I do know that this site is called The Sega Collection but it’s hard to exclude a video game system that cost me $650 CAD. I feel compelled to show it off. 😀
Weighing in at 250 lbs (113 Kg) and standing 6′ (183 cm) tall this is my new SNK Neo Geo MVS Arcade Cabinet.
Also known as Big Red.
My Big Red: SNK Neo Geo MVS Arcade Cabinet
Neo Geo (ネオジオ?) is a family of video game hardware developed by SNK. The brand originated in 1990 with the release of an arcade system, the Neo Geo MVS and its home console counterpart, the Neo Geo AES. Both the arcade system and console were powerful for the time and the AES allowed for perfect ports of games released for the MVS.
–wikipedia.org
Why didn’t I get a MAME box? I still might someday but for me I really enjoy having the real thing. And this beast actually lived out is glory days in actual bonafide arcades. Maybe you’ve played on my Big Red! Who knows?!
$650 is a lot of money to drop on anything. Especially something that is such a pain in the butt to move. But it did come with four games to help soften the purchase price.
Included games:
NAM-1975 Custom Case Cover Art
NAM-1975 Screen Shot
The Super Spy Custom Case Cover Art
The Super Spy Screen Shot
Fatal Fury 2 Custom Case Cover Art
Fatal Fury 2 Screen Shot
Baseball Stars Custom Cover Art
Baseball Stars Screen Shot
These are all common and cheap (for Neo Geo) games but it was still nice to get some throw-ins. And NAM-1975 is one that I really wanted. NAM-1975 was the first Neo Geo game I saw when the system was new and it blew my mind. It’s hard to describe how much better the Neo Geo looked compared to the Genesis or SNES. Back in the day the distinction in the graphics felt massive.
Today the gap in graphical fidelity feels very small. But in the late 90’s the Neo Geo was a boheimeth that could not be touched; or afforded by most of us. Unless you were content feeding quarters to a Big Red in the arcades.
But if you did have the money you could purchase the home version of the Neo Geo called the Neo Geo AES (Advanced Entertainment System) which was exactly the same hardware as the Neo Geo MVS (Multi Video System) in the arcades.
The arcade version was called MVS because many Neo Geo arcade cabinets could hold more then one game; either 2,4, or 6 games. And by the use of the ‘Select Game’ button you could cycle through the selection and pick the one you wanted to play. This was a very unique feature in the 90’s.
I found this Neo Geo MVS 4-slot (can hold 4 games at once) from Kijiji. The previous seller had done a fantastic job restoring it. As a result it’s not entirely stock. The cabinet was sanded down and re-painted. And the lettering you see are vinyl stickers. Originally the lettering would have been painted on. But the important thing is my Neo Geo looks perfect… Even though its not.
There is some work left for me to do. Here’s my ‘to do’ list for my Big Red (keeping in mind I don’t know how to do anything of this):
1) Replace capacitors on the Monitor
2) Fix Slot Two
3) Fix Mini Marquee
4) Install Power Switch
1) The monitor is old… really old. And despite looking pretty good there is an issue. On the top 1/5 of the screen there are some faint lines and a bit of distortion. On some games you really don’t notice it at all but on other it’s more apparent.
I’ve opened up the cabinet and found many different dials and magnets to adjust the picture quality and none of them seem to help with this issue. So I think (even though I really have no idea) that the capacitors on the monitor need to be replaced. This involves buying what’s called a cap kit for my specific monitor and de-soldering the old capacitors and soldering on the new ones from the cap kit. Since I’m very inexperienced with soldering I think I’m going to hire someone to do this for me.
You also have to be very careful about discharging a CRT monitor before working on it. And I mean seriously careful. Discharging a CRT monitor incorrectly could give you an electrical shock strong enough to kill you. Seriously.
2) This next issue is also going to be tough but I am going to attempt it myself. Any game cartridge that is inserted in slot 2 will show vertical lines through all the character sprites on screen. My guess is that there is a capacitor (or a few) that need to be replaced or possibly one (or several) traces that are damaged. On Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) the traces are the thin copper lines that travel from on location on the board to another connecting the different components. They are pathways.
I may not be able to do this myself but I am going to try.
3) The Marquee at the top of the cabinet contains four mini-marquees to show the player what games are installed. When you press the Game Select button the Marquee will light up the mini-marquee poster that corresponds to the selected game.
Currently mine will not light up at all. I don’t know yet what’s involved. It’s not an essential feature but it’s a cool one that I would like to get working again.
4) Arcade cabinets were originally meant to be left on almost all the time. Turning them off was often done by just pulling the power plug. Since mine is very hard to get behind because of how I’ve positioned into a corner of my retro game room I’m currently using a power bar that’s long enough to sit right beside the cabinet. With my big toe I can flip the system on or off. It works perfectly but someday I’d like to install something a bit more polished.
The reason why the Neo Geo MVS has become my first Arcade Cabinet is because of the multiple slots for games. Almost all Arcade cabinets required changing out the mother board in order to change the game in the cabinet. But the Neo Geo MVS used the familiar cartridge; albeit very large! The game cartridges are plentiful and for the most part affordable (with the exception of ebay).
This single giant box does take up a lot of room but it’s very easy to swap out the games. Allowing me to continue to collect for the Neo Geo MVS and enjoy the purest of Arcade experiences for each and every SNK Neo Geo MVS games I purchase. And it looks really awesome 🙂
Retro Megabit 
Excellent buy, E! That price point isn’t bad at all and yeah, you get to track down those actual boards and pretty much make the collection you want. A MAME box is a good idea for sure, but I do love original hardware like this. Looking forward to seeing what other games you pick for your new addition. What’s on that want list, by the way?
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I actually started buying MVS carts even before I bought this Neo Geo MVS. When I decided I really did want one I went at the hunt pretty hard. Before I had any games my wish list looked something like like this:
Blazing Star*
Bust-a-Move*
Crossed Swords*
Magician Lord
Metal Slug (1*,2*,3*,4*,5)
Mutation Nation
Last Resort*
Prehistoric Isle 2*
Samurai Shodown (1*,2*,3*,4*,5*)
Sengoku (1,2,3)
Shock Troopers (1*,2)
Spin Masters
Top Hunters*
So far I have already gotten everything above that has a * next to it.
My new wish-list will include the non stared game above plus:
Burning Fight
Bust-a-Move Again
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Rage of the Dragons
Robo Army
Twinkle Star Sprites
Really, I’m going to want just about anything but the above would be some that I think are cool games. I just have to wait for the game to come up and be reasonable priced.
geelw, what’s your experience with Neo Geo? Where you into it back in the day? Played any ports on more modern systems like the PS2?
Personally I never played when it was new. I only ever watched people play some of the earlier games. The system was so unattainable that I had to pretend it didn’t exist! 😛
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That is freaking amazing!! I want one too!!! But it’s almost impossible to find over here 😦 and I wouldn’t have the slightest idea on how to fix issues arising with the tech hahaha ^_^
MVS games on the AES? I don’t remember. Anyway, doesn’t really matter cause you have the AES as well right?
It looks beautiful though! I’m so happy for you ^_^
I was recently at a friends house who had a smaller arcade cabinet for NEO GEO games (it was called candy or something, small and cute) and you could change between several cartridges in that one too. He mentioned something about being able to play the AES games on an MVS with a sort of cartridge converter, or perhaps it was the other way around
He had a really cool game though, which was like an overhead vertical puzzle shooter with really cute characters ^^ Maybe you know the name? It’s awesome anyway, get it ;D
BTW! don’t forget to check out the game I paid almost as much for as you did for your cabinet ;D it’s been out on my blog for a few days now! ;D
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First, off… thanks for the reminder to check out your Virtual Boy Space Invaders! Done! 🙂
Second, that awesome looking overhead puzzle shooter is called Twinkle Star Sprites. And yes, I really do want it…. I want to soooo bad 😛
Thanks! I’m glad you like the look of Big Red. It really is very cool.
Yeah, the smaller Neo Geo cabinets are called Candy Cabs. I believe they are very popular but hard to get. Unless you live in the US. They are really nice because you can sit down to play them.
I feel like I got really lucky with my Neo Geo MVS. It’s in good shape and it was just 20 minutes north of me! I know fate when it comes knock’in 😛
I far as I know there is no adapter for putting AES carts into an MVS. But there are several adapters for allowing you to use MVS carts in an AES…. but the good converts go for about $250.
Personally I don’t think it’s worth collecting for both MVS and AES. Unless you have lots and lots of money. The games are literally identical. Pick one that you think works best for you and stick with it.
Keep in mind that the MVS games are usually much cheaper and easier to find.
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650 is an awesome price! did you just stumble across it or is there a specific site that’s getting rid of them?????
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Well, in 2014 prices were much better than now in 2019. But even then it felt pretty good considering it came with four games. I found it on my local Kijiji classifieds. I was looking at the time.
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Would love to find a machine as nice as this.
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There are lot of there out there. They are not rare. Check out Arcade forums and I know in not too long you’ll find a few.
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The one thing I always hated about Neo Geo arcades was that dumb timer. When I was in my teens I remember seeing a golf game on a Neo Geo arcade in the local mall. So I put in the credits it was asking for and then a literal 1:00 timer appeared by the controls, and counted down.
Once the timer ended that was it. I had absolutely zero plans to waste more money, I barely even got to play the thing!!
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10 years later…
I just picked up a big red survivor cab yesterday for $1,000 with 7 common carts and THAT PRICE WAS A STEAL IN 2024!
Mine looks and plays great. Side vinyl is original and complete. The logos have nice patina. There are a few tiny touch up spots here and there, the black on the back was repainted and the mini marquees need replaced. I’m also planning on replacing the memory card decal on the front.
Yes, Neo Geo cabs are still considered “common”, however most of them are KITS (other cabs that have been chopped up and converted into Neo Geos). They’re great to play or put on site but aren’t really worth much to collectors.
DEDICATED cabinets are getting VERY collectible. There were two models of the 4 slot: the smaller one that matched the others and this one: the “BIG RED”, which is the most collectable in the US because — just look at it!
About the only one that would top it would be the 6 slot, but we didn’t get those in the US or Japan, so good luck finding one of those for sale.
As these things are getting in the 35 year old range, they’re getting harder to find in good condition. MANY NEVER WENT OUT OF SERVICE! There’s actually a laundromat near me with a beaten to death, dedicated one hanging on for deal life that’s still rockin’. If only it could talk!
And get this, there’s been quite a resurgence of NEW GAMES being released on MVS carts and THEY LOOK BETTER THAN EVER ON THESE OLD CABS!
Check out: Xeno Crisis, Vengeance Hunters, Gladmort, Neotris, Final Vendetta, Daemon Claw, Shadow Gangs Zero, Captain Barrel and too many others to list. ALL released (or plan to be) released on physical MVS carts!
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You got a really great price. Feel good about that.
I’ve heard that the 6-slot cabs are more prone to problems but I don’t know firsthand. I can say that I also love the look of the 4-slot Big Red. It’s perfect.
Of all my retro video games the Neo Geo is the one that gets played the most by friends and family when they are over for a visit.
I do have Xeno Crisis for the Neo Geo (and the Genesis) and I have Final Vendetta on order.
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