Two decades on, the system stubbornly refuses to shuffle off its mortal coil. Thirdparty software is still in development,and it’s even possible to purchase ‘new’ consoles thanks to the efforts of Analogue Interactive.
The company released a handmade wooden Consolised MVS system last year, and it promptly sold out. Fashioned from 100% walnut and containing the resurrected guts of a Neo Geo Multi Video System (MVS) arcade unit, it swiftly became a collector’s item. The astonishing level of interest shown in the machine has encouraged Analogue Interactive to have another bite, this time with the revised CMVS Slim. I’ve been lucky enough to get our grubby hands on one of the first units off the production line, and did what any like-minded gaming enthusiast would - spent the entire festive period testing it to destruction.
Available in Walnut Brown and Ebonized Ash hues, this new unit looks very similar to last year’s model, but around the back you’ll find the number of audio and visual outputs has been drastically reduced. Instead of a confusing array of sockets, there’s just a single port which handles component, RGB SCART, composite and S-Video. The console is powered by a small multi-voltage power supply, which comes with interchangeable plugs so it can be used in both North America and Europe.
Like the original Analogue Interactive CMVS, the Slim doesn’t come with a controller. This time around, the company has given buyers a choice at the point of purchase - assuming they’re comfortable with an additional outlay, of course. It has produced a massive controller known as the Analogue Arcade Stick - and yes, you’ve guessed it, it’s also made out of a dead tree.
Calling to mind the massive Neo Geo AES controllers, this stick is an absolute beast. It’s the same size as the console itself, and boasts an identical stick and button layout to the original Neo Geo arcade cabinet. Using parts manufactured by respected Japanese company Seimitsu, this controller feels like it could survive a nuclear apocalypse, and is the perfect way to fully appreciate the Neo’s vast catalogue of fighters, shooters and arcade action titles. As a bonus, it also works on any Neo Geo system - including the old AES and Neo Geo CD.
When you’re looking at bespoke, hand-crafted wooden games consoles and controllers, you’d expect to pay a premium price. That’s certainly true here; the CMVS Slim has an eye-watering price tag of $649, while the Analogue Arcade Stick is a whopping $199. That’s not chump change in anybody's book, but those prices aren’t massively out of sync with what’s currently being asked for fan-made (read: butt-ugly) MVS home conversions. At least this system will look appealing when placed alongside your other high-price consumer tech.
You also have to take into account that MVS cartridges - the ones used in proper Neo Geo arcade cabinets from yesteryear - are much cheaper than their domestic AES equivalents. Although the games are the same, SNK made the MVS and AES carts physically different, so software from one system could not be played on the other. While dusty old AES consoles are cheaper when purchased second hand, the software will ultimately cost you more, negating any saving. There’s also the fact that not every MVS title was released on the AES, so you’re also getting the most complete library of Neo games.
Both the Neo Geo CMVS Slim and Analogue Arcade Stick are available direct from the Analogue Interactive website. If you’ve got a hankering for an authentic Neo experience and are blessed with particularly deep pockets, this gets a hearty thumbs-up.