Difference between revisions of "Aicom"

From Game Developer Research Institute
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 1: Line 1:
 
__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
 
[[Image:Aicom.png|right|Aicom logo]]
 
[[Image:Aicom.png|right|Aicom logo]]
''This entry is about the original Aicom. For the Aicom responsible for ''Pulstar'', see [[Yumekobo]].''
 
  
 
'''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]
 
'''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]
Line 7: Line 6:
 
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]
 
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]
  
The name "[[Exa Planning]]" is seen on several arcade games (''Angel Kids'', ''Megumi Rescue'', and ''Pythagoras no Nazo''). Depending on who you ask, this was either a name used on games jointly developed by Aicom and [[Eleca]] (E = Eleca; A = Aicom), or it was another company run by Aicom's president. (It is worth noting that Eleca's name turns up in these games, but not Aicom's.)
+
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. (See the [[Exa Planning]] entry for more details.)
  
[[Cyclone System]] and [[C.P. Brain]] were both started by former Aicom staff.
+
[[Cyclone System]] and [[CP.BRAiN]] were both started by former Aicom staff.
  
 
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, code comparisons, interviews, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared staff
 
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, code comparisons, interviews, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared staff
Line 15: Line 14:
 
===Arcade===
 
===Arcade===
 
*''A.B. Cop'' (Sega)
 
*''A.B. Cop'' (Sega)
*<div style="color:red">''Angel Kids'' (Sega)</div>
 
:<small>Programming: Eleca</small>
 
 
*''Bombs Away'' (Jaleco)
 
*''Bombs Away'' (Jaleco)
 
*''Hachoo!'' (Jaleco)
 
*''Hachoo!'' (Jaleco)
 
*''The Lord of King'' / ''The Astyanax'' (Jaleco)
 
*''The Lord of King'' / ''The Astyanax'' (Jaleco)
*<div style="color:red">''Megumi Rescue'' (unreleased) (Sega)</div>
 
:<small>Programming: Eleca</small>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Pythagoras no Nazo'' (Sega)</div>
 
:<small>Programming: Eleca</small>
 
 
*''Racing Hero'' (Sega)
 
*''Racing Hero'' (Sega)
  
Line 74: Line 67:
 
*''Battle Blaze'' (co-developed with Eleca) (JP/US Publisher: Sammy)
 
*''Battle Blaze'' (co-developed with Eleca) (JP/US Publisher: Sammy)
 
:<small>Sound Driver: C-lab.</small>
 
:<small>Sound Driver: C-lab.</small>
 +
 +
==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]].
 +
 +
===Neo Geo===
 +
*''Karate Ninja Shou'' (unreleased) [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1096336126317449216]
 +
*''Pulstar'' (Aicom)
 +
:<small>Sound Design?: First Circle</small>
 +
 +
===PlayStation===
 +
*''Dynamite King'' (unreleased) [http://web.archive.org/web/20181107040120/http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown-Spade/1557/rireki.html]
 +
*''Fuuun Gokuu Ninden'' (JP Publisher: Aicom)
 +
:<small>Was originally supposed to be published by [[Santos]] as ''Super Ninja Goku'' [https://www.unseen64.net/2013/04/07/super-ninja-goku-psx-cancelled/]</small>
 +
:<small>Sound Effects: First Circle</small>
 +
*''The King of Fighters '95'' (JP Publisher: SNK; US Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment) [http://web.archive.org/web/20181107040120/http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown-Spade/1557/rireki.html]
 +
:<small>Some Programming: Eleca, Santos; Sound: First Circle</small>
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 
*[http://3rd.geocities.jp/view001sp/ Terayan's homepage (former Aicom employee)] (Japanese)
 
*[http://3rd.geocities.jp/view001sp/ Terayan's homepage (former Aicom employee)] (Japanese)
*[http://web.archive.org/web/*/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 03:59, 22 December 2019

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 [1] in 1990 and became a subsidiary called Aicom Japan (株式会社日本エイコム). [2] Some executives and staff left as a result. [3]

Aicom and another Sammy subsidiary, Japan Soft Technology, were merged into Sammy [4] in February 1992. Approximately half of Aicom's staff continued to work at Sammy. [5] Sammy eventually cancelled most ongoing projects and fired most of the remaining former Aicom staff. [6]

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. (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) [7]
  • 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) [8]
  • 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) [9]

Neo Geo

  • Dunk Shoot / Dunk Star (unreleased; co-developed with C-lab.) (Sammy) [10]
  • Untitled action game (unreleased) [11]
  • Viewpoint (SNK)

Three additional games never went beyond the planning stage. [12]

PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16

  • Makyou Densetsu / The Legendary Axe (JP Publisher: Victor; US Publisher: NEC)
Programming: Eleca?; Balance Adjustment, Debugging [13], 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)

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.

Neo Geo

  • Karate Ninja Shou (unreleased) [14]
  • Pulstar (Aicom)
Sound Design?: First Circle

PlayStation

  • Dynamite King (unreleased) [15]
  • Fuuun Gokuu Ninden (JP Publisher: Aicom)
Was originally supposed to be published by Santos as Super Ninja Goku [16]
Sound Effects: First Circle
  • The King of Fighters '95 (JP Publisher: SNK; US Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment) [17]
Some Programming: Eleca, Santos; Sound: First Circle

Links