Neo Geo MVS to AES conversions...

[jimtendo]

Can every MVS game can be converted to AES cart?

Are there any side effects to this?

Because i'm seeing quite a lot of 'conversions' on sale at ebay, and just wondered how can you spot that the cart you've bought is a conversion or not?

[gossi the dog]

No instructions. Different case.

[Treble]

Occasionally, although really well-executed conversions have excellent inlays. Instructions though, yes. A conversion is pretty unlikely to have these

There is, of course, a distinction between conversions of games that have AES releases (but doing an MVS version works out cheaper), and conversions for titles that were never released on AES, and are MVS only. You can check out the MVS-only releases here.

MVS-only conversions are highly desirable when the person who made them has included some skillful and careful inserts and a decent box. Naturally, these type of conversions are not marketed to fool people into thinking they are originals. Far from it: the convertor is normally proud of his efforts and wants to advertise how skillful his handiwork has been.

So, if you see a cart for sale that you think is suspect, check the above list to see if it really did get an AES release. If the art etc. looks iffy, check the cart pics here for comparison.

As for which carts can be converted, it's one area of knowledge I have quite a few gaps in. I know the basics: that a sacrificial ('sac') cart is needed for the conversion. You remove the ROMs from the MVS cart and replace them with those on the sac cart. You often need to disconnect and reconnect some of the jumpers on the board to make it work, too. I also know that Fatal Fury 3 and Samurai Spirits 3 are favourite sac carts, as they are reasonably plentiful and (I think) have the right ROM placements for conversion. Don't know a lot about that part of it though, sorry.

I have seen some sites with instructions on how to do this kind of mod, but can't link you, for obvious reasons. A quick search should sort you out, though. No side effects as far as I am aware, bar the conversion not being done properly, of course ^^

I think any MVS cart can be converted (although don't quote me on it), although the method and level of difficulty varies.

Look at Buster Broon's excellent sale of top-quality conversions for examples of it done really well to benefit the Neo owner

Hope some of that helps.

[Commander Marklar]

Any way to tell if a cart has been converted/have a conversion? I have a Magician Lord (top game, I'm so weak when it comes to Rastan-ish clones) with, what is kind of obvious on closer inspection, a "reproduction" cover with "www.neogeofreak.com" on the back/in the copyright mark (I'll take a pic if necessary). The game has instructions (very clean too), in black and white (although the cover is colour) and the cart is immaculate, with a glossy sticker on. Shall I open it?!

I don't know the history behind the cart, just curious.

[gossi the dog]

Marklar

I could be wrong but that sounds like a bootleg.

[Jashin]

Nah, no-one would bother converting Magician Lord - it's way too common. Sounds like a 'Freaked' cart. There's a long story behind 'Neo Geo Freaks' - they held the US distibution rights for AES games for a while. Neogeo.com is the place to look for more info. My bet is that your cart is legit, although 'Freaked' - Neo Geo Freak stamps on the back of the insert and in the instructions. They also changed the insert artwork in some cases. Also, every Neo game Iv'e have has black and white instructions, so nothing to worry about there.

[Commander Marklar]

Okay, cool! Like I said, I didn't know any of the history behind the cart, just wanted to put my mind at rest as to what it was (especially as the inlay doesn't match the usual artwork, looking at the links Treb provided).

Thank you, sir! 8)

[jimtendo]

Thanks people, for the information and insight into my question. More than i could've hoped for.

[Treble]

It's harder to stop me talking Neo than it is to start me. And harder to stop Jash buying Neo games than...er....anything

[Super Monkey Balls]

Conversions are great. I don't care what teh l337 say. My JPN MS1 looks exactly the same as the real thing, minus manual and 1/10th the price. Makes no difference to SNK now either. And being able to play MVS only games on the home console rocks.
AFAIK any MVS game can be converted for home use. Some have more difficult protection, requiring more parts and upping the price.
Conversions vary in quality but Deffty's are beautiful. Amazing quality and his own art work.