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Home Fighting Games updates

SNK Playmore is closing once again [Update]
5:30 PM on 05.13.2008, Jim Sterling 58 comments

SNK Playmore is closing once again [Update] photo
     Fighting Games

I just received word from a source of mine that SNK Playmore, the Neo-Geo creator responsible for such classic titles as The King of Fighters and Metal Slug, will soon be closing its doors, at least in the US. This summer, the company will officially cease direct sale of its games and will instead see distribution duties go to Ignition USA.

In 2001, the original incarnation of SNK closed as well, with company founder Eikichi Kawasaki investing in a new company known as Playmore. By 2003, Playmore had become SNK Playmore, sometimes just referred to by the original name of SNK. The new distribution plans happened a while back, but it seems like things are a bit more serious. 

No word on whether this is just SNKP US or if this affects Japan as well. What I do know is that a lot of SNKP US people are out of a job. Well, pretty much everyone from what I know. We'll let you know more when we hear it.

[Update: This was apparently proven false, but all I have to go on is a leaked email from SNKP US president Ben Herman. I can't do more than talk about what I read, and I have included the exact words after the jump for you to see if there is any other conclusion I might be able to draw from it.] 

SNKP closing again: 
Here we go again.  SNK will exit direct sales by year end and plans to distribute new stuff thru Ignition USA.  I will help them close down again but my full time duties end June 30th.
Maybe something changed between now and then, but them's the president's words. Maybe they're relocating without telling him or something.

Next page: More SNK stories




Zombutler's Avatar
Zombutler at 05/13/2008 17:30
Although now that I think about Metal Slug 3 is very fun...
Shin Oni's Avatar
Shin Oni at 05/13/2008 17:31
so I assume KoF XII will be the actual....FINAL KoF? cause that'd kinda suck.

either way, most people consider the actual SNK dead even after the SNK Playmore era.
Vongore's Avatar
Vongore at 05/13/2008 17:31
So, what will happen to the proyects, will King of Fighters XII and the new Samurai Shodown be cancelled?

That or i have a bad idea about "closing it's doors"
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar
deiga-the-semivaliant at 05/13/2008 17:31
It just seemed like yesterday that everyone was lamenting the death of SNK. Now it's happening again?
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 05/13/2008 17:33
Damn, that sucks... no Metal Slug 7 :(
AliasWyvernspur's Avatar
AliasWyvernspur at 05/13/2008 17:36
Booooooo, and I still want more Neo Geo Pocket games.
eightcell's Avatar
eightcell at 05/13/2008 17:39
That's what they get for Card Fighter's DS.
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 05/13/2008 17:40
That's what they get for not making more original series that actually have a chance of localization.

Still, this is very gay and cannot end well for anyone.
ParaParaKing's Avatar
ParaParaKing at 05/13/2008 17:41
NO! What will happen to the new King of Fighters??
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 05/13/2008 17:44
I'm sure these IPs aren't dead; other companies will most likely purchase them and revive them. However, I have a real soft spot for SNK and will be sad to see them go.
DaedHead8's Avatar
DaedHead8 at 05/13/2008 17:45
/sadface
CronosBlade's Avatar
CronosBlade at 05/13/2008 17:50
I don't believe SNK Plamore is actually closing. They're just not doing the distribution. The press release for Ignition taking over the distribution duties was back at the beginning of May, the first game being Metal Slug 7 for the DS.

If anything it just means SNK Playmore will close offices in the US.
KidKobun's Avatar
KidKobun at 05/13/2008 17:50
This deserves a big ol' Darth Vader / Anikin "Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"
Bengoshia's Avatar
Bengoshia at 05/13/2008 17:50
Who cares? They haven't made a decent game in forever.
CronosBlade's Avatar
CronosBlade at 05/13/2008 17:52
It was actually April 17th, first link on the list:

http://www.ignitionusa.com/press.htm
KidKobun's Avatar
KidKobun at 05/13/2008 17:53
Cronos Blade is right. Still sad though...no SNK in the USA...sniffle, sniflle.
PsychoSoldier's Avatar
PsychoSoldier at 05/13/2008 17:53
I am now very sad.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 05/13/2008 17:54
Cronos: Well, the words used were "SNK Playmore is closing" in the thing I have. Might just be the US though. All I know is, some high ups are losing their jobs.

Edited original post to lend some more context.
CronosBlade's Avatar
CronosBlade at 05/13/2008 17:54
Also, Metal Slug 0 says hi.

CronosBlade's Avatar
CronosBlade at 05/13/2008 17:57
Muchos Garzas Senor Jim.
Pariah's Avatar
Pariah at 05/13/2008 17:58
Maybe Capcom will feel sorry for them and help em out a bit...I would love a live compatible Capcom vs Snk2 Eo sequel...or Microsoft to update BC and add it so I can whip up online again.
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 05/13/2008 18:02
A solid Meh.
KidKobun's Avatar
KidKobun at 05/13/2008 18:08
By Capcom Pariah do you mean the ex Developers of SNK...oooo sick burn.
Shin Oni's Avatar
Shin Oni at 05/13/2008 18:10
well...SNK wasn't really all that big in the US to begin with. So it's not really a total loss.

Just means we'll have to revert to importing SNK games.....again. I blame SNK's stupidity in bringing the wrong games over and Sony for cockblocking single release 2d SNK games on the PS2.
CronosBlade's Avatar
CronosBlade at 05/13/2008 18:11
Shin Oni - Nope, Ignition will be handling the US distribution. So yes, Metal Slug 7 etc will still be coming here.

Provided I'm not wrong on all of SNK Playmore shutting down :P
Shin Oni's Avatar
Shin Oni at 05/13/2008 18:15
ah sorry. didn't completely read it right.

hopefully Ignition will do better with releasing SNK games on this end...if they have any word or say on what gets released.
KidKobun's Avatar
KidKobun at 05/13/2008 18:21
definitely agree with Shin Oni on SCEA cockblocking SNK Playmore USA. Couldn't be more true...yet they can release a thousand versions of SF. WTF!? @_o
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar
s0lesurviv0r at 05/13/2008 18:39
Maybe they can buddy up with Atlas or Aksys to release games in the states.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 05/13/2008 18:48
Noooo, we need moar SNK games.

Yes, I know they're not closing, but still... I will miss the SNK Playmore branding. Why do they die and SegaSammy gets to live? WHY?!?!?!?!?!
GigaMach's Avatar
GigaMach at 05/13/2008 18:53
Holy crap, does no one READ? If distribution rights are going to Ignition, they must have product to distribute, right? SNK is simply closing it's US branch, and distributing it's ports (all done in Japan) through Ignition US. I just think that they finally realized that Ben Herman doesn't do much and they can have better business through a third party distributor.

That's my take, and I'm sticking to it. Sad to See SNK US closing down, but as long as we continue to get games, who cares where they come from?
LongDeth's Avatar
LongDeth at 05/13/2008 19:00
Could be better this way anyhow. Remember the awful glitch in Card Fighters DS that kept you from going up both sides of the tower? That was SNK US's fault.
Vongore's Avatar
Vongore at 05/13/2008 19:05
@Gigamatch

You are the one that's not reading, Jim updated the post after noticing that he didn't wrote that it the Us brach was the only one closing
Cowboy TTop's Avatar
Cowboy TTop at 05/13/2008 19:13
This is news, but nothing to worry about. SNK aren't as big as they once were and are developing fewer games than before (or so it seems). Perhaps such cutbacks, can allow them to focus more, on games development again in japan.

Don't worry, there are still SNK games being made, but its obviously harder for SNK in todays games market conditions. I think SNK know, they need to shake things up and diversify more to stay in business, hence the upcoming Guilty Gear game on 360, not being just another beat em up.

Their goods will be in good hands, because Ignition have been handling most, if not all SNK's U.K/EU game distribution for a while now, and a fine job they do too. The U.S wing will do the same.

Fear not Dtoiders.
OhJAM's Avatar
OhJAM at 05/13/2008 19:15
Okay, if we're cutting the expensive arm off to just distribute through a different company, then just give us MOTW and Last Blade before your US operation goes 100% belly-up. That'd be the way to go out.

Come on, outside of Metal Slug DS and KOF12, what else are they good for beyond that?
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 05/13/2008 19:24
So it's just their US publishing branch closing then? OK.
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 05/13/2008 19:45
Maiiii Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
The Unforgivable's Avatar
The Unforgivable at 05/13/2008 19:54
Mai. Hawt.
Rifter01's Avatar
Rifter01 at 05/13/2008 20:06
I wish SNK would stay awhile longer... and stay FOREVER!
Shin Oni's Avatar
Shin Oni at 05/13/2008 20:17
it's obvious Mai's Boob run in America is quite over.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar
michiyoyoshiku at 05/13/2008 20:28
I'm glad

SNdelay USA is done for and a competent publisher is taking over for them. I wish Sega would do the distro but I'll take what I can get.
parrothead's Avatar
parrothead at 05/13/2008 20:46
WOW no more fighters that I will never play
nilcam's Avatar
nilcam at 05/13/2008 20:56
SNKP Japan just signed a deal with Ignition to do their US publishing. This is a blessing since SNKP USA fucked up so many things. Most of the anthologies they've put out recently have lacked progressive scan because, in their infinite wisdom, they decided to port the PAL versions instead of the NTSC Japan version. I will never understand that decision. NTSC J to PAL to NTSC USA. I think that sums up their philosophy at SNKP USA.

Farewell. I won't miss your ineptitude.
stafax's Avatar
stafax at 05/13/2008 21:19
This is very disappointing. SNK makes high quality games, and you can tell a lot of heart is put into them. But they hardly make any revenue since the people being these games are no more then a cult following of fans. Yet on the other end of the spectrum, we have Midway that makes halfassed Mortal Kombat games that have little to no heart put into the development, and they make enough money to make more shit like Area 51.
Dr Milkdad's Avatar
Dr Milkdad at 05/13/2008 22:07
Kotaku just rumor smashed this.
Dr Milkdad's Avatar
Dr Milkdad at 05/13/2008 22:11
By rumor smash, I mean, they say SNK USA is not closing down.

Any other updates?
badoor's Avatar
badoor at 05/13/2008 22:38
SNK USA(which btw never devloped any game, just did localization)is closing down but that doesn't mean there won't be any new games fom SNK. Its just that in the USA snk games will be published and localized by Ignition
Rhacodactyls's Avatar
Rhacodactyls at 05/13/2008 23:25
I don't know exactly how to feel right now...
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 05/14/2008 00:57
Sounds like there's nothing to worry about.
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