Sammy buys up SNK's intellectual properties

[Kazuya_UK]

OK, that news announcement from Trieu over at snk-capcom.com is online now:

www.snk-capcom.com/news/archives/00000019.htm

To cut a very long story short, Sammy bought the right to King of Fighters and a bunch of other SNKP properties, but only for the arcade market. This means that Sammy will produce titles for the Atomiswave in the arcade, then SNKP will have full control over releasing ports to the PS2/Xbox for the home market. There are still plans for some more MVS releases by SNKP apparently, but it looks like this truly is the last year for the Neo.

While that in itself might be very sad, this news sounds amazing, and I'm actually quite happy about it... it does make VERY good business sense at the end of the day. Besides, KoF/Metal Slug/Samurai Shodown/Fatal Fury on the atomiswave? Yes please! ;D

Anyway, be sure to read the whole article and then come back and discuss

Kaz

[hullcityfcmad]

that's a pretty good artical.....i think the way forward for future snkp releases is on atomiswave hardware...you've just got to imagine all our fave neo games looking absolutely(more) stunning and at least we know it secures snkp's future.
i know i'd be tempted to invest in the atomiswave hardware knowing that there's going to be a constant flow of games.
i'm imagining Metal Slug 16..................... ;D
hullcityfcmad

[Raiken]

Yes! Just imagioning the kinds of SNK sequels we could be seeing on the atomiswave excites me ;D This is definitly a smooth move by Sammy IMO.

[Kazuya_UK]

Just a few months back the whole Sammy think was denied and they actually said that KOF was going to be the only deal they had with them... but as Trieu said things change and they decided otherwise. I agree it is a smart move on Sammy's and SNKP's part really. Now some Sega and Capcom stuff is *kind of* all under the same roof, what with Sammy buying shares in Sega and also licensing Capcom characters. So many of my favourite developers all coming together, who would have thought it possible 10 years ago?

Kaz

[Goukistar]

Whilst superficially seeming like good news, I hope it doesn't lead to future KoF games that play like Guilty Gear titles; those game are the most over rated piles of tripe in the history of sprite-based fighters.

[Kazuya_UK]

Goukistar said:

Whilst superficially seeming like good news, I hope it doesn't lead to future KoF games that play like Guilty Gear titles; those game are the most over rated piles of tripe in the history of sprite-based fighters.

I know what you mean... although I actually like the GG series personally, I don't want to see KoF or any other SNK series head down that path gameplay wise. I'll be happy to see graphics of that quality however

Another thing I was saying to seiryu on MSN is that I hope Sammy forges a relationship with Noise Factory if possible as well - although Sammy has some amazing music composers, I'd love to see Noise work some of their magic on these games again!

Kaz

[darkschneider]

I am happy and sad at the same time.


Good:

I'm happy because SNK and its franchises will probably last longer this way,


Bad: pictureposter.allbrand.nu/pictures/darkschneider/shingo.gif
[/img]
But I've gotten so used to seeing the low resolution KOF characters, I don't know if I will ilke them as much in high res. It'd be like they lost part of their personalities/charm or something to see high res shingo jumping around.

[cellsr]

Well I believe change is crucial weather it be good or bad. New hardware means new limits, more room for detailed fighting styles and stages etc. a lot of the fun boys seem to forget this is also business and not what one person wants, its all about the masses "main stream". Think about it this way, if the Nintendo never phased out we would have never got the chance to play the neo. I really have a good feeling about this decision

[Daaren]

THATS AWESOME !!!!
Its a great move, finally HI-RES KOF
And with sammy, we can expect a quality title

Btw, great sprites

[Goemon]

Ohh Yeah! The more i was contemplating this subject the more i'm startin to feel partial twoards it, there's really nothing more that can be done with snk's titles in their current hardware. Though it does kinda suck, especially for a person like me who doesn't have a decent arcade nearby to play any new games (thats why i was about to buy an mvs, though i probly still will anyways) but it will be cool to play the new games when ported to a console. (they ALL BETTER be)

Lets just hope sammy increases the graphics but keeps the gameplay around the same. (i can't say i really like GG's gameplay) I wonder what will be of games that where supposed to be currently in dev. by snkp like last blade 3. (would i like to see lb on Atoniswave... HELL YES) Well everyone, won't it be akward posting news about a new kof and such made by sammy in Non Neo Geo Games Discussion ;D

[sukotsuto]

darkschneider said:

But I've gotten so used to seeing the low resolution KOF characters, I don't know if I will ilke them as much in high res. It'd be like they lost part of their personalities/charm or something to see high res shingo jumping around.

just as long as its still hand-drawn and has the graphics like garou, it's a sure winner! it can also bring in new fans to the series since most of the gamers today are usually after eye candy.

one thing i don't want SNK to do is to mimic capcom's way of designing sprites because personally, i preferred SNK's design on Capcom characters than Capcom themselves in SvC. just look at demitri's Capcom sprite and SvC sprite!

[sonicfoot]

Im happy about SNK games being on the Atomiswave, finally all those who complain about the graphics being like the nes can shove it up there %$£%$£
Ahem, nevertheless SNKP will finally get the attention it deserves.
But, Im upset by the fact that its Sammy that will be developing the games whilst all SNKP does is port them. It would have been much better if SNKP were making the games on the Atomiswave than Sammy or at least make it joint effort.
Whatever happens, keep it 2D, keep it handrawn, keep it the character styles the way it always has been. Ill find it too weird playing as an "anime Terry".

[Kazuya_UK]

As I said before I am 100% happy with this, although it's still sad to see the end of the Neo after all these years... but remember the old saying: All good things must come to an end. However, what I really want to know is whether Sammy or SNKP still actually have any of the old SNK developers on board, or if it is possible for them to hire them back again. Without having at least some of the old staff, there's a possibility that some of the old magic will be lost, and that KoF and our other favourite series might become kinda "soul-less" if you know what I mean.

Also, I missed something in that article that I cannot believe I didn't see first time. Click the link at the end of it that says "dreams do turn into reality"... looks like Trieu is trying to hint at what might be one of the first games we will see in this for the atomiswave (other than KoF). And before anyone says anything, that isn't official artwork or anything

Kaz

[Serge]

I just got wind of this whole thing and man am i excited.
This is great news for playmore, hi res SNK all the way.
Ill miss the neo but if SNK is going to advance this is the only way how.

I cant wait to see the day when everyone i know is saying "eh, you getting that new KOF 2006"

It is an extremely smart business move,
plus i can not wait to see MOTW2 actually become a reality. Im giddy like a school girl who was asked to the prom by the football team's quarter back.

[Kazuya_UK]

Serge said:

Im giddy like a school girl who was asked to the prom by the football team's quarter back.

LOL! But yeah, I know what you mean

Kaz