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Natsume Atari Co., Ltd.(Japanese:ナツメアタリ kabushiki gaisha),formerlyNatsume Co., Ltd.(Japanese:ナツメ kabushiki gaisha)from 1987 to 2013, is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. Natsume Atari is based inShinjuku, Tokyo,Japanand is known for developing licensed titles and mobile games.
 | |
| Company type | PrivateK.K. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video game |
| Founded | 20 October 1987 |
| Headquarters | Shinjuku,Tokyo,Japan[1] |
Key people | Takashi Matsumoto (CEO, Natsume-Atari) |
| Products | Lufia Pocky & Rocky Wild Guns |
| Revenue | 719,000,000 yen |
Number of employees | 150[1] |
| Website | www |
The company was founded as Natsume Co., Ltd. in 1987. In 1995, its American divisionNatsume Inc.split to become an independent company. The name "Natsume" was retained by both companies in their respective countries. In 2013, Natsume Co., Ltd. renamed itself Natsume Atari following a merger with its subsidiary Atari Inc. (apachinkocompany, not to be confused with theAmerican game company) that year.[2]Since 2016, Natsume Atari's division Tengo Project has developed modern remakes to classic video games.
Products
editDuring theNESandSNESera, Natsume Atari developed numerous titles, often licensed, such asPower Rangers.Natsume Inc published a wide range of titles, including those developed by Natsume Co. Ltd., such asS.C.A.T.,Wild GunsandShadow of the Ninja.Natsume Atari also released the SNES gamePocky & Rockyas well asLufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals.Natsume Atari had also developed theMedarotgames up until the end of theGBAera, and Natsume Inc. published some of them outside of Japan.
A sizeable amount of Natsume Atari's products were video games it developed for other publishers. Some of its biggest clients over the years includedImagineer,Bandai,THQandTaito.Most of Natsume Atari's video games, as a sub-contractor, were original titles, but it occasionally developed someportsas well. Taito, in particular,outsourcedthe development of three of itsMaster Systemports to Natsume Co., Ltd.:Sagaia,RenegadeandSpecial Criminal Investigation.[3]
Corporate divisions
editNatsume Co., Ltd. was founded in Japan on October 20, 1987.[1]It became the parent company ofNatsume Inc.,founded in May 1988. Natsume Inc. started publishing video games in 1990.[4]By 1995, Natsume Inc. had broken away into its own company and is separately owned and operated.[5]
In October 2002, Natsume Co., Ltd. founded thepachinkocompany Atari Inc. (not to be confused with theAmerican game company) inOsaka,which specialized in developing slot and pinball machines. On May 6, 2005, Natsume Solution began operation inShinjuku.This division specializes on web site development, providing mobile solutions/services and developing web systems. On March 1, 2006, Natsume Solution was merged with Evolve.
Natsume Co., Ltd. changed its name to Natsume Atari in October 2013, and it is not directly connected to Natsume Inc. or its subsidiary Natsume Inc. Japan.[6]Despite their corporate split off, Natsume Atari and Natsume Inc. have continued to collaborate on a number of occasions.[7][8]
Within Natsume Atari exists Tengo Project, an internal development team established as early as 2008 for the production ofOmega Five,which has shifted its focus to modern revivals of classic video games.[9]Composed of veteran developers with an average age of 54 (as of 2022), its permanent members are composerHiroyuki Iwatsuki,designer Shunichi Taniguchi, and programmer Toshiyasu Miyabe.[10]Its works includeWild Guns Reloaded,The Ninja Saviors: Return of the WarriorsandPocky & Rocky Reshrined.
Works
editPre-split Natsume
editThese are games produced while Natsume Inc., was still operating as a subsidiary of Natsume Co., Ltd. Natsume Inc. would publish only Natsume Co., Ltd.'s games until becoming independent in the mid-90s.
| Year | Title | Publisher(s) | Platform(s) | Details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Tōhōken Bunroku | Natsume | NES | Japan only | [11] |
| 1989 | Idol Hakkenden | Towa Chiki | NES | Japan only | |
| Mitsume ga Tooru: The Three-Eyed One Comes Here | Natsume | MSX | Japan only | ||
| Dungeon Magic: Sword of the Elements | Natsume/Taito | NES | |||
| Abadox: The Deadly Inner War | Natsume/Milton Bradley | NES | |||
| 1990 | Amazing Penguin | Natsume | Game Boy | ||
| Power Blade | Taito | NES | Co-developed with Taito | ||
| Dragon Fighter | Towa Chiki/SOFEL | NES | |||
| S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team | Natsume/Infogrames | NES | |||
| Shadow of the Ninja | Natsume/Taito | NES | |||
| 1991 | Chōjin Sentai Jetman | Angel | NES | Japan only | |
| Ninja Gaiden Shadow | Tecmo | Game Boy | |||
| Spanky's Quest | Taito(GB), Natsume (SNES) | Game Boy,SNES | |||
| Tail 'Gator | VAP/Natsume | Game Boy | |||
| Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance | Pony Canyon | NES | |||
| Shatterhand | Angel/Jaleco | NES | |||
| Chaos World | Natsume | NES | Japan only | ||
| 1992 | The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper! | Taito/Mattel | NES | ||
| Mitsume ga Tōru | Tomy | NES | Japan only | ||
| Pocky & Rocky | Natsume | SNES | |||
| Power Blade 2 | Taito | NES | Co-developed with Taito | ||
| Sagaia | Sega[a] | Master System | Europe and Brazil only; based on theSega Genesisport | ||
| Special Criminal Investigation | Sega[a] | Master System | Europe and Brazil only | ||
| 1993 | Renegade | Sega[a] | Master System | Europe, Brazil and Australia only | |
| Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling | Masaya | SNES | Japan only | ||
| Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling Dash: Sekai Saikyō Tag | Masaya | SNES | Updated version; Japan only | ||
| Ghost Sweeper Mikami: Joreishi wa Nice Body | Banalex | SNES | Japan only | ||
| 1994 | Pocky & Rocky 2 | Natsume/Ocean Software | SNES | ||
| Wild Guns | Natsume/Titus Software | SNES | |||
| Natsume Championship Wrestling | Natsume | SNES | Heavily based onZen-Nippon Wrestling Dash | ||
| The Ninja Warriors | Taito/Titus | SNES | |||
| Mighty Morphin Power Rangers | Bandai | SNES |
Natsume Atari / Natsume Co., Ltd.
editNatsume Atari, formerly Natsume Co., Ltd, has mostly acted as a developer since splitting from Natsume Inc. - although it has also published some games, notably in theMedarotseries.
Tengo Project
edit| Year | Title | Publisher(s) | Platform(s) | Details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Omega Five | Hudson Soft | Xbox 360 | ||
| 2016 | Wild Guns Reloaded | Natsume Co. (JP),Natsume Inc.(WW) | PlayStation 4,Windows,Nintendo Switch | Based onWild Guns(1994) | |
| 2019 | The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors | Taito(JP and PC), ININ Games (WW) | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows | Based onThe Ninja Warriors(1994) | |
| 2022 | Pocky & Rocky Reshrined | Taito(JP),Natsume Inc.(WW), Natsume Atari (PC), ININ Games (Xbox) | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows,Xbox Series X/S | Based onPocky & Rocky(1992) | |
| 2024 | Shadow of the Ninja Reborn | Natsume Atari (JP), ININ Games (WW) | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5,Windows, Xbox Series X/S | Based onShadow of the Ninja(1990) |
Note
editReferences
edit- ^abcINC., NATSUME ATARI (December 18, 2017)."ゲーム du kỹ cơ khai phát の ナツメアタリ kabushiki gaisha ｜ナツメアタリ kabushiki gaisha".ナツメアタリ kabushiki gaisha.
- ^INC., NATSUME ATARI (December 18, 2017)."ゲーム du kỹ cơ khai phát の ナツメアタリ kabushiki gaisha ｜ナツメアタリ kabushiki gaisha".ナツメアタリ kabushiki gaisha.
- ^"サービス kết thúc の お biết らせ".
- ^"Natsume - Serious Fun!".March 3, 2005. Archived from the original on March 3, 2005.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^"Fragments of Silicon - Live & Recorded Episodes".talkshoe.Archived fromthe originalon May 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 8,2015.
- ^"WIKIPEDIA: BAD SOURCE OF INFO".CeeCee's Musings.Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.
- ^"[Industry Interviews] Taka Maekawa from Natsume Inc".November 22, 2017.
- ^The Classic SNES Shooter Comes to PlayStation 4 This Fall
- ^"Tengo Project".Gematsu.October 18, 2021.RetrievedDecember 4,2023.
- ^"TENGO PROJECT - About".Natsume Atari.RetrievedDecember 4,2023.
- ^"Touhou Kenbun Roku - The Cutting Room Floor".tcrf.net.
- ^"Dragon Dance".IGN.RetrievedSeptember 25,2022.
- ^Romano, Sal (April 12, 2022)."Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising launches May 10".Gematsu.RetrievedOctober 9,2024.
- ^Romano, Sal (February 21, 2024)."FuRyu and Natsume Atari announce Shibuya-set action RPG REYNATIS for PS5, PS4, and Switch".Gematsu.RetrievedSeptember 16,2024.
External links
edit- Natsume Atari homepage(Japanese)
- Natsume Co., Ltd. homepage(Japanese, old)
- Natsume Solution/evolve Co., Ltd. homepage(Japanese)