Metal Slug developer, artist Akio Oyabu, shared a nostalgic episode about Nasca Corporation's first visit to the SNK office and the unusual habit of employees.
In the 90s and early 2000s, many industry veterans faced overwork, office sleepovers, and stress. Akio shared how colleagues at SNK relieved tension in an unusual way. After the closure of the Osaka branch, the Nasca team was left without work, and SNK offered them an office. The building was impressive from the outside, but inside it resembled a "pigsty from the movie \"Kung Fu Hustle.\"" The corridors and offices were gloomy, slightly dirty, and the walls were dotted with fist-shaped holes.
While inspecting the building, they asked the HR manager about the holes. The answer: "one for every employee frustration." SNK developers relieved stress by punching walls, and the head of the company just laughed: "I'm glad they're full of energy."
Over time, the tradition was passed on to the Metal Slug team. Akio recalled how designer Kazuma Kajo punched a hole in the wall in the fourth development department in a fit of rage. The size of the hole showed the strength of his emotions, and he covered the hole with a calendar, claiming it was an "accident." Akio concluded that to become a game developer, you need a passion capable of "destroying property."
