SNK (1978-2001)

Credits

Compiled by
RSX-798

Background

SNK Corporation is a Japanese video game company best known for creating the Neo Geo console in 1990, and made successful franchises such as Fatal Fury, Metal Slug, and The King of Fighters. In the late 1990s, the Neo Geo saw a decline in popularity due to the hardware being obsolete compared to the Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, and the upcoming Sega Dreamcast. The company went into a fast decline with the Neo Geo Pocket, and then SNK was sold to Aruze, who owned SETA. SNK made a deal with Capcom to create fighting games based on the characters. SNK closed down all American operations on June 13, 2000, and employees went on to form Dimps and BreezaSoft. Eikichi Kawasaki left SNK along with executives to form Playmore on August 1, 2001, and bought out SNK's intellectual property rights on October 30, 2001.

1st Logo (1984-January 1988)

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Visuals: On the title screen of the game is the text "SNK" in a serif font with pointy edges.

Variants:

• On Psycho Soldier, SNK's emblem appears on the left side.
• In later years, the text was blue.

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on arcade games from the era, beginning with Gladiator 1984 and Jumping Cross, and ending with Paddle Mania.

2nd Logo (July 1988-October 25, 2001)

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Visuals: On a black or white background or superimposed on the opening credits or scene of the game is the bold text "SNK" in a blue futuristic font.

Variants:

• In later years, the slogan "The Future is Now" is shown above the logo.
• Like the last logo, the logo was shown on the game's title screen.

Technique: Depends on the variant, but usually a still, sprite-based graphic..

Audio: Depends on the variant, but usually none or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on all SNK games of the era (especially those on Neo Geo).

3rd Logo (May 18-June 24, 1994)

See Neo Geo for details.

4th Logo (Road's Edge custom variant) (September 10, 1997)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a camera that pans up to see the letter "S" from the previous logo. The camera shifts at an angle, and then the letters "N" and "K" zoom out at an angle, revealing the SNK logo from before. Then the logo flashes and the SNK logo from before flashes in. The word "PRESENTS" then fades in below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A whoosh sound, ending in a drone.

Availability: Seen on the Hyper Neo-Geo 64 title Road's Edge.

5th Logo (Off Beat Racer/Xtreme Rally custom variant) (May 13, 1998)

Visuals: On a black background, the SNK logo from the last logo in white that zooms out. The word "PRESENTS" slides in, and then the logo turns blue.

Technique: 2D digital animation.

Audio: A droning synth theme.

Availability: Seen on the Hyper Neo Geo 64 arcade game Off Beat Racer/Xtreme Rally.

6th Logo (Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage custom variant) (December 22, 1999)

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Visuals: Over a black background is dust moving which forms the SNK logo from the previous logos.

Technique: 2D digital animation.

Audio: A chime sound.

Availability: Seen on Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage for PlayStation.

7th Logo (The King of Fighters '99: Evolution custom variant) (March 30, 2000-November 27, 2002)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a laser that draws the SNK logo from the previous logo in outlined form, with a trail effect, and then it flashes white, and the logo is on a white background. The slogan "The Future is Now" wipes in above the logo.

Technique: 2D digital animation.

Audio: A laser sound, followed by an ominous whoosh.

Availability: Seen on The King of Fighters '99: Evolution for Sega Dreamcast and PC.

SNK (1978-2001)

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