Difference between revisions of "Arc System Works"

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< [[Companies]]
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[[Image:Arcsys.png|right|Arc System Works logo]]
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'''Arc System Works Co., Ltd.''' (アークシステムワークス株式会社) is a publisher and developer based in Yokohama, Japan, with a European office in Bristol, UK. [http://arcsystemworks.eu/company.php] Minoru Kidooka (木戸岡稔) is president. [http://www.arcsystemworks.com/profile.html] The company was established in May 1988 as '''Arc Co., Ltd.''' (株式会社アーク) In 1991, it was renamed and moved from the Nishi ward to the Kohoku ward. [http://www.arcsystemworks.com/profile.html]
  
Started in May 1988 as simply Arc (アーク) and headed by Minoru Kidooka (木戸岡稔) [http://www.arcsystemworks.jp/company_data.html], '''Arc System Works''' (アークシステムワークス) was originally primarily a contract developer. At some point (probably around 1995), the company was renamed to its current name and started developing and self-publishing original games. Today, the company is known mostly for the Guilty Gear fighting game series.
+
Originally only a contract developer, Arc System Works started publishing its own games in 1995 with the release of ''Exector'' for the PlayStation. Today, Arc is best known for the ''Guilty Gear'' and ''BlazBlue'' series. [http://www.arcsystemworks.com/profile.html]
  
Some early Arc staff left to start [[Company:Minato Giken|Minato Giken]].
+
Some early Arc staff left to start [[Minato Giken]]. Other staff left to start [[StarLight Marry]] in 1996.
  
For the time being, the list below does not cover games published from 1995 onward.
+
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), [[Arc System Works (credits)|shared staff]]
  
 
===Arcade===
 
===Arcade===
*<div style="color:gray">''Quiz Gakuen Paradise'' (sound) (Face)</div>
+
*''Quiz Gakuen Paradise'' (sound) (Face)
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Quiz Gakuen Paradise (AC)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
*''Tokoro-san no Mah-Mahjong'' (Sega)
  
 
===Famicom/NES===
 
===Famicom/NES===
*''Chiyonofuji no Ooichou'' (JP Publisher: Face)
+
*''Armadillo'' (sound driver) (JP Publisher: IGS)
:<small>Some Planning, Some Programming: [[Company:Sankindo|Sankindo]]?</small>
+
*''Chiyonofuji no Ooichou'' (co-developed with [[Sankindo]]?) (JP Publisher: Face)
:<small>Actual mention | [[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Chiyonofuji no Ooichou (FC)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
*<div style="color:red">''Dokuganryu Masamune'' (JP Publisher: Namco)</div>
 +
*''Final Lap'' (programming, sound?) (JP Publisher: Namco)
 +
:<small>Game Design? Graphics?: [[Nova]]?</small>
 
*''Great Battle Cyber'' (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
 
*''Great Battle Cyber'' (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Great Battle Cyber (FC)|Shared staff]]</small>
 
 
*''Hissatsu Shigoto Nin'' (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
 
*''Hissatsu Shigoto Nin'' (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Hissatsu Shigoto Nin (FC)|Shared staff]]</small>
 
 
*''Ide Yousuke Meijin no Jissen Mahjong II'' (JP Publisher: Capcom)
 
*''Ide Yousuke Meijin no Jissen Mahjong II'' (JP Publisher: Capcom)
:<small>[http://blog.e-smile.ne.jp/prg/2007/08/post_26.html Online resource]</small>
+
*''Kyouryuu Sentai Zyuranger'' (JP Publisher: Angel)
*''Kyouryuu Sentai Juuranger'' (JP Publisher: Angel)
+
*<div style="color:red">''Mappy Kids'' (JP Publisher: Namco)</div>
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Kyouryuu Sentai Juuranger (FC)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
*''Ningen Heiki: Dead Fox'' / ''Code Name: Viper'' (programming?) (JP/US Publisher: Capcom)
 
*''Pizza Pop!'' (JP Publisher: Jaleco)
 
*''Pizza Pop!'' (JP Publisher: Jaleco)
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Pizza Pop! (FC)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
*''Rolling Thunder'' (programming, sound?) (JP Publisher: Namco; US Publisher: Tengen)
 +
:<small>Game Design? Graphics?: Nova?</small>
 +
*''SD Sengoku Bushou Retsuden: Rekka no Gotoku Tenka o Tore!'' (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
  
 
===Game Boy===
 
===Game Boy===
 
*''Minesweeper'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 
*''Minesweeper'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
:<small>Actual mention</small>
+
*''Ranma 1/2: Netsuretsu Kakutou-hen'' (sound) (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
 +
*<div style="color:red">''Sailor Moon'' (which game?) (JP Publisher: Angel)</div>
 +
 
 +
===Game Boy Color===
 +
*<div style="color:red">''Muteki-ou Tri-Zenon'' (JP Publisher: Marvelous Entertainment)</div>
 +
:<small>Some Programming: [[TNS]]?; Music: Studio PJ</small>
  
 
===Game Gear===
 
===Game Gear===
 +
*''Gamble Panic'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Sega)
 +
:<small>Sound: USP</small>
 +
*<div style="color:red">''Sonic Drift 2'' (programming?) (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega)</div>
 
*''Taisen Mahjong Hao Pai'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
 
*''Taisen Mahjong Hao Pai'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
:<small>Actual mention | [http://blog.e-smile.ne.jp/prg/2007/08/post_8.html Online resource]</small>
+
*''Taisen Mahjong Hao Pai 2'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
  
 
===Mark III/Master System===
 
===Mark III/Master System===
 +
*<div style="color:red">''Battle Out Run'' (programming?) (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)</div>
 +
*''Double Dragon'' (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
 
*''Michael Jackson's Moonwalker / Moonwalker'' (programming) (US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; SK Publisher: Samsung)
 
*''Michael Jackson's Moonwalker / Moonwalker'' (programming) (US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; SK Publisher: Samsung)
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Michael Jackson's Moonwalker / Moonwalker (SMS)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
 
 +
===Mega CD/Sega CD===
 +
*''3x3 Eyes Seima Densetsu'' (some game and animation programming) (JP Publisher: Sega)
  
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
*''Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon'' (JP Publisher: Ma-Ba)
+
*''Battletoads'' (US Publisher: Tradewest; EU/JP/AS Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
:<small>Co-developed with TNS?</small>
+
*''Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon'' (co-developed with TNS) (JP Publisher: Ma-Ba)
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (MD)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
  
 
===PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16===
 
===PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16===
*<div style="color:red">''Cross Wiber: Cyber Combat Police'' (music programming?) (JP Publisher: Face)</div>
+
*''Cross Wiber: Cyber Combat Police'' (music programming) (JP Publisher: Face)
*<div style="color:red">''Fushigi no Yumi no Alice'' (programming assistance, music composition?) (JP Publisher: Face)</div>
+
*''Fushigi no Yumi no Alice'' (programming assistance, music composition) (JP Publisher: Face)
*<div style="color:red">''Hany in the Sky'' (music/sound?) (JP Publisher: Face)</div>
+
*''Hany in the Sky'' (music, sound) (JP Publisher: Face)
 
*''Hany on the Road'' (JP Publisher: Face)
 
*''Hany on the Road'' (JP Publisher: Face)
:<small>Actual mention | [[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Hany on the Road (PCE)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
*''Mahjong Gakuen: Touma Soushirou Toujou / Mahjong Gakuen: Touma Soushirou Toujou Mild'' (some programming, sound) (JP Publisher: Face)
*<div style="color:red">''Mahjong Gakuen: Touma Soushirou Toujou / Mahjong Gakuen: Touma Soushirou Toujou Mild'' (some programming, sound?) (JP Publisher: Face)</div>
+
 
*''Obocchama-kun'' (under subcontract with Pack-In-Video) (JP Publisher: Namco)
 
*''Obocchama-kun'' (under subcontract with Pack-In-Video) (JP Publisher: Namco)
:<small>Actual mention | Shared staff</small>
+
:<small>Some Graphics: Graffiti Lab</small>
 
*''Zipang'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 
*''Zipang'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
:<small>Actual mention | [[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Zipang (PCE)|Shared staff]]</small>
 
  
 
===PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD===
 
===PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD===
 
*''Hihou Densetsu: Chris no Bouken'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 
*''Hihou Densetsu: Chris no Bouken'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
:<small>Actual mention | [[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Hihou Densetsu: Chris no Bouken (PCE)|Shared staff]]</small>
 
 
*''Minesweeper'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 
*''Minesweeper'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
:<small>Actual mention</small>
 
 
*''Road Spirits'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 
*''Road Spirits'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
:<small>Actual mention</small>
+
*''Yuu Yuu Hakusho: Yami Shoubu!! Ankoku Bujutsukai'' (co-developed with TNS) (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
*''Yuu Yuu Hakusho: Yami Shoubu!! Ankoku Bujutsukai'' (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
+
 
:<small>Co-developed with TNS?</small>
+
===PlayStation===
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Yuu Yuu Hakusho: Yami Shoubu!! Ankoku Bujutsukai (PCE)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
*<div style="color:red">''Hyper Final Match Tennis'' (JP Publisher: [[Human]]; EU Publisher: JVC)</div>
 +
*<div style="color:red">''Queens Road'' (some graphics?) (JP Publisher: Angel)</div>
 +
:<small>Developer: TNS; Sound: Inner Brain</small>
 +
*<div style="color:red">''Zork I: The Great Underground Empire'' (JP Publisher: Shoeisha)</div>
 +
 
 +
===Saturn===
 +
*''Virtual Open Tennis'' (JP Publisher: Imagineer; EU/US Publisher: Acclaim)
 +
*<div style="color:red">''Zork I: The Great Underground Empire'' (JP Publisher: Shoeisha)</div>
  
 
===Super Famicom/Super NES===
 
===Super Famicom/Super NES===
 +
*''Battle Commander: Hachi Bushuu Shura no Hyouhou'' (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
 +
*<div style="color:red">''Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story'' (JP Publisher: Angel)</div>
 +
:<small>Developer: TNS</small>
 +
*''Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Jougai Rantou!? Shuyaku Soudatsusen'' (co-developed with TNS) (JP Publisher: Angel)
 +
*''Future GPX Cyber Formula'' / ''Cyber Spin'' (JP/US Publisher: Takara)
 
*''Gaia Savior: Hero Saidai no Sakusen'' (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
 
*''Gaia Savior: Hero Saidai no Sakusen'' (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Gaia Savior: Hero Saidai no Sakusen (SFC)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
*<div style="color:red">''Honoo no Doukyuuji: Dodge Danpei'' (JP Publisher: Sunsoft)</div>
*''Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula / Cyber Spin'' (JP/US Publisher: Takara)
+
:<small>?: TNS</small>
:<small>[[Company:Arc System Works (credits)#Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula / Cyber Spin (SFC/SNES)|Shared staff]]</small>
+
*<div style="color:red">''Ongaku Tsukuuru: Kanadeeru'' (programming?) (JP Publisher: ASCII)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Shougi Club'' (JP Publisher: Hect)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Shougi Club'' (JP Publisher: Hect)</div>
:<small>Actual mention</small>
+
*''Suzuka 8 Hours'' (JP/US Publisher: Namco)
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 
*[http://www.arcsystemworks.jp/ Official website] (Japanese)
 
*[http://www.arcsystemworks.jp/ Official website] (Japanese)
*[http://www.e-smile.ne.jp/ E-Smile official website] (Japanese) - Company president Makoto Shiozumi ("Shiochi," et al.) was a programmer at Arc
+
*[http://www.arcsystemworks.eu/ Arc System Works Europe official website]
::[http://www.e-smile.ne.jp/esmile/company/company_greeting.php Greetings from Shiozumi; career outline says he joined Arc System Works in 1988]
+
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20060213181122/http://www.e-smile.ne.jp/campany/keireki.php Makoto Shiozumi's (former Arc programmer, president of E-Smile) profile] (Japanese)
::[http://blog.e-smile.ne.jp/prg/cat2/cat11/ Blog entries by Shiozumi about games he worked on at Arc]
+
::[http://blog.e-smile.ne.jp/prg/cat2/cat11/ Blog entries by Shiozumi about games he worked on at Arc] (Japanese)
 +
*[http://blog.gamekult.com/blog/boulapoire/189980/an-afternoon-at-arc-system-works.html "An Afternoon at Arc System Works"] (French)
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Companies]]

Revision as of 23:16, 14 April 2017

Arc System Works logo

Arc System Works Co., Ltd. (アークシステムワークス株式会社) is a publisher and developer based in Yokohama, Japan, with a European office in Bristol, UK. [1] Minoru Kidooka (木戸岡稔) is president. [2] The company was established in May 1988 as Arc Co., Ltd. (株式会社アーク) In 1991, it was renamed and moved from the Nishi ward to the Kohoku ward. [3]

Originally only a contract developer, Arc System Works started publishing its own games in 1995 with the release of Exector for the PlayStation. Today, Arc is best known for the Guilty Gear and BlazBlue series. [4]

Some early Arc staff left to start Minato Giken. Other staff left to start StarLight Marry in 1996.

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

Arcade

  • Quiz Gakuen Paradise (sound) (Face)
  • Tokoro-san no Mah-Mahjong (Sega)

Famicom/NES

  • Armadillo (sound driver) (JP Publisher: IGS)
  • Chiyonofuji no Ooichou (co-developed with Sankindo?) (JP Publisher: Face)
  • Dokuganryu Masamune (JP Publisher: Namco)
  • Final Lap (programming, sound?) (JP Publisher: Namco)
Game Design? Graphics?: Nova?
  • Great Battle Cyber (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
  • Hissatsu Shigoto Nin (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
  • Ide Yousuke Meijin no Jissen Mahjong II (JP Publisher: Capcom)
  • Kyouryuu Sentai Zyuranger (JP Publisher: Angel)
  • Mappy Kids (JP Publisher: Namco)
  • Ningen Heiki: Dead Fox / Code Name: Viper (programming?) (JP/US Publisher: Capcom)
  • Pizza Pop! (JP Publisher: Jaleco)
  • Rolling Thunder (programming, sound?) (JP Publisher: Namco; US Publisher: Tengen)
Game Design? Graphics?: Nova?
  • SD Sengoku Bushou Retsuden: Rekka no Gotoku Tenka o Tore! (JP Publisher: Banpresto)

Game Boy

  • Minesweeper (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
  • Ranma 1/2: Netsuretsu Kakutou-hen (sound) (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
  • Sailor Moon (which game?) (JP Publisher: Angel)

Game Boy Color

  • Muteki-ou Tri-Zenon (JP Publisher: Marvelous Entertainment)
Some Programming: TNS?; Music: Studio PJ

Game Gear

  • Gamble Panic (programming) (JP Publisher: Sega)
Sound: USP
  • Sonic Drift 2 (programming?) (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega)
  • Taisen Mahjong Hao Pai (JP Publisher: Sega)
  • Taisen Mahjong Hao Pai 2 (JP Publisher: Sega)

Mark III/Master System

  • Battle Out Run (programming?) (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • Double Dragon (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • Michael Jackson's Moonwalker / Moonwalker (programming) (US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; SK Publisher: Samsung)

Mega CD/Sega CD

  • 3x3 Eyes Seima Densetsu (some game and animation programming) (JP Publisher: Sega)

Mega Drive/Genesis

  • Battletoads (US Publisher: Tradewest; EU/JP/AS Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (co-developed with TNS) (JP Publisher: Ma-Ba)

PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16

  • Cross Wiber: Cyber Combat Police (music programming) (JP Publisher: Face)
  • Fushigi no Yumi no Alice (programming assistance, music composition) (JP Publisher: Face)
  • Hany in the Sky (music, sound) (JP Publisher: Face)
  • Hany on the Road (JP Publisher: Face)
  • Mahjong Gakuen: Touma Soushirou Toujou / Mahjong Gakuen: Touma Soushirou Toujou Mild (some programming, sound) (JP Publisher: Face)
  • Obocchama-kun (under subcontract with Pack-In-Video) (JP Publisher: Namco)
Some Graphics: Graffiti Lab
  • Zipang (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)

PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD

  • Hihou Densetsu: Chris no Bouken (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
  • Minesweeper (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
  • Road Spirits (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
  • Yuu Yuu Hakusho: Yami Shoubu!! Ankoku Bujutsukai (co-developed with TNS) (JP Publisher: Banpresto)

PlayStation

  • Hyper Final Match Tennis (JP Publisher: Human; EU Publisher: JVC)
  • Queens Road (some graphics?) (JP Publisher: Angel)
Developer: TNS; Sound: Inner Brain
  • Zork I: The Great Underground Empire (JP Publisher: Shoeisha)

Saturn

  • Virtual Open Tennis (JP Publisher: Imagineer; EU/US Publisher: Acclaim)
  • Zork I: The Great Underground Empire (JP Publisher: Shoeisha)

Super Famicom/Super NES

  • Battle Commander: Hachi Bushuu Shura no Hyouhou (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
  • Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story (JP Publisher: Angel)
Developer: TNS
  • Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Jougai Rantou!? Shuyaku Soudatsusen (co-developed with TNS) (JP Publisher: Angel)
  • Future GPX Cyber Formula / Cyber Spin (JP/US Publisher: Takara)
  • Gaia Savior: Hero Saidai no Sakusen (JP Publisher: Banpresto)
  • Honoo no Doukyuuji: Dodge Danpei (JP Publisher: Sunsoft)
?: TNS
  • Ongaku Tsukuuru: Kanadeeru (programming?) (JP Publisher: ASCII)
  • Shougi Club (JP Publisher: Hect)
  • Suzuka 8 Hours (JP/US Publisher: Namco)

Links

Blog entries by Shiozumi about games he worked on at Arc (Japanese)