THE STINGER REPORT #106
More On Neo Geo Group
Word On The Street:
Sources close to the traumatic NeoGeo Group were particularly disquieted by the recent coverage regarding their operation, and have revealed some of the actual day-to-day activities to attempt to prove the viability of their operation. Though the Stinger has not totally altered its skepticism regarding the company's future plans, there seems to be more management heads turning to the problem of how to establish the SNK legacy in a vastly reducing market place.
A disclosure last month, still to be fully amplified, suggested that Sun Amusement and BrezzaSoft would work closer together with the possibility of a total merger of the operation so giving the amusement manufacturing and operation of the Japanese NeoGeo Group a internal software development presence. Whether this would see the adoption of the Crystal System as the day-facto replacement to the current thirteen-year-old Neo-Geo MVS architecture it was far too early to speculate. Many rumors at the time hinted that the short-lived Crystal System bore familiar technology to the Neo-Geo architecture. A failed attempt to Internationally sell the Crystal System dashed the company's hopes for hardware independence. A closer relationship with Sun Amusement may offer a more stable revenue stream and platform for the company to develop upon.
Regarding hardware, there proved to be a major move afoot to attack the erosion of the MVS hardware in certain Asian territories.
In an announcement with the start of the SNK NeoGeo HK web site, it was announced that a new MVS architecture would be placed on the market. Designated the NeoGeo MV-1C, the system would be more familiar as a single cartridge (1-slot) MVS unit. For followers of the previous Neo-Geo architecture, a quizzical eyebrow must be being raised! The MV-1C has existed for some time in the line-up of previous MVS systems including the MV-1A, MV-1B, MV-1F and MV-1FZ etc.
For SNK NeoGeo HK to treat this as a new system is intriguing, but to suddenly claim that the MV-1C offers improved graphical performance, better color saturation and an improved operational life-span is clearly a move to try and stamp the 'official' badge on the products bearing their name, and distance themselves from any 'Gray Imports' that have been circulated within this market. Some statements were made to certain sites that the SNK NeoGeo HK MV-1C would be the 'only' platform able to run the highly anticipated (and much delayed) The King Of Fighters 2002, though this has yet to be confirmed by any other source.
Regarding the KoF franchise, news has reached certain sources that Eolith has developed an enhanced version of the original 2001 release of this popular fighter to be supplied exclusively through their operation. Known as The King of Fighter 2001 Plus, and bearing only the Eolith Co. Ltd. 2002 license, the game has been seen at a number of Korean sites who proved closed mouth regarding the linage of this new cartridge in their facility. No official comment has been supplied by Sun Amusement regarding the appearance of this game and it is even speculated that the Korean developer Eolith (who had been embroiled in ownership issues regarding their use of the KoF brand), may have developed a version for their own home market.
It is this misappropriation of intellectual property (IP) that has flared-up in two very interesting ways. Reported after the Stinger REPORT NeoGeo coverage, it would seem that the previous SNK owner Aruze was to be sued by current SNK owner Playmore regarding the use by the former pachinko company of KoF licensed characters in their machines. The attack has been brewing since AOU when the machines in question were seemingly waved in Playmore's face. Aruze is thought to be extremely bitter that they now see the SNK brand moving forward while they felt their tenure as the brand owner was hindered - missing out on the big bucks.
The second interesting development was witnessed by the sudden closure of the SNK NeoGeo USA web site days after it opened. This seems to be linked to what was touched upon by our previous commentary regarding Playmore (NeoGeo Group) and SNK's previous US distributor Apple Industries. A raging brawl that had been played in secret exploded onto the pages of RePlay Magazine. Apple has claimed to be the only source of new Neo-Geo content in the US, claiming that no matter what Playmore claimed Apple would be the only route for US operators to get their hands on future titles. Apple exhibiting they had stock of Metal Slug 4 at AMOA backed this claim. Every attempt by Playmore to independently represent their new SNK NeoGeo products in the US had been thwarted.
Playmore has now taken the drastic step of paying to print a statement formally removing their products representation from Apple as a last ditch attempt towards establishing an official US presence. However the continuing claims by Apple to be able to get SNK titles (as seen on their web site) has not stopped, and the disgruntled former distributor has thrown additional roadblocks to SNK NeoGeo USA's appearance.
Just to conclude - no matter the aspirations of many sources that SNK is back, it is obvious that the SNK brand, rather actual product, is being flaunted. There is a statute of limitation on operator faith in supporting SNK related product - without some concrete evidence to the contrary, the SNK brand and the proposed product line, will find it difficult to establish any foothold outside of Hong Kong!
More On Neo Geo Group
Word On The Street:
Sources close to the traumatic NeoGeo Group were particularly disquieted by the recent coverage regarding their operation, and have revealed some of the actual day-to-day activities to attempt to prove the viability of their operation. Though the Stinger has not totally altered its skepticism regarding the company's future plans, there seems to be more management heads turning to the problem of how to establish the SNK legacy in a vastly reducing market place.
A disclosure last month, still to be fully amplified, suggested that Sun Amusement and BrezzaSoft would work closer together with the possibility of a total merger of the operation so giving the amusement manufacturing and operation of the Japanese NeoGeo Group a internal software development presence. Whether this would see the adoption of the Crystal System as the day-facto replacement to the current thirteen-year-old Neo-Geo MVS architecture it was far too early to speculate. Many rumors at the time hinted that the short-lived Crystal System bore familiar technology to the Neo-Geo architecture. A failed attempt to Internationally sell the Crystal System dashed the company's hopes for hardware independence. A closer relationship with Sun Amusement may offer a more stable revenue stream and platform for the company to develop upon.
Regarding hardware, there proved to be a major move afoot to attack the erosion of the MVS hardware in certain Asian territories.
In an announcement with the start of the SNK NeoGeo HK web site, it was announced that a new MVS architecture would be placed on the market. Designated the NeoGeo MV-1C, the system would be more familiar as a single cartridge (1-slot) MVS unit. For followers of the previous Neo-Geo architecture, a quizzical eyebrow must be being raised! The MV-1C has existed for some time in the line-up of previous MVS systems including the MV-1A, MV-1B, MV-1F and MV-1FZ etc.
For SNK NeoGeo HK to treat this as a new system is intriguing, but to suddenly claim that the MV-1C offers improved graphical performance, better color saturation and an improved operational life-span is clearly a move to try and stamp the 'official' badge on the products bearing their name, and distance themselves from any 'Gray Imports' that have been circulated within this market. Some statements were made to certain sites that the SNK NeoGeo HK MV-1C would be the 'only' platform able to run the highly anticipated (and much delayed) The King Of Fighters 2002, though this has yet to be confirmed by any other source.
Regarding the KoF franchise, news has reached certain sources that Eolith has developed an enhanced version of the original 2001 release of this popular fighter to be supplied exclusively through their operation. Known as The King of Fighter 2001 Plus, and bearing only the Eolith Co. Ltd. 2002 license, the game has been seen at a number of Korean sites who proved closed mouth regarding the linage of this new cartridge in their facility. No official comment has been supplied by Sun Amusement regarding the appearance of this game and it is even speculated that the Korean developer Eolith (who had been embroiled in ownership issues regarding their use of the KoF brand), may have developed a version for their own home market.
It is this misappropriation of intellectual property (IP) that has flared-up in two very interesting ways. Reported after the Stinger REPORT NeoGeo coverage, it would seem that the previous SNK owner Aruze was to be sued by current SNK owner Playmore regarding the use by the former pachinko company of KoF licensed characters in their machines. The attack has been brewing since AOU when the machines in question were seemingly waved in Playmore's face. Aruze is thought to be extremely bitter that they now see the SNK brand moving forward while they felt their tenure as the brand owner was hindered - missing out on the big bucks.
The second interesting development was witnessed by the sudden closure of the SNK NeoGeo USA web site days after it opened. This seems to be linked to what was touched upon by our previous commentary regarding Playmore (NeoGeo Group) and SNK's previous US distributor Apple Industries. A raging brawl that had been played in secret exploded onto the pages of RePlay Magazine. Apple has claimed to be the only source of new Neo-Geo content in the US, claiming that no matter what Playmore claimed Apple would be the only route for US operators to get their hands on future titles. Apple exhibiting they had stock of Metal Slug 4 at AMOA backed this claim. Every attempt by Playmore to independently represent their new SNK NeoGeo products in the US had been thwarted.
Playmore has now taken the drastic step of paying to print a statement formally removing their products representation from Apple as a last ditch attempt towards establishing an official US presence. However the continuing claims by Apple to be able to get SNK titles (as seen on their web site) has not stopped, and the disgruntled former distributor has thrown additional roadblocks to SNK NeoGeo USA's appearance.
Just to conclude - no matter the aspirations of many sources that SNK is back, it is obvious that the SNK brand, rather actual product, is being flaunted. There is a statute of limitation on operator faith in supporting SNK related product - without some concrete evidence to the contrary, the SNK brand and the proposed product line, will find it difficult to establish any foothold outside of Hong Kong!
I say give the project to Evoga, Noise and Evoga are the only two new companies that are making good games... Breeza and Eolith are crap in my eyes... KOF 2001 and 2002 aren't that great of an achievment.
So if you lead off with a boss and you lose, the match is over.
