and you might:
Fog Lift on Neo-Geo Future!
Word on the Street
Though the information is still highly sketchy, it is becoming more clear the shape of the new relationship between the new SNK and future licensors. We've previously written of the possibility of a new King of Fighters, and the involvement of the Korean amusement company Eolith and software developer BessaSoft, but now with the announcement of further facts about Eolith and their KOF license with SNK, the scope of the opportunity for operators prepared to support the platform look good.
Here and elsewhere, there has been much media speculation about exactly which Neo-Geo MVS software titles might be released for use in the considerable number of MVS cabinets still in operation. This speculation has triggered considerable anger from international information sources. Veiled threats and brow beating methods have been employed to deter media coverage. One magazine reporter commented that he had been called up by one distributor and bullied (with the threat of advertising suspension) not to talk about speculated releases.
Sink's official Japanese web site has formally announced Zupa Pa! for imminent release this year, while King Of Fighter 2001 has been announced on the Eolith web site. This official confirmation of those controversial rumors has left a great amount of egg on the face of those International distributors. Their feeling of betrayal must be immense. They were originally promised that all those pesky rumors were unfounded. The next thing they knew, SNK's breakaway management had regained some autonomy following boardroom battles with Aruze And, having regained the upper hand regarding the valuable game content, the SNK officials turned around and confirmed the planned release of exactly those titles that distributors had denied so gracelessly.
Another interesting leak of information from Asia has revealed that Taiwanese manufacturer IGS has developed a PCB (under the PGN cartridge platform developed by IGS) that the factory hopes will fill the void from the closure of the Metal Slug 4 development team. Metal Slug has proven to be one of the most successful Neo-Geo platform shooters, the game having won an incredible following. The prospect of MS4 was eagerly awaited, and the news of the team's disbandment proved a hard blow for SNK supports. Building on this loyalty for the horizontal comical shooter, the IGS game -- named Demon Fantasy -- bears a striking resemblance to the Metal Slug style, even emulating style of play and some characters. IGS was able to directly borrow from the SNK brand.
The Players
Following the majority purchase of SNK and Seta by Aruze during 2000, SNK underwent an extensive reshaping and a forced relocation. These changes set off an internal feud and SNK executives have since regained more autonomy over their operation. The latter part of past months have seen the first victories for SNK, returning to their old (autonomous) location, and the internal direction to salvage R&D projects towards release to support a loyal following. The selling off of the 'family silver' (popular properties) has been suspended, though Eolith has been supported towards a presentation at JAMMA of their working of King Of Fighters 2001, on the SNK booth. A presentation that has been placed in some doubt even though the game is expected to start testing in October.
What Could this all Mean
With the strong-arm attitude of certain International distributors that attempted to control the information interchange regarding possible SNK releases, an example of the 'shake-up' in the reporting of amusement news has been highlighted. The loss of a slew of amusement trade media over the past nine months has emulated the 'all bets are off' scenario seen in the International coin-op distribution sector. Private 'gentleman's agreements' that existed between manufacturer, distributor and magazine concerning publication of news have in this new dawn been effectively torn up, resulting in a free-for-all for those still able to stand. The loss of this 'secretive' censorship is a hard change to comprehend for those distributors that have been used to controlling information circulation.
Yes it's a little old.
Fog Lift on Neo-Geo Future!
Word on the Street
Though the information is still highly sketchy, it is becoming more clear the shape of the new relationship between the new SNK and future licensors. We've previously written of the possibility of a new King of Fighters, and the involvement of the Korean amusement company Eolith and software developer BessaSoft, but now with the announcement of further facts about Eolith and their KOF license with SNK, the scope of the opportunity for operators prepared to support the platform look good.
Here and elsewhere, there has been much media speculation about exactly which Neo-Geo MVS software titles might be released for use in the considerable number of MVS cabinets still in operation. This speculation has triggered considerable anger from international information sources. Veiled threats and brow beating methods have been employed to deter media coverage. One magazine reporter commented that he had been called up by one distributor and bullied (with the threat of advertising suspension) not to talk about speculated releases.
Sink's official Japanese web site has formally announced Zupa Pa! for imminent release this year, while King Of Fighter 2001 has been announced on the Eolith web site. This official confirmation of those controversial rumors has left a great amount of egg on the face of those International distributors. Their feeling of betrayal must be immense. They were originally promised that all those pesky rumors were unfounded. The next thing they knew, SNK's breakaway management had regained some autonomy following boardroom battles with Aruze And, having regained the upper hand regarding the valuable game content, the SNK officials turned around and confirmed the planned release of exactly those titles that distributors had denied so gracelessly.
Another interesting leak of information from Asia has revealed that Taiwanese manufacturer IGS has developed a PCB (under the PGN cartridge platform developed by IGS) that the factory hopes will fill the void from the closure of the Metal Slug 4 development team. Metal Slug has proven to be one of the most successful Neo-Geo platform shooters, the game having won an incredible following. The prospect of MS4 was eagerly awaited, and the news of the team's disbandment proved a hard blow for SNK supports. Building on this loyalty for the horizontal comical shooter, the IGS game -- named Demon Fantasy -- bears a striking resemblance to the Metal Slug style, even emulating style of play and some characters. IGS was able to directly borrow from the SNK brand.
The Players
Following the majority purchase of SNK and Seta by Aruze during 2000, SNK underwent an extensive reshaping and a forced relocation. These changes set off an internal feud and SNK executives have since regained more autonomy over their operation. The latter part of past months have seen the first victories for SNK, returning to their old (autonomous) location, and the internal direction to salvage R&D projects towards release to support a loyal following. The selling off of the 'family silver' (popular properties) has been suspended, though Eolith has been supported towards a presentation at JAMMA of their working of King Of Fighters 2001, on the SNK booth. A presentation that has been placed in some doubt even though the game is expected to start testing in October.
What Could this all Mean
With the strong-arm attitude of certain International distributors that attempted to control the information interchange regarding possible SNK releases, an example of the 'shake-up' in the reporting of amusement news has been highlighted. The loss of a slew of amusement trade media over the past nine months has emulated the 'all bets are off' scenario seen in the International coin-op distribution sector. Private 'gentleman's agreements' that existed between manufacturer, distributor and magazine concerning publication of news have in this new dawn been effectively torn up, resulting in a free-for-all for those still able to stand. The loss of this 'secretive' censorship is a hard change to comprehend for those distributors that have been used to controlling information circulation.
Yes it's a little old.
