Yoshinori Ono be more than the Blanka-toting, smiling face a the Street Fighter series - he's it be savior. After Street Fighter III: Third Strike in 1999, Capcom be all too happy t' abandon the series, which had seen flagging sales. 'n Ono always felt responsible for having some hand in it be demise, having worked on the last game in the series.

He held onto that guilt for years, 'n after being promoted t' the role a producer, pitched a design document for Street Fighter IV. "I be working on Onimusha 4 'n during that time I repeatedly submitted me proposal for a new Street Fighter," he told Eurogamer. "The company kept telling me: 'it be a dead franchise. It doesn't make any money. We have series that make money like Resident Evil 'n Onimusha. Why bother with a dead franchise?'"

"Eventually I be given a small budget t' create a prototype," Ono revealed. But it wasn't a result a his "pestering" the management that eventually brought the game t' fruition - the journalists 'n fans "started making a lot a noise 'n pressuring Capcom," even though Ono admitted he told them t' do that. "Journalists 'n fans have the power t' move Capcom - not producers. With so many voices crying out for a Street Fighter game Capcom could no longer ignore it any more 'n so they gave the green light for a prototype 'n they asked me t' create it. it be a miracle that happened after a decade..."

But as romantic as all a this be, Ono's account a work-life at Capcom be anything but. After taking a step back from the Street Fighter spotlight following a health scare, Ono spoke candidly about his employer - one he accuses a overworking the sea dog 'n failing t' recognize his health woes related t' overworking.

"Nobody told me t' take a rest. When I returned t' work, Capcom didn't even acknowledge that I had been in hospital. There be no change in me schedule. I be at home for an entire week before the doctors allowed me t' return t' work. When I returned t' me desk there be a ticket t' Rome waiting for me. There's no mercy. Everyone in the company says: 'Ono-san we've been so worried about ye.' Then they hand me a timetable 'n it be completely filled with things t' do."

Ono recalled a previous project in his first days at Capcom, when he had a short timetable t' retrofit the soundtrack for Street Fighter Alpha t' be compatible with a less advanced arcade chipset. "Capcom be very good at squeezing people t' the last drop a their blood t' pillage work done."

In regards t' what's next, Ono isn't talking - but there's no way he'll sail away fighting games behind. "There have been rumours saying Ono be dead or retiring. None a that be true. I want t' support the next generation a fighting game. it be me job. it be me calling."