Game Room Tour of My Neo Geo AES Collection! 18 Years of SNK Arcade Retro Game Collecting!

[@danstarc]

Neo-Geo is simply the best. Congratulations on the awesome collection!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Thanks. It’s been a lot of fun to collect over the years

[@retroarcadefan]

Last Blade 1 and 2 are fantastic games. Very nice collection!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

One day I’ll add 2 to my collection

[@mike7599]

Great collection. Really enjoyed this video! Huge Neo Geo fan here. I have about ten aes games but actively collect for the mvs with a collection of roughly 100 loose carts. Keep up the great work, your channel has quickly became one of my favorites since I found it researching the mister n64 core.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Glad you enjoyed it :) I have a few more on the way!

[@GreyMatterShades]

Really enjoyed this video format! Hope you do more systems like this. Awesome collection too. I am a little surprised I didn't see a Metal Slug game, but hey, It's your collection!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I always picked something other than a Slug game back in the day and now the prices are through the roof

[@Jokerwolf666]

It's like looking at a bookshelf with a ton of fat books lol. It's pretty awesome though that when SNK decided to make the AES/MVS that they would use the same cartridges.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Big giant hardcover expensive AF books lol

[@Jokerwolf666]

@@VideoGameEsoterica First editions!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Man if SNK reprinted Neo Geo games…I wish

[@Jokerwolf666]

@@VideoGameEsoterica You never know.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I’d buy em!

[@bartvb5059]

Nice video! Nice to see Xenocrisis. I randomly played that on an arcade machine in Tokyo a few months ago and bought it for switch as soon as I came back to my hotel lol

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s an awesome game and def one I play a ton lately

[@Iliek]

Hey I also did something noteworthy but only to nerds with no children. I want some attention too!

[@bartvb5059]

@@Iliek I played a videogame that I liked and then bought it. That's hardly noteworthy to anyone so what on earth are you on about?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Lol what?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

🤷🏻‍♂️

[@sidnamyzo]

Great collection very impressed you have MOTW! I’ve had my AES and 9 original games brand new since the 90s but never added to my collection since.....used to rent them back in the day too. In the last couple of years picked up a Darksoft multi cart which works really well, amazing to have the full collection on real hardware

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yeah the reality is I should just darksoft this whole collection and cash in lol

[@sidnamyzo]

@@VideoGameEsoterica I’m in the same position with a ton of Saturn games I bought years ago which are now worth a lot….play them through my ODE but could never part with the originals despite the fact I should cash in!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Exactly. So long as I thankfully don’t need the cash I’d rather have the games

[@sidnamyzo]

@@VideoGameEsoterica it’s kind of like those people who get a MiSTer and ditch all their OG hardware….great space saver but I’ve been collecting consoles and games since 1989 so couldn’t ever do that….my problem is stopping myself getting more variants of consoles I already own!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha I get that. I’ll use MiSTer all day long. But I can’t sell my stuff

[@THELEGENDARYK2]

Really nice collection! I've got a healthy mix of CD, homecarts, MVS, and Cardboard. I started acquiring in 2009. Love all of it!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It really is my fav system to collect for. Each new game feels like an event

[@h0lyhandgrenade]

Awesome collection. You and I followed very similar paths. Collected Neo Geo AES since 2001, had a pretty banging and robust collection similar to yours. Modded component out system with Univers bios 4.Neo geo forums and store (still remember the yearly birthday emails). I finally decided to let go of it this year for other things in life. I do still have a backup unmodded AES system, a japanese Metal Slug 3 and SVC Chaos that I’m selling individually. The latter I’d also bought from that neo forums store the day it dropped. Ha.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I always think about selling mine. Then I realize I’d miss them. I don’t know what to do lol

[@RetroReWire]

I can almost smell those soft boxes, haha! Interesting to learn that Matrimelee is your fave. I'm partial to Waku Waku 7, but very nice collection, cheers!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I once did a spotting counterfeit Neo Geo games vid and one of my telltales I talked about was smell. You can SMELL an OG game vs a repro

[@Spolupyo]

2005 was the year I decided to register on the NG forums, I remember you for your Ed O'Neill/Al Bundy avatar there, it's been like 20 years since, so I knew beforehand that your collection should be amazing, lots of titles shown here used to be affordable even more when I started collecting (1998) , not anymore.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha yep I’ve been using Al for forever. And yes it was “cheap” back then. Relatively speaking

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Wow! What a collection you have VGE. Everything looks so neat and perfect and love seeing all the AES games you have in your collection. They all look great for there ages and glad you have them to share with us bro. Also, I would like to thank you for sharing this awesome video on the Neo-Geo thread for us bro. We really enjoyed seeing this from you and looking forward on all your content you share with us on AtariAge. Keep up the great work you always do in the community bro. 8^) Anthony...

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I had a feeling you’d like this one!

[@RetroMoments]

Great showcase of your AES collection! Funny to see that you skipped Fatal Fury 1 and Fatal Fury 2 but have the rest, just like me haha :D

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha that tends to happen to a lot of collections it seems

[@JamesBond-gg4wg]

Insane collection, good job

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Thanks :)

[@ItsEricSmart]

Im in Vermont Too Man! GREAT VIDOE! Maybe A Collab In The Making?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Well I haven’t lived in Vermont in 15 years. Grew up there. Killington

[@ItsEricSmart]

@VideoGameEsoterica awesome man I live all over VT Rutland, Pittsdford,Brandon, Burlington & I moved Tp FL loved it there... Back In VT Temporary

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I have family in Rutland still. Well Rutland Town. Up on the hill right near the Mendon border / south of Pico on Route 4

[@ItsEricSmart]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Awesome Man you ever Vist? Also does your Neo Geo Aes Have Original Box?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

No original box. Loose. If I do visit VT it’s usually Woodstock

[@3shibuyallc486]

beautiful collection!!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Thanks :)

[@chiefthunderhorse4430]

Great collection, I've seen the home system once in my time at a Babbage's back in the day, come to think of it thats the only place I saw Amigas sold at, I would be happy with just KOF 98 and Real Bout Special my favorite two Neo Geo titles, thanks for sharing this

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I never once saw one for sale in Vermont growing up that I can remember. Too small a state

[@neo_ness]

Very nice collection! I agree Last Blade is an awesome game.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

One of the best fighting games ever made IMO

[@BlacEyedPriest765]

Wow haven't seen one those systems in a while use to have one myself 😊😊😊

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I’ve had that console for damn near two decades now. Forever lol

[@PixelCherryNinja]

Nice, Garou 😍

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I blew a day rate gig check on it back in the day because the shoot sucked and I figured if I spent all the money on something fun I’d win in the end. I was right lol

[@PixelCherryNinja]

@@VideoGameEsoterica a great investment 💰

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s the gig that keeps on earning money hahaha

[@Pagaugezero]

Great collection. I also have the complete KOF on AES. Let’s see the NGCD collection.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

We shall see how this vid does before I dig that all out lol

[@gumdeo]

So much Neo•Geo goodness 😃

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

One of my fav consoles to collect for

[@erickc2806]

I still wake up in cold sweats, screaming.. that I didn't start collecting Neo until 2020. lol! I always wanted one as a kid, but for the longest time I had no idea where to start. It wasn't until I got a better job that I was able to pry my wallet open and start collecting. I picked up most of the games I played at the arcades in my youth, but trying to grab say.."Mark of the wolves" or "WF perfect" these days hurts my soul.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yeah that’s a tiny bit late to start grabbing games unless you are a millionaire sadly lol

[@StreetFighterRewind]

great collection!! congratulations!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Thanks. I do love it

[@Riz2336]

I never got into AES collecting because its always been wildly expensive although for a time period back in the day I dabbled in MVS and got some good games for dirt cheap like windjammers, real bout fatal fury special (my fav. Fighting game), crossed swords to name a few

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

RBFFS is def my fav of the Real Bout entries

[@fictionsgamepad3497]

Hey bud. I've had an aes since launch (worked a good month bussing tables).my personal favorite kof has to be 95 don't know why I'm alone in this. Same thing with samurai showdown 3. Keep up the great work.aes serial number 17000's

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Ooh I think my AES is in the 1XXXXX territory somewhwre

[@fictionsgamepad3497]

@@VideoGameEsoterica you know there is no info on the quality of the rgb signal on low serial number consoles like mine. But looks stunning on rgb on a crt( retro tink scart to component) and retro tink 5x to 4k x95j 75"Sony.

[@fictionsgamepad3497]

You know you and I have a similar collection.(not talking just aes carts)

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha what else do we both have?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yeah some of the early info isn’t there

[@terrytees]

It's a great platform. back in the days of the Amiga and over here in the UK I used to be very active in the cracking comunity, or at least involved in clubs where people would meet up each week and copy and swap software, usally in a function hall of a working mans club or pub. Every now and again I would have a group of people round to my house to play games, everyone would bring there computers and a TV and we would game in my moms living room all day, on one of those meeting I recall one of the guys bring his AVS system and a few games, I want to say they were fighting games, this can't have been much later than 92 but am think 91 so my guess it was Fatal Fury or NAM. The thing was incredible but really expensive at the time.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Working man’s club? That you need to explain to me?

[@terrytees]

@@VideoGameEsoterica It's just a Hall thats has a bar in it and may or may not have a stage that puts on acts. There called working mens clubs as it's somewhere mostly mens go after a hard days phsycial labouring. There were common in the north of england up until the later 90's. There the type of places comedians used to learn there craft from before the was such a thing as a comedy club.

[@terrytees]

@@VideoGameEsoterica en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_men%27s_club

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Ahh kinda sounds like the old Soviet workers halls I’ve read about. I get it now

[@chad3232132]

Weirdly enough, my local Babbage's actually did sell the Neo Geo AES and some games for many years. As a kid, my friends and I would all marvel at it, but NOBODY I ever knew ever owned one or even knew anyone who owned one. Even my friends from wealthy families couldn't get their parents to pay the $650 or so for the console plus $200/game to buy them one. To this day, I have absolutely no clue what the target market for the AES console was in the U.S. Children of lottery winners maybe?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I always wonder who bought them back then as I didn’t know anyone either

[@lsdowdle]

So, heard anything about the event (that is in Florida?) that was going to be showing off the MARS? I think RetroRGB was planning on going to that. Haven't seen any content on that yet.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yes I’ve heard it’s being shown. Will probably discuss it in a vid once more is known

[@miguelcarneiro1192]

Amazing AES collection you have there man?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Appreciate it

[@Witchboard1]

I could never afford AES, so I went MVS. I got a 4 slot MVS cabinet for the same price as a console and the MVS games were much cheaper. If I only knew then what I know now, I would have picked up several more titles years ago which would be considered a steal now days. Still, I have a decent collection.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

MVS is always a fun time too. Same games after all

[@METR0lD]

I always wanted a Neo Geo so badly when I was a kid. I played the heck out Neo Geo games in the arcade, but wanted that home console version. I could have gotten the console, but the price of the games is what drove me away from it at the time.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yeah not like it’s easy to just pick up extra games when you feel like a new one when it came to the prices. Still exists today…I can go half a year or more without adding a game to my collection

[@dorfus]

A sandwich bag isn’t a sandwich bag until you put a sandwich in it. Facts.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

So by that logic I am more maple tree than man due to how much syrup I’ve drank in a lifetime

[@dorfus]

@@VideoGameEsoterica you’re effectively a maple tree vampire, as you’ve drunk the blood of your kin.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Zero regrets

[@loganford3921]

I don't own a AES but I do own 11 sealed AES games that I bought in 2008. The shop had 2 other sealed games that were Nam 1975 but I didn't buy it as the woman on the front cover had black pen marks over her clothes which I heard it was common later on. The other one was Andro Dunos that was rare was going for £80 but now going for over a thousand sealed so I'm kinda regretting not buying now lol.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Solid collection but I’d open them and play them. But that’s me!

[@funnyguy150]

I've got a lot of MVS, some Pocket, Buriki One, and ten low-to-mid-priced AES games. Got into the AES way too late. Garou is my favourite Neo title but at this point I'd have to trade all my other AES games in just to afford it. Some things you'll never own.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Hey another Garou owner!

[@funnyguy150]

Only on MVS ;)@@VideoGameEsoterica

[@Pyke_]

The Holy Grail. It was a distant dream from kids of the past, adults of the present, and elders from the future....

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

There was a moment in time where you could get in cheap

[@Pyke_]

@@VideoGameEsoterica yeah but not so cheap as other consoles.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

No def not

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

Story time I had the chance to get a Neo Geo in 2002 had a deal in place and the money. But my cousin guilt tripped me into a trip to Florida and it was the Trip from hell. 21 years later and they have MVS in their arcade repair room. I'd sneak in and take it but they'd know exactly where to find it.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I’d disown the cousin lol

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

And I'm trying to hook them up with Taiko Drum master Fair Trade Switch copy of Taiko Drum master and the PS2 version with no Drum for a MVS 4 slot

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Not a terrible trade

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

The console versions though 😂 It's mostly a Pinball hall but the handful of arcade games are bangers. I want that MVS though cab is sexy and as mint as an MVS cab can be

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Once I have a bigger place I’ll get a big red cab. Just not today

[@locked01]

Amazing collection. I mostly only collect hardware though and I am thinking of carefully removing the inside of my AES and replacing it with a Raspberry Pi. This will make it usable without stressing the old electronics. I would like to do the same with my PS1. Moreover, it might removethe need for a Retrotink or similar product. Of course, none of the console shells would be permanently modified in the process.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Guess you could do that but you could also just get a multi cart and call it a day

[@ynotwalk7391]

what?? terrible idea put a DE10 in there if you do anything

[@locked01]

​​@@VideoGameEsoterica yes I thought about it, but the Terraonion is expensive (and has only mono audio for NeoGeoCD) and the Chinese ones lack many games (no NeoCD, plus they currently have some defects like in Mark of the Wolves, that crashes if a certain move is executed, and I really love that game).

[@locked01]

​@@ynotwalk7391why terrible? Final Burn Neo timing is now perfect, and with NeoGeoCD, the loading times are instantaneous (unlike the Mister where you only got the CD reader at 4x, and even crashes in some games). I don't need FPGA technology as I am not trying to fool anyone. I will be the one using it and I know it's not original hardware anyway.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

The Chinese ones can be modded now for all games

[@zendar81]

Nice Collection! But one very important question remains: where is your pencil with the little finger on it ?!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha it’s been changed for a bit for cotton candy colored pen

[@matthewhall6288]

I bought an AES and Nam 1975 way back in '94. I had to sell it to fix my stupid car. Still regret it to this day.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Damn car

[@JaceFuse]

I have an AES in my collection. It's in amazing condition. But... I just can't bring myself to buy any games for it. 🤣

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Lol at least get one. Sam Sho or something. Still dirt cheap

[@JaceFuse]

@@VideoGameEsoterica I'm actually about to spring for a copy of Xeno Crisis. I know it isn't an old classic, but it's easily available. Other than that, there are only a few games I really must have and I'm just waiting until I see them come up for a not insane price.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s worth it. Has a ton of replay fun and it’s just a great game overall

[@olly6412]

So glad to have garou mark of the wolves for 1,500 instead of getting it for over 4,000 😅

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yeah it’s gotten SPICY expensive. I think I paid…$700 for mine?

[@brendanroberts1310]

The great thing is you dont need Neo geo hardware to experience the games. Aside from emulation there are a shit ton of ports on numerous consoles.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yes none of this is necessary. So much of my collection is wholly unneeded now due to MiSTer

[@brendanroberts1310]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Still, I like og hardware and games even if you can use emulation instead.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Same. Obviously lol

[@Un_Pour_Tous]

Blue's Journey & AMII

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

An unsung classic

[@martinh4982]

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit jealous, that is a sweet collection! Will I ever start collecting AES? Probably not. The AES has always been financially out of reach for me, and it seems to get further out of reach with each passing year. Still, it's nice to see other people collecting and enjoying the system.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yeah the reason I have all this is just because I got in on it FOREVER ago

[@Iliek]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Good thing you can use it to get attention from random childless nerds on the internet now!

[@ynotwalk7391]

i had a really nice aes gold and the actual hardware is not great. the console feels a bit flimsy, plus the balltops for the sticks often crack. and don't get me started on the default a/v quality

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s a cheap shell for sure but it gets the job done

[@Iliek]

C'mon VGE. This isn't a tour. This is you showing off.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Lol if showing video games online is showing off then we’re all not cool 🤣

[@Iliek]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Ain't it the truth. Do you have kids or plan to have kids with your lady?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Not as of yet but you can’t rule it out

[@NLSagat]

i was a collector of out necessity, cuz if you upgraded, more often then not you lost access to the old systems. Especially when going a ways from snes which i loved to death to saturn ,which i loved for the 2d fighters and not much else, and n64 which yeah was not for me. Did enjoy pc gaming (fps/rts) but still craved the old stuff, so yeah pretty much had everything ready to go. and kept up that habit. Then emulation came along a mister and ugh, no more often then not i find myself feeling hampered by aging hardware (controllers nes and snes start buttons!) loud fans (dc) and just expensive prices. Most of it can be solved but i def don't enjoy taking apart my stuff. So i feel i may dump all hardware and most games and just accept life as a gamer and not a collector. Thinking of collecting gaming vinyl to sorta scratch that itch but the need is very low?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I enjoy the actual objects. Even if I play Neo Geo exclusively on MiSTer now. I just love the look and feel

[@fv_ys_]

Gigashocked NO - Puzzle Bobble -

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

No. Would be a conversion and I rarely get those. I have it on Neo Geo CD

[@norbosneogeo558]

Neo Geo!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Always a fun time :)

[@monstermug]

Can you help me value some aes stuff please? Can i pm u details on forum please?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Sure go for it

[@Jerome-C]

raaa japaneses games... can't read the name !!! i prefere my shockbox MVS US Label :) But okay !! nice collection .... i admit

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I don’t have the budget for US AES lol

[@Jerome-C]

@@VideoGameEsoterica loool, for sure, i was a joke... me i don't have the budget for AES ! even in jap

[@ynotwalk7391]

what, no ng-dev games? haha btw i think samurai 2 is the best fighting game on ng. got it for $30 cib in osaka

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha no never bought any

[@ynotwalk7391]

@@VideoGameEsoterica assuming you have a few for dc anyway. no kraut buster or razion tho

[@kaishmuper]

Great collection, but kinda sad you didnt get samsho V special, must be one of SNK's finest games.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Just not something I’ve picked up yet

[@METR0lD]

Only one shmup!? Drop your head in shame!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Someone didn’t watch the video 😂 there is def more than one shmup in there. But that’s what I’d expect out of someone from Wisconsin!

[@METR0lD]

Hey! It's what you said in the video! After I posted this, you showed one more!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

That’s your first problem…trusting what I say 🤣 I shot the whole thing, edited and did the VO and realized in the last minute I left a game on the shelf and never showed it. So it’s the entire collection minus one haha

[@Mingodough]

Nice to see someone’s retirement fund lol

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha I’d have to sell though which I never will

[@Mingodough]

Respectable gamer decision lol@@VideoGameEsoterica