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The King of Fighters 2000
English Package Release F.A.Q.
What is this Faq about?
This F.A.Q. has been written to help educate
consumers on the origin and authenticity of the English package release
of The King Of Fighters 2000.
What would lead people to think there is not an official English release
of KOF2000?
The question as to if SNK Corporation
is going to release an English version
of any new home AES cartridge is purely an economic issue. With the Aruze
acquisition of SNK, long standing issues regarding territory rights have
been renewed. With Metal Slug 3 as an example, we see SNK/ARUZE
suspending consumer operations in English language territories. With SNK
powerless to stop illegal importing of Japanese cartridges, and the realization
that all markets would bear Japanese package product, the expense of creating
an English language equivalent became unjustified. With SNK-USA closing
its doors, the thought of representation in the US seemed unbelievable
to some retailers. SNK Corporation has placed official US consumer responsibilities
with NGF-USA, and after much negotiation we succeeded in convincing
SNK that an English package release was necessary. Despite receiving the
entire sales list of previous SNK-USA clients, and repeated direct contact
with US based retailers such as National Console Support, Buyrite Video
Games, Japan Video Games, Video Game Depot, and others, we were rebuffed
as not legitimate. After multiple phone conversations with all parties,
and repeated offers of proof through DIRECT verification from SNK Japan,
these retailers decided to order from foreign distributors. Many attempts
were made by these parties to secure English package stock from foreign
distributors, but these distributors denied the released of a product they
had no means of supplying. Aruze and SNK will no longer sell Japan distributors
the English versions of their products. No longer will retailers be able
to buy and illegally import US market games from another market. Aruze/SNK
are trying to squash these eternal problems, and it seems to be working.
All English versions will only be bought and sold through the official
ENGLISH distributor in the United States, NGF-USA. There were public
messages displayed declaring any English package release not official by
National Console Support and Buyrite Video Games. With the distribution
of NeoGeo consumer products almost exclusively an internet market,
the incorrect word was spread to unsuspecting consumers. Basically, these
retailers were lying so people would not cancel their orders. They
even went so far as to charge people in advance, without them even receiving
and shipping the said product out. They knew that EVERYONE would cancel
their Japanese version orders once the official word came out of the English
version.
So there is an English Package release!
Why is it so expensive?
When we originally convinced SNK Japan to
produce an English package KOF2000 it was our expectation that US
based retailers would commit to ordering from their legal US distributor.
We phoned, faxed, and emailed all of the above retailers offering the official
product for their territory in bulk, and with price protection. What this
means is, we were guaranteeing that we would match pricing with all distributors.
This takes any reason away from not wanting to deal with NGF-USA.
They would be getting the English package release, at the exact same price
as the Japanese, in any quantity desired. Because retailers decided not
to deal with a US based distributor, we were unable to secure the minimum
quantity for SNK Japan to justify the cost of English package production.
NGF-USA tried in every way possible to explain to its potential
customers that orders through a US based distributor would be REQUIRED
in order to receive the English package release. It is impossible for a
US based distributor to compete with long standing foreign distributor
relationships with foreign product (ie. Japanese package release). This
was explained time and time again to no avail. With the pending cancellation
of the English package release NGF-USA desperately offered to assume
the costs of translation and printing by SNK Japan. NGF-USA and
SNK Corporation of Japan forged an exclusive agreement for the English
package release of KOF2000. NGF-USA purchased all rights
to the English package release and assumed all costs of manufacture by
SNK Japan. Since NGF-USA could not justify the cost of buying 1000
cartridges(the minimum SNK Japan wanted to foot the bill for English package
manufacture), we were force to cut our order to 100 pieces. Factoring in
the money sent to SNK Japan for production of the English package release
by a mere 100 cartridges created an unfortunate situation in regard to
cost. I would again like to stress, the English package release of KOF2000
would have been exactly the same price as the Japanese package if US based
retailers would have committed their orders to a US based distributor.
We truly regret the price situation, but felt no matter what the cost,
there is a US fan base that wants an English packaged product. We at NGF-USA
were very disappointed by the lack of support by US based retailers. This
is the primary reason SNK has struggled in the US market.
It sounds to good to be true. Can this
be proven? What can I do to verify for myself?
We invite all concerned US based consumers
to contact SNK Japan directly through the number listed on the SNK Japan
website. It will be confirmed that NGF-USA is a distributor of SNK
consumer product in the US and that there is an official English package
release of KOF2000.
For a little insider proof, NGF-USA also had full consultation in
the creation of both the English and Japanese inserts for the KoF2000
AES cartridges. We had a prototype of our English insert back in
September 2000. On the back of the insert we had the phrase "Enter
the last battle of the twentieth century" and we also had placed "Kula"
as the only character on the back insert. These are still present
on all versions of the insert, and the phrase is now on the manual covers,
the insert, and at the top of the AES cartridge sticker.
Why is NeoGeoFreak mentioned on the
English packaging?
There has never in the history of an AES cartridge release, has a distributor
been granted EXCLUSIVE rights to language specific packaging. With
Aruze making extraordinary measures to maintain territory protection, NGF-USA
was granted this privilege. Since NGF-USA purchased the absolute
exclusive rights to release the English package AES cartridge, it was deemed
necessary to state this fact on the packaging. All future releases
will be branded by territory. Hopefully, this will help cure the
disease that is parallel importing by retailers.
OK, OK! This is amazing, how do I get my hands on this great title?
Quantities are limited to 100 units. The smallest
previous release of a US package cartridge is 1000. The availability of
this cartridge is on a 1st come 1st serve basis.
Please contact a member of the NGF sales team at:
Sales@neogeofreak.com
If you have any other questions regarding
this exciting release please contact:
Dion@neogeofreak.com
Cray@neogeofreak.com
Get your KoF 2000 poster or promotional flyer for
only $20.00 or FREE with purchase the KoF2000
AES cartridge. Supplies and offer are limited till 2001.
These pictures are being posted on December 20, 2000.
We are showing what the insert and manual will look like
before people even receive their common Japanese version.
Once people finally get the Jap version, which we sell for $279,
people will see that the English version is 100% exact and better.
We are sure the English version will soar up in price in the days
to come. Don't miss your chance to get your English KoF2000!
Is it so hard for people to call SNK of Japan to verify all this?
Isn't the $1.27 for a 5 minute call worth your piece of mind?
Call SNK and ask for the international department. Ask who is
the OFFICIAL distributor for the United States, for consumer
and ask about the English KoF2000 exclusively by NGF-USA.
SNK Corporation of Japan:
tele - 81-6-6339-5577
tele - 81-6-6339-0110
www.neogeo.co.jp
MORE PICTURES WILL BE ADDED TOMORROW
IF PEOPLE HAVE REQUESTS FOR KoF 2000
PICS
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE, EMAIL US TONIGHT
AND WE'LL TRY TO SATISFY YOUR REQUESTS.
THANK YOU,
NGF STAFF
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