10.31.99
New Games
SNK recently updated its Japanese NGP Homepage with info and pictures of previously announced titles such as Biomotor Unitron 2, SNK vs. Capcom: Battle of the Strongest Fighters, Tusnagete Pon 2, and Faselei!. We've added some of these images to our previews of SNK vs. Capcom and Biomotor Unitron 2.

Dates n' Stuff
The Coming Soon section has been updated with new dates for Towers: Lord Baniff's Deceit (thanks Keith), Biomotor Unitron 2, Tsunagete Pon 2, and Faselei!. Many sites lately have been saying that the US version of SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium (its new title) will not be released until early next year. This is prue speculation, as SNK USA has yet announce an official date other than their previous December one. Also on the subject of SNK vs. Capcom, we've recently learned that SNK vs. Capcom: Card Clash supports the Wireless Link. Its status has been updated in the Coming Soon and Software Info sections.

Links
A link to Mai's Place has been added to the Links section.

10.28.99
NGP - Year One
As mentioned in our last update, the anniversary of the Neo Geo Pocket's release is upon us. To commemorate it, we've compiled info, impressions, and editorials in a special feature called NGP - Year One. Take a look by clicking Here, or using the image above.

SNK vs. Capcom - CARD CLASH
With the recent Japanese release of SNK vs. Capcom, a question on everyone's mind has been Language support. Finally, thanks to NGP gamer Ron Kiser, we know the answer. It might be a bit disappointing to hear, but SNK vs. Capcom CARD CLASH does not support English text display. Though, with the US version due in November, it shouldn't be too long of a wait for English card-battlin' goodness. Thanks a lot to Ron for confirming this!

10.27.99
Special Announcement
For the past few weeks, we've been preparing a special feature...for a special day. That day is October 28th, the 1 year anniversary of the Neo Geo Pocket's release in Japan. To commemorate it, we've complied info and impressions from early '98 to the present in a special featured called NGP - Year One. We're currently rushing to get everything coded and ready to go, and we hope you'll all enjoy it, or at the very least find it an interesting read. It should be up and available online sometime on the night of the 28th.

News Bits
For many, a prayer has just been answered. According to the trusty folks at The Magic Box, Blaze, a Japanese peripheral manufacturer has released an NGPC Magnifer/screen light/screen protector called the Light Magnifier Pro. Check out the 'Box for more info and pics of the unit.

Quick Note
If you have e-mailed substance J within the past week and have yet to receive a reply, it will be answered over the weekend. As you can imagine, things have been more busy than usual lately. Thanks!

10.24.99
New Releases
It's finally happened - the wave October 21st software, hardware, and accessories have been released in Japan and should be hitting most major US importers tomorrow morning. One question on everyone's mind is English support. Densha De Go! 2, Pocket Lover ~if~, Party Mail, and Bokesuro Aruze Kingdom will most likely be Japanese-only, while there is a good chance SNK vs. Capcom will support English text. Thanks to Tommy Faasen, we can already confirm that Beast Busters ~ Dark Arms does indeed support English text display (while on the subject, SNK of Japan has recently added a Beast Busters page). Tommy also confirmed that Japanese software has begun shipping in cardstock boxes, as expected. Tomorrow we hope to get word from NCS or Tronix as to the language support of the other titles.

Future Releases
The Coming Soon section has been updated with a new US title, Towers: Lord Baniff's Deceit. Also in development for Gameboy Color, the NGPC version was recently listed in a Telegames catalog (you might recall Telegames as "those wacky Jaguar supporters"). The game is being developed by JV Games and published by Telegames. Info on the GBC version can be found Telegames' page. Thanks to Keith Tujague and The Scott for letting us know about it. Also, our Software Availability section has been updated with the status of the 10/21 releases and so forth.

Fish, Chips, and NGPC
On Thursday, Gamefan.com reported that 10,000 Neo Geo Pocket Color units have been sold in the UK since the system's launch in late September.

Links
A link to "Pocket UK" has been added to the Links section.

Official Dreamcast Magazine does NGPC
Recently substance J picked up the latest issue of Imagine Media's Official Dreamcast Magazine (shown above), simply for the Demo GD rather than the editorial content (*ahem*). Unsurprisingly, they have begun covering the Neo Geo Pocket Color to a limited extent. Features include software profiles and some highly outdated pictures of Sonic for NGPC. While their coverage of NGPC is considerably less impressive than Gamers Republic or Gamefan's, it's good to see that the SNK/Sega relationship is being utilized.

Viva le Links =)
The Links section has been updated with a link to the NGP Zone, a French NGPC site featuring reviews, previews, news, etc (in French, of course).

Diving Dates
Word from SNKUSA is that the US release date of Sacnoth's classy simRPG, Dive Alert, has seemingly been depth charged into next year (OK OK, enough submarine gags). Unfortunately, the North American version of the Wireless Link will not be available until January 2000, so SNKUSA has opted to delay the release of Dive Alert until then. A shame, but at least we've got tons of other killer titles to hold us through the Holiday season.

Demos
For all 3* of you reading this article who do not yet own an NGPC, we've gotten word from our EB buddy, Hotarubi, that NGPC Demo Units have shipped to Electronic Boutique stores, and are set up and ready to go.
*fictional number used simply for the sake of cheap comedy

Pro Baseball info...really?!
The Software Info/Availability Page has been updated with the multi-lingual status of ADK's incredibly scarce Professional Baseball (which reportedly puts Baseball Stars to shame). Big thanks to Kevin Floyd for the info, as we've been searching for ages.

Power Issues
Magic Box has recently reported that SNK will be releasing a Charger Set on November 25th, for ¥4400 ($45). The Charger Set will contain the Charging unit and nickel hydrogen batteries. When charged, the two batteries provide 30+ hours of operation. The items will also be available separately, the Charger for ¥3500 ($33), and the two batteries for ¥1100 ($10). Since the cost of normal batteries is relatively low, and the NGPC uses them very efficiently, the Charger Set seems like a rather frivolous expense.

And for our male readers...
snk_girl.jpg - No comment.

Other Stuff
September's news has been archived (link below), and the Software Info page has been updated to reflect current status of the US market.