Most of the scans here came from the NEO•GEO community, whose preservation efforts predate this project by decades. Existing collections like Arcade-Collector and NEO•GEO•SOFT are still active and open for contributions. If you have new scans to share, please consider submitting them there too.

Each scan is documented with a file origin, and where applicable, a contributor name and contribution URL.

Absolutely! However, to ensure the widest reach for preservation, I highly encourage you to also submit your scans to long-standing collections like Arcade-Collector and NEO•GEO•SOFT. These platforms remain active and vital to the scene.

How should I scan my marquees?

If you have access to a flatbed scanner, we aim for archival-quality digital captures. Please use these settings:

• / Resolution: 1200 DPI or higher.
• / File Format: Uncompressed TIFF or PNG (please avoid JPEG if possible).
• / Framing: Scan the marquee flat against the glass. Do not crop the plastic edges; we need the full frame for alignment.

What if I don't have a scanner?

If you have a rare or undocumented marquee, please don't let a lack of hardware stop you! We would much rather have a high-quality smartphone photo than lose the data entirely.

If you're using a phone or camera:

• / Lighting: Use bright, even natural light (avoid direct flash to prevent glare).
• / Steady Shot: Keep the camera as level and steady as possible.
• / High Res: Upload the original, unedited file at its maximum resolution.

Each source image is graded EXCELLENT, GOOD, FAIR, or POOR depending on several factors. These include resolution/DPI, yellowing or discoloration, damage to the original marquee (scratches, tape, etc.), image compression, and artifacts from scanning (stretching, distortion, etc.).

The grade is somewhat subjective, but generally follows these rules:

• EXCELLENT
  The image is print-quality or can be restored to print-quality with minor color grading.
• GOOD
  The image is an acceptable resolution and quality, but not print-quality. Minor damage/imperfections may be present, but they are easily removed in image-editing software.
• FAIR
  Low resolution and has discoloration or damage that is not completely resolvable with image-editing software.
• POOR
  The source is very low resolution, has significant damage, or is not even a scan (e.g., an image from an eBay listing).

A source image being restored does not mean that the restoration is print-quality. It means that the restoration has been improved to the extent that the original source allows.

This process typically includes a combination of the following steps:

• / Color-grading to correctly match white and black levels and reduce yellowing
• / Dust and scratch removal
• / Cropping to exact edges of the marquee
• / Reducing light-bleed from the edge of the marquee
• / Correcting scanning artifacts like distortion or stretching
• / Reduction of JPEG artifacting

Note that the color accuracy of restored images is a best guess. I don't own pristine quality mini marquees for every game to confirm color accuracy--if I did, I'd be scanning them!

By cross-referencing several resources like Arcade-Collector, NEO•GEO•SOFT, MVS-Artsets and the MVS Mini Marquee Global Master List Thread, we've assembled a prospective database tracking which marquees were available for each locale.

Documentation for mini-marquee localizations other than English and Japanese is currently quite sparse. If you have details, images, or information regarding specific regional releases, please submit an issue on GitHub to help us fill in the gaps.

Over the years, as files moved between various forums and databases, original attribution was sometimes lost. I am actively working to track down and credit the original contributors.

Many high-quality fan-made replacements have also been mistaken for official NEO•GEO releases. To make this archive as accurate as possible, I have performed an extensive audit to ensure every asset is correctly documented.

Note however, we proudly host fan edits! These are strictly categorized and marked with a FAN-MADE to distinguish them from original mini-marquee scans.

If you spot an error, please reach out!