When we spoke with Shinya Morishita from SNK Playmore USA we brought your questions and got some answers back. Here’s what Morishita had to say about the NeoGeo Station project and digital imports.
Can you tell us how the NeoGeo Station project got started and how features like online play were added to the games?
Shinya Morishita, SNK Playmore USA: Being a commemorative project of the 20th Anniversary of the NEOGEO MVS & AES, this was a main theme of NEOGEO Station’s origins. How we could bring back these classics to the fans with adding plenty of attractive features, the Network Mode, and ensuring the highest quality emulation possible, were a few of the major points considered from the start of this project.
Why did you leave the original bugs in the ROMs?
We tuned the ports with this setting switchable between ON & OFF, so that players are not hampered by original bugs and smooth online play may be achieved in Network Mode. That said, we also wanted to make sure hardcore fans were able to experience 100% accurate emulation, and enjoy AES versions of NEOGEO titles just as if owning an actual NEOGEO console.
After launch, how often does SNK plan on releasing new games for NeoGeo Station?
Please check our official website regarding the future lineup! Also, make sure your voice is heard via our official “NEOGEO Station” Facebook Fan Page on titles that you would love to see released. We will be paying close attention to see how the first set of initial titles have done, and will also continue to listen to feedback from the fans.
Will we see more obscure games like Sengoku 2, Twinkle Star Sprites, Blazing Star, or Ninja Masters on NeoGeo Station?
If gamers are pleased with these high-quality ports on PlayStation Network, and as long as there is enough fan demand to warrant releases, yes, the release of more obscure games is possible.
There are a lot of requests for Garou: Mark of the Wolves and The Last Blade series…
With the strong fan following for both series/titles for many years in tournaments, etc., we are definitely aware of the large number of fans who will enjoy these titles online.
Does SNK have any other plans for the 20th NeoGeo Anniversary?
Along with our newest PSP download game title NeoGeo Shooters –Ultimate Shooting- available on the North American & European PlayStation Stores, a number of NEOGEO licensed products and peripherals have been released throughout this year. Though these goods are only available in Japan, on a side note, just recently in North America, for fans who purchase our NEOGEO Station PS3 10 title bundle, an exclusive NEOGEO 20th Anniversary PS3 Custom Theme will be included as a bonus! The bundle retails for $79.99, but is available at a 20%-off discounted price ($63.99) for members of PlayStation Plus.
SNK released a bunch of games for Xbox Live Arcade like KOF Sky Stage, Metal Slug XX, and soon Trouble Witches Neo. Will these ever be released on PSN too?
Considering PS3 Versions of download games is always an option, if the reaction for titles such as King of Fighters ’02 Unlimited Match for example are very positive, PSN versions are not an impossibility.
I noticed SNK self-published NeoGeo Ultimate Shooting Collection as a PSN download in North America. Do you plan to release more Japanese games as digital imports?
While this remains a case by case scenario, the release of digital imports is always a possibility to ensure our fans worldwide have access to SNK game titles.
We haven’t seen too many new games from SNK Playmore. Moving forward, does SNK plan on creating new IPs or follow ups to popular series such as Fatal Fury and Metal Slug?
The information SNK Playmore receives from NEOGEO Station titles may be critical to future decisions on which IPs to put energy into moving forward. We look forward to the feedback from gamers received on these high-quality PS3 and PSP ports, and will be sure to keep what western fans would like to see in mind in terms of new game content.
In closing, SNK Playmore wishes all its fans a very Happy New Year! We hope you will enjoy our many new releases throughout this year via NEOGEO Station, etc. Please keep in touch for upcoming news on the NEOGEO Station website and our related Fan Page on Facebook!
< Spencer’s note: Since so many readers asked about The King of Fighters XIII we pressed Morishita for more information. We also asked about the rumor regarding SNK’s game department shutting down. Morishita didn’t respond with any comments. >
