Akira Yasuda, better known as "Akiman" is about as big as they come among Japanese game designers and illustrators.
Besides designing and planning titles like Forgotten Worlds, Final Fight, and Street Fighter II, he's created some of gaming's most iconic characters and art, such as for, again, Street Fighter II.
For a guy with credits like that, you'd think he'd command a high price for illustrative work. And you'd think that Enterbrain, the publisher of Japan's biggest game magazine Famitsu, would know that.
According to Akiman's blog, Enterbrain offered Akiman ¥8,000 (US$103) for a drawing and requested six drawings for a game character.
"My rate is from ¥100,000 ($1,300) for one drawing," Akiman blogged, adding that he would do illustrations as part of a large assignment for ¥80,000 ($1,000), but that things like the character design fee were not included in the illustration fee.
Even at ¥100,000, Akiman's rate isn't outrageous. Enterbrain's offer, however, was.
8000 [akiman's blog via はちま起稿]
(Top photo: SNK vs. Capcom SVC Chaos | Akiman/Capcom)