This article was written on 07/02/04

June 30th, 2004, marked the last day of operation for SNK NEOGEO USA Corp. and the Neo Geo MVS for the U.S. and Latin American Markets.

NEO GEO MVS (Multi-Video System) remained the longest running arcade hardware in history (1990-2004).

Within any popular company, there lies it's history, but from what we can recall from documents and readings of other gaming companies we've research, no other company may be more mysterious than SNK themselves.

Anyone who has followed SNK from it's establishment in 1990 until the present knows that they've transformed into a very different group in the past few years, from name alterations to restructuring of it's mother company, SNK of Japan to Playmore Corp. to SNK Playmore Corp. That's what we see on the surface, information that is officially announced. What most of us don't know (there really isn't a reason to, except if you really wanted to pry information to cure that curious cold) is what steps SNK took during it's last years.

So yes, it was truly a sad day for us here on June 30th, which made us ponder on whether it was appropriate to write this article. We didn't think twice about giving SNK NEOGEO USA Corp. it's deserved respect for providing the U.S. Market with it's services for so many years, but nevertheless, it's never easy to say goodbye to a company that has brought so many good memories to it's fans.

To give SNK NEOGEO USA Corp. it's props, we will share some historical data that some fans may or may not know. So sit tight, turn on some great tunes and enjoy some SNK History, pure and clean, with no additives.

SNK NEOGEO USA Corp. was located in Cypress, California consisting of 3-5 employees at one time or another. They focused distribution of Neo Geo MVS (Multi-Video System) cartridges to both the U.S. and Spanish Markets (Mexico, South American Countries).

Besides the obvious, June 30th, 2004 marked a very important date in the SNK History books. 'SNK' never really left the MVS market (until June 30th of 2004), even through their bankruptcy proceedings with SNK USA Corp. (different from SNK NEOGEO USA Corp.) in 2000. Confusing? Sort of, but we'll explain.

In the initial years of SNK, both the AES (Home) and MVS (Arcade) markets were operating under two separate divisions, with two different Presidents. To make a long story short, in order to cut costs and run more efficiently, SNK Japan made the move to place SNK Home and MVS under one roof, which was later established in Torrance, California.

SNK launched it's Neo Geo MVS system with a good selection of games, Top Player's Golf (Sports), Nam 1975 (Shooting), Magician Lord (Action/Adventure) and Baseball Stars (already gained popularity from it's NES days). Receiving praises from the arcade industry as the most innovative new piece of hardware with it's 6-1 system, the Neo Geo MVS was on it's way to stardom.

For those who may not have known, SNK built it's foundation with the Neo Geo MVS with it's Samurai Shodown franchise, starting with parts 1 and 2. SS was the key element to worldwide arcade distribution, later on carried by the King of Fighter and Metal Slug series.

Fast foward to the mid-late '90's, SNK experiences the failure of the NGP(C) and the Hyper Neo Geo 64. Unfortunately, we would say SNK's timing with a new system was poor, considering Sega and Namco had already captured and owned the 3-D market, placing SNK's in a situation where the H64 didn't fit into any business model that would make them profitable. Add in the unfortunate situation of the dying arcade market and you have yourself a dying company, struggling to keep it's valuable IP's from complete demise.

So in 2000, SNK USA called it quits and shut it's door, once and for all.

During all this time, many may not have known but SNK USA always had an office in operation, solely for the distribution of NEO GEO MVS cartridges to it's Mexico/Latin American companies. This office, later known as SNK NEOGEO USA, was located in Cypress, CA. Operating under the name EEI (Electronic Entertainment Industries), SNK used this office to continue it's arcade operation, while it's mother company was in restructuring mode. What this allowed was continued cash flow for them and a firm bond with their clients.

For the past year, SNK NEOGEO USA, besides distribution of MVS cartridges, they also had an in house graphic designer that in the later titles, designed the Official U.S. Posters, large marquees and website pages for them, which help them cut down marketing costs and be more efficient with day to day operations.

As small as this group was, they worked extremely hard at promoting their product, which they would did oustide of their required duties, such as the SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos and King of Fighters 2003 US Debut.

Article to be completed at later date.