What if SNK aimed higher?

1986

 * SNK sign a contact with Toei Animations to comission an anime movie based on Athena and an anime show based on the Ikari Warriors.

1987

 * 11 January 1987: the 1st episode of the Ikari Warriors Anime airs.

1988

 * 11 March 1988: the 1st episode of the Psycho Soldier Anime airs.
 * 12 May 1988: Minoru Kidooka leaves Sega and joins SNK.

1991

 * 25 November 1991: SNK released the first Fatal Fury game.

1992

 * 24 September 1992: SNK released the first Art of Fighting game.
 * 4 October 1992: the 1st episode of the Fatal Fury Anime airs.
 * Daisuke Ishiwatari joins SNK.

1994

 * 25 August 1994: SNK released the first King of Fighters game.

1997

 * 5 December 1997: SNK released the first Last Blade game.

1998

 * 14 May 1998: SNK released the first Guilty Gear game.
 * King of Fighters' Orochi Saga ends.

2000

 * SNK creates a studio with the focus of making yearly King of Fighters.
 * SNK buys Pachinko company Aruze.

2001

 * 1 August 2001: SNK merges with Arc System Works to form SNK System Works.

2003

 * SNK formed a deal with Cartoon Network to produce a cartoon based off of the King of Fighters.

2004

 * 13 May 2004: The first episode of CN's King of Fighters aired.