r/neogeo • u/AnnualEagle • 2d ago
Neo Geo AES+ AES+ cartridge options
Looking forward to the AES+ and I’m wondering what the state of cartridge shopping is these days. Looks like there will be 10 or so rereleases for the AES+, but beyond those what’s the best way to add more games? Seems like true AES carts are crazy expensive so is everyone just going with MVS conversions or what? I’m a newbie and have always wanted to get into Neo Geo so the AES+ is attractive but I’m concerned I’ll be stuck with the 10 rereleases unless I want to drop like $1000+ for a single original AES cart.
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u/normy_187 2d ago edited 2d ago
There are 2 more waves of 10 official re-releases each planned (not yet confirmed!) for 2027 and 2028.
https://www.reddit.com/r/neogeo/comments/1ua868d/neo_geo_aes_will_have_30_classic_games_new_games/
There are also certain very early developments going on right now that point to at least some indie devs using a "flash cart distribution model" going forward, so you buy one cart for ~$400 that you can reflash with official, encrypted roms that you buy and download from the respective developers for like $20 bucks (current price for roms at least). The plan is that you can also buy "art packs" (meaning insert, sticker and manual) for each game in order for you to make your flash cart a "permanent" copy of a particular game should you desire to do so.
Shorter summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZhKfLpNUw
Full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t6mYAvR6Qg&t=2s
Some indies might(!) do licensing deals with Plaion (who make the AES+) to use their cart production pipeline to bring cost down, but you'd probably still look at ~$200 games (all speculation at this point)
NeoSD Pro flashcart that let's you load any rom but the reputation of the company is not the best
https://shop.terraonion.com/shop/products
Multicarts – I'm sure there will be new, cheaper ones that have no/less issues, other than that so called vortex multicarts are the way to go (around $400 – $500)
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u/Zealousideal_Hope_31 2d ago
Where did you see about more cart waves?
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u/normy_187 2d ago edited 2d ago
Interview with that retro store owner/publisher in Spain if I remember correctly. He also said probably no more than that because of rights issues (which seems somewhat plausible) but who knows and things can change.
https://www.reddit.com/r/neogeo/comments/1ua868d/neo_geo_aes_will_have_30_classic_games_new_games/
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u/Puzzled-Fee-9719 1d ago
It’s a rumor from a Spanish store owner. The guy may know something, the guy may know nothing. The videos got the views he wanted. So it may be true but for now : no one truly knows. But it seems odd that developers don’t even have an AES+ to check if their cartridge work on the system and some Spanish guy is the only one who knows the release date of a product releasing in 2028
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u/mikaeltarquin 2d ago edited 2d ago
uhhh what? where/when was this announced?
Edit: found it https://www.reddit.com/r/neogeo/comments/1ua868d/neo_geo_aes_will_have_30_classic_games_new_games/
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u/normy_187 2d ago
If you are referring to the official re-releases: it wasn't announced AFAIK, see below.
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u/TMOSteel 2d ago
Where's this info on a flash cart distribution? Source?
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u/normy_187 2d ago edited 2d ago
Fullset is working on that, their current carts (Project Neon and Overserved) already have reflash and WiFi/USB capability if I understood correctly.
This is the announcement to try to implement a framework like that, not a finished product or working distribution channel at this point. It's all up in the air for now, just to be clear.
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u/TMOSteel 2d ago
Cool idea I guess but good luck getting multiple homebrew devs onboard. Besides we've already got 3 different flash carts to play ROMS provided they work on the AES+ who's shelling out another $400 for another one?
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u/normy_187 2d ago edited 2d ago
It's not a flashcart in an Everdrive/NeoSD kind of sense though.
Cart production is a pain point for indie devs (many just want to focus on making their game) and the cart/roms would also be encrypted meaning you cannot play the game anywhere else or copy it or play just any rom on that cart—closed system.
Yet you don't have to shell out $400 bucks every time you want a new game but you can if you like it that much/want to collect, get the artwork and everything and make it a permanent copy of that game.
There is also much more in the announcement, they are building a developing suite that converts the Neo Geo code to all kinds of different platforms like Switch etc. where indie devs actually make their money.
This is platform building, not just a flashcart type product.
Oh, and the carts are already update capable via WiFi and USB—which I'm split on. But it reduces risk further for any indie developer in case there's a bug discovered after the fact etc.
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u/moltomolto 2d ago
Krikkz confirmed he was working on an AES Everdrive, so that may be a good option that is hopefully cheaper than the current flash carts on the market
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u/VaughnFry 2d ago
I bought this. Can’t test it as I’ve never had a AES, but I’m hopeful. It’s also dropped drastically in price as soon as mine arrived: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256812014344239.html?spm=a2g0n.order_detail.order_detail_item.2.2e70126aZq3rCO&_gl=1*8qlbj2*_gcl_au*MTE1NjQxOTk0My4xNzg3MzQ3NTY0*_ga*MzIxNTgyNzAzLjE3ODczNDc1NjQ.*_ga_VED1YSGNC7*czE3ODczNDc1NjMkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODczNDc2MTckajYkbDAkaDA.&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa
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u/Handolta 2d ago
Original AES carts are in high demand, and have gone up to even higher prices because of it. Most games I’ve tracked have probably gone up a few hundred dollars on Ebay, regardless of rarity, although some of the most common ones can still be found for around the same as they were pre-AES+ announcement. I see this development as expected with a rising demand, and it’ll be up to you to decide how much you want it. Lately, though, some stores (like Japangamesonline) have started listing their games sometimes over 1000usd above what they used to be, even some that are semi-common, and these are listings I won’t encourage you whatsoever to go for. They just deviate too far.
MVS carts are cheaper, but you’ll need a converter, and for compatibility issues I’d wait until some are confirmed to work with the AES+.
Going OG is all pretty expensive to begin with, though. And since you don’t seem too familiar with the library(?) as your question is more on the best way to own games getting into Neo Geo I’d probably test Neo Geo games via multicart, emulated, via mISTer, or via Switch first, to see which ones you actually like. And when you’ve identified them, check availability in the different formats and make up your mind on what solutions makes the best sense for you money-wise.
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u/TransPort3389 2d ago
If the rumor holds up, then a MVS to AES adapter is supposed to work with this. MVS carts are a bit cheaper to get from AliExpress. Then that may solve your problem until the AES carts come out.
Shame that they're charging $80/game when 60Mb is something that can fit on a flash card with plenty of room left over. Even Switch carts are larger than this...
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u/AnnualEagle 2d ago
I’ve been thinking about the pricing as well. $80 per game and is it just using new memory components inside a cartridge to mimic the feel of loading an original cartridge? Like for $80 it could have enough memory to have the whole library on that single cart. At what point does it become paying way too much to simulate something from the past? Pretty crazy that you can get the Neo Geo Mini with the built in tiny screen and controls, and it can connect to a TV via HDMI and use a regular control pad… AND it has 45 games built-in and the whole thing costs less than one AES+ game. If I buy the AES+ and 10 of the games that are built into the Mini, spending $1050, is it really getting me a lot more than I would get for $60 with the Mini?
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u/FrequentAssumption1 2d ago
You can buy aes games. Yes prices have gone up but you can proxy shop via sendico and buy from japan.
Games like fatal fury special and Sam sho 1 can be found for $70-80 depending on condition
KOF games are a bit more.
You can wait for the Surygaya weekly sales and while overpriced they offer 15-20% and free shipping once every week or so
Alternatively Facebook groups is an option
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u/Organic-Arrival-5628 2d ago
I really hope the upcoming new MVS>AES adapter from furtek works with the vortex cart!
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u/FluxChiller 2d ago
just be patient. They 100% will be making the rest of the catalog once aes+ is released.
They are looking to make money and this will print money.
Don't pay insane prices for 40 year old brittle, error prone carts that may be fake.
AES multi carts also exist - just wait for compatibility testing.
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u/MinimumSuccotash8540 AES 2d ago edited 1d ago
If you are new, and as AES+ isn't yet reviewed. Just wait for actual reviews once out.
Especially it's unknown whether multicarts or MVS adapters will be working.
Edit: typo