But that's exactly what happened to reader Steven this past week, a casual conversation with some friends at a local GameStop leading to a search of the nationwide retailers database for, of all things, a Neo Geo Pocket Color. Turns out it pays to search for obscure consoles, because instead of being told there were "0" in stock, as you'd expect, the search actually discovered there was "1" in stock (pre-owned, of course). And not just "1", but five games to boot.

So orders were placed, and whaddya know, the system wasn't lying; Steven swung by the GameStop on Saturday to pick up his order, which consisted not only of a working Neo Geo Pocket Color, but Pac-Man, Fatal Fury: First Contact, Samurai Shodown 2, Metal Slug: 1st Mission, and Neo Turf Masters.

All for $48. Nice work, Steven.

Old Crazy Topless Man Shows Off His Neo-Geo Collection [Destructoid]

In the above clip, Lucho shows the fruits of his labor.

*applause*

Elotrolado via YouTube via Hack A Day via Gizmodo]

• Metal Slug
• Magician Lord
• King of Fighters '94
• King of the Monsters
• Samurai Shodown
• Art of Fighting
• World Heroes
• Fatal Fury
• Last Resort
• Top Hunter
• Sengoku
• Burning Fight
• Shock Troopers
• Super Sidekicks 3
• Neo Turf Masters
• Baseball Stars 2

For fans of SNK titles this is quite a gem of a collection and seeing as it's a volume one it stands to reason there will be a volume two. One wonders what treasures will they dig up for that one.

And it might just have the best name ever: World Heroes Gorgeous! The emphasis is mine.

Seriously, does it get any better than "gorgeous"? No, I don't think it does. Please take a few minutes to enjoy the ultimate fighting game name and mourn the loss of "turbo" and "hyper." They were good to us.

WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Oct. 8, 2007

This week, Nintendo adds another delicious category to its smorgasbord of classic titles. NEOGEO games will now be appearing in the Wii Shop Channel for download. NEOGEO becomes the sixth platform represented in the Wii Shop Channel, and it adds additional depth and breadth to the best selection of classic games available.

Hard-core gamers will especially appreciate the vibrant, arcade-quality graphics and the ability to finally play games they might have missed during the NEOGEO heyday. The first NEOGEO offering includes three fighting games that are a mix of familiar franchises and cult classics. Dive in and check out the deep game play, diverse characters and special moves and combos.

The three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii� owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points� to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

FATAL FURY (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen - Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1991 and one of the longest-running series in the fighting-game genre, this title introduced players to Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard and Joe Higashi. Select one of the three and visit many locations as your chosen fighter engages in numerous street fights around the fictional city of South Town. If you're good enough, you'll eventually take on Billy Kane and then his boss, the notorious crime lord Geese Howard. Use each fighter's own finishing maneuver and battle in two different planes on the screen, one in the foreground and the other farther away in the background. The game also features a two-player mode that is well known for its unique setup, which allows fighters to both fight and help each other. Do you have what it takes to win the King of Fighters tournament?

WORLD HEROES (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen - Animated Blood, Violence, 900 Wii Points): A fighting game released in 1992 featuring eight characters, including Hanzo, Janne and Rasputin, modeled on historical figures from throughout the ages. The fighters compete against each other to become the world's toughest combatant, with players using a setup consisting of only three buttons (one each for punching, kicking and throwing). Adding to this unique system is the fact that the strength of your offensive blow depends on how long the button is pressed and held. Along with regular match styles, Death Match mode is also available and features mines, electrified ropes and other dangerous objects in the battle arena that can change conditions during the fight or damage players. Enjoy the wide range of combat forms as you take on history's best!

ART OF FIGHTING (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen - Animated Blood, Violence, 900 Wii Points): This fighting game, released in 1992, began the story of the Sakazaki family and Robert Garcia, further developed in two later sequels. Yuri Sakazaki has been abducted by Mr. Big to punish her father, Takuma, and her brother, Ryo. To rescue her, Ryo and Robert must take on numerous enemies around South Town, eventually reaching the mysterious Mr. Karate. The passion of the game's creators is evident in the unique game-play elements introduced. These include an energy gauge that is depleted every time a fighter uses a special maneuver, Desperation Attacks that are usable only when a fighter's health is low and camera zooming that adjusts on the fly as fighters move around the stage. All these features ensure that players use strategy and tactics, rather than simply mash buttons. Adding to the mix are little touches such as characters showing cuts when they are injured and voice-over samples during cut scenes. Can you perfect the art of fighting and save Yuri?

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

SNK to Release Classic NEOGEO Arcade Games on Wii(tm) Virtual Console(tm)

Wall, NJ - Sep 12, 2007 SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION, the U.S. publishing arm of the SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION, today announced that the Company will release several of their greatest NEOGEO arcade games via the Virtual Console(tm) feature on Wii(tm). Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points(tm) to download these classic games through the Wii Shop Channel. D4Enterprise, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, will manage the release of the titles.

Key NEOGEO titles will include "Fatal Fury," "World Heroes," and "Art of Fighting." Each title is expected to cost 900 Wii Points. More titles will follow over the coming months

SNK has decided to stop offering maintenance and repairs for the Neo Geo home hardware, accessories and game cartridges as well as Neo Geo CD, Neo Geo CDZ and the Neo Geo Pocket. SNK left the console business by the year 2000, but continued to support its hardware. Starting August 31st, it won't. The reason? Getting parts has become increasingly difficult. Sega, likewise, announced earlier this year that it would no longer service its consoles starting this fall. It's the end of an era. Officially. Brian Ashcraft

No More Neo Geo Service [SNK Playmore via Insert Credit]

The game hits this summer, giving arcade vets a chance to relive their first look at the gratuitous boob-flapping and rump-exposure of series mainstay Mai Shiranui. No doubt, we can expect a Volume 2 follow up, most likely collecting the Real Bout Fatal Fury sequels. Michael McWhertor

SNK Resurrects its First 2D-Fighting Franchise

FATAL FURY: BATTLE ARCHIVES Volume 1 announced for PlayStation®2 system

Wall, NJ - May 30, 2007 SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION, the U.S. publishing arm of the SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION, today announced FATAL FURY: BATTLE ARCHIVES Volume 1 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

FATAL FURY: BATTLE ARCHIVES Volume 1 will include four classic FATAL FURY games: FATAL FURY 1, FATAL FURY 2, FATAL FURY 3 and FATAL FURY SPECIAL. The compilation's release will mark the first time FATAL FURY has appeared on the PlayStation®2 system in North America.

The FATAL FURY series was SNK's first ongoing fighting-game franchise, and many beloved SNK characters and locations made their first appearances in FATAL FURY. FATAL FURY 1 was the first fighting game to feature a two-plane system, allowing characters to dodge out of harm's way when confronted with a challenger's attacks.

"With the release of FATAL FURY: BATTLE ARCHIVES Volume 1 for the PlayStation®2 system, a brand-new generation of gamers will be introduced to one of SNK PLAYMORE's fighting classics," said Ben Herman, president of SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION, "and gamers who loved playing FATAL FURY in the arcades will relish the chance to revisit the golden age of 2D fighters."

FATAL FURY: BATTLE ARCHIVES Volume 1 will be available for the PlayStation®2 system in summer 2007.

About SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION

Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION (SNK) develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Founded in 1978, SNK is one of the largest privately held interactive entertainment content providers in the world. Known for such franchises as THE KING OF FIGHTERS, METAL SLUG, and SAMURAI SHODOWN SNK continues to be an industry leader by focusing on their rich arcade history. More information on SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION can be found at www.snkplaymore.co.jp SNK PLAYMORE USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION with offices in Wall, NJ. It handles operations in North America including publishing, marketing, development and localization. More information on SNK PLAYMORE USA can be found at www.snkplaymoreusa.com

He's even got the Zapper out. And to the right? A Neo Geo arcade cabinet! It's pretty clear that Stephan does not fuck around when niche gaming is involved.

The only negatives here? Explaining to people who the hell Captain N is. And finding an Eggplant Wizard cosplay buddy. Pure hell. Regardless, thanks for the pics! Michael McWhertor

No word on release date, obviously, but getting your hands on these three arcade retro hits probably shouldn't hit you in the wallet too hard. Michael McWhertor

ESRB Software Ratings

Other than MSX titles Eggy and Aleste, no games have been specifically mentioned, and there are no rumblings currently of a European or American release of titles from either system. If I had to guess, I'd say there's a 50% chance for the Neo Geo titles showing up here, and not a chance in hell for the MSX. Michael Fahey

Wii's Virtual Console Adds Neo Geo, MSX Titles [Gamasutra]

From the Intellivision port of Congo Bongo to the surprisingly rare Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Master System version), prepare to be shocked at the financial limits people will go to scratch their collector's itch.

I won't spoil it for you, as the trivia contained within makes for entertaining reading. But when the #2 entry on the list, Kizuna Encounter (come again?), goes for over $10,000 to the obsessed rich you might just feel a hint of regret that you didn't pick up some of these titles when they were knew. I'll take comfort Michael McWhertor

Holy Grails Of Console Gaming

Metal Slug Preview [The Magic Box]

Ben Heckendorn, portable game hacker extraordinaire, managed to hobble together a portable Neo Geo with his usual panache. Heckendornuses phrases like no-brainer and "I scoff at difficulty" in his write up of the process, so don't go thinking you're go to read his walk-through and then plop down and build your own porty NG.

How SNK Got Its Groove Back [Ben Heckendorn]