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| Manufacturer | SNK |
|---|---|
| Product family | Neo Geo |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Fifth |
| Released | 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 KBRAM for 900/H 4 KB RAM for Z80 64 KBROM |
| Display | 2.7", 160×152 resolution, 146 colors on screen out of a palette of 4,096 |
| Sound | T6W28 (enhancedSN76489), 6-bitDACs |
TheNeo Geo Pocket[a] is a series ofhandheld game consoles developed and manufactured by Japanese video game companySNK between 1998 and 2001. The first model, the monochrome Neo Geo Pocket, was released in Japan in October 1998, marking SNK's entry into the handheld gaming market and competing withNintendo's long-runningGame Boy line. It was quickly superseded by the more mass-producedNeo Geo Pocket Color[b] in 1999, a more widely produced model featuring a color display and fullbackward compatibility with the games for the original model.
The Neo Geo Pocket Color launched in Japan in March 1999, followed by releases in North America in August and parts of Europe in October. It received generally positive reviews for its microswitchedjoystick and a library of games featuring SNK franchises such asThe King of Fighters,Samurai Shodown, andSNK vs. Capcom. A smaller and lighter revision, theNew Neo Geo Pocket Color, was released exclusively in Japan in October 1999, offering improved ergonomics and minor technical refinements.
Despite its positive reception, the Neo Geo Pocket line struggled commercially due to limited third-party support, low retail visibility, and strong competition from theGame Boy Color andWonderSwan. Following SNK’s acquisition byAruze and the company’s bankruptcy in October 2001, the Neo Geo Pocket series was discontinued, marking the end of SNK's involvement in hardware manufacturing.
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SNK, known for its successfulNeo 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 byNintendo and itsGame 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, includingBaseball Stars, a port of the 1989 game, andKing 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 theGood Design Award in 1998 from theJapan Institute of Design Promotion.[7] The system experienced limited commercial success, leading SNK to discontinue it in favor of a color model.[8]
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, includingPuzzle Link andSamurai Shodown! 2.[1] The Neo Geo Pocket Color was designed to compete with Nintendo'sGame Boy Color and Bandai'sWonderSwan.[9][8]
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 retailereToys.com. It launched with six titles and carried a price ofUS$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 asWal-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 onMTV,Comedy Central,Cartoon Network andNickelodeon.[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 andGame Boy Color, but enough to turn a profit for SNK USA.[10]
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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 ¥7,523 in 2024).[11] This model was 13% smaller than the original and featured improved sound output.[12]
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'sPokémon franchise,[15] and strong competition fromBandai'sWonderSwan in Japan.[10]
Meanwhile, SNK had been in financial trouble for at least a year, and in January 2000, the company was acquired bypachinko manufacturerAruze.[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.
The Neo Geo Pocket is a horizontally oriented handheld console, similar in form factor to the Sega'sGame 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 twoaction buttons, along with "Power" and "Option" buttons. A notable feature is the microswitched thumb pad, which offersjoystick-style eight-directional input and was generally regarded as more precise than conventionald-pads.[19]
The original Neo Geo Pocket featured a monochromeliquid-crystal display capable of displaying eight shades of grey. It offered approximately 20 hours of battery life using twoAA batteries, with aCR2032 battery used to retain saved data and maintain the internalreal-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 stereoheadphone 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 basicPDA-style utilities such as a clock, calendar, and ahoroscope 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 theDreamcast, as part of a partnership between SNK andSega.[3] Supported Neo Geo Pocket Color games includeKing of Fighters R-2 (which links withThe King of Fighters: Dream Match 1999 andThe King of Fighters' 99: Evolution),SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium (links withCapcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000),SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash (links withThe King of Fighters' 99: Evolution),SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters 2 Expand Edition (links withCapcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000), andCool Cool Jam (links withCool Cool Toon).[citation needed]
At the September 1999Tokyo Game Show, SNK unveiled a wireless adapter for Neo Geo Pocket Color units, designed to enable wireless communication between systems.[20]
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| Model | Neo Geo Pocket | Neo Geo Pocket Color | New Neo Geo Pocket Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPUs | Toshiba TLCS-900/H core (16/32-bit CISC based onZ80) @ 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 monochromeliquid-crystal display (LCD) | 2.6-inch reflectivethin-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 | 2 for sprites, 2 per scrolling plane | 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 (enhancedSN76489 with 3 square-wave tone generators + 1 noise generator, stereo capability), dual 6-bitdigital-to-analog converters. Sound system controlled by aZ80 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 |
Only nine games were released for the original monochrome Neo Geo Pocket, all of which arebackward compatible using 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 asFatal Fury,Metal Slug andThe King of Fighters.[19]
Some major third-party developers contributed to the library, includingSega withSonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, a title based onSonic 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, includingSNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium and theSNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters series.Namco published a version ofPac-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]
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 ofNeo 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 inblister packs to clear remaining inventory, sometimes including previously unreleased titles such asFaselei!.[21]
Several Neo Geo Pocket Color games were re-released viaemulation on theNintendo Switch, beginning withSamurai Shodown! 2 as apre-order incentive for the 2019Samurai Shodown reboot.[26] These re-releases were later compiled intoNeo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 (2021) andVol. 2 (2022), which were also released forWindows.[27][28]
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 ofUSGamer called it an influential handheld, describing it as a "technological bridge" between the 8-bit portable era and theGame 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 likeSNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash,Sonic Pocket Adventure,Magical Drop, andPac-Man. Parish attributed its commercial failure to SNK's limited retail presence and the acquisition byAruze 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 ofDen 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 ofNintendo 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]