Recently received mail complaining about lack of n.g.com mail. SO as a favour here is our last coverage on the ATOMISWAVE / SNK news:
1. TITLE “SNK Playmore Rings the Changes (Part 2)” (#211)
Stinger REPORT Skinny!
(17/7/03) A brand-new NeoGeo format launches this month, but the reversion to JAMMA seems more like a stop-gap than a long-erm evolutionary strategy. Also: SNK has pulled the rug out from under previously-sanctioned Neo Geo IP developers in Korea. This move signals ongoing change in global distribution… and may undermine the strength of certain SNK counterfeiting charges in the USA.
(For the full story, go to the Main Report online at – <a href="http://www.thestingerreport.com)" target="_blank">www.thestingerreport.com)</a>
Main REPORT:
SNK Playmore has had a difficult time with Korean developers, as well as the early supporters of the post collapse release schedule. North American distributor Apple Industries fell out early with Aruze and Playmore regarding their right to continue to support SNK properties. Apple is the largest supplier of MVS content beyond SNK America with ‘Metal Slug 4’, ‘Zupapa’ and ‘Sengoku 3’ on their books. This thorn in SNK America’s side was twisted a little more with the announcement last month that Apple had established a continuation of their relationship with Korea’s Eolith, a former SNK Playmore developer.
Eolith Co., (part of the Digital Entertainment Group of Korea) was famous for its development work on ‘King of Fighters 2001’, though unceremoniously was dropped by SNK Playmore for the following sequels, and for any further SNK MVS work. Eolith has developed the 2D puzzle action game ‘BnB - Arcade’ (also known as ‘Balloon & Balloon’), based on a popular Koran online title by Nexon reminiscent of ‘Bomber Man’. The JAMMA compatible ‘GHOST’ motherboard (see Stinger #209) game has had an extremely successful site test, and is expected to be a strong video in the revived video amusement line from Apple. The lack of a comparable product from SNK Playmore will prove an uncomfortable competitor – Apple surprisingly one of the users of the SNK brand and product not targeted for any action.
A big question still hangs over SNK Playmore: do they actually have the ability to ‘release’ new games? The transformation of Sun Amusement to become the SNK operations chief support and supply service hopes to address this issue. But the delay in the newly named “SVC: Chaos” (to avoid issues with name utilization) in Japan, let alone internationally has sparked off the concerns once again.
SNK NeoGeo USA Corp., (the American SNK Playmore subsidiary), has a lot to prove in releasing SVC: Chaos, already delayed from the original July release (possibly impacted by the new hardware configuration). The system has also been redeveloped for North American application, released in a special ‘NeoGeo Single Board Game JAMMA’ system (described by officials as a ‘one-slot integrated board'). A striking testament to both the expected popularity of the game, but also a need to negate bootleggers and ‘rippers’ of MVS cartridges, the system is a open single game JAMMA PCB, but comprising the MVS hardware and a security chipset.
For SNK Playmore all their advances in utilising the previous profitable brand could be for naught if the distribution network is broken beyond repair. The argument regarding the inability to have an effective delivery strategy, and an ability to address the various bootleg holes that exist in the aged MVS structure – have played a prominent role in Sammy management overtures to Playmore regarding possible closer relations. Sammy’s coop ideas have even broached the possibility of reverting in 2004 to the ATOMISWAVE and abandoning the SNK NeoGeo MVS.
The ‘NeoGeo Single Game JAMMA’ board seems a stop-gap measure while SNK Playmore attempts to present a workable solution towards the 13 year old MVS, and its open door policy towards inscription of content. If more games are released in this manner this would be tantamount to abandoning of over 11,000 MVS units in the field, replacing the MVS for this single plug in. Luckily the Sammy alternative is a JAMMA connected device and could be a plug and play solution for existing cabinets. On an R&D level however the ability to run MVS games on the System-X based hardware could offer unique problems. The reason for SNK Playmore accelerated roll-out of titles to utilize the MVS delivery platform before the opportunity is closed.
As previously stated by the Stinger, the ATOMISWAVE transfer would seem highly logical, and would be the shot-in-the-arm that the hardware needs to survive beyond launch, though would all of the considerable MVS installed base would transfer on mass to a new architecture is another issue all together.
Stinger Side Note - at time of writing reliable sources have confirmed that SNK NeoGeo USA have sold out of the first run of SVC: Chaos, and that a second run to address pre-order. As proffered by the Stinger the game would be popular, and that this would be a strain for this growing division. The JAMMA board reverted too by SNK Playmore is still a hard production run, and it is pushing the still fragile operation to the limit. But hopes are high, especially with such a title of import. Sources in Japan have been informed by those close to SNK Playmore that later runs of the game will be on MVS cartridges, though TSR stays skeptical on the facts.
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1. TITLE “SNK Playmore Rings the Changes (Part 2)” (#211)
Stinger REPORT Skinny!
(17/7/03) A brand-new NeoGeo format launches this month, but the reversion to JAMMA seems more like a stop-gap than a long-erm evolutionary strategy. Also: SNK has pulled the rug out from under previously-sanctioned Neo Geo IP developers in Korea. This move signals ongoing change in global distribution… and may undermine the strength of certain SNK counterfeiting charges in the USA.
(For the full story, go to the Main Report online at – <a href="http://www.thestingerreport.com)" target="_blank">www.thestingerreport.com)</a>
Main REPORT:
SNK Playmore has had a difficult time with Korean developers, as well as the early supporters of the post collapse release schedule. North American distributor Apple Industries fell out early with Aruze and Playmore regarding their right to continue to support SNK properties. Apple is the largest supplier of MVS content beyond SNK America with ‘Metal Slug 4’, ‘Zupapa’ and ‘Sengoku 3’ on their books. This thorn in SNK America’s side was twisted a little more with the announcement last month that Apple had established a continuation of their relationship with Korea’s Eolith, a former SNK Playmore developer.
Eolith Co., (part of the Digital Entertainment Group of Korea) was famous for its development work on ‘King of Fighters 2001’, though unceremoniously was dropped by SNK Playmore for the following sequels, and for any further SNK MVS work. Eolith has developed the 2D puzzle action game ‘BnB - Arcade’ (also known as ‘Balloon & Balloon’), based on a popular Koran online title by Nexon reminiscent of ‘Bomber Man’. The JAMMA compatible ‘GHOST’ motherboard (see Stinger #209) game has had an extremely successful site test, and is expected to be a strong video in the revived video amusement line from Apple. The lack of a comparable product from SNK Playmore will prove an uncomfortable competitor – Apple surprisingly one of the users of the SNK brand and product not targeted for any action.
A big question still hangs over SNK Playmore: do they actually have the ability to ‘release’ new games? The transformation of Sun Amusement to become the SNK operations chief support and supply service hopes to address this issue. But the delay in the newly named “SVC: Chaos” (to avoid issues with name utilization) in Japan, let alone internationally has sparked off the concerns once again.
SNK NeoGeo USA Corp., (the American SNK Playmore subsidiary), has a lot to prove in releasing SVC: Chaos, already delayed from the original July release (possibly impacted by the new hardware configuration). The system has also been redeveloped for North American application, released in a special ‘NeoGeo Single Board Game JAMMA’ system (described by officials as a ‘one-slot integrated board'). A striking testament to both the expected popularity of the game, but also a need to negate bootleggers and ‘rippers’ of MVS cartridges, the system is a open single game JAMMA PCB, but comprising the MVS hardware and a security chipset.
For SNK Playmore all their advances in utilising the previous profitable brand could be for naught if the distribution network is broken beyond repair. The argument regarding the inability to have an effective delivery strategy, and an ability to address the various bootleg holes that exist in the aged MVS structure – have played a prominent role in Sammy management overtures to Playmore regarding possible closer relations. Sammy’s coop ideas have even broached the possibility of reverting in 2004 to the ATOMISWAVE and abandoning the SNK NeoGeo MVS.
The ‘NeoGeo Single Game JAMMA’ board seems a stop-gap measure while SNK Playmore attempts to present a workable solution towards the 13 year old MVS, and its open door policy towards inscription of content. If more games are released in this manner this would be tantamount to abandoning of over 11,000 MVS units in the field, replacing the MVS for this single plug in. Luckily the Sammy alternative is a JAMMA connected device and could be a plug and play solution for existing cabinets. On an R&D level however the ability to run MVS games on the System-X based hardware could offer unique problems. The reason for SNK Playmore accelerated roll-out of titles to utilize the MVS delivery platform before the opportunity is closed.
As previously stated by the Stinger, the ATOMISWAVE transfer would seem highly logical, and would be the shot-in-the-arm that the hardware needs to survive beyond launch, though would all of the considerable MVS installed base would transfer on mass to a new architecture is another issue all together.
Stinger Side Note - at time of writing reliable sources have confirmed that SNK NeoGeo USA have sold out of the first run of SVC: Chaos, and that a second run to address pre-order. As proffered by the Stinger the game would be popular, and that this would be a strain for this growing division. The JAMMA board reverted too by SNK Playmore is still a hard production run, and it is pushing the still fragile operation to the limit. But hopes are high, especially with such a title of import. Sources in Japan have been informed by those close to SNK Playmore that later runs of the game will be on MVS cartridges, though TSR stays skeptical on the facts.
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