Dear Future Gamer

Typical, isn't it? We've waited 10 or so years for something to come along and challenge Nintendo's dominance of the UK handheld market. Finally, the NeoGeo Pocket Color arrives. Problem solved? Well, not exactly.

The NeoGeo is much more powerful that its rival, the Game Boy Color. It has a clearer and larger screen, an impressive battery life and substantial third party support. In fact, it seemed to have all the ingredients to be a success, right from its day of release a few months ago. Which all begs the question, why have so few outside the games industry heard of the darn thing?

As Sony have shown, it's selling a machine to the public that guarantees its success. However, what's of paramount importance for SNK is at least making the machine known to everyone. At the moment, they haven't done this. Where are all the posters, TV adverts and promotional units to try out? They're just not here. I don't know how much money SNK have allocated to advertising and publicity, but however much it is, there's nothing of note to show from it.

The NeoGeo is a fine little machine with an already superb catalogue and huge potential, and it's scandalous that a large, experienced company such as SNK haven't even bothered to make it known to its possible audience. SNK, if you carry on at this rate, you'll ruin the rest of its life as well.

Ian Massie

FG: The PR machine's kicking into gear for the NeoGeo Pocket Color, Ian, but these things take time - and, yes, money. The marketing bods at SNK are well aware of what they've got to do and I'm sure they've got a strategy worked out. Give 'em a chance.