Maker of ‘Old-Gen PS3’ Says New-Gen PS3 Could Be Risky Business

Shin Nihon Kikaku or SNK is a Japanese video game hardware and software company famous for creating the Neo-Geo arcade system and several franchises of games including the Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown, Fatal Fury and King of Fighters. Kotaku correspondent Brian Ashcraft visited SNK corporate headquarters in Tokyo and spoke with Yoshihito Koyamato, the company’s Overseas Marketing Manager, to see what the former arcade king is up to and what they think about the upcoming PS3. This is what Koyamato has to say:

“My first impression is that it’s expensive. The PlayStation 2 is good enough. It’s small and cheap. For us, for manufacturers, we have to invest in a new system, and the PlayStation 3 is a risk. There won’t be enough consoles at launch. Few consoles mean few software sales. We need to wait three or four years. Maybe 2009-2010 is a good time to release a game for the PS3.”

If SNK is acting a bit cautious it’s because they know what its like to invest in machines that are too expensive. Their NeoGeo Advanced Entertainment System, which could be the PS3 of its time, was not only the most powerful but was also the most advanced home arcade console then. It was also priced at $599. “We didn’t expect to sell a lot of home systems. A few crazy people bought them.”

Via Kotaku

Shin Nihon Kikaku or SNK is a Japanese video game hardware and software company famous for creating the Neo-Geo arcade system and several franchises of games including the Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown, Fatal Fury and King of Fighters. Kotaku correspondent Brian Ashcraft visited SNK corporate headquarters in Tokyo and spoke with Yoshihito Koyamato, the company’s Overseas Marketing Manager, to see what the former arcade king is up to and what they think about the upcoming PS3. This is what Koyamato has to say:

“My first impression is that it’s expensive. The PlayStation 2 is good enough. It’s small and cheap. For us, for manufacturers, we have to invest in a new system, and the PlayStation 3 is a risk. There won’t be enough consoles at launch. Few consoles mean few software sales. We need to wait three or four years. Maybe 2009-2010 is a good time to release a game for the PS3.”

If SNK is acting a bit cautious it’s because they know what its like to invest in machines that are too expensive. Their NeoGeo Advanced Entertainment System, which could be the PS3 of its time, was not only the most powerful but was also the most advanced home arcade console then. It was also priced at $599. “We didn’t expect to sell a lot of home systems. A few crazy people bought them.”

Via Kotaku