Originally heard on http://fighters.net.
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(from GameSpot News/EGM)
SNK's Future Plans
"The president of SNK talks about the future of the company.
As you know, SNK is now a subsidiary of Aruze. SNK is known for its NeoGeo console and several fighting games such as Fatal Fury, Samurai Showdown, and The King of Fighters. However, since the company was acquired by Aruze, there have been questions about the company's role in the console industry. You have heard several facts- such as Capcom's buyout of the company's game rights or former staff members establishing new companies - over the past few months, but today we bring you a clearer , more up-to-date picture of SNK's future. This is from the president of SNK subsiderary, who is vice-president of Aruze of Japan,Kazunari Kitano:
"SNK is about to see great changes, and we're currently in the midst of working toward these changes. Under the Aruze group, our development staff will be working with the parent company [Aruze] to develop pachinko games only," Kazunari Kitano, president of SNK, said recently. According to Kitano, among the 500 staff members, approximately 200 have moved on to develop pachinko and related games, and 20 to 30 remain under the video game development umbrella, primarily focusing on developing pachinko simulation games for the NeoGeo Pocket. The remaining members have moved to Aruze, and about half of them are in the Osaka development division of the company, working on pachinko games for home consoles except Dreamcast.
As for SNK's hardware and software, the NeoGeo console may continue to thrive as long as third parties will release games for it (for Aruze/SNK will no longer develop or produce any games for it), and the NeoGeo Pocket will now be available as prizes in pachinko games. Although no new console games have been announced, GameSpot has learned that Aruze will publish (but NOT develop) new fighting games in the future.
The King of Fighters 2000 for the NeoGeo and Last Blade 2 Final Edition for the Dreamcast will be SNK's last games as a publisher and developer. Both are scheduled for a December release in Japan. There will be no Dreamcast version of King of Fighters 2000, and in the future, all Aruze home games will be Playstation 2 Japanese releases. No games will be made or released in US homes and arcades.
As for the future,SNK says that "Our days as a fighting game developer are over. We have a few things left up our sleeves for fighting fans, but in 2001, our business strategy will be pachinko only.The King of Fighters 2001 will be our true last game. Since our other fighting game franchises are now owned by another company (Capcom of Japan now owns Samurai Showdown, Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting), we have to proceed and develop other alternatives to fighting games."
-By Yukiyoshi Sato, GameSpot VG"
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Well, this puts down every rumor that I heard about Samruai Shodown 5, Metal Slug 4, Last Blade 3, and a new Fatal Fury.
Does anybody know if this is 100% accurate? I remeber hearing rumors about the 80 members leaving SNK for Capcom, and the Samurai Shodown & Fatal Fury liscenses being bought by Capcom but this is saying it is official.
Sorry for the long read, but can anybody confim or deny this for sure? Thanks...
[This message has been edited by HAOHMARU (edited October 08, 2000).]
* * * * *
(from GameSpot News/EGM)
SNK's Future Plans
"The president of SNK talks about the future of the company.
As you know, SNK is now a subsidiary of Aruze. SNK is known for its NeoGeo console and several fighting games such as Fatal Fury, Samurai Showdown, and The King of Fighters. However, since the company was acquired by Aruze, there have been questions about the company's role in the console industry. You have heard several facts- such as Capcom's buyout of the company's game rights or former staff members establishing new companies - over the past few months, but today we bring you a clearer , more up-to-date picture of SNK's future. This is from the president of SNK subsiderary, who is vice-president of Aruze of Japan,Kazunari Kitano:
"SNK is about to see great changes, and we're currently in the midst of working toward these changes. Under the Aruze group, our development staff will be working with the parent company [Aruze] to develop pachinko games only," Kazunari Kitano, president of SNK, said recently. According to Kitano, among the 500 staff members, approximately 200 have moved on to develop pachinko and related games, and 20 to 30 remain under the video game development umbrella, primarily focusing on developing pachinko simulation games for the NeoGeo Pocket. The remaining members have moved to Aruze, and about half of them are in the Osaka development division of the company, working on pachinko games for home consoles except Dreamcast.
As for SNK's hardware and software, the NeoGeo console may continue to thrive as long as third parties will release games for it (for Aruze/SNK will no longer develop or produce any games for it), and the NeoGeo Pocket will now be available as prizes in pachinko games. Although no new console games have been announced, GameSpot has learned that Aruze will publish (but NOT develop) new fighting games in the future.
The King of Fighters 2000 for the NeoGeo and Last Blade 2 Final Edition for the Dreamcast will be SNK's last games as a publisher and developer. Both are scheduled for a December release in Japan. There will be no Dreamcast version of King of Fighters 2000, and in the future, all Aruze home games will be Playstation 2 Japanese releases. No games will be made or released in US homes and arcades.
As for the future,SNK says that "Our days as a fighting game developer are over. We have a few things left up our sleeves for fighting fans, but in 2001, our business strategy will be pachinko only.The King of Fighters 2001 will be our true last game. Since our other fighting game franchises are now owned by another company (Capcom of Japan now owns Samurai Showdown, Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting), we have to proceed and develop other alternatives to fighting games."
-By Yukiyoshi Sato, GameSpot VG"
* * * * * *
Well, this puts down every rumor that I heard about Samruai Shodown 5, Metal Slug 4, Last Blade 3, and a new Fatal Fury.
Does anybody know if this is 100% accurate? I remeber hearing rumors about the 80 members leaving SNK for Capcom, and the Samurai Shodown & Fatal Fury liscenses being bought by Capcom but this is saying it is official.
Sorry for the long read, but can anybody confim or deny this for sure? Thanks...
[This message has been edited by HAOHMARU (edited October 08, 2000).]