Neo Geo Conversions

In the Neo Geo world the arcade version of a game is commonly known as an MVS cartridge. MVS is short for Multi Video System. Though not official, the home version is sometimes called the AES version which is short for Advanced Entertainment System, the name of the home Neo Geo Console.

A converted cartridge is one where the program, sound, music and graphics chips are moved from one format (MVS to AES or AES to MVS) to another. It most instances, this is done when a particular game was never released in the format desired or that if it was released it is ridiculously price prohibited to obtain by most hard working individuals.

The game code is the same. However, in an attempt to keep arcade operators from buying the cheaper AES version, SNK designed the PCBs so that the AES version could not be played on the MVS motherboard. It also kept the home gamer from picking up cheap, used MVS games for play at home after the arcade operator took the game out of circulation.