Neo geo resolution ( english version )

Neo geo always displays 320*224.
For example, Metal Slug is on 320*224 with 2 black columns of 8 pixels.

 So real surface of this game is on 304*224. ( we remove this two black colums of pixels )

That's why Metal Slug is on 304*224.

The question is why the 304 pixels is favored when we can make 320 pixels ?

I think, there are two reasons more or less.

First, pixel clock ( dotclock ) is 6 MHZ, so standard resolution would probably show more like 286 pixels on the Neo Geo, so all remaining pixels are on overscan mode.
If we want to access to all 320 or 304 pixels, we have to use service mode of CRT screen, for example Sony Trinitron. I think that make 304 pixels games, it is a way to limit the pixels lost on the overscan for people that don't use the service mode.
Other reason is when we use the service mode with Sony Trinitron, we can see ghost artifacts at 320 pixels on the first 8 pixels. So, use 304 pixels is a way to dodge the first 8 pixels.
NG Dev team that use 304 pixels for neo geo games, confirmed this.
Here is the answer of  NG Dev team :


  it's because of the overscan/horizontal blank. The behavior of the GPU
is not 100% compatible with consumer CRTs. It's fine on arcade, but Sony
Trinitron screens and maybe others get ghosting artifacts at 320px.

Ghosting artefact here :

I am sure that we don't see ghosting artefact on the best CRT screens as Sony PVM.
It's obvious that on arcade cabinet screen, it is perfect because we can access at full geometry screen easily.

I will make neo geo gamelist by resolution.
For that, i just count gameplay screen, because title screen may be on another resolution than gameplay phase. 

Example :

Top hunter "title screen" is on 304 pixels.

But Top hunter is on 320 pixels, because only gameplay phase does count.

Gamelist on 320x224 pixels.

- 3 Count Bout
- Aero figthers 2 and 3
- Art of fighting 3
- Baseball stars 1 and 2
- Blazing Star
- Raguy
- Breaker's 1 and 2
- Cyber Lip
- Double Dragon
- 8 Man
- All Fatal Fury serie
- Last Blade 1 and 2
- Magician Lord
- Matrimelee
- Nam 75
- All super sidekicks serie
- Ninja Master's
- Rage of the dragons
- Riding hero
- Samurai Shodown 1, 2, 4, 5 and 5 special.
- Sengoku 1, 2 and 3
- Stakes Winner 1 and 2
- Super spy
- Kabuki Klash
- Thrash rally
- Top Hunter
- Strikers 1945
- puzzle bobble 1 and 2
- Nightmare in the dark
- Power spikes 2
- Quiz daisousa sen 1 and 2
- King of the monsters 1
- World heroes 1 and perfect
- Viewpoint
- Ragnagard
- Joe
- Football Frenzy
- Mahjong Retsuden
- Janshin densetsu 


Example :


Sengoku 2 on 304 pixels and just under on 320 pixels .

Gamelist on 304x224 pixels.

- Top player golf
- League Bowling
- Minasan no okagesama
- Ghost Pilots
- Aso 2
- Burning fight
- Crossed swords
- Robo Army
- Bakatonosama
- Soccer Brawl
- Mutation nation
- Ninja commando
- King of the monsters 2
- Andro dunos
- Art of fighting 1 and 2
- World heroes 2 and jet
- Windjammers
- Karnov's revenge
- Fight fever
- Agressors of dark kombat
- All KOF serie
- Street Hoop
- Galaxy Fight
- Quiz KOF
- Savage reign and Kizuna encounter
- Pulstar
- Gowcaiser
- Syouji
- Samurai shodown 3
- Chibi maruko
- Puzzle de pon 1 and puzzle de pon R
- Neo turf master
- Magical drop 2 and 3
- Neo drift out
- All metal slug serie
- Over top
- Waku waku 7
- Money idol exchanger
- Neo bomberman
- Neo mr do
- Irritating maze
- Shock troopers 1 and 2
- Flip shot
- Captain tomaday
- Prehistoric isle 2
- SVC chaos
- Pochi Nyaa
- Goal goal goal
- Tecmo world cup 96
- Super dodgeball
- Pleasure goal
- Pop'n bounce
- Ganryu
- Bang bead
- Crossed swords 2
- Ironclad
- Bang 2 busters
- Ghostlop
- Zintrick


Example :


League bowling has some graphics that touch the 320 pixels limit, but it is better to keep 304 pixels in order to hace visual harmony.


League bowling on 304 pixels and just under on 320 pixels.

Curiosity :


Kof 96 is on 312 pixels but last 8 pixels has blinkings when scrolling is moving.
So it is better to stay in 304 pixels.


Screen of  Kof 96 on 312 pixels.

Gamelist on 312x224 pixels.

- Ninja Combat
- 2020 Super Baseball
- Last Resort
- Panic Bomber


Example :

Panic bomber is on 320*224 with 1 green column of 8 pixels on the right side, that's why it is on 312 pixels.  Title screen on 304 pixels, but gameplay phase on 312 pixels.

Gamelist on 288x224 pixels.
- Puzzled
- Guririn
- Zupapa
- Twinkle star sprites


Zupapa is on 320*224 with 2 black columns of 16 pixels. That's why it is on 288 pixels.

Others games.

Spin master is on  304x216 pixels

Zed blade is on  288x216 pixels


Spin master screen on 320 pixels where we have to remove 8 pixels on left side and 8 pixels on right side.

Zed blade screen on 304 pixels where we have to remove 8 pixels on left side and 8 pixels on right side.

Conclusion.

Super nes and megadrive have many screen graphic modes resolution, but neo geo has only one graphic resolution : 320x224 pixels.
When we see 304 pixels, it is just because pixel artist don't choose to use the whole surface screen.

I hope that gamelist by resolution screen will encourage people that have best CRT screen on the market to make the best adjustement screen .