A little bit taller, a little bit wider, a little bit deeper, but a lot more fun! Neo Geo has re-engineered their Neo Geo Pocket into the new Neo Geo Pocket Color. Why? Well, it seems silly in this day and age to release a black and white gaming system and I suppose Neo Geo felt the same way and has released a color version of their 16-bit portable arcade system.
Why release a black and white system and then a few months later release a color system? That's something I was asking, and the only conclusion I can come up with is "who knows what marketing people think?" Regardless, the B&W system truly impressed me, and the color system definately was a a pleasant suprise. Since the color system is 100% compatible with the older B&W games, I don't see any valid reason to continue to produce the B&W system unless some folks just don't want to spend the extra money. Either way, provided that there is a lot of third-party support, this can prove to be one heck of a serious player in the portable gaming marketplace.
Like the Game Boy Color, the Contrast switch is gone. Unlike the Game Boy Color, the Neo Geo Pocket Color screen is much brighter than the Game Boy Color and can display more colors than the Game Boy Color at once. Similar to the Game Boy Color, the Neo Geo Pocket Color can play all of the older black and white Neo Geo Pocket titles. In my limited experience and limited selection of titles, it appears that the B&W Neo Geo Pocket can play my current selection of titles for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, but in B&W, of course. Perhaps this is similar to dual-mode games for the Game Boy that have special code for the Game Boy Color but also work on the older Game Boy units. Perhaps in the future there will be titles that will only work on the color system. Only time can tell what will happen in that situation.
The Neo Geo Pocket Color is deeper than the Neo Geo Pocket. This has been done to accomodate the larger pair of AA batteries that power the Neo Geo Pocket Color. As you may recall, the original Neo Geo Pocket runs on a pair of AAA batteries. Both systems use the CR-2032 memory back-up battery which is used for the system clock, lanuage, time and date and alarm preferences. The system is also a little wider and a little taller, most likely to accomodate the new screen. What I find interesting and amusing is the front of the screen itself: While the picture doesn't show this very well, the top part of the screen reads:
Neo Geo Pocket Color /Color HIgh Reflective TFT Liquid Crystal Display
Display 2.6 Inches type / Pixel Format 160X152 / Pixel Pitch 0.3 0.3mm
Name one other system that flat out gives you that kind of information?
I must say I do enjoy the new color system more than the B&W system. There are two reasons why I enjoy the new system. The first reason is that it is not as difficult to maintain a good viewing position in comparison with the B&W system. The second reason is more obvious: color.
In closing, I'd say this system has two things going against it: One problem is the fact that this is an import system so it's rather expensive. In time, the prices will drop. The other problem is because this is a new system, there is a lack of titles available right now. Again, in time, this should change provided SNK gets some third-party support behind this system. Regardless, this is a truly incredible system when you consider the CPU power and the small size. From a collectors' point of view, this is a definate must have. Once the games start coming in, then this is a good system for even the normal gamers. SNK has a good thing going on here, let's hope that other game makers jump on this platform and produce some quality titles.
