by Vinnk - 10.27.06
At Tokyo Game Show this year, I was able to speak briefly with some of the staff from SNK Playmore. They were understandably busy at the time, and I was not able to conduct an interview during the show. However I did get to meet the very friendly Takeshi Kimura who told me I could arrange an interview later. Takeshi and the extremely helpful Miwako Jinsenji, whom I found out before the interview is originally from the same area of Japan that I live, helped to answer all of my questions. The person I interviewed is Soichiro Hosoya and he is one of the directors at SNK and the top of consumer and arcade video game dept. I was very pleased that he answered every one of my questions. There is also a call to arms for those of you who would love to see your favorite SNK Playmore franchises on Nintendo systems. Read on to find out more.
4CR: SNK was a major publisher for the Famicom but has not released a game for any other Nintendo console until now. What brought SNK back?
SNK: The reason we came back is that we agree with the Wii policy, which is same as our direction to our future SNK games. We believe it is an important role for publishers to provide consumers with the latest graphics, but at the same time we strongly believe that it is the biggest mission for publishers to give consumers “interesting” game experience.
4CR: Metal slug Anthology is a highly anticipated Wii game, and we have been told it will take advantage of the Wii’s unique controller. Can you tell us a little more about how it will do that?
SNK: We would like you to enjoy the exciting and unique controls suitable for the action game. When you play Wii games, you often need to move the controller a lot and you may like using the controller in such way. We can say that our controller layout will absolutely meet the needs of such gamers.
4CR: Some people will always prefer to play these games with a standard control pad. Will there be support for the GameCube controller or “classic controller”?
SNK: Unfortunately no.
(Note: This contradicts 1UP’s recent Metal Slug Anthology report on the Wii control modes. According to 1UP, the games will be playable with the GameCube controller.)
4CR: Will there be any extra features on the disc beyond the games themselves?
SNK: This year is METAL SLUG’s 10th anniversary, so we would like you to enjoy tons of artworks from previous titles in Gallery mode.
4CR: Originally there were only going to be 6 Metal Slug games (1,2,X,3,4,5) in the anthology, but 6 was recently included. What made you decide to include this latest chapter?
SNK: Currently, it is difficult for us to release 2D titles for the existing consoles as a single title. We’ve received some compliments from people that we did a great job for METAL SLUG 6 like we did for METAL SLUG 3. Therefore, we would like as many gamers as possible to enjoy the title on the new platform, so we decided to include the title at the last minute. You will know why we wanted to add that title in the anthology after you play the game on Wii.
4CR: At Tokyo Game Show, I had the opportunity to play Fatal Fury on the Xbox Live arcade. I was wondering if there are any plans to bring any of SNK’s classic Neo-Geo franchises to the Wii’s Virtual Console.
SNK: If we receive such requests from our fans, we will be willing to make it happen. Please look forward to it.
4CR: Can we expect any more anthology collections for the Wii (Samurai Spirits, Sengoku, Art of Fighting, Last Blade or other series)?
SNK: Yes we are planning. We will be able to announce exact titles in the near future. If you have any requests to us, please feel free to let us know.
4CR: Moving on to the DS side of things, I had a chance to play Card Fighters DS and I was very impressed with it. My press kit says the US/European version has a to be determined release date, but has localization already begun?
SNK: Yes. However it is the reality that it is taking much more time than expected since the title has tons of text and some character names in overseas are different from Japan’s. We will certainly deliver the title to overseas in the near future, so please be patient for a little while more.
4CR: The Neo-Geo Pocket Color version of this game came in two versions. SNK and Capcom. The DS version will be released on a single cart?
SNK: Yes, this time it is going to be only one version. However, there is a possibility that we will release other titles for DS or create new game by collaborating with other publishers.
4CR: In what other ways is the DS version different from the NGPC version?
SNK: In fact, it is a totally different title. Taking what we were not satisfied with the previous version such as graphic, programming, gameplay etc into consideration, we’ve developed the title very carefully in order to improve such things.
4CR: Is SNK Playmore considering any other Neo-Geo pocket Color games for remakes on the DS?
SNK: We want to release a lot of new titles on DS, which is the best platform right now than sticking to previous titles we released on NGPC.
4CR: Thank you very much for your time. Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?
SNK: We are very glad that you gave us this opportunity to distribute the info to our fans in overseas. We will continuously do our best to create new franchises and meet our fans’ expectation and someday we want to be said “World Famous SNK” again. Please look forward to our future. Thank you very much.
So rebels, what do you want to see from SNK Playmore? They are waiting to hear from you.
Metal Slug Anthology Wii Video (Control Modes)
[NOTE: An update to this interview can be found here]
what, Metal Slug Anthology not controllable via gamecube or classic controller? I must be reading that wrong…
mikeUK - 10.27.06 11:10 am
At the time, the interviewee must’ve been in the dark about being able to use the GCN controller. When the game was being demoed on Gamespot Live, GCN controller support was deffinately in there.
supadude5000 - 10.27.06 11:21 am
Though, Classic controller support is still up in the air.
supadude5000 - 10.27.06 11:22 am
I wonder if it’s been added since then? There was some hands on somewhere or another where they claimed you could use it.
SNK is an awesome company, though. I’m surprised they’ve made it through so many major risks like the NGPC. I’m looking forward to this title, especially at $40.
Tony - 10.27.06 11:23 am
As far as I know, you can play Metal Slug Anthology NES-style with the Wiimote, so it’s not a huge problem if you can’t use the classic controller. I can’t see why not though.
As far as new titles, I would really like to see some of their classic fighting games like King of Fighters on the DS and the Wii. I was a bit disappointed when I heard about the Card Fighters game: “Ooh, it’s SNK VS Capcom for the DS! Oh wait, it’s some card game.”
Pekuja - 10.27.06 11:29 am
“Ooh, it’s SNK VS Capcom for the DS!”
SNK vs. Capcom (arcade) should not be confused with Capcom vs. SNK. The former is absolutely wretched — many claim it is the worst 2D game SNK has produced in the last decade.
On the other hand, the SNK vs. Capcom card game is great. I’m glad to a sequel coming to the DS.
eM - 10.27.06 11:45 am
“SNK vs. Capcom (arcade) should not be confused with Capcom vs. SNK. The former is absolutely wretched — many claim it is the worst 2D game SNK has produced in the last decade.”
but then there’s also SNK vs Capcom: Match of the Millennium for the NGPC, which is still the finest portable fighting game ever created.
I’d be all over a DS remake of that. :q
momo - 10.27.06 12:40 pm
All we need to do in order to get the Neo-Geo catalog on in the Wii VC is to email them ?!?!
*Boots up Gmail*
Landstander - 10.27.06 12:56 pm
Jeez that guys sounded like a robot.
other titles for DS or create new game by collaborating with other publishers.
Wonder if there will be a SNK vs Nintendo game in the future. And it sucks that theyre not bringing older NGPC games. They could at least make a compilation of NGPC Puzzle games or something. I wanted a new faselei game too. Though I dont think snk developed that.
NoBullet - 10.27.06 2:15 pm
@Landstander
Yo man, I was a step ahead of you. lol. We need to get some type of petition going to get SNK off their butts and start putting some games on the VC.
Adroit One - 10.27.06 2:47 pm
excellent interview.
thanks 4cr and SNK
ENiGMA - 10.27.06 4:13 pm
Put in the Classic Controller support dammit!
GCN’s controller doesn’t sound very appealing for a game like Metal Slug. Especially when there’s the option to use a freakin’ SNES-shaped controller.
DeAngelo Guillory - 10.27.06 4:39 pm
SNK > Planet Earth.
Duncan - 10.27.06 5:27 pm
@Nobullet
That would be awesome, probably the best way to do SNK vs. Nintendo would be in some SSB game in the future (SSBB probably already has the characters mostly finalized, so I’m not worrying over SNK characters in that). I don’t think Mario and the other characters could work well in a traditional 2D fighting game like SNK’s fighting games, but maybe they’ll prove us wrong. Mario Fireball > Hadoken any day
.
And I’m gonna contact SNK about getting all non-Metal Slug games of theirs that were good onto the VC, because so many smaller, more obscure, but still great games were made by SNK and would be best released on the VC.
Luckybum - 10.27.06 7:41 pm
Hey, good job snagging an interview with an SNK rep, Vinnk.
I’m glad to hear that SNK has plans for the DS. I’m hoping Magical Drop is in the works. I can imagine the 2P VS mode being played in the book-style orientation with touch controls (just tap the group of orbs you want to collect).
I agree with you, Momo. SvC:MotM is hands down THE best fighting game on a handheld. I even bought the NGPC just to play that game. Let’s hope that SNK is allowed to do a remake for the DS.
I think I’ll pick up the Card Battle game this time around.
mambastic - 10.27.06 9:32 pm
I don’t see how the Classic controller and GameCube controller can be separate systems. It just wouldn’t make sense. If a game works using one, it should theoretically work on the other. If you were buying Wii accessories to play all pre-Wii games, you’re not suppose to be going out looking for GameCube accessories.
Anyway, I really hope they put Classic/GameCube controller support (both if they work separately). I don’t see why they have to make such awkward attempts to be “creative” with the Wiimote. I mean I haven’t played with the new control schemes but why not just use the nunchuk analog stick to move (and aim, or better yet, have the wand aim so we can shoot while running backwards), A for jumps, B for firing, C for bombs, etc. It almost like some developers’ minds went blank once they were presented with the Wiimote and now they don’t know how to work with it on their games. C’mon, it’s a 2-D side scrolling shooter of yesteryear. It’s so basic in design and control. Why do we even need to shake the nunchuk at all? Are they suddenly running out of space to map a jump function? There’s at least four buttons to work with in a nunchuk/Wiimote combo.
Questworld - 10.27.06 10:44 pm
Bring back Crystalis
smitty - 10.29.06 7:53 pm
Did he actually scream “METAL SLUG” every time he said it?
Conn - 10.29.06 9:48 pm
I love how the SNK games on the Neo Geo all felt ‘arcadey’ just all the little touches they’d do to give it that feel. I hope they develop for the Wii as I think they are a quality publisher.
Dom - 11.01.06 4:39 pm