This page will contain all sorts of background information including a Glossary of phrases and terms relevant to Video Gaming.

What is an Obi Card/Strip

A paper strip that is usually tied around the left side of a CD cover. The purpose of the obi strip is to translate the title of the product into Japanese and provide useful information for the consumer. It also contains a UPC (Universal Product Code), the UPC contains product information in electronic form read by a bar-code scanner or manually typed number.
Strangely Obi cards can be collectable in themselves and can greatly effect the value of an import Video Game.

What's Neo Geo then ?

Neo Geo ("New World") Was the dream machine developed by SNK. A cartridge based platform which featured specifications far ahead of its time. Two main incarnations were developed, the AES and MVS. SNK also produced several CD based units, to reach a larger audience.

SNK, does that stand for summin ?

Shin Nihon Kikaku (Japanese for "new Japanese project/endeavor"). Started life in 1978 as a toy and coin-op company in Osaka, Japan. In 1989 SNK took the Arcade industry by storm with the MVS. A cartridge based mainboard allowing Arcade owners to easily swap a game without replacing the whole unit. Later in 1990 SNK release the AES to the home market for purchase which was litterally the MVS for home use, more powerfull than any system at the time.

What's all this about JAMMA then?

Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association . A standard agreed on by the Japanese Arcade and Amusement industry to develop hardware conforming to a global standard allowing arcade vendors to easily incorporate new equipment into existing cabinets. Basically allowing an arcade cabinet to take many different games without the owner replacing the whole unit every time a new game comes out.