Nova
Not to be confused with Nova Games Ltd., a Canadian arcade game manufacturer, or Nova Productions Limited, a British company that made arcade games and other amusement machines
Nova Co., Ltd. (株式会社ノバ) was originally founded by four people including two former staff members of the Koei subsidiary Ark, Hiroshi Fukutsu (福津浩) [1] and Kenji Takenaka (竹中健二). [2] As Nova took on more work from Namco, Fukutsu started a "brother company" (not a subsidiary) called Quest with shared staff from Nova to work with other publishers. [3] Sun L appears to have broken off from Nova.
Much of the staff from N.H. System joined Nova after N.H. System went bankrupt. Nova also took over development of Final Blaster and Märchen Maze for PC Engine. [4] [5]
Takenaka was the president of Nova. [6] [7] Nova may have also had an American subsidiary in California called Nova America Corporation (incorporated in 1990 and dissolved in 1993); it was headed by a Kenji Takenaka with a registered address in Tokyo. Takenaka was later involved with Wavedge and possibly served as the president of that company, given his producer role on some games.
Research Methods: Actual mentions, code comparisons, interviews, online resources, shared staff
Famicom/NES
- Dokuganryuu Masamune (JP Publisher: Namco)
- Elnark no Zaihou (JP Publisher: Towa Chiki)
- Final Lap (JP Publisher: Namco)
- Programming, Sound?: Arc System Works
- Ide Yosuke Meijin no Jissen Mahjong II (JP Publisher: Capcom)
- Programming?: Arc System Works
- Mappy Kids (JP Publisher: Namco)
- Mirai Shinwa Jarvas (JP Publisher: Taito)
- Rolling Thunder (JP Publisher: Namco; US Publisher: Tengen)
- Programming, Sound?: Arc System Works
- Sherlock Holmes: Hakushaku Reijou Yuukai Jiken (JP Publisher: Towa Chiki)
- Takeda Shingen (JP Publisher: Hot-B)
- Takeshi no Chousenjou (under subcontract with Allumer?) (JP Publisher: Taito)
- Takeshi no Sengoku Fuuunji (JP Publisher: Taito)
- Zoids: Mokushiroku (JP Publisher: Tomy)
Game Boy
- America Oudan Ultra Quiz (JP Publisher: Tomy)
- Direction: WiZ
- Battle City (JP Publisher: Nova)
- Family Jockey (JP Publisher: Namco)
- Kinnikuman: The Dream Match (JP Publisher: Yutaka)
- Ranma 1/2: Kakuren Bodesu Match (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
- SD Lupin Sansei: Kinko Yaburi Daisakusen (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
- Versus Hero: Kakutou Ou e no Michi (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
- Zoids Densetsu (JP Publisher: Tomy)
Game Gear
- Mappy (JP Publisher: Namco)
Mega Drive/Genesis
- Burning Force (JP/US Publisher: Namco; EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
- Some Graphics: Winds?; Sound: USP?
PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16
- Final Blaster (JP Publisher: Namco)
- Programming: Aisystem Tokyo
- Final Lap Twin (JP Publisher: Namco; US Publisher: NEC Home Electronics)
- Juuouki (unreleased version?) (NEC Avenue)
- Märchen Maze (JP Publisher: Namco)
- Thunder Blade (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
- World Jockey (JP Publisher: Namco)
Super Famicom/Super NES
- 3x3 Eyes: Seima Kourinden (JP Publisher: Yutaka)
- Sound: USP?
- Battle Dodge Ball: Toukyuu Daigekitotsu! (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
- Battle Dodge Ball II (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
- Some Graphics?: Winds; Music: USP?
- Battle Jockey (JP Publisher: Virgin)
- Some Graphics: Winds; Sound: USP?
- Garou Densetsu 2: Arata-naru Tatakai / Fatal Fury 2 (JP/US/EU Publisher: Takara)
- Sound: USP?
- Garou Densetsu: Shukumei no Tatakai / Fatal Fury (JP/US/EU Publisher: Takara)
- Sound: USP?
- The Great Battle II: Last Fighter Twin (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
- Kidou Senshi Gundam F91: Formula Senki 0122 (JP Publisher: Bandai)
- Kinnikuman: Dirty Challenger (JP Publisher: Yutaka)
- Magical Taruruuto-kun: Magic Adventure (JP Publisher: Bandai)
- SD The Great Battle: Arata-naru Chousen (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
- Shounen Ashibe: Goma-chan no Yuuenchi Daibouken (JP Publisher: Takara)
- Sound: USP?
- Super Wagyan Land (JP Publisher: Namco)
- Super Wagyan Land 2 (JP Publisher: Namco)
- Sound: USP?
- Thunderbirds, Gerry Anderson's: Kokusai Kyuujotai Shutsudou seyo! (JP Publisher: Cobra Team)
- Some Programming: Aisystem Tokyo; Some Programming: Soft Machine?; Sound: USP?
- Ultraman: Towards the Future (US/UK Publisher: Bandai)
- World Heroes (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sunsoft; BR Publisher: Playtronic)
- Sound: USP?
- Xandra no Daibouken: Valkyrie to no Deai / Whirlo (JP/EU Publisher: Namco)
- Some Sound: USP?
