Neo Geo Pocket

Background

The Neo Geo Pocket is a handheld game console released by SNK. It was the company's first handheld system and is part of the Neo Geo family. Originally released with a monochrome screen, it launched in Japan, Asia and Europe in late 1998. It was discontinued in 1999, immediately being succeeded by the Neo Geo Pocket Color, a full color device allowing the system to compete more easily with the dominant Game Boy Color handheld. However, due to financial troubles experienced by SNK at the time, the Neo Geo Pocket line had become discontinued in Japan on October 22, 2001 due to bankruptcy.

Logo (October 28, 1998-October 22, 2001)

Visuals: On a black background, the white letters "NEO GEO" fly out, rotating themselves into place. Afterwards, a thin pulse is fired out, the screen turns white, and "NEO GEO" turns black, actually fading in on the left side of the screen. Also, an abstract tilted red "P" appears, with the word "OCKET" next to the "P", which has red lines appearing over it; forming the word "POCKET", and a blue SNK logo appears below.

Variant: There is a version in black-and-white as well; the Neo Geo Pocket was originally a black-and-white handheld console when it launched in late 1998 before getting a color upgrade a few months later.

Technique: Pixel sprite animation.

Audio: An 8-bit chip-tune fanfare, with what sounds like a rising slide whistle in the middle of the jingle.

Availability: Seen when a Neo Geo Pocket or Neo Geo Pocket Color is turned on. The latter is hard to find outside of Japan, as it did not sell very well, but it should be easier to find in Japan, as it was a little more successful there. The Neo Geo Pocket was only released and sold in Japan.