The Neo-Geo Pocket Color (or NGPC) was released on March 16, 1999 in Japan and was released in the United States on August 6, 1999. It was a 16-bit color hand held game console designed by SNK, the makers of the Neo Geo home console and arcade machine. It came after SNK's original Neo Geo Pocket monochrome handheld, which debuted in 1998 in Japan. In 2000, following SNK's purchase by Japanese Pachinko manufacturer Aruze, the Neo Geo Pocket Color was dropped from both the United States and European markets. It did, however, last until 2001 in Japan.