Difference between revisions of "HighTech Lab. Japan"

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'''HighTech Lab. Japan Inc.''' (株式会社ハイテックラボジャパン) was a company particularly active in the field of computer graphics production. It was established in December 1986 and headed by Takeshi Yoshizaki (吉崎武) of ASCII Laboratories, part of ASCII Corporation. After the main members of ASCII Corporation went to the new Microsoft Japan in 1986, the members of ASCII Laboratories moved to HighTech Lab. Japan to continue their research. [http://psychiclab.net/IBVA/ASCIILAB.html]
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[[File:Htlj.png|right|HighTech Lab. Japan logo]]
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'''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]
  
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared staff
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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]
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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]
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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.
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==Game list==
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'''[[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)
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 +
===Arcade===
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*''Bouken-Ou Topple'' (CG production) (Taito) [http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm23772874]
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*''Pyramid Patrol'' (CG production) (Taito)
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 +
===FM Towns===
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*''Lupin Sansei: Seikon no Mashu'' (JP Publisher: CRI)
  
 
===LaserActive===
 
===LaserActive===
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*''The Great Pyramid'' (some CG production) (JP/NA Publisher: Pioneer)
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:<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)
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:<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)
*''Virtual Cameraman'' (JP Publisher: Transpegasus Limited)
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*''Virtual Cameraman 2'' (JP Publisher: Transpegasus Limited)
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===Macintosh===
 +
<small>This section is sketchy due to lack of information on these titles.</small>
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*''Derby Analyst'' (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
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*''Digital Gallery: Rocket Coaster'' (JP Publisher: Taito)
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*''Europe Vol. 1'' (?)
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*''Sekai no Kessaku Sentouki Vol. 1'' (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
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*''Time Gal'' (JP Publisher: Taito)
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===PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD===
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*''Let's Be Friends'' (unreleased) (Linguaphone Japan) [http://nekofan.online.fr/kidsstationtest.html]
  
 
===PlayStation===
 
===PlayStation===
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*''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]
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:<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>
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*''Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo'' (JP Publisher: Takara)
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:<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)
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*''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)
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*''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)
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*''Zeitgeist'' / ''Jupiter Strike'' (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito; US/EU Publisher: Acclaim)
  
 
===Saturn===
 
===Saturn===
*''Virtua Photo Studio'' (JP Publisher: Acclaim)
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*''Tokyo Shadow'' (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito)
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===Windows===
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*''Sekai no Kessaku Sentouki Vol. 1'' (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
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==See also==
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*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])
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*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.
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*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]).
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*[[Denno Shokai]] - Company started by former employee Toshiharu Nishizawa
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*[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==
 
==Links==
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[[Category:Companies]]
 
[[Category:Companies]]
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[[Category:Companies based in Shibuya]]

Revision as of 04:29, 23 October 2022

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. [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.

Links