Zap

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Zap Corporation (株式会社ザップ) was a company started by 19-year-old Yuichiro Itakura (板倉雄一郎), who previously worked for Ample Software.[1] It was established in February 1984. [1]

Heartbeat and Genius Sonority founder Manabu Yamana (山名学), Climax Entertainment co-founder Kan Naito (内藤寬), and Square Enix producer Takashi Tokita (時田貴司) were among the early staff.[1] Other former employees include Hitoshi Akashi (赤司仁) of Beyond Interactive, Koji Miyoshi (三好弘二) of Spiel, Kou Matsuda (松田康) of Radical Plan, Demon's Souls producer Takeshi Kajii (梶井健), and writer/Geo Factory founder Takaharu Mita (三田隆治). Itakura himself went on to start various technology companies and write business self-help books.[1]

According to Yamana, Zap was originally called Way Limit (Way Limit Corporation, 株式会社ウェイリミット), but the name was quickly changed.[1] In actuality, Way Limit may have been a predecessor company, as the games made under that name would have come out prior to February 1984.

Research Methods: Actual mentions, interviews, print (see Further reading), shared staff

Related Interviews: Hitoshi Akashi

Way Limit

MSX

  • High Way Star (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)
  • Midnight Building (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)

Zap

Famicom/NES

  • Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
Programming: Another
  • Chuugoku Janshi Story: Tonpuu (JP Publisher: Natsume)
  • Super Rugby (JP Publisher: T.S.S.)

FM-7

  • Super Rambo (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
Planning, Graphics: Bothtec

Mark III/Master System

  • Summer Games / Jogos Olympícos (under subcontract with Kaga Electronics?) (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)

MSX

  • Bomber King (JP Publisher: Hudson)
  • Cosmo-Explorer (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Fairy (JP Publisher: Zap)
  • Funky Mouse (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Glider (JP Publisher: Zap)
  • Manes (JP Publisher: Zap)
  • Midnight Brothers (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Payload (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Pineapplin (JP Publisher: Zap)
  • Raid on Bungeling Bay (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Rally (JP Publisher: Takeru [Brother])

MSX2

  • Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
  • Barunba (JP Publisher: Namco)
  • Ninja (JP Publisher: Bothtec)
  • Shuto Dakkai (首都奪回) (unreleased) (Zap)
  • Taiyou no Shinden: Asteka II (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)

PC-88

  • Super Rambo (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
Planning, Graphics: Bothtec

PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16

  • Barunba (JP Publisher: Namco)
  • Dead Moon: Gessekai no Akumu / Dead Moon (JP Publisher: T.S.S.; US Publisher: NEC)
Music: Mecano Associates

Unknown (MSX, PC)

  • 1942 (JP Publisher: ASCII)
  • Alien invasion game (unreleased)
A game Manabu Yamana worked on that was rejected by ASCII
  • Senjou no Ookami (JP Publisher: ASCII)

X1

  • Super Rambo (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
Planning, Graphics: Bothtec

Further reading

1. Szczepaniak, John. The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Volume 3: Monochrome. United States: SMG Szczepaniak, 2018. Print.