaging of Neo Geo AES games. These cases were regarded by some fans as particularly distinctive.[22] In an effort to reduce costs, SNK USA adopted cardboard packaging for the North American market, a decision that reportedly angered SNK's leadership in Japan.[10] Japanese releases later shifted to cardboard boxes as well, while European titles continued to be sold in clamshell cases until the system was discontinued in that region.[22] Toward the end of the system's lifespan in North America, games were frequently bundled in blister packs to clear remaining inventory, sometimes including previously unreleased titles such as Faselei!.[21]
Re-releases
Several Neo Geo Pocket Color games were re-released via emulation on the Nintendo Switch, beginning with Samurai Shodown! 2 as a pre-order incentive for the 2019 Samurai Shodown reboot.[26] These re-releases were later compiled into Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 (2021) and Vol. 2 (2022), which were also released for Windows.[27][28]
Reception
SNK sold over 25,000 Neo Geo Pocket Color units in Japan and more than 100,000 in Europe by the end of 1999. By May 2000, the system held a 2% share of the North American handheld market.[10]
Retrospective reviews of the Neo Geo Pocket have been largely positive.
Jeremy Parish of USGamer called it an influential handheld, describing it as a "technological bridge" between the 8-bit portable era and the Game Boy Advance, commended its robust build quality, and noting that its distinctive "clicky stick" was a precursor to features in later consoles.[21] He praised the system's diverse library, highlighting titles like SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash, Sonic Pocket Adventure, Magical Drop, and Pac-Man. Parish attributed its commercial failure to SNK's limited retail presence and the acquisition by Aruze in 2000, concluding, "Neo Geo Pocket Color's life may have been painfully brief, but it was nevertheless memorable for those who experienced it."[21]
Ryan Lambie of Den of Geek called the Neo Geo Pocket one of Nintendo's strongest competitors, praising its "brilliant" game library, design, and quality. He lamented its early market exit, writing, "It was a premature end for a system that, although doomed to remain a distant second to the Game Boy, could have forged a great little niche of its own."[23]
Damien McFerran of Nintendo Life called the Neo Geo Pocket, alongside the WonderSwan, one of the most "interesting challengers" to Nintendo. He praised its library, clamshell packaging, hardware, and battery life, writing, "The Neo Geo Pocket Color may not have succeeded in its goal of wrestling market share away from Nintendo, but that doesn't automatically mean it was a failure. Many fans will argue that the quality of the software available was far in advance of that on the Game Boy Color, and the fantastic controls, amazing battery life, cool PDA features and excellent screen combine to make a system which is still hard to put down, even today."[22]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ a b "SNK "Neo Geo Pocket" Color March 10" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 582. March 1, 1999. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 12, 2023.
- ^ "Neo Geo Pocket Color". Archived from the original on February 29, 2000.
- ^ a b "New handheld from arcade masters". Computer & Video Games. No. 202. September 1998. p. 7.
- ^ "Screw the Vita, Let's Talk About the Other NGP". Kotaku. February 12, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ "「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」" ["SNK's Neo Geo Pocket monochrome version will be released on October 22nd, with 8 titles including fighting games"] (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 571. September 1, 1998. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Neo Geo Pocket NEOP 10010". Japan Design Promotion Association (in Japanese). 1998. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "TGS: Handhelds Aplenty". IGN. March 20, 1999. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Mullen, Micheal (April 27, 2000). "SNK Aims At Handheld Gaming". GameSpot. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Provo, Frank (June 11, 2004). "The History of SNK". GameSpot.
- ^ "New Archives – September 1999".
- ^ "New Neo Geo Pocket Color specs".
- ^ "The end of an era: a cruel look at what we missed: Part 2". June 2000.
- ^ "NeoGeo Pocket Color Feature". Retrieved October 9, 2010.
- ^ "Neo Geo Pocket Color 101, A beginner's guide". racket BOY. January 4, 2012.
- ^ "History for SNK Corporation". Moby Games. March 20, 2016. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016.
- ^ "SNK Waves Goodbye". IGN. October 30, 2001. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
- ^ Seyoon Park, Andrew (October 29, 2001). "SNK Corporation closes its doors". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 2, 2001. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Videogame Hardware Handbook Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). United Kingdom: Imagine Publishing. 2016. pp. 252–253. ISBN 978-1-906078-44-7. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ Harris, Craig (September 21, 1999). "TGS: SNK and NeoGeo Pocket Color". IGN. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Parish, Jeremy (October 28, 2014). "Neo Geo Pocket Color: The Portable That Changed Everything". USGamer. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e McFerran, Damien (March 26, 2014). "Hardware Classics: SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Lamble, Ryan (January 25, 2012). "The life and times of the Neo Geo Pocket Color". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ Hannley, Steve (July 6, 2013). "Pocket Power: Pac-Man". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ Harris, Craig (September 15, 2000). "NeoGeo Pocket Color". IGN. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ Romano, Sal (August 28, 2019). "Samurai Shodown for Switch debut trailer, screenshots". Gematsu. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Miller, Zachary (March 31, 2021). "NeoGeo Pocket Color Collection Vol. 1 (Switch eShop) Review". NintendoWorldReport. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Massey, Tom (November 15, 2022). "Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol.2 Review". Nintendo Life. Retrieved September 20, 2023.