Difference between revisions of "Ikegami Tsushinki"

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'''Ikegami Tsushinki Co., Ltd.''' (池上通信機株式会社) is a manufacturer of professional video equipment such as cameras and monitors. It was founded on September 10, 1946, and incorporated on February 21, 1948. [https://www.ikegami.co.jp/en/corporate-profile] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the company was involved with developing arcade games, primarily for Nintendo.
  
'''Ikegami Tsushinki''' (池上通信機), founded on September 10, 1946, and incorporated on February 21, 1948, is a manufacturer of broadcasting equipment. [http://www.ikegami.co.jp/en/company/index.html] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the company was apparently involved with developing arcade games.
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Ikegami's relationship with Nintendo began when Ikegami was asked by Tokuzo Komai of Nintendo Leisure System to develop arcade games exclusively for Nintendo; per their agreement, Ikegami would develop and manufacture the games, and Nintendo would sell them under its own name.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup>
  
Among those games was Radar Scope, which Ikegami designed and developed for Nintendo.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup> The game was popular briefly in Japan, prompting Nintendo of America President Minoru Arakawa to place a large order for it. But by the time units reached the States, any buzz surrounding the game had dissipated, and arcade operators were left unimpressed. Facing financial disaster, Arakawa asked his father-in-law and Nintendo CEO Hiroshi Yamauchi to provide him with a game that could be installed as a replacement. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_Scope]
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Among the games Ikegami worked on was ''Donkey Kong'', created as a conversion for ''Radar Scope'', which sold poorly when it came to the United States. Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto devised the play mechanics, story, and characters; Ikegami programmed the game and manufactured the boards.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup>
  
Yamauchi assigned a young Shigeru Miyamoto with designing a new game using the Radar Scope hardware. What Miyamoto came up with was Donkey Kong. Nintendo decided to work with Ikegami, which had the technology to program it. Ikegami wrote all the code and sold Nintendo 8,000-20,000 PCBs (Nintendo copied 80,000 without permission). Since there was no contract between Ikegami and Nintendo, Nintendo did not have the source code. But Nintendo wanted a sequel, so DK was disassembled and reverse engineered (through subcontractor Iwasaki Giken) and soon came Donkey Kong Junior (noted as being the first Nintendo game developed entirely in-house). In 1983, an angered Ikegami sued Nintendo for ¥580,000,000 for copyright infringement, claiming it owned the original DK code. In 1990, the two companies settled out of court. The details of that were not released to the public. In another trial that year, it was determined that Nintendo did not hold the copyright to the DK code.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup>
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Ikegami signed the development contract for ''Donkey Kong'' in April 1981. Nintendo would pay Ikegami ¥10,000,000 for development. The contract also specified that Nintendo was not to copy the program, nor allow a third party to do so. However, the contract did not actually specify who owned the program.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup>
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''Donkey Kong'' went on to become an international hit, prompting production of a sequel — ''Donkey Kong Junior'' — starting in March 1982, without Ikegami's help. In 1983, Ikegami sued Nintendo, claiming it owned the original ''Donkey Kong'' code and that ''Donkey Kong Junior'' had been made using said code without Ikegami's permission. The two companies eventually settled; the details of that settlement were not released to the public.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup>
  
 
[[Image:Itclogo.jpg|right|ITC logo]] [[Image:Itc_handylooky.jpg|right|ITC logo]]
 
[[Image:Itclogo.jpg|right|ITC logo]] [[Image:Itc_handylooky.jpg|right|ITC logo]]
If you look at the tilesets from Congo Bongo, Donkey Kong, and Zaxxon, you will find the then Ikegami logo [http://forums.webmagic.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=2&Number=484402&page=7&vc=1] (see right; below that: the logo as seen on a 1978 Ikegami color Handy Looky viewfinder). It also turns up in Donkey Kong Junior and Super Zaxxon, but Ikegami's involvement with the latter is unknown (the situation with DK Junior was explained earlier; Super Zaxxon is essentially a more challenging version of Zaxxon). It is also unknown if Ikegami was involved with Future Spy, a conversion for Zaxxon.
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If you look at the tilesets from ''Congo Bongo'', ''Donkey Kong'', and ''Zaxxon'', you will find the then Ikegami logo (see right; below that: the logo as seen on a 1978 Ikegami color Handy Looky viewfinder). It also turns up in ''Donkey Kong Junior'' and ''Super Zaxxon'', but Ikegami's involvement with the latter is unknown. (The situation with ''Donkey Kong Junior'' was explained earlier; ''Super Zaxxon'' is essentially a more challenging version of ''Zaxxon''.)
  
The following text appears in one of the ROMs from the Japanese version of Donkey Kong:
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The following text appears in the main CPU in most board sets of ''Donkey Kong'' [https://tcrf.net/Donkey_Kong_(Arcade)#Hidden_Text]:
  
<pre>CONGRATULATION !IF YOU ANALYSE DIFFICULT THIS PROGRAM,WE WOULD TEACH YOU.*****TEL.TOKYO-JAPAN  
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<code>CONGRATULATION !IF YOU ANALYSE DIFFICULT THIS PROGRAM,WE WOULD TEACH YOU.*****TEL.TOKYO-JAPAN  
044(244)2151 EXTENTION 304 SYSTEM DESIGN IKEGAMI CO. LIM.</pre>
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044(244)2151 EXTENTION 304 SYSTEM DESIGN IKEGAMI CO. LIM.</code>
  
A number of other Nintendo arcade games besides the ones listed below have been said to be by Ikegami including Block Fever, Popeye, Sheriff, Space Fever, Space Firebird, Sky Skipper, Computer Othello, Space Launcher, and Heli Fire. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikegami_Tsushinki] However, there does not seem to be any concrete proof that any of those were done there.
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'''[[About#Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Hidden data, print (see [[#Further reading|Further reading]])
 
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'''[[Game Developer Research Institute:About#Research_Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Hidden data, print (see [[#Further reading|Further reading]])
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===Arcade===
 
===Arcade===
 
*''Donkey Kong'' (Nintendo)
 
*''Donkey Kong'' (Nintendo)
 
*''Radar Scope'' (Nintendo)
 
*''Radar Scope'' (Nintendo)
*''Tip Top / Congo Bongo'' (Sega)
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*''Tip Top'' / ''Congo Bongo'' (Sega)
 
*''Zaxxon'' (Sega)
 
*''Zaxxon'' (Sega)
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Masumi Akagi's book ''Sore wa "Pong" kara Hajimatta: Arcade TV Game no Naritachi'' says Ikegami worked on eight titles for Nintendo and lists six: ''Block Fever'', ''Space Fever'', ''Sheriff'', ''Space Firebird'', ''Radar Scope'', and ''Donkey Kong''. According to Akagi, Ikegami planned and programmed these games, but he notes, "from ''Space Firebird'' on, Nintendo became involved in design, and with ''Donkey Kong'', Nintendo became deeply involved in development. After this, Nintendo no longer needed Ikegami’s assistance."
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Florent Gorges' book ''L'Histoire de Nintendo Vol. 1'' lists Ikegami as the co-developer of the following games: ''Block Fever'', ''Space Fever'' / ''Space Fever Color'' / ''SF-HiSplitter'', ''Space Firebird'', ''Heli Fire'', ''Radar Scope'', and ''Donkey Kong''. A later edition of the book also lists Ikegami as the sole developer of ''Space Launcher''.
  
 
==Further reading==
 
==Further reading==
*<span id="foot1">1. Sore ha Pong kara Hajimatta: Arcade TV Game no Naritachi, Masumi Akagi, Amusement Tsuushinsha, 2005.9, ISBN 4990251202.</span>
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*<span id="foot1">1. Akagi, Masumi. ''Sore wa "Pong" kara Hajimatta: Arcade TV Game no Naritachi''. Amusement Tsuushinsha, 2005.</span>
:<small>Appropriate excerpts translated by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Video_games/archive26#Ikegami_developed_Donkey_Kong.3F Dolnk-jp] (Wikipedia) and [http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Talk:Ikegami_Tsushinki Idrougge] (GDRI)</small>
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:<small>Excerpt translated by [https://jotaroraido.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/the-battle-of-donkey-kong/ Dimitri]</small>
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
*[http://www.ikegami.co.jp/en/ Official website]
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*[https://www.ikegami.co.jp/en/ Official website]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikegami_Tsushinki Wikipedia article]
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*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikegami_Tsushinki Wikipedia article]
*[http://www.smspower.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10164 SMS Power thread]
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*[https://www.smspower.org/forums/10164-WhoDevelopedArcadeZaxxon SMS Power thread]
  
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[[Category:Companies]]
 
[[Category:Nintendo]]
 
[[Category:Nintendo]]

Latest revision as of 23:47, 27 April 2023

Ikegami Tsushinki Co., Ltd. (池上通信機株式会社) is a manufacturer of professional video equipment such as cameras and monitors. It was founded on September 10, 1946, and incorporated on February 21, 1948. [1] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the company was involved with developing arcade games, primarily for Nintendo.

Ikegami's relationship with Nintendo began when Ikegami was asked by Tokuzo Komai of Nintendo Leisure System to develop arcade games exclusively for Nintendo; per their agreement, Ikegami would develop and manufacture the games, and Nintendo would sell them under its own name.[1]

Among the games Ikegami worked on was Donkey Kong, created as a conversion for Radar Scope, which sold poorly when it came to the United States. Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto devised the play mechanics, story, and characters; Ikegami programmed the game and manufactured the boards.[1]

Ikegami signed the development contract for Donkey Kong in April 1981. Nintendo would pay Ikegami ¥10,000,000 for development. The contract also specified that Nintendo was not to copy the program, nor allow a third party to do so. However, the contract did not actually specify who owned the program.[1]

Donkey Kong went on to become an international hit, prompting production of a sequel — Donkey Kong Junior — starting in March 1982, without Ikegami's help. In 1983, Ikegami sued Nintendo, claiming it owned the original Donkey Kong code and that Donkey Kong Junior had been made using said code without Ikegami's permission. The two companies eventually settled; the details of that settlement were not released to the public.[1]

ITC logo
ITC logo

If you look at the tilesets from Congo Bongo, Donkey Kong, and Zaxxon, you will find the then Ikegami logo (see right; below that: the logo as seen on a 1978 Ikegami color Handy Looky viewfinder). It also turns up in Donkey Kong Junior and Super Zaxxon, but Ikegami's involvement with the latter is unknown. (The situation with Donkey Kong Junior was explained earlier; Super Zaxxon is essentially a more challenging version of Zaxxon.)

The following text appears in the main CPU in most board sets of Donkey Kong [2]:

CONGRATULATION !IF YOU ANALYSE DIFFICULT THIS PROGRAM,WE WOULD TEACH YOU.*****TEL.TOKYO-JAPAN 044(244)2151 EXTENTION 304 SYSTEM DESIGN IKEGAMI CO. LIM.

Research Methods: Hidden data, print (see Further reading)

Arcade

  • Donkey Kong (Nintendo)
  • Radar Scope (Nintendo)
  • Tip Top / Congo Bongo (Sega)
  • Zaxxon (Sega)

Masumi Akagi's book Sore wa "Pong" kara Hajimatta: Arcade TV Game no Naritachi says Ikegami worked on eight titles for Nintendo and lists six: Block Fever, Space Fever, Sheriff, Space Firebird, Radar Scope, and Donkey Kong. According to Akagi, Ikegami planned and programmed these games, but he notes, "from Space Firebird on, Nintendo became involved in design, and with Donkey Kong, Nintendo became deeply involved in development. After this, Nintendo no longer needed Ikegami’s assistance."

Florent Gorges' book L'Histoire de Nintendo Vol. 1 lists Ikegami as the co-developer of the following games: Block Fever, Space Fever / Space Fever Color / SF-HiSplitter, Space Firebird, Heli Fire, Radar Scope, and Donkey Kong. A later edition of the book also lists Ikegami as the sole developer of Space Launcher.

Further reading

  • 1. Akagi, Masumi. Sore wa "Pong" kara Hajimatta: Arcade TV Game no Naritachi. Amusement Tsuushinsha, 2005.
Excerpt translated by Dimitri

Links