Nintendo Disk System Card Cleaner

The Nintendo Disk System was an attachment that you would sit your Famicom on top of to play floppy disk based games.

Nintendo actually had game kiosks (vending machines) that would allow you to put in some money, put in an old Disk System game, and then have a new game copied on top of the disk – ahhh, the good ol’ days when piracy was not an issue at all.

But what happens when those disks get covered in grime? Well, you throw it in Nintendo Disk System Card Cleaner for a few spins.

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These little units have a tape like substance that you can wind until you found a clean spot, then once your game was placed, you would rotate the disk to clean. Quite simple and it does the trick quite well.

Click to enlarge:
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Unfortunately, the tape like material doesn’t really stand the test of time too well at all, and honestly speaking I probably wouldn’t trust it to clean my Super Mario 2, or my Kid Icarus.

It is a nice little unit to add to any hoard though. 🙂

NeoGeo AES – The King of Consoles!

The SNK NeoGeo AES (Advanced Entertainment System) is a machine that every single game-related-hoarder should have in their pile. It shouldn’t matter if you have to sacrifice food, electricity (actually scratch that, you’ll need electricity), or water to get one – just get one! 😀

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Released on the 31st of January 1990, the NeoGeo AES was a huge step above the competition. It was the only machine to bring consumers the exact games they were playing in the arcades in a format they could use at home.

The only problem for most people was the price tag of about 60,000yen (around $700)….. On top of the already hefty cost of the console, came the cost of the games themselves – most coming in at around 20,000yen. When you calculate inflation, this means you are spending the equivalent of um…. A testicle – and most likely the one that was producing the highest sperm count too! 😀

As you can see pictured bellow, I have two of the beasts. You may be thinking, why the hell does Hollo have two – that greedy bastard!

Well, my responses to that are:
1) I’m sick and need help!
And the next response is mainly to cover up my hoarder insecurities….
2) There are two types of NeoGeo AES consoles which are different internally. Why shouldn’t I have both right? *cough*

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Anyway, as I mentioned above there are two types of NeoGeo AES. Earlier models actually run on different voltage compared with later models. I am no expert on the intricate differences internally, but I have read that the earlier versions actually have a better quality video output, and that when modding these machines to out RGB, the earlier models are more desirable.

*EDIT* Thanks to Frank in the comments bellow he has clarified the internals. The AES is capable of outputting RGB as standard with the correct cable. The difference in the earlier versions is that they have better RGB over the standard AV, but the later versions had better AV over RGB. Long story short, if you want to use RGB out then find an earlier model.

Bellow you can see the different adapters needed (click to enlarge).

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Another new and interesting idea from SNK for the NeoGeo AES was the inclusion of memory cards. I know that memory cards were not exactly a new idea, but the way in which these cards could be used was. Save data was interchangeable between the MVS arcade machines and the AES home console.

This meant you could practice your arse off at home, then take the memory card (with saves of course) into the arcades to prove that you hadn’t actually sold off a testicle to buy the machine. 😀

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The controller that comes with the NeoGeo AES isn’t too bad, but honestly when it comes to stock (unmodified) SNK controllers for the AES I prefer the rounded controller with the red buttons (pictured left bellow). The ball-tops of the original AES controller don’t seem to stand the test of time either. You will often see them cracked. I am sure it’s a personal preference though, and I have friends that even prefer using the game pads.

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Unfortunately (as you can see bellow) I don’t have a heap of games for the system yet, and that’s mainly due to the crazy prices they go for these days. When the AES was first released, SNK made sure that the carts could not be used in the MVS arcade system. They did this as the AES carts were cheaper than their MVS brothers. Now though, AES carts command extremely high prices – much higher than MVS. Metal Slug for example can reach close to the $2,000 mark!

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A picture to demonstrate the massive size of the these carts when compared with a ‘chibi’ (Japanese word for ‘runt’) N64 cart.

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It has to be said that SNK really were considerate. I mean releasing an RF connection set for consumers (as of course they wouldn’t have money left to buy a TV after buying the NeoGeo AES console) was very kind hearted.

I tried selling one of these (pictured bellow) a while back, but there were no takers – spoiled modern-day gamers with their HDMI, D-Sub or AV connections. 😀

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I definitely do not fall in the category of a hardcore SNK fanboi, and the hardcore out there are probably complaining about this post already (due to mistakes or not enough detail), but I do love this machine as a player.

This machine is a must buy in my opinion, and once you have it you will realise that there is something almost primal for a gamer when the NeoGeo logo first pops up on your regular TV. 😀

Nintendo Block Kuzushi – 70s style, but only for Japan

First off, I must apologise for the lack of content recently. I have been insanely busy, and losing a chunk of my roof didn’t help me free up any time, but I am now back with the amazing Block Kuzushi! 🙂

Nintendo were pumping out some great machines back in the late 70s with the ‘TV Game’ series, and although the ‘Block Kuzushi’ was quite different when compared with it’s ‘TV Game’ brothers, it must have been something special as it was the first console that Nintendo decided to put their logo on.

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Released in 1979, Nintendo was trying to break-in to the break-out market (gamers will know what that means), and with design influence from Shigeru Miyamoto this 70s beast was a looker.

It is a single player machine with a range of game modes, but all the game modes pretty much equate to the same thing – break-out. Luckily with instructional graphics included on the control panel, it does have very user-friendly interface for people with no Japanese ability (as shown bellow).

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Nintendo is (and always has been) a forerunner when it comes to compatibility of adapters and peripherals with their range of machines. All the ‘TV Game series’ and the Block Kuzushi use the same adapter and RF switch. Sega didn’t do that Frank! 😉

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In play the Nintendo Block Kuzushi stands up very well with other break-out clones of the period, and honestly is still a great game even today.

It has a very solid wheel that 33 years on feels tough and responsive, and much like the other consoles released from Nintendo in the 70s (maybe with the exception of ‘Racing 112’) once I get it out I can’t help but sit down and play.

I actually delayed my schedule by almost an hour this morning by deciding to blog about this machine! 😀

If I was to complain about it at all I would probably say that the switches are a little bit on the twitchy side. I find I have to move switches a few times for them to register properly, but other than that I have no complaints, specially when you consider the age of the machine.

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The 70s styling of the Nintendo Block Kuzushi makes it one of the best looking consoles around (in my opinion anyway). Everything from the art work in the manual, to the buttons and dials scream flared pants and plastic furniture! Just wish I had an orange TV to go with it.

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Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the 70s!

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The Nintendo Block Kuzushi commands a fair price these days (from $60 – $200), but it’s well worth the money for any serious game collector. 🙂

Epoch Bubble Bobble LCD – Arcade in the palm of your hand?

I picked this Epoch Bubble Bobble LCD up a few weeks back, and I thought it was well worth a post as I’d never seen one before achat viagra 10 mg. I can’t actually recall where I snagged this from – which shows you that I may have a buying problem – but was cheap enough, and the fact that it’s still sealed and unused definitely made it a must buy.

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Epoch released some great LCD and VFD based games in the 1980s, but this particular game was released in 2005. Even though it’s not exactly vintage it’s still quite sort after, and it’s not unheard of to see them selling for around the $60.

I have not cracked this one open to try it out, and in all honesty I probably won’t, but if you’re keen to see it in action, a great Youtuber by the name of ‘Showagamer has a video of it running.

Not quite the arcade classic by any means, but neither was Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Game & Watch – that didn’t make it any less of a great handheld. ?