Evie from Backbit has just opened pre-orders on their new ROM Cart for the Neo Geo. The price is $400, which includes an injection-molded case. Delivery to customers is expected around April. This is a fully-functional ROM Cart (not a “multi-cart” like the infamous 161-in-1), that supports all original games, as well as most homebrew and even multiplayer link games! It’s also the fastest loading Neo Geo ROM cart on the market, as demonstrated in the short video above. More info below the link:
Pre-Order Here: https://store.backbit.io/product/backbit-platinum-mvs/
I think price and speed are truly what make this cart stand out from the rest; At $400, it’s far cheaper than the Darksoft and Neo SD Pro and while the original Neo SD eventually sold for a bit cheaper, it’s much slower to load games. The short video I put together above truly demonstrates that: The Backbit cart took 12 seconds to load King Of Fighters 2003, which was by far the fastest. The Darksoft cart only took 22 seconds, however that’s with only one game selected; If all slots were filled it would take much longer. The Neo SD Pro’s flash loading took 55 seconds and the original Neo SD took three minutes and twelve seconds to load the same game. While sure, re-loading on the Neo SD is instant, the moment you switch to another game, you have to wait the full time, whereas the Backbit is always 12 seconds or less to load!
Neo Geo ROM carts are often out of stock, with even the 161-in-1 multi’s being hard to find these days. If Evie can keep these in stock and maybe even offer an AES version (or sell an MVS to AES converter), this has the potential to be the Neo Geo ROM cart to buy. A review from Scarlet Sprites should be out relatively soon and more info can be found on the main page.
Here’s the full list of features:
- Loads any game from MicroSD in under 12 seconds
- Supports all original titles, and homebrews up to MAX 840 MEGA (512 CROM, 128 VAROM, 128 VBROM, 64 PROM, 4 SROM, 4 MROM)
- Multiplayer link cable support (for use in League Bowling, Riding Hero, Thrash Rally, and upcoming homebrews)
- Switchable MVS Link (daisy-chained with up to 4 MVS systems) or AES Link (your MVS system together with a single AES system)
- Supports MicroSD card in FAT32 or ExFAT format (up to 2TB)
- Unencrypted games require no conversion from unzipped MAME style ROM format
- Encrypted games can be converted with open source tool
- Built-in menu for easy navigation
- USB-C port to streamline development
- Diagnostic mode (for use alongside diagnostic BIOS)
- Firmware upgradeable with MicroSD card
- Housed in high quality injection molded ABS case
- Note: As this is a pre-order, some details may be subject to change.
