SNK (1978)
Shin Nihon Kikaku, the Neo Geo Hardware Revolution, and the Apex of 2D Fighting
Founded on July 22, 1978, in Osaka by former boxer Eiki Kawasaki as Shin Nihon Kikaku ('New Japan Project'), SNK Corporation stands as an immortal pillar of competitive arcade fighting culture and 2D pixel artistry. Transforming arcade economics in 1990 with the swappable multi-cartridge Neo Geo MVS hardware, SNK birthed revered franchises including Fatal Fury, The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, and the hand-animated run-and-gun magnum opus Metal Slug.
From Shin Nihon Kikaku to the Neo Geo MVS
Kawasaki recruited key talent Takashi Nishiyama and Hiroshi Matsumoto—the original directors of Capcom's first Street Fighter. In 1990, SNK unveiled the Neo Geo MVS (Multi Video System), allowing arcade operators to house up to six interchangeable game cartridges inside a single cabinet. This slashed operational overhead while establishing an unified ecosystem across arcades and high-end living rooms.
The King of Fighters and Hand-Drawn Pixel Craft
In 1994, SNK engineered the industry's first all-star crossover tournament with The King of Fighters '94, introducing 3-on-3 team mechanics that captivated Latin American and Asian competitive scenes. Simultaneously, Nazca Corporation's Metal Slug delivered peerless frame-by-frame comedic animation. Driven by its proud banner 'The Future Is Now', SNK cemented a peerless legacy in high-dexterity 2D interactive art.