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TGS07: Hori joysticks rejoice as SNK announces King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown collections
It would appear that the Wii won't be getting the 16-title Neo Geo collection as reported, but rather two other Neo Geo compilations that should be plenty satisfying for people who love fighting games (which, we believe, is all Neo Geo fans).SNK Playmore USA announced The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga and Samurai Shodown Anthology for the Wii. The Orochi saga in King of Fighters spans King of Fighters games (Kings of Fighters?) '95, '96, and '97, and the Samurai Shodown Anthology hopefully contains all of 'em, including the Samurai Shodown RPG for Neo Geo CD and Samurai Shodown 64 for the Hyper Neo Geo 64 arcade system. It probably won't, but then, things rarely live up to our desired level of awesome. Speaking of our desired level of awesome, these had better support the Classic Controller, and, therefore, the Hori stick.The press release also reveals that, rather than Art of Fighting, the third Neo Geo game announced for the American Virtual Console is Magician Lord, which is in keeping with the Japanese lineup.
TGS07: Neo Geo VC games already obsolete
This announcement from SNK comes in a close second to the Family Trainer in the Weird Wii Game Timing awards. Not even a whole week after the first Neo Geo game was made available on the Virtual Console, SNK is announcing a compilation disc of 16 Neo Geo games for the Wii. 4 Color Rebellion's Vinnk got the news firsthand from SNK, and what you're seeing above is genuine, unfiltered "fanboy glee" from the news. To be honest, we'd be a lot happier to buy a regular compilation disc than to pay $9 per game. We imagine a lot of other people will be as well. It raises a lot of questions, beyond the obvious "what games will be included?" Specifically, why SNK planned downloadable games on the Wii if they're going to sell them on discs as well. Is this for people without Internet access, maybe? Will it focus on game series that SNK wants to bundle together? Does SNK's home games division just not talk to the downloadable content people?
More Japanese VC updates: Fatal Fury, Thursday bonuses
Fatal Fury was released on the Japanese Virtual Console yesterday-- the release wasn't shown at the time we were writing the VC Tuesday update, so we missed it. We thought we'd give it a mention because it's the first Neo Geo game on the Virtual Console! In addition to stuff that already came out that we didn't get to write about, Japan gets some bonus VC material tomorrow of the highest caliber. Super Metroid and Sin and Punishment are being released tomorrow, both of which should make up nicely for Super Thunder Blade.Say, now that PAL regions have their Hanabi Festival and Japan has surprise Thursday games, you know what would be great? Some VC bonus stuff in America.[Thanks for pointing out Fatal Fury, Almadi!]
First crop of Neo Geo games for Virtual Console announced
Though Japanese Wii owners have been salivating over the Neo Geo titles they can or will soon be able to download through the Virtual Console, U.S. owners have not been so lucky. Sure, we knew that they were coming, we just didn't know which ones to expect. That was rectified yesterday by SNK, which announced that Fatal Fury, World Heroes and Art of Fighting would be coming to the US VC for 900 points a pop. More titles, SNK says, will follow up in the coming months.What we still don't know is exactly what date those months will be coming after. The first Neo Geo game hit Japan on Tuesday, but we have no clue when they'll be arriving here. Our psychic powers tell us it will be a Monday, but things get hazy after that.
First American Neo Geo VC releases: fighters only
SNK Playmore USA sent out a press release informing us that three Neo Geo games will be available on the U.S. Virtual Console at some unspecified future date. Two of the three, Fatal Fury and World Heroes, are also slated to be among the first three Japanese Neo Geo titles on the Virtual Console. The third game, however, is not Magician Lord as it is in Japan, but Art of Fighting.Of course, most SNK fans are fighting game fans, so it does make some sense to swap out the side-scrolling action game for another of the Neo's classic fighters; however, we kind of enjoy variety. We are also a little disappointed that two of the available games can be found on inexpensive anthology discs on another system (we're also disappointed that VC Art of Fighting pretty much kills the possibility of a Wii release of its Anthology). Why not something like Waku Waku 7, that isn't currently available on a collection disc? Or how about a non-fighting game?Don't mistake our lack of enthusiasm for these particular games for lack of appreciation of Neo Geo VC games. We will totally be dropping multiples of 900 Wii Points for Neo Geo games, and doing so with big smiles. Just not these three games.
Neo Geo launch on the VC delayed in Japan
If you like to follow Japan's Virtual Console releases, you may have noticed a severe lack of Fatal Fury in that list of games. As today was supposed to be the day the Wii's Virtual Console was to receive Neo Geo titles in Japan, many are wondering just what the deal is. And, with the complete lack of news from Nintendo or SNK regarding the matter, many are wondering if the launch of a new system will even be going down this week at all.Any of our Japanese readers finding this news particularly upsetting?
First Neo Geo titles confirmed for Wii VC, Sept in Japan
Meet Elta, the last of the magician lords. He's eager to get back to defusing the Gul-Agieze's doomsday plot, and, thanks to the teeny-tiny Neo Geo system stowed inside Nintendo's Wii, he can. Yes, the dormant powers of the most garish console of its time will be unlocked at last: Neo Geo emulated on Virtual Console! (We knew it was coming; now it's just a little closer...)Nintendo has confirmed three Neo Geo titles for the Japanese VC, including the aforementioned Magician Lord (the console's original pack-in game), alleged "Street Fighter ripoff" World Heroes, and ever-rereleased Fatal Fury. (Both Fatal Fury and World Heroes are also available in separate PS2 anthologies this year.) Fatal Fury will launch first, on September 11th, followed by the magi and heroes later in the month. Each port will cost 900 Wii Points ($9).Specific Neo Geo titles targeted for the North American and European VCs have yet to be revealed. [Via Wii Fanboy]
Neo Geo games finally coming to the Virtual Console (in Japan)
This is something we've been looking forward to for a long time. World Heroes, Magician Lord, and Fatal Fury will be released at some time in September, at a cost of 900 Wii Points each. Well, we haven't been so much looking forward to World Heroes, and the Fatal Fury collection just came out on PS2 for $15. But, as usual, we're looking to the future! We're thinking about the time when we're able to download Mark of the Wolves and play it with our Hori Fighting Stick. We're also looking forward to whatever comes out that we haven't played.September's not going to be all Neo Geo games. Check out what's on the way to the Japanese download service after the break. You'll be really jealous.
Hard drive rumors are back
We know that we'd like a hard drive on the Wii-- and while we're dreaming, we'd like it to be free and preloaded with Sega CD games-- but we don't have any real evidence that one's coming. We first heard some unfounded speculation about it back in March, from a Japanese magazine.Now the rumor is back, with just as much to back it up (nothing). IGN editors speculated in a podcast that Nintendo might show one at E3, and CVG saw the fact that Neo Geo games are big as evidence. Then, of course, everyone picked up on the rumors-- including us, right now. Not to say that there's no chance of a hard drive in the future, but we'd like to remind everyone that SD cards exist and are cheap.
SNK bringing Art of Fighting Anthology to Wii?
Our network of crow spies have reported to us that the mountain pass is blocked, enemy troops are amassing at our eastern border, and Art of Fighting Anthology for the Wii has been spotted on the ESRB's list of future releases. Eager to learn more about any possible wartime advantages, we've consigned a scout to gather more information on SNK's 2D fighter.The Art of Fighting Anthology collects the entire Neo Geo trilogy of releases (Art of Fighting, Art of Fighting 2, and The Path of the Warrior: Art of Fighting 3). 33-characters strong, the anthology will feature series hallmarks like spirit gauges, desperation attacks, and a graphical-scaling camera system. It hasn't been revealed yet how the Wii's unique controls will be used, but we hope it won't turn out to be a debacle like Metal Slug Anthology's implementation.With hints of a Wii port accompanying Art of Fighting Anthology's PS2 and PSP releases, could this also mean that SNK's Fatal Fury: Battle Archives Volume 1 might have a version for our fair console too? And how long will it be until we see some Neo Geo games like Garou: Mark of the Wolves and Neo Turf Masters on Nintendo's Shopping Channel? Jump past the post break for a showcase of super moves from Art of Fighting 2. [Via Siliconera]
Neo Geo games to hit Virtual Console worldwide
In an interview with IGN, SNK Playmore USA President Ben Herman revealed that Neo Geo games would be available for the Wii Virtual Console in all regions sometime this summer. The games, some of which originally retailed for over $200, will be priced for download "just a little above the Super NES point" of $8 per game, Herman said. What a difference 17 years makes ...Herman didn't reveal exactly which games would be initially available, but hinted that they were "looking for games that haven't been available" through anthologies or remakes. Herman also hinted at plans to make classic SNK content available for Xbox Live and Sony's upcoming PlayStation Home service. Add in the Neo Geo games currently available on GameTap and these once hard-to-find games will soon be available around every corner.[Update: Fixed error regarding Metal Slug and King of Fighters being some of the first considered games. Thanks Cain Highwind.]Previously: Neo-Geo & MSX to join Wii VC (in Japan)[Thanks hvnlysoldr]
No 'online capabilities' for 3rd party Wii games in 2007, says SNK boss
SNK Playmore USA President Ben Herman believes that third-party Wii publishers are gonna have to wait longer than expected for an invite to Nintendo's online network. "Nintendo is still not letting Wii third-party publishers include online capabilities in their games and it doesn't look like they will during 2007," Herman told Spong.Six of the seven (Blazing Angels is out, Metroid Prime 3 still up in the air) announced Wii titles that are expected to support online multiplayer are first-party projects, suggesting that Herman's speculation might not be far from the truth; 2K's The BIGS is the only third-party title said to feature online multiplayer that should hit retail before the year is up. If BIGS is online, how did 2K manage to gain access to Nintendo's network -- and why are other publishers apparently being denied?But if BIGS is benched? Well, then it's possible Wii owners won't play a third-party online multiplayer match until 2008. That might be easier to swallow if most of us weren't still waiting for our first 'first-party' online experience.[Note: while third-party publishers and developers have yet to feature online multiplayer modes in their Wii titles, Nintendo has permitted some basic usages of the WiiConnect24 service (e.g., Elebits' level trading).][Via Wii Fanboy]
SNK president talks about Neo-Geo and online games [Update 1]
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Nintendo_not_letting_publishers_add_online_functionality_to_games'; Ben Herman, who runs SNK Playmore USA, is almost as excited about Neo-Geo games on the Virtual Console as we are. In a recent interview, he discussed SNK's VC plans and Nintendo's operation of the system in general.According to Herman, who, of course, can't give details, SNK expects to release "a certain limited number of titles per month," which is enough to have us cheering, because that's a lot more than the N64 is getting. It's also a much brisker release schedule than the Neo-Geo ever had. The best news, in our opinion? Herman is interested in the Virtual Console as a means of releasing lesser-known and niche games. SNK isn't sure yet whether the Neo-Geo games on the VC will be the AES home versions or the MVS arcade cartridges. We had no idea there was a difference! Of course, there has to be bad news, and it's kind of big: Herman says that Nintendo is not letting publishers add online functionality to games, VC or retail, and probably will continue this restriction throughout 2007.Herman goes on to talk about Nintendo's console library, saying that Nintendo has all of the code for third-party NES and SNES games and needs only permission to release them. Which means Konami officially has no excuse for the fact that we haven't played Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse on the Wii yet. Konami, you're on notice![Update: added the sad, sad news about online games.]
Neo-Geo & MSX to join Wii VC (in Japan)
Neo-Geo and MSX are dusting off their parts and going for some of that virtual pape', joining the swarm of out-of-retirement consoles on Wii; the two will debut this spring in Japan (and likely worldwide shortly thereafter). Nintendo has already confirmed Eggy (Eggerland?) and Aleste (both 800 Wii Points) for MSX, but has yet to list any Neo-Geo titles. Additionally, more third parties want in on the Virtual Console enterprise, including G-Mode, Pony Canyon, Spike and (obviously) SNK.Both new VC formats have the to potential to bring notable franchises to the download service, including Neo-Geo's Fatal Fury, Metal Slug, King Of Fighters, and Samurai Showdown; and MSX's Bomberman, Castlevania, Contra, Dragon Quest, Elite, Final Fantasy, Gradius, Metal Gear, Puyo Puyo, and Wizardry.[Via CVG]
Console evolution in pictures
By Knuttz's count, it's taken 70 steps, including many retreads, to get from Odyssey to Wii. You can view each of these steps -- all 71 consoles -- in this scrolling gallery. (Note: handhelds have been omitted.)
Download all those badass Neo Geo arcade classics!
This has been confirmed for the PS3, but, sorry 360 fans... no word from your overlord Microsoft yet. The Sony overlords were kind in realizing these games consist of one of the manifestations of virtual awesome -- there are five such fabled manifestations in the world, of which the Neo Geo games combine to form one. Can you discover them all, mighty warriors/amazons? Enough overly dramatic fantasy narrative and on to the news!What will the games be? When will we be able to download them onto our PS3's? These have not yet been determined. What do you think? King of Fighters is pretty much a given (the 2-D versions, not the subpar 3-D ones of late). So will Metal Slug and those games. Was Samurai Showdown a Neo Geo title? I remember playing that with some others on a single arcade machine in Fuddruckers a long, long time ago. Maybe I'm confused, but I'd like to play that game again. What do you guys think?
Today's hottest game video: Neo-Geo Emulator on the PSP gone wifi
Well, technically it's the second hottest game video, because the top spot is still occupied by the New Wii Promo trailer from yesterday, with a gargantuan 58,059 views. So we move on to the second spot which only has a paltry 7,824 views. Although it does show some pretty awesome Neo-Geo emulation happening with wifi on some tricked out PlayStation Portables. Sit patiently through the first half of the video which is extremely blurry shots of the two handhelds booting up into emulation mode (someone tell this guy where the macro focus button is). Once you make it through that, you'll be rewarded with some two-player Metal Slug action, happening through the PSP's wifi connection, and has all the graphics and sound effects you've come to love.Nice job! Now make it work on the Nintendo DS. The Game Boy Advance had a version, but no two player mode. Although by the time this emulated version might work on the DS, the Nintendo Wii and Xbox Live Arcade versions may already be out. But still, we want some wireless two player Metal Slug hotness while we're on the go on both our PSP and our DS. Come on, we're not too demanding, are we?
