Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC)
The Neo Geo Pocket Color (also stylized as NEOGEOPOCKET color, often abbreviated as NGPC) is a 16-bit color handheld video game console manufactured by SNK. It is the successor to the SNK monochrome Neo Geo Pocket PDA, which debuted in 1998 in Japan, with full color compatibility. Neo Geo Pocket Color was released on March 16, 1999 in Japan, August 6, 1999 in North America, and October 1, 1999 in Europe, market entry all dominated by Nintendo.
After a good start in sales in the US and Japan with 14 launch headlines (record on time) subsequent low retail support in the US, lack of communication with third-party developers SNK US management, craze about Nintendo "Pokemon" franchise, anticipation of the 32-bit game boy advance as well also strong competition from the Bandice WonderSwan in Japan, led to lower sales in both regions.
Meanwhile, the SNK had been in financial trouble for at least a year; the company soon fell apart, and was bought by American pachinko maker Aruze in January 2000. However, Aruze did not support SNK's gaming business enough, leading to SNK, the founder and several other employees, to leave and form a new company, BrezzaSoft. Eventually, on June 13, 2000, Aruze decided to enter the North American and European markets, marking the end of SNK events worldwide and the discontinuation of Neo Geo hardware and software. However Neo Geo pocket color (and other SNK/Neo Geo products) generally, until 2001 in Japan. It was snk's last video game console, as the company went bankrupt on October 22, 2001.
Despite its failure, Neo Geo Pocket Color was considered an influential system. Many illustrious games have been released for the system such as SNK and Capcom: Millennium Match, King of the Fighter R-2, and other arcade games derived from SNK MVS and AES. It also featured arcade-style microswitched 'snapping stick joysticks', which were praised for their accuracy and well-suited for fighting games. display systems and a 40-hour battery life were also well received.