If you never played on or heard of the NEO GEO, it was an advanced home console that sported arcade cabinet horsepower, but with the arcade cabinet price tag. Eventually the Neo Geo Pocket and subsequent Color handhelds came out between 1998 and 2000, but ultimately could not stand up to Nintendo’s handheld efforts.
Last year, Tommo was approved to officially manufacture and sell SNK licensed Neo Geo handhelds, dubbed the Neo Geo X, complete with a bunch of SNK games. Despite the console emulating older games, it had a pretty steep price tag of $200, but it did include a nifty dock that would let you also connect it with your television.
Over last weekend, SNK Playmore issued a statement terminating their licensing agreement with Tommo, demanding that they cease production and selling of their NEO GEO branded devices.
Below you can find SNK Playmore’s Press Release that was published over the weekend:
Termination of the License Agreement between TOMMO Inc. and SNK PLAYMORE USA CORP.
IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION
To whom it may concern:
Please be informed that the License and Distribution Agreement between TOMMO Inc. and our company is terminated as of October 2nd, 2013.
The Licensed Products set forth in the agreement are as follows;
Terminated Licensed Products:
– NEOGEO X GOLD Limited Edition
– NEOGEO X MEGA PACK VOLUME 1
– NEOGEO X Classics Vol. 1
– NEOGEO X Classics Vol. 2
– NEOGEO X Classics Vol. 3
– NEOGEO X Classics Vol. 4
– NEOGEO X Classics Vol. 5Upon termination of the License and Distribution Agreement, SNK has demanded that TOMMO Inc. immediately cease any and all manufacturing, distribution, marketing & promotion and selling of the Licensed Products.
In addition, SNK has demanded TOMMO immediately cease all sales of the “SNK NEOGEO X Arcade Stick” product being sold separately from the NEOGEO X GOLD Plug and Play Console, and remove the “SNK NEOGEO X Arcade Stick” product from store shelves and online retailers. In order to protect our intellectual property rights such as “NEOGEO” and “SNK”, decisive measures will be taken against all unapproved NEOGEO X products not subject to the License Agreement.
Regarding customer support for any/all of the Licensed Products, please contact the retail store / online retailer from which the product(s) were purchased.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,
SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION
Now, here is Tommo Inc.’s Response:
Tommo Responds to the Wrongful Termination Claim by SNK PLAYMORE USA CORP
Worldwide publisher and manufacturer of games and accessories continues to support and distribute NEOGEO X
Los Angeles, Calif. – October 7, 2013 – Tommo, Inc., today responded to the press release that appeared on the SNK PLAYMORE USA Corp website last week. Tommo, Inc. denies that any breach of contract exists in their agreement with SNK PLAYMORE USA Corp and are continuing to support and market the popular NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system, its accessories, and games. Due to the popularity of the system, Tommo and SNK extended the agreement earlier this year until 2016. Tommo fully expects this agreement to be honored by all parties. To date, Tommo has performed all of its obligations under its license agreement with SNK and is disappointed by SNK’s sudden and unjustified termination of the agreement. Tommo has demanded that SNK retract its press release and any attempts to terminate the license agreement.
“Tommo is still taking care of all customer service and product warranties in North America as are our master distribution partners, Success in Asia and Blaze in Europe,” said Jonathan Wan, CEO of Tommo, Inc.. “We’re continuing to sell NEOGEO X products, including the NEOGEO X GOLD System, Arcade Stick, MEGA PACK Volume 1 and Classics Volumes 1-5. The license agreement which allows Tommo to sell and market these products remains in effect.”
Tommo Inc. would like to thank the thousands of NEOGEO X fans who have shown amazing support for NEOGEO X in the last week and want them to know we will continue to support them, their NEOGEO X GOLD systems and products.
So, who do you think is in the wrong? Either way, if you were on the fence of buying the Neo Geo X, you better do so now before they’re off the market and become crazy expensive just like the older platforms are now.
