Neo Geo:UNIVERSE BIOS (UniBIOS)

UniBIOS menu.

The UNIVERSE BIOS (UniBIOS for short) is a custom bios that can be used on MVS and AES hardware. The main reason for installing UniBIOS is to change the region and mode between Arcade and Console modes on boot, but it adds a multitude of features. You can either purchase an EEPROM with UniBIOS preloaded, or you can download UniBIOS and flash it to your own blank EEPROM.

UniBIOS is also available for the Neo Geo CD, but it's in an experimental state.

Features

In-game cheat menu.

Full feature list.

• The ability to quickly and easily change operation from MVS to AES. Play your favorite games as the home console version enabling all the extra gameplay options that come with some games.
• The ability to quickly and easily change country region (great for games that disable blood under USA region).
• Access to the DEBUG DIP's and DEVELOPER mode.
• In-game cheat engine with built-in codes as well as the ability to patch any memory address.
• Hiscore saving support on AES hardware (memory card required).
• PICKnMIX (161-in-1 cart required), see menu for more information.
• Jukebox player to listen to game music directly from games.
• A ROM CRC32 check where you can confirm a game's program ROM are good.
• True USA region support (correct coin display on bottom left and right of screen in the same way a true USA BIOS does).
• Arcade VS-MODE support which is known to be in the version 6 JAPAN bios. Turn this feature on via hard dip 2.
• PC-2-NEO which gives the ability to upload and download data from the system using a cable which can be easily built.
• Remapping of coin switches to select buttons and visa versa. This allows a SNK joypad pad to do everything.
• Once region and operation mode is set the BIOS will remember settings until you change them again (memory card required on AES hardware for this to work).
• Access to the standard Memory Card Utility no matter what Mode the BIOS is in (one could never access this menu with the normal MVS BIOS).
• Access to Test Mode on boot without the need of wiring the Test Mode JAMMA pins or fiddling with DIP's.
• Enhancements to the TEST MODE menu and hardware test screens.
• Hide DEV slot check messages (and red warning screens) from some games when running on MVS hardware in console mode or AES hardware in arcade mode.
• Look at internal memory with the built in memory viewer. This is handy for tracking faults with slots that don't work (multislot hardware) or carts that simply won't start.
• The ability to soft reboot the system without the need of powering off and on.
• Allows full fatalities in the AES unfixed cart of Samurai Shodown V Special.

Installation

• If you're installing a UniBIOS, these round DIP adapters are better quality than the flat ones:  https://www.peconnectors.com/sockets-dip-ic-machined/hws2632/

Solderless Install

These models have a socketed BIOS that can be popped out using your fingers and replaced with a UniBIOS EEPROM:

• MV-1
• MV-1A(CH)
• MV-1F(S/T)
• MV-1FZ
• MV-(2F/4F/6F)

Standard Solder Install

The following models do not have a socketed BIOS, so the existing chip will need to be desoldered:

• All AES models
• Front-loader Neo Geo CD
• MV-1AX
• MV-1ACHX

Advanced Solder Install

The following models have a non-standard socketed BIOS, so the existing chip will need to be desoldered and it requires a special installation method:

• Top-loader Neo Geo CD
• MV-1B
• MV-1C

Usage

Official instructions

PICKnMIX

Official information