Finally tracked down a copy of Neo Mr. Do! after an exhausting 5 minutes of looking (thanks, Yahoo! Auctions!) and so I'll be needing a converter for my AVS to play it. I know there are several options... which is the recommended way to go? Or is it better to just get an MVS set up? I have to think the converter would be the most cost effective... Next on the list... Neo Bomber Man...
A Super MVS Converter 2 is probably the easiest way to go if you're only picking up the odd MVS title and the number of carts that have slight graphical glitches here and there are negligible. However, a nicely consolized MVS with an upgraded uniBIOS is by far and away the best option. Another thing to bear in mind is that some MVS carts won't work on certain AES consoles unless the unit has a certain voltage going through it, Metal Slug X is one such cart that I had that worked with one AES PSU but not another.
Around 50 bucks for a one slot. Plus another 80 or so for parts to consolize it (the video converter is the priciest part). Still cheaper than the cheapest MVS converter.
I always thought that Neo Mr Do was a horrible game compared to the original or Mr Do's Castle. Rather then spend money on a convertor why not just get a cheap Supergun card device, a MVS system, a Sony TV with a Game port on it (RGB goodness), a Sony TV to SCART lead, this will probably be cheaper then a convertor and give you more bang for your buck...
Another issue with converters (especially the earlier !Arcade! ones) is additional wear to the home system cart slot / connectors. As others have said, consolised MVS, or a Supergun / MVS board set up is the way to go. Well of course a cab is best lol, but not overly cheap or space conscious! (You could always buy MVS to homecart conversions too, but imo they are evil for any title that saw an official MVS release. Why ruin two official products to create one bastardaization? (Or you get those cheap sods, thieves really, that don't use offical MVS and just burn their own roms, scumbags!) Unreleased games in homecart conversion format I can live with!)
Does anyone know if the MVS Multicarts which have been surfacing over the last few years work on an AES via one of these converters?
Some do, some don't. Power requirements for Multi Carts tend to be higher I imagine. MVS is the way to go. Doesn't look as pretty though.
It depends on the kind. For that much it better be a full SuperGun, meaning features like Component Video output, 2 arcade sticks (or one full 2 player control panel), etc. If you show pictures or links or name what it is we can comment on if we think it is a good deal. If you just want to play NeoGeo, all you need is a very basic SuperGun.
Here's the Yahoo! Auction I found: http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h155299152 I'm very aware that this is probably NOT a good deal, because the ones that start out high usually aren't.
Your best option if you live in Japan is to get an old RGB compatible CRT TV (they still have those in Japan, supposedly) and either make your own supergun or get something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Arcade-supergun...s_VideoGameAccessories_JN&hash=item3a690f9a49 I think that one requires you to solder controller leads, but they make one that just uses Mega Drive controllers. It also requires a speaker (any kind of standard home stereo speaker will work) and a power supply (get a cheap PC PSU). You'll also need a SCART to Japanese 21-pin RGB adapter. I suspect that they might have something similar to this in Japan. This solution is super cheap and will give you a really great image. RGB is ideal for arcade systems because that's what they natively output. Anyway, this is what I've done and it works pretty well for me (although I have only 1 MVS game). I also have a Sega ST-V.
Get a original one slot, 2 slot, 4 slot or 6 slot and just plug Neo Geo joysticks into the MVS board. The Vogatek is not the greatest supergun in the world but it's good for Neo Geo boards, by soldering two wires you can get nice stereo sound from the TV (as long as you aren't a monkey with the IQ of 2 then it is perfectly safe). RGB TVs are not common in Japan, although a number of Sony WEGA TVs do have a AV Multi port on them, which is indeed wired up the same way as a Playstation AV Multi port and does support RGB, these can be picked up for cheap too
This combined with a NeoGeo PCB with controller ports is all you really need, if you can use SCART RGB video. This really keeps cost down if you don't need to convert to NTSC, plus it looks great. Even if you don't have a NeoGeo board with built in ports those screw terminals would be easy to connect a 15pin dsub connector. The SuperGun you linked I have seen before and it should be good if it's in good condition but you may be paying alot of money for something you don't need if NeoGeo is the goal. If you get a MV-1 board which tend to be the cheapest, it'll have the ports already. If you can use RGB video, all you'll need to do is wire up the connection from a JAMMA connector which you can buy really cheap, as well as power from a standard PC power supply. So you're talking about soldering a few ground wires, +5v, +12v, and then the R, G, B, CSync, and Ground. If you need conversion to NTSC video you'll have to buy a JROK or NeoBitz encoder or build your own. You could just wire that to the JAMMA connector. The hardest part is making it look nice. Unlike the AES that is a console, you have to provide your own housing for the arcade hardware. But in the long run, and even the short run really, it's alot cheaper than AES. The MVS boards used to be cheaper so they aren't hugely cheaper than AES systems anymore but still probably a bit cheaper.
Anyone know about these cute little guys? http://cgi.ebay.com/JAMMA-Arcade-Su...ultDomain_0&hash=item20bbe85a52#ht_500wt_1413 If you go for the supergun route, an MVS 1C is a good pick as it is vertically loading instead of horizontal. Doesn't have joystick ports or any of that fun business, though.
If I had a MV-1C I'd consolize it. I have the big old MV-1. It's in a huge box that is actually a SuperGun, but it takes up alot of room. It would be nice to have a more compact MVS system around. But I don't wanna pay insane prices for one of the spiffy custom consolized systems particularly when they all tend to lack SCART RGB output and focus on standard TV shitty outputs.
