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[BadWolf]

Seasoned Capcom FG dev now at SNKPlaymore

The name Hidetoshi Ishizawa might not readily ring a bell to old-school fighting game players, but his nickname Neo_G should bring memories back from the old staff rolls in the Darkstalker and Street Fighter Alpha franchises amongst other classic brawlers. He's been with Capcom since joining them in 1995 and even stuck with them through the darkest ages of fighting games to make Capcom Fighting Evolution, and in more recent years worked on Tatsunoko vs Capcom and also the Marvel Vs Capcom 3 series.

And now, he's a part of SNKPlaymore.

The seasoned fighting game developer announced today via Social Networks that he has shifted companies from Capcom to the developer of the King Of Fighters series.

From a quick glance on Facebook, Ishizawa left Capcom on January, and it seems that he is most likely working on KOF14 at the current time.

He has quite the resume:


Production
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Battle Director)
Capcom Fighting Evolution (Producer)

Design
Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (Battle System Designer)
Devil May Cry 4 (2008) (Planning)
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Ultimate All-Stars (Planning Directors)
Capcom Fighting Evolution (Planner)
Jojo no Kimyō na Bōken: Ōgon no ... (Planning)
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium (Planner )
Capcom vs. SNK (Planner)
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (Planner)
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (Director)
Street Fighter III: Double Impact (Planner)
Darkstalkers 3 (Planner)
Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact - Giant Attack (Planning)
Street Fighter III: New Generation (Planner)
Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Planner)

 

[xHiryu]

If they lose Itsuno then its fucked.

 

[Finaika]

Capcom vs SNK 3 pls.

 

[KZXcellent]

Well he's definitely gonna bring a LOT of experience. Wow, that resume.

 

[Pie and Beans]

Yeah okay, now it really does look like Capcoms about to die.

 

[mrmickfran]

Holy shit, what's going on at Capcom?

 

[Nirolak]

Holy shit, what's going on at Capcom?

They're moving into service games, and given Street Fighter V's performance, aren't likely to be launching very many fighting games going forward.

If you're a fighting game developer who wants to keep making fighting games beyond updating Street Fighter V, it's probably time to move jobs.

 

[Mitch]

Capcom vs SNK 3 pls.

Yes please! I'd be all over this.

 

[Malice215]

Really interesting news.

Holy shit, what's going on at Capcom?

Re-releasing old ass games and a disappointing SFV release.

 

[alr1ght]

He has a nice nickname.

 

[Jotamide]

Director of 3S? Goddamn, nice get by SNK. Can't believe how much I'm looking forward to KOF XIV, looks better with each trailer.

 

[AgentLampshade]

RIP DMC5

 

[MrChocolate]

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (Director)

A god among men.

 

[Crocodile]

Wow this is a pretty big deal IMO

If Capcom won't let him flex his designer muscles is good another developer can though

 

[Brandon F]

Just how poorly has SFV performed so far?

 

[Hyun Sai]

They're moving into service games, and given Street Fighter V's performance, aren't likely to be launching very many fighting games going forward.

If you're a fighting game developer who wants to keep making fighting games beyond updating Street Fighter V, it's probably time to move jobs.

This is the most logical explanation.

SNK needs now a big name attached to GGPO, otherwise all this will be in vain.

 

[Smooth Operator]

I'm mad.

Neo_G you were the chosen one, Niitsuma needs you !

 

[sir_bumble_bee]

Seems like SNK weren't joking around when they said they wanted to become the top fighting game developers

Spoiler

again

 

[entremet]

I wonder what the dudes who said SFV bombing didn't matter going forward and that it will be fine are thinking now?

 

[butman]

Mark of the Wolves 2 please!

 

[Graphics Horse]

Someone explain what the drama is about something else happening at Capcom recently? Or is it about announcing mobile MegaMan?

He has a nice nickname.

SNK probably think so too!

 

[Son Of Sparda]

Oh, man that's a huge loss. Not only for Capcom's fighting games but for all of their action titles, especially DMC

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Clearly he is not happy with Ken's face.

KOF is going to rule!!

 

[Htown]

They're moving into service games

Capcom is being purchased by SEGA, you heard it here first! GAF exclusive!

 

[The Bankslammer]

Definitely thought it was an April Fool's joke when I first saw the Tweet, but Arika VP Mihara is saying it's true. Seems like SNK is getting serious about fighting games, which is really great to hear. Neo_G is quite the get.

 

[Choppasmith]

He has a nice nickname.

Seems strangely fitting now.

With this news and SNK's desire to "become a leading force in fighting games again" I'm pretty damn stoked.

 

[Fersis]

G A R O U 2 B O Y S

 

[CrispyBoar]

This seems like a BIG get for SNK Playmore.

 

[kiryogi]

KOF XIV looks amazing, and now we know why more so.

 

[Shinriji]

3rd Director to direct Garou 2? OK, I'm cool with it.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

Would be hilarious if SNK end up overtaking Capcom after all of those years of flagging behind in sales...

 

[Dark Ninja]

Capcom sending over a spy

 

[riskVSreward]

If this means there's more fighters to come after KOF14, then I'm on board.

A new IP would be dope, but I'll fall into the Garou 2 crowd for now. BUTT X ROCK

 

[TheSeks]

They're moving into service games, and given Street Fighter V's performance, aren't likely to be launching very many fighting games going forward.

If you're a fighting game developer who wants to keep making fighting games beyond updating Street Fighter V, it's probably time to move jobs.

Requiescat in pace, Marvel. We never got a PC version of ye.

 

[Nyoro SF]

Damn, thought this was an April Fool's joke. Losing a legendary guy like Neo_G is pretty bad.

 

[Brian_FETO]

Would be hilarious if SNK end up overtaking Capcom after all of those years of flagging behind in sales...

Yeah if there's anything the mainstream appreciates, it's well-designed fighting game systems

 

[FriedConsole]

Holy shit, what's going on at Capcom?

It's a Japanese developer not named Nintendo. It's either pachinko or waifu simulator these days.

 

[TheSeks]

Just how poorly has SFV performed so far?

Capcom wanted like 2million at the end of March. We're starting April and last I saw it was like .5-1million on Steam alone.

 

[Muchi Muchi Pink]

I wonder what the dudes who said SFV bombing didn't matter going forward and that it will be fine are thinking now?

He left before the release of SFV.

 

[mrmickfran]

They're moving into service games, and given Street Fighter V's performance, aren't likely to be launching very many fighting games going forward.

If you're a fighting game developer who wants to keep making fighting games beyond updating Street Fighter V, it's probably time to move jobs.

Almost sounds like the reason that Inafune and the other guys left, Capcom only wants people on the big franchises.

Re-releasing old ass games and a disappointing SFV release.

It's a Japanese developer not named Nintendo. It's either pachinko or waifu simulator these days.

Such a shame

 

[Hag]

DMC5 without Neo_G

Oh boy...

 

[entremet]

Requiescat in pace, Marvel. We never got a PC version of ye.

Maybe emulation will revive it like it did some of the CPS2/3 classics.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

It's a Japanese developer not named Nintendo. It's either pachinko or waifu simulator these days.

Koei Tecmo, Square-Enix, From Software and Namco-Bandai still make plenty of goodness for me, personally. I don't think they're doing badly financially either, as far as I can tell.

 

[GuardianE]

Huge loss for Capcom here.

 

[Muchi Muchi Pink]

Koei Tecmo, Square-Enix, From Software and Namco-Bandai still make plenty of goodness for me, personally. I don't think they're doing badly financially either, as far as I can tell.

And Capcom still does make good games. SFV might be low budget, but it plays like a dream.

 

[Hustler]

They're moving into service games, and given Street Fighter V's performance, aren't likely to be launching very many fighting games going forward.

If you're a fighting game developer who wants to keep making fighting games beyond updating Street Fighter V, it's probably time to move jobs.

That's a bit premature thinking, SFV will have legs with constant support this console generation. If anything, Capcom will learn from their mistakes for future fighting games and similar models.

 

[Lulubop]

whoa, fuck

 

[Ryce]

Wow, this is huge. He was the heart and soul of the Vs. series.

 

[shouamabane]

Isn't KOFXIV directed by an ex-Capcom dev?

SNK has tons of IP. I hope there is a market for their stuff.

 

[Dicer]

Nice get for SNK...