Question: Did you take a lot of financial risks when you started to expand your business or did you play it safe?
Apologies for mentioning the injunction again, but hopefully this might clear things up? Actually, Playmore posted them, and they're still on their site: www.snkplaymore.co.jp/press_releases/pdf/ngf.pdf Dion, was this the document you were looking for? http://valou.ludo.free.fr/NEO/Copie de playmore_1.pdf Just trying to bring part of the NGF history to the appropriate thread. Any slanging retorts should be taken to the unmoderated thread. Incidentally, are you anything to do with Dax? I think maybe that's someone else that Playmore chased, after your case? http://www.snkplaymore.co.jp/press_releases/pdf/prelim.pdf
I know you weren't that interested in the Pocket as the regular Neo Geo, but did you ever hear word of a sequel to the NGPC? I remember hearing rumours of a 64-bit NGP.
POCKET STATION: I think I remember seeing a picture of that Neo-Geo Pocket Station in an old EGM magazine. They commonly use these types of system for capturing screen shots of portable systems that would otherwise be hard to do. IE: The Game Boy "Wide Boy". It's hard to imagine SNK would try and sell such a machine to the public though.
I don't mind people intelligently asking questions and then listening to my explanation and stating the actual facts and results of the case. Here's is Playmore press release (as part of our settlement agreement) click here to read: SNK Press release NeoGeoFreak NeoGeoFreak 100% Official!! It clearly states we had/still have the rights to sell games with repackaged art. This means all NGF inserts are and have always been 100% OFFICIAL and AUTHORIZED by SNK-Japan. Thanks for posting the court papers. They've always been available. But the same 5 people only wanted to show the initial temporary injunction order, which did initially do some damage to our reputation. Lucrative Settlement for NGF As everyone is fully aware, NGF and Playmore reached a settlement. The settlement, along with the press release was VERY LUCRATIVE for us and was to prevent any further counter-suit which could have been publicly humiliating and damaging to playmore. NGF, No Attorneys needed. Try to imagine that playmore attempted a frivolous lawsuit against us, hired lawyers, flew in from japan numerous times, and lost that stupid case. Furthermore, we didn't even hire an attorney. That's how strong our case was. Settlement Agreement Gag Order Imagine how lucrative the settlement was for them to issue a press release on their site stating we're 100% official and for us NOT to counter-sue them for Defamation of character and counter sue for Frivolous Lawsuit. The courts take frivolous lawsuits very seriously and they highly damage the party that initiated the frivolous claim. The courts and judges don't want their time wasted. So we got PAID!! (per the settlement agreement gag order, neither Chris, myself, nor playmore are allowed to discuss the settlement) (don't ask for details)
No problem! Interesting to see Bang Busters, Ironclad and Warlocks of the Fates on the settlement list. Why weren't Zupapa, Zintrick or Ghostlop on there? Had you sold out by then, or were they simply not allowed under the settlement? And Last Odyssey? Of course, if you can't answer that, no worries! For the unreleased titles you did release, how quickly did they sell out? What were the fastest and slowest to sell?
It's interesting if you know the history as well. Back in 2003, it verified we had certain games that we claimed to have, such as Ironclad, Bang Busters, Warlocks of the Fates. I seem to remember zintrick and zupapa being on the last sheet (just those two titles). Something must have happened when the clerk was scanning all the court papers. Zupapa, Bang Bead, and Diggerman sold out almost immediately. The Irritating Maze: Joystick version was also a fast seller. Bust-a-Move and ZedBlade also sold out, but not as fast. Below are the Official NGF mass releases, complete with full manual (color/high gloss pages) with genre correct colored epilepsy warning pages. Bust-a-Move Bang Bead Diggerman The Irritating Maze ZedBlade Zupapa
I keep forgetting to ask but how was Diggerman ever an official release? It's a homebrew game and it's obvious it is. It is a very non-polished game and far from the SNK standard. SNK actually sent you a diggerman cart to review? If so, was it slated for MVS and AES release?
Diggerman I like the game. It's very unique and VERY difficult!! It's a copy of some earlier/popular computer game called Dangerous Dungeons. It's an unfinished/unreleased game from FACE. FACE lists it in their books as did SNK, as did playmore. Diggerman and Gururin are the same family series. International Arcade Museum and KLOValso lists Diggerman as being from Face. http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7584 On the court papers, SNK listed these unreleased games: Inventory page 2, item 20, Warlocks of the Fates, unreleased title, converted from arcade to home use. Inventory page page 4, item 46, Diggerman, unreleased title.
Well, if the market dries up and you need to earn a few pennies, you could always dig out that old shirt, and.... Noooo! Who'd do a thing like that? ;-) Hey buddy, those damn hits cost us! You'd better contribute to the fund now! lol If I'm ever in Vegas, I'll be sure to bring an MO drive with me.
Arr, sorry Dion, I didn't realise someone had asked my first question already, my fault. ^_^ For the last two, that wasn't quite what I meant, but nevermind. ^_^
Question: 11 years afterwards, did you get diggerman first or did adol get it first ? What was the whole story about this game ? Why does Zedblade has the SNK logo on the side and not the NGF one ?
Dion I think as this is a dev forum we would be interested in prototype hardware. do you have and prototype or debug systems or controllers? Can you post some pictures?
Hi Dion A couple of questions: 1. Did you start out with a long-term business strategy when you decided to start up NGF, can you say a few words about it? 2. About the SNK-buyout: Could you give an account of the trip to SNK-japan, how it was like to be there when SNK was closing down their operations? Any small detail is appreciated. 3. How do you feel about the Neo Geo today compared to back then (back when NGF was started)? How has your "relationship" with the Neo changed since then? I guess you met a lot of the bigger Neo-collectors back then, do you still have some connection with any of them? Any stories that stand out?
a detailed story of your trip to Japan would be great. I don't think anyone has asked him about that much.
I'm wondering how Dion went about with his translations amongst other things... sorry if they have been asked before but it is hard to spot the questions amongst the flames Did you hire a translator or are you an otaku? Did you print your materials in-house or send out for them? Are there any 'engrish' or typos in your releases that you know of? Did you do anything during your tenure at NFG that made you particularly proud? Did you do anythng at NGF that made you ashamed, or pissed you off a LOT? What did you blow your profits on? Cars, women, hotels and holidays etc? Was the juice worth the squeeze and would you do it all again? If you did NGF all over again would you do anything different?
I'm sorry to repeat myself, but this is a topic very dear to me. :nod: Did SNK ever consider a "NGPC 2" before they ultimately left the market altogether? Very thankful for answers. ray:
