Difference between revisions of "Aicom"

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[[Image:Aicom.png|right|Aicom logo]]
 
[[Image:Aicom.png|right|Aicom logo]]
  
'''Aicom Corporation''' (株式会社エイコム) was a game developer and publisher headed by Akio Inoue (井上昭男). (The name is allegedly short for "Akio Inoue COMputer.") The company was acquired by Sammy [http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Hitoshi_Akashi] in 1990 and became a subsidiary called '''Aicom Japan''' (株式会社日本エイコム). [http://web.archive.org/web/20090506003243/http://www.sammy.co.jp/japanese/company/history/index.html] Some executives and staff left as a result. [https://twitter.com/sizokmr/status/302308464552714240]
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'''Aicom Corporation''' (株式会社エイコム) was a game developer and publisher headed by Akio Inoue (井上昭男), formerly of Leijac (''Game Machine'' 1979/6/1, p. 11) and Tehkan (''Game Machine'' 1985/1/15, p. 2). (The name is allegedly short for "Akio Inoue COMputer.")
  
Aicom and another Sammy subsidiary, Japan Soft Technology, were merged into Sammy [http://web.archive.org/web/20090506003243/http://www.sammy.co.jp/japanese/company/history/index.html] in February 1992. Approximately half of Aicom's staff continued to work at Sammy. [https://twitter.com/sizokmr/status/302308956527804416] Sammy eventually cancelled most ongoing projects and fired most of the remaining former Aicom staff. [https://twitter.com/sizokmr/status/302309545957527553]
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In 1990, Sammy established a subsidiary called '''Aicom Japan''' (日本エイコム株式会社). [http://web.archive.org/web/20090506003243/http://www.sammy.co.jp/japanese/company/history/index.html] It was previously assumed that Sammy acquired Aicom outright; however, ''Game Machine'' (1992/3/15, p. 3) reported that, according to Sammy president Hajime Satomi, Aicom Japan was acquired from Aicom as an amusement machine division. As part of the deal, Aicom was not involved with the amusement machine business and did not have a relationship with Aicom Japan. This would suggest that Aicom continued to exist separately from Aicom Japan.
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Inoue served as president of Aicom Japan. It and another subsidiary, Japan Soft Technology, developed commercial and home video game software under Sammy's amusement business division (headed by Minoru Suzuki). Both subsidiaries were merged into Sammy by absorption on February 3, 1992. With this merger, Inoue became an advisor to Sammy's amusement business division. (''Game Machine'' 1992/3/15, p. 3)
  
 
The name Exa Planning is seen on several arcade games (''Angel Kids'', ''Megumi Rescue'', and ''Pythagoras no Nazo''). This was either an earlier name for Aicom or a different company also run by Inoue. (See the [[Exa Planning]] entry for more details.)
 
The name Exa Planning is seen on several arcade games (''Angel Kids'', ''Megumi Rescue'', and ''Pythagoras no Nazo''). This was either an earlier name for Aicom or a different company also run by Inoue. (See the [[Exa Planning]] entry for more details.)
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==Aicom (2)==
 
==Aicom (2)==
'''Aicom Co., Ltd.''' (株式会社エイコム) was a new company run by Akio Inoue. (Did it become AI Electronics?) Staff joined [[Yumekobo]].
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Did Aicom become AI Electronics? Staff joined [[Yumekobo]].
  
 
===Neo Geo===
 
===Neo Geo===
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==Links==
 
==Links==
*[http://3rd.geocities.jp/view001sp/ Terayan's homepage (former Aicom employee)] (Japanese)
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/2019*/http://3rd.geocities.jp/view001sp/ Terayan's homepage (former Aicom employee)] (Japanese)
 
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20031008094210/http://www.hibari.ne.jp/gal.html Hibari Works (company headed by former Aicom and C.P. Brain employee Shigenori Hashimoto) gallery (Internet Archive Wayback Archive)] (Japanese)
 
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20031008094210/http://www.hibari.ne.jp/gal.html Hibari Works (company headed by former Aicom and C.P. Brain employee Shigenori Hashimoto) gallery (Internet Archive Wayback Archive)] (Japanese)
 
*[http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87370 Investigative thread at Digital Press]
 
*[http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87370 Investigative thread at Digital Press]
  
 
[[Category:Companies]]
 
[[Category:Companies]]

Revision as of 04:37, 10 May 2020

Aicom logo

Aicom Corporation (株式会社エイコム) was a game developer and publisher headed by Akio Inoue (井上昭男), formerly of Leijac (Game Machine 1979/6/1, p. 11) and Tehkan (Game Machine 1985/1/15, p. 2). (The name is allegedly short for "Akio Inoue COMputer.")

In 1990, Sammy established a subsidiary called Aicom Japan (日本エイコム株式会社). [1] It was previously assumed that Sammy acquired Aicom outright; however, Game Machine (1992/3/15, p. 3) reported that, according to Sammy president Hajime Satomi, Aicom Japan was acquired from Aicom as an amusement machine division. As part of the deal, Aicom was not involved with the amusement machine business and did not have a relationship with Aicom Japan. This would suggest that Aicom continued to exist separately from Aicom Japan.

Inoue served as president of Aicom Japan. It and another subsidiary, Japan Soft Technology, developed commercial and home video game software under Sammy's amusement business division (headed by Minoru Suzuki). Both subsidiaries were merged into Sammy by absorption on February 3, 1992. With this merger, Inoue became an advisor to Sammy's amusement business division. (Game Machine 1992/3/15, p. 3)

The name Exa Planning is seen on several arcade games (Angel Kids, Megumi Rescue, and Pythagoras no Nazo). This was either an earlier name for Aicom or a different company also run by Inoue. (See the Exa Planning entry for more details.)

Cyclone System and CP.BRAiN were both started by former Aicom staff.

Research Methods: Actual mentions, code comparisons, interviews, online resources (see Links), shared staff

Arcade

  • A.B. Cop (Sega)
  • Bombs Away (Jaleco)
  • Hachoo! (Jaleco)
  • The Lord of King / The Astyanax (Jaleco)
  • Racing Hero (Sega)

Famicom/NES

  • Bomber King / RoboWarrior (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Hudson; US/EU Publisher: Jaleco) [2]
  • Chuugoku Senseijutsu (JP Publisher: Jaleco)
  • Flying Hero (JP Publisher: Epic)
  • Golgo 13: Dai 2 Shou: Riddle of Icarus / Golgo 13: The Mafat Conspiracy (JP/US Publisher: Vic Tokai)
  • Gun-Dec / Vice: Project Doom (JP/US Publisher: Sammy)
  • The Lord of King / Astyanax (production? some sound?) (JP/US/EU Publisher: Jaleco)
Developer: C-lab.?
  • Magic John / Totally Rad (production? sound?) (JP/US Publisher: Jaleco)
Developer: C-lab.?
  • Magical Kids Doropie / The Krion Conquest (sound) (JP/US Publisher: Vic Tokai)
  • Moero!! Junior Basket: Two on Two / Hoops (JP/US Publisher: Jaleco)
  • Takeshi no Sengoku Fuuunko (sound?) (JP Publisher: Taito)
  • Totsuzen! Machoman / Amagon (JP Publisher: Vic Tokai; US Publisher: Sammy)
  • Ultimate Basketball / Taito Basketball (US Publisher: Sammy; JP Publisher: Taito)
  • Ultimate Soccer (unreleased) (game design) (Sammy)
Programming, Graphics, Sound: Beyond
  • Zenbei!! Pro Basket / All-Pro Basketball (JP/US Publisher: Vic Tokai)

Mark III/Master System

  • Basketball Nightmare (EU Publisher: Sega)
  • Great Basketball / Great Basket (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • Psycho Fox / Sapo Xulé Vs Os Invasores do Brejo (sound) (US/EU Publisher: Sega; KR Publisher: Samsung; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)

Mega Drive/Genesis

  • Dando / Vasum (unreleased) (Treco) [3]
  • Fighting Masters (JP/US Publisher: Treco; KR Publisher: Samsung)
Some System Design, Programming: ALU
  • Magical Hat no Buttobi Turbo! Daibouken (sound?) (JP Publisher: Sega)
  • Super Real Basketball / Pat Riley Basketball (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega)
  • Whip Rush: Wakusei Voltegas no Nazo / Whip Rush (sound?) (JP Publisher: Sega; US Publisher: Renovation)
  • Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair / Monster Lair / Monster Lair: Wonder Boy III (JP/EU Publisher: Sega; KR Publisher: Samsung) [4]

Neo Geo

  • Dunk Shoot / Dunk Star (unreleased; co-developed with C-lab.) (Sammy) [5]
  • Untitled action game (unreleased) [6]
  • Viewpoint (SNK)

Three additional games never went beyond the planning stage. [7]

PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16

  • Makyou Densetsu / The Legendary Axe (JP Publisher: Victor; US Publisher: NEC)
Programming: Eleca?; Balance Adjustment, Debugging [8], Sound?: Hudson
  • USA Pro Basketball / Takin' It to the Hoop (JP Publisher: Aicom; US Publisher: NEC)
Some Programming: Eleca?

Super Famicom/Super NES

  • Battle Blaze (co-developed with Eleca) (JP/US Publisher: Sammy)
Sound Driver: C-lab.

Aicom (2)

Did Aicom become AI Electronics? Staff joined Yumekobo.

Neo Geo

  • Karate Ninja Shou (unreleased) [9]
  • Pulstar (Aicom)
Sound Design?: First Circle

PlayStation

  • Dynamite King (unreleased) [10]
  • Fuuun Gokuu Ninden (JP Publisher: Aicom)
Was originally supposed to be published by Santos as Super Ninja Goku [11]
Sound Effects: First Circle
  • The King of Fighters '95 (JP Publisher: SNK; US Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment) [12]
Some Programming: Eleca, Santos; Sound: First Circle

Links