At age 15, the NeoGeo AES is still going strong.

NeoGeo Hot-Rodding

For a modest cost, there are numerous companies and private individuals willing to take apart your NeoGeo AES and modify it to include an S-video output jack, stereo audio jacks, and a debug BIOS chip.

Kenny Perry Jr., a longtime legend in the NeoGeo community, takes modification a step further with what he calls the "Mega-Mod." Says Perry, "The Mega-Mod includes the S-video, stereo, and BIOS mods that are common these days, but adds a touch of style by inserting a beautiful white, blue, red, green, or purple LED into the power button."

These Mega-Mod systems are so popular with NeoGeo fans that they routinely fetch upward of $600 at Internet auction sites. For more information, you can contact Perry at snk@wowway.com.

Remember: Console modifications are not sanctioned by SNK Playmore or its subsidiaries.

As you can see, the history of SNK is a tale full of twists and turns, and it's a tale that's still being written to this day. Like any company, SNK has had its share of success and failure. Producing games for the NES during the mid to late 1980s was an unmitigated boon for the company, as was the introduction of the NeoGeo MVS hardware. The NeoGeo AES, although not a commercial success, still has its share of fans that are willing to shell out $300 or more just to get the latest games. SNK stumbled during the late 1990s with its NeoGeo CD console, and the buyout by Aruze proved to be catastrophic, but that tumultuous period also produced the NeoGeo Pocket Color--a handheld that gave Nintendo a run for its money and only failed because Aruze shut down SNK's operations throughout the world. Moving ahead, the company's plans to develop software for the PlayStation and Xbox consoles seem like a good idea, at least on paper.

Will SNK Playmore succeed in its bid to become a major third-party game developer? Only time will tell. One thing is certain--this is a company known for its ability to adapt and roll with the punches.

SNK Playmore continues to keep other companies on their toes with games like Samurai Shodown 5 Special Edition.

Above all, SNK's status as one of the most influential players in the video game industry cannot be overstated. If not for SNK, Capcom may never have tried so hard to come up with newer and better installments in the Street Fighter franchise. If not for SNK, companies like Sega and Sammy might not have been pushed to develop their own modular arcade systems. If not for SNK, Nintendo might have waited an additional year before introducing the Game Boy Advance. SNK keeps other companies on their toes, and that's a good thing.

Until the final chapter in SNK's history is written, fans of SNK's style of games will still be able to purchase them for their favorite home consoles--even if that console happens to be the NeoGeo AES. Far from dead, the NeoGeo AES is going strong after almost 15 years, thanks to the devotion of a loyal and large fan base. If this article whetted your appetite for information pertaining to the home NeoGeo console, you're encouraged to head over to Neo-Geo.com, which bills itself as "the Net's largest NeoGeo base." In addition to the many articles, game lists, and photo galleries, you'll also find a discussion forum packed with thousands of loyal and intelligent NeoGeo fans.

As you can see, no matter what becomes of SNK, the company has left its mark on millions of people throughout the world.