SNK Neo Geo CD/Neo Geo CDZ

Summary

The Neo Geo is a console with modules, which can be found mainly in arcades. The Neo Geo AES is the home version, but the modules are still very expensive. As a consequence, SNK launches the Neo GEO CD, where the software is delivered on CDs. The hardware does not change anything, but SNK can reduce production costs. Two models deliver SNK, once with a CD drive on the front (“front loader”), which is only sold in Japan, and a version with top-loader installed above, which finds worldwide customers. But the console is not really successful either, because the drive has only simple speed. A year later, SNK tries again with the follow-up model Neo GEO CDZ and a drive with double speed and more cache memory. However, it appears only in Japan and is also not particularly successful.