diff --git a/hash/neogeo.xml b/hash/neogeo.xml
index 6458ed4044a..8e4a6581d64 100644
--- a/hash/neogeo.xml
+++ b/hash/neogeo.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,24 @@
 <?xml version="1.0"?>
 <!DOCTYPE softwarelist SYSTEM "softwarelist.dtd">
 
+<!-- The list contains both MVS and AES cartridges.
+     
+     For the majority of official titles the actual ROM data contained in the cartridges is compatible across systems, the actual codepath taken
+     depends upon the bios used.
+     
+     The only real difference with the cartridges is the physical form of the cartridges which allowed a delayed release of the game for AES
+     systems at a higher cost.  Due to this many adapters are available which plug into an AES unit allowing you to plug any standard MVS cart
+     into the system.  Reverse adapters exist, although were less common because there was no reason to use them.  All MVS carts can be used
+     with AES systems so there is no reason to have separate lists especially when in the majority of cases the data is identical.
+     
+     The primary MVS / AES releases are marked in the list for documentation purposes, typically the first AES release is just a later revision
+     of the game code with additional bugfixes etc. when compared to the primary MVS release.
+     
+     Todo: games which are actually incompatible between systems (the first release of kof2001, and many of the bootlegs / hacks) should be
+           tagged with compatibility tags.
+
+-->
+
 <softwarelist name="neogeo" description="SNK Neo-Geo cartridges">
 
   <!--***************************************
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/neogeo.c b/src/mame/drivers/neogeo.c
index 5a28b0bdb3d..f1291cd523d 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/neogeo.c
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/neogeo.c
@@ -1275,7 +1275,7 @@ INPUT_PORTS_END
 
 
 
-static DEVICE_IMAGE_LOAD( neo_cartridge )
+DEVICE_IMAGE_LOAD( neo_cartridge )
 {
 	UINT32 size;
 	device_t* ym = image.device().machine().device("ymsnd");
diff --git a/src/mame/includes/neogeo.h b/src/mame/includes/neogeo.h
index 623fd9a4763..90b3b8a3a72 100644
--- a/src/mame/includes/neogeo.h
+++ b/src/mame/includes/neogeo.h
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ void neogeo_set_display_counter_lsb(address_space *space, UINT16 data);
 void neogeo_acknowledge_interrupt(running_machine &machine, UINT16 data);
 void neogeo_set_main_cpu_bank_address(address_space *space, UINT32 bank_address);
 READ16_HANDLER( neogeo_unmapped_r );
+DEVICE_IMAGE_LOAD( neo_cartridge );
 
 
 /*----------- defined in machine/neocrypt.c -----------*/
@@ -224,3 +225,5 @@ WRITE16_HANDLER( neogeo_paletteram_w );
 void neogeo_set_fixed_layer_source(running_machine &machine, UINT8 data);
 
 UINT8 neogeo_get_auto_animation_counter(running_machine &machine);
+
+