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 pioneering company in the field of computer graphics production and worked on such projects as NHK TV programs and the iconic animated film Akira. It was established in December 1986 by Takeshi Yoshizaki (吉崎武) of ASCII Laboratories, a part of ASCII Corporation dedicated to researching human-computer interface design. While half the main members of ASCII Corporation went to the new Microsoft Japan in 1986, the members of ASCII Laboratories joined HighTech Lab. Japan instead to continue their research. [1]

The company focused on video game production in the early 1990s, then closed in March 1997. Its last game was Deep Sea Adventure for the PlayStation; the team behind that title, with the help of publisher Takara, started developer Barnhouse Effect that same month.

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

3DO

  • Pyramid Intruder (JP Publisher: Taito)
  • Starblade (JP Publisher: Namco; US/CA Publisher: Panasonic)

Arcade

  • Bouken-Ou Topple (CG production) (Taito) [2]

FM Towns

  • Lupin Sansei: Seikon no Mashu (JP Publisher: CRI)

LaserActive

  • 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)
  • Virtual Cameraman (JP Publisher: Transpegasus Limited)
  • Virtual Cameraman 2 (JP Publisher: Transpegasus Limited)

Macintosh

  • 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)

PlayStation

  • Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo (JP Publisher: Takara)
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)
  • Virtua Photo Studio (JP Publisher: Acclaim)

Links