SNK: Difference between revisions

'''SNK Corporation''' ('''S'''hin '''N'''ihon '''K'''ikaku, lit. "New Japan Project") is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. Founded in 1973 by Eikichi Kawasaki as Shin Nihon Kikaku Corporation in the computer electronics industry, shifting fully into coin-op video games in the late 1970's. Initially having modest success, the company officially rebranded to SNK Corporation in 1986 and released a string of successful arcade games such as {{uvm3|Alpha Mission}}, {{uvm3|Ikari Warriors}}, {{uvm3|Athena}} and {{uvm3|Psycho Soldier}}, with all having successful home console ports. This inspired SNK to start the Neo-Geo family of arcade and console hardware in 1990. The hardware would be the home of many classic franchises, like {{uv|Fatal Fury}}, {{uvm3|Art of Fighting}}, {{uvm3|The King of Fighters}}, {{uvm3|Samurai Shodown}} and {{uvm3|Metal Slug}}. However, revenue would slowly dry up throughout the 1990's and SNK would fall onto hard times, with multiple key staff members, including Kawasaki, departing to start their own companies. SNK would end up declaring bankruptcy on October 22nd, 2001. Properties were auctioned off and floated between developers until Kawasaki's new company, ''Playmore Corporation'' would buy all up all SNK properties in 2003 to form SNK Playmore. The company would once again achieve modest success through the 2000's and into the 2010's, but nowhere near their peak. In 2016, Hong Kong based investment firm Leyou Technologies Holdings acquired a majority stake. SNK also dropped the Playmore brand at this time. Under this new ownership, there has been a push to restore the brand name by releasing more games and making established franchises known to a new generation. Alongside producing the Neo-Geo line of arcade systems and consoles, as well as several franchises, SNK has collaborated with multiple companies on various projects, such as antagonist Geese Howard in [[Bandai Namco]]'s ''Tekken 7'' and their dedicated crossover series with [[Capcom]], ''Capcom vs. SNK''.