The Neo Geo CD game console from SNK was released in 1994, four years after its cartridge-based equivalent, in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs.

It is the second model with a CD drive, replacing a front loading machine, and the third of the home Neo Geo family of consoles. The system was originally priced at around US$300. It has a single speed CD-ROM drive making loading times relatively long as a result.

However, the trade-off was that Neo Geo CD game prices were much cheaper at $50 each, whereas the the Neo Geo AES game cartridges could cost as much as $300 each.

The system can also play Audio CDs and all three versions of the system have no region-lock.

The Neo Geo CD was bundled with a control pad instead of a joystick like the AES version. However, the original AES joystick could be used with all three Neo Geo CD models, instead of the included control pads.

Manufacturer: SNK
Date: 1994

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH21343. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.