Difference between revisions of "HighTech Lab. Japan"
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| + | [[File:Htlj.png|right|HighTech Lab. Japan logo]] | ||
| + | '''HighTech Lab. Japan Inc.''' (株式会社ハイテックラボジャパン) was a pioneering computer graphics production company that worked on such projects as NHK TV programs and the animated films ''Akira'' and ''Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise''. It was founded in 1986 and headed by Takeshi Yoshizaki (吉崎武), formerly of ASCII. Yoshizaki was the editor-in-chief of ''ASCII'' magazine and established ASCII HighTech Lab., which developed the MSX LaserDisc game ''Starfighters''. [https://archive.org/details/TNM_CD-I_Compact_Disc_Interactive_News_Vol1_No9_J_20171113_0131/page/n5/mode/1up] | ||
| + | |||
| + | HighTech Lab. Japan was originally based in Higashiyama, Meguro, Tokyo [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Japan_Directory/5JqZAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22hightech%20lab%20japan%22], and later moved to Shibuya, Tokyo. [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_CD_ROM_Directory_1996/74bo17LYjxQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22hightech%20lab%20japan%22] | ||
| + | |||
| + | CG production proved to be a profitable business for HighTech Lab. Japan because of Japan's bubble economy. However, the bubble eventually burst and in the 1990s, the company shifted its focus to video game production. [https://twitter.com/Dream_Library_/status/1442062124553949189] | ||
| + | |||
| + | HighTech Lab. Japan shut down in 1997. The company's last game was ''Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo'' for the PlayStation, released in March 1997; much of the team behind that title, with the backing of publisher Takara, started developer [[Barnhouse Effect]] that same month. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Game list== | ||
| + | '''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, online resources, shared staff | ||
| + | |||
===3DO=== | ===3DO=== | ||
*''Pyramid Intruder'' (JP Publisher: Taito) | *''Pyramid Intruder'' (JP Publisher: Taito) | ||
*''Starblade'' (JP Publisher: Namco; US/CA Publisher: Panasonic) | *''Starblade'' (JP Publisher: Namco; US/CA Publisher: Panasonic) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Arcade=== | ||
| + | *''Bouken-Ou Topple'' (CG production) (Taito) [http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm23772874] | ||
| + | *''Pyramid Patrol'' (CG production) (Taito) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===FM Towns=== | ||
| + | *''Lupin Sansei: Seikon no Mashu'' (JP Publisher: CRI) | ||
===LaserActive=== | ===LaserActive=== | ||
| + | *''The Great Pyramid'' (some CG production) (JP/NA Publisher: Pioneer) | ||
| + | :<small>Programming: [[CRC Research Institute]]; Video Production: Japan Academic Documentation; Translation: GK Associates; Music Selection: Vancl; Some CG Production: Plus One, A&L, Fuji TV; Package Design: FIS Incorporated</small> | ||
*''Hyperion'' (JP/NA Publisher: Taito) | *''Hyperion'' (JP/NA Publisher: Taito) | ||
*''Pyramid Patrol'' (JP/NA Publisher: Taito) | *''Pyramid Patrol'' (JP/NA Publisher: Taito) | ||
| + | :<small>[Some?] Programming, [Some?] Graphics: [[C-lab.]]</small> | ||
*''Rocket Coaster'' (JP/NA Publisher: Taito) | *''Rocket Coaster'' (JP/NA Publisher: Taito) | ||
*''Time Gal'' (JP Publisher: Taito) | *''Time Gal'' (JP Publisher: Taito) | ||
| − | *'' | + | |
| − | *'' | + | ===Macintosh=== |
| + | <small>This section is sketchy due to lack of information on these titles.</small> | ||
| + | |||
| + | *''Derby Analyst'' (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan) | ||
| + | *''Digital Gallery: Rocket Coaster'' (JP Publisher: Taito) | ||
| + | *''Europe Vol. 1'' (?) | ||
| + | *''Sekai no Kessaku Sentouki Vol. 1'' (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan) | ||
| + | *''Time Gal'' (JP Publisher: Taito) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD=== | ||
| + | *''Let's Be Friends'' (unreleased) (Linguaphone Japan) [http://nekofan.online.fr/kidsstationtest.html] | ||
===PlayStation=== | ===PlayStation=== | ||
| + | *''Ao no 6-gou'' (unreleased) [https://twitter.com/Dream_Library_/status/1393553098627375104] [https://twitter.com/Dream_Library_/status/1393561483561160707] [https://twitter.com/Dream_Library_/status/1393565058341298178] [https://twitter.com/Dream_Library_/status/1393592096527769602] | ||
| + | :<small>A "submarine simulation game" based on the manga, this was eventually "abandoned in favor of a 'marine adventure game' that would be popular with the general public" (''Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo'').</small> | ||
| + | *''Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo'' (JP Publisher: Takara) | ||
| + | :<small>Some CG Support: [[Act Japan]]; Sound: Reeb</small> | ||
*''Galaxian³'' (JP Publisher: Namco; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment) | *''Galaxian³'' (JP Publisher: Namco; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment) | ||
*''Starblade α'' (JP/US Publisher: Namco; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment) | *''Starblade α'' (JP/US Publisher: Namco; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment) | ||
| − | *''Tokyo Shadow'' (JP Publisher: Taito) | + | *''Tokyo Shadow'' (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito) |
| − | *''Toshinden 2 / Battle Arena Toshinden 2'' (opening movie - production management, computer graphics) (JP Publisher: Takara; US Publisher: Playmates Interactive Entertainment; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment) | + | *''Toshinden 2'' / ''Battle Arena Toshinden 2'' (opening movie - production management, computer graphics) (JP Publisher: Takara; US Publisher: Playmates Interactive Entertainment; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment) |
| − | *''Zeitgeist / Jupiter Strike'' (JP Publisher: Taito; US/EU Publisher: Acclaim) | + | *''Zeitgeist'' / ''Jupiter Strike'' (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito; US/EU Publisher: Acclaim) |
===Saturn=== | ===Saturn=== | ||
| − | *'' | + | *''Tokyo Shadow'' (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito) |
| + | |||
| + | ===Windows=== | ||
| + | *''Sekai no Kessaku Sentouki Vol. 1'' (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *Transpegasus Limited - Appears to be an adult brand used by High-Tech Lab. Japan or perhaps Digital Production (see below). High-Tech Lab. Japan registered the trademarks. (Example: [https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-1992-155609/AD84B1F4DF150AEB606103F37007A2CB9F66FBE236C6705B44F32440D0968618/40/en]) | ||
| + | *Digital Production (有限会社ディジタルプロダクション; later 株式会社ディジタルプロダクション) - Likely a subsidiary or affiliate of High-Tech Lab. Japan as it was located at the same address. Name is seen on some Transpegasus Limited products. | ||
| + | *Digital Studio - HighTech Lab. Japan's recording and computer graphics studio. Appears to have been spun off into its own company (株式会社デジタルスタジオ [https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/Zds2AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22%E3%83%87%E3%82%B8%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AB%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B8%E3%82%AA%22]; Digital Studio Inc. [https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/Zds2AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22digital%20studio%20inc%22]). | ||
| + | *[[Denno Shokai]] - Company started by former employee Toshiharu Nishizawa | ||
| + | *[https://www.gijyutu-shounen.co.jp/ Gijyutu Shounen Publishing] - Company currently run by Yoshizaki. Involved with computer kits and technical books and operates [https://www.dream-library.org/ the Dream Library computer museum]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Links== | ||
| + | *[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/吉崎武 Japanese Wikipedia article on Takeshi Yoshizaki] | ||
[[Category:Companies]] | [[Category:Companies]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Companies based in Shibuya]] | ||
Revision as of 04:29, 23 October 2022
HighTech Lab. Japan Inc. (株式会社ハイテックラボジャパン) was a pioneering computer graphics production company that worked on such projects as NHK TV programs and the animated films Akira and Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise. It was founded in 1986 and headed by Takeshi Yoshizaki (吉崎武), formerly of ASCII. Yoshizaki was the editor-in-chief of ASCII magazine and established ASCII HighTech Lab., which developed the MSX LaserDisc game Starfighters. [1]
HighTech Lab. Japan was originally based in Higashiyama, Meguro, Tokyo [2], and later moved to Shibuya, Tokyo. [3]
CG production proved to be a profitable business for HighTech Lab. Japan because of Japan's bubble economy. However, the bubble eventually burst and in the 1990s, the company shifted its focus to video game production. [4]
HighTech Lab. Japan shut down in 1997. The company's last game was Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo for the PlayStation, released in March 1997; much of the team behind that title, with the backing of publisher Takara, started developer Barnhouse Effect that same month.
Game list
Research Methods: Actual mentions, interviews, online resources, shared staff
3DO
- Pyramid Intruder (JP Publisher: Taito)
- Starblade (JP Publisher: Namco; US/CA Publisher: Panasonic)
Arcade
- Bouken-Ou Topple (CG production) (Taito) [5]
- Pyramid Patrol (CG production) (Taito)
FM Towns
- Lupin Sansei: Seikon no Mashu (JP Publisher: CRI)
LaserActive
- The Great Pyramid (some CG production) (JP/NA Publisher: Pioneer)
- Programming: CRC Research Institute; Video Production: Japan Academic Documentation; Translation: GK Associates; Music Selection: Vancl; Some CG Production: Plus One, A&L, Fuji TV; Package Design: FIS Incorporated
- Hyperion (JP/NA Publisher: Taito)
- Pyramid Patrol (JP/NA Publisher: Taito)
- [Some?] Programming, [Some?] Graphics: C-lab.
- Rocket Coaster (JP/NA Publisher: Taito)
- Time Gal (JP Publisher: Taito)
Macintosh
This section is sketchy due to lack of information on these titles.
- Derby Analyst (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
- Digital Gallery: Rocket Coaster (JP Publisher: Taito)
- Europe Vol. 1 (?)
- Sekai no Kessaku Sentouki Vol. 1 (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
- Time Gal (JP Publisher: Taito)
PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD
- Let's Be Friends (unreleased) (Linguaphone Japan) [6]
PlayStation
- A "submarine simulation game" based on the manga, this was eventually "abandoned in favor of a 'marine adventure game' that would be popular with the general public" (Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo).
- Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo (JP Publisher: Takara)
- Some CG Support: Act Japan; Sound: Reeb
- Galaxian³ (JP Publisher: Namco; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment)
- Starblade α (JP/US Publisher: Namco; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment)
- Tokyo Shadow (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito)
- Toshinden 2 / Battle Arena Toshinden 2 (opening movie - production management, computer graphics) (JP Publisher: Takara; US Publisher: Playmates Interactive Entertainment; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment)
- Zeitgeist / Jupiter Strike (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito; US/EU Publisher: Acclaim)
Saturn
- Tokyo Shadow (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito)
Windows
- Sekai no Kessaku Sentouki Vol. 1 (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
See also
- Transpegasus Limited - Appears to be an adult brand used by High-Tech Lab. Japan or perhaps Digital Production (see below). High-Tech Lab. Japan registered the trademarks. (Example: [11])
- Digital Production (有限会社ディジタルプロダクション; later 株式会社ディジタルプロダクション) - Likely a subsidiary or affiliate of High-Tech Lab. Japan as it was located at the same address. Name is seen on some Transpegasus Limited products.
- Digital Studio - HighTech Lab. Japan's recording and computer graphics studio. Appears to have been spun off into its own company (株式会社デジタルスタジオ [12]; Digital Studio Inc. [13]).
- Denno Shokai - Company started by former employee Toshiharu Nishizawa
- Gijyutu Shounen Publishing - Company currently run by Yoshizaki. Involved with computer kits and technical books and operates the Dream Library computer museum.
