NIS America president Takuro Yamashita probably said a touch too much in his interview with MCV, where he claimed that Sony isn’t “friendly with small publishers like us”. The suit has issued a public apology to both SNK and PlayStation, retracting the comments in a hasty attempt to clean up any bad blood between the parties.
“I must extend my most heartfelt apology to SNK and Sony Interactive Entertainment,” he said. “In discussing matters with MCV, I thought that some insider information would make them interested in the overall conversation, and such lip service did not stand on the side of truth. Once again, I apologise to SNK and Sony if it made them seem negative towards the PS4 platform in any way.”
In the original interview, Yamashita had suggested that SNK and NIS America collaborated on a deal with Nintendo for the release of SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy. This resulted in the retail edition of the game being exclusive to the Switch. However, the executive has since backed away from those comments, stating that this deal was all down to NIS America only.
There was probably a lot of truth in the suit’s original comments – he suggested that the PS4 had become a crowded console, and smaller games weren’t selling as well there – but to throw business partners under the bus like that wasn’t really the smartest move. We’re sure this public apology will go a long way towards healing relationships, and we suspect that will be the end of the matter.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 20
Hm...
Not sure if he's being sincere now or was before and had to bend the truth now.
Definitely not a smart thing to say in the first place.
@naruball I think he's probably bending the truth now, but like you say, not a particular clever set of comments.
What a PR mess they got themselves into. The disatrous launch of YS8 and now this... Too bad I for them that me and lots of others supported them with the Vita localizations.
Don't forget what system put you in the map Nippon Ichi Software.
To little too late. Never buying another game from them again.
Who am I kidding, I couldn't stay mad at NIS if I tried, dood.
Now how about a Western release date for the Disgaea 1 remake?
So what, he only said it to stir the pot? Jeez. If he meant what he said, he should've worded it differently, instead of starting unnecessary crap.
I hope the brownie points from Nintendo were worth it.
Imagine working for NISA's PR department this last year or so!
In general, burning bridges isn't good business sense. Especially when you're standing in the middle of the bridge.
Hmm something was off about his original comment. NISA's reputation isn't at its highest among gamers recently, what with the dodgy translations. Losing publishing rights to Atlus titles in Europe has also no doubt hurt them too. I did read a while ago that the Japanese arm was facing some difficulties due to low sales of its own games.
The PS4 does have a crowded release schedule, but, like the PS2 before it, that is merely a symptom of its enormous success. As a gamer I'm not really going to bemoan that. Whilst companies like NISA will always have their (small) niche, it must be difficult to get wider recognition. Is it Sony's place to ensure that they do? They have to pick which games to support - i.e. those that they think will succeed, such as Nioh.
I don't get noticed in a crowd.... Didn't know I could blame Sony for that.
I was looking for ways to stand out...Little did I know I just had to find a smaller crowd of people craving recognition and scream how awesome everyone in that crowd is.
Is this the same NIS who fell out with Atlus and Sega after the latter's takeover of Atlus, perhaps it's them who are difficult to work with
You know guys, I just don't get a Nintendo deal. I mean, they couldn't handle face rubbing in Fire Emblem. Why on Earth would NIS think they could handle Mai Shiranui in a bikini? Even if it isn't the same Ninty that censored Mortal Kombat, there's no way Mario's house could handle Mai's massive mounds, man.
PS4 gives us porn actresses and pics of gorgeous Japanese women regularly. We can handle our babes. The babies over there? They'd never enjoy the amazing Mai in her swimwear. We on the other hand, would welcome her with open arms.
Awkward. Im guessing he was 'gently' encouraged to retract his comments
@DerMeister They seem to have an obsession with Hell and demons currently. Now Nazis and death, and also a love of fanservice via, as you put it, "Mounds".
@Splints YOU don't get noticed in a crowd?! Dude, you're Kevin Frickin' Butler!
I knew he was just talking reckless lol
The biggest part was when he admitted that Nintendo agreed to "buy a lot of units"... Nintendo just bought them off.
PS4 crowded lol there's just as much junk releasing on Switch.
Well the comment DID seem stupid on a business level...
@naruball it is hard to tell isn't on the one hand he was saying Sony doesn't support small studios but on the flip side Sony just put Owlboy on a prime spot on the PlayStation Store a game made by a small studio
to me the statement he gave sounded like someone who was pissed off for some reason and so exaggerated things to make him look like the injured party
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