Difference between revisions of "Mega Soft"

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'''Mega Soft Co., Ltd.''' (株式会社メガソフト) was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega (as of December 1991), allegedly the company formerly known as [[Santos]]. [http://web.archive.org/web/20150109230617/http://sega.jp/fb/creators/vol_3/4.html] However, there is some conflicting information.
  
Originally called '''Whiteboard''' (ホワイトボード). Later renamed '''Santos''' (サントス). Became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega called '''Megasoft''' (メガソフト) in December 1991 [http://sega.jp/archive/creators/vol_3/4.html], which was merged into Sega during the production of the two titles listed below.
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A former Santos staffer said Santos went bankrupt. [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363122004128272387] Also, the book ''Japanese Corporate Groups'' (''日本の企業グループ'') has December 1991 ("平3.12") listed as when Mega Soft was established [https://www.google.com/books/edition/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%AE%E4%BC%81%E6%A5%AD%E3%82%B0%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%97/7Sy1AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22%E6%A0%AA%E3%83%A1%E3%82%AC%E3%82%BD%E3%83%95%E3%83%88%22], which would suggest this was a new company. Of course, neither of these things would preclude Sega from buying Santos or its assets.
  
The President of Megasoft assisted with the establishment of [[Company:Treasure|Treasure]], which was in the same building. Some people from Megasoft apparently went on to work for Treasure.
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Tokinori Kaneyasu [兼安時紀], formerly of Data East, was the president of Mega Soft. [https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/QmC1AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22%E5%85%BC%E5%AE%89%E6%99%82%E7%B4%80%22] [https://archive.org/details/segaprofile1992/page/19/mode/1up] The company was located in the same building as Treasure (東京都台東区上野 7 - 9 - 15 根本ビル 4F). [https://twitter.com/TreasureCoLtd/status/1189052046197981184] [https://twitter.com/Dr_Purple2155/status/1058400300485099520] It was allegedly merged into Sega in November 1992 [http://web.archive.org/web/20150109230617/http://sega.jp/fb/creators/vol_3/4.html] during the production of the games listed below, but it looks like only the staff was folded into Sega; the company itself appears to have been liquidated in 1996. [https://twitter.com/gdri/status/1335653744252506121] [https://www.google.com/books/edition/%E5%AE%98%E5%A0%B1/wKhWAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%E6%A0%AA%E5%BC%8F%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BE%E3%83%A1%E3%82%AC%E3%82%BD%E3%83%95%E3%83%88] (Mega Soft is still listed as a subsidiary in Sega's 1995 annual report. [https://archive.org/details/sega-annual-report-1995/Sega%20Annual%20Report%20%281995%29/page/n19/mode/1up])
  
[[Company:Gaibrain|Gaibrain]] was started by former Santos staff.
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==Game list==
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'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Interviews, online resources, shared staff
  
It appears that Takeshi Tozu, the ex-President of Whiteboard/Santos who was replaced by the aforementioned President of Megasoft at the time of the changeover from Santos to Megasoft, went off and started a new company with the Santos name (similar to the situation with [[Company:Aicom|Aicom]]). This "new" Santos developed and self-published three PlayStation titles and may have done some contract development.
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===Game Gear [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1088737878065143810]===
 
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*<div style="color:red">''Aa Harimanada'' (JP Publisher: Sega)</div>
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared staff
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*<div style="color:red">''Doraemon: Nora no Suke no Yabou'' (JP Publisher: Sega)</div>
 
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==As Whiteboard==
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===Arcade===
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*''Dakko-chan House'' (Sega)
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*''Photo Mahjong: Gekisha'' (Whiteboard)
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*''Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko'' (Sega)
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===Mega Drive/Genesis===
 
*''Mahjong Cop Ryuu: Hakurou no Yabou'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
 
 
==As Santos==
 
===Arcade===
 
*''Hammer Away'' (unreleased) (Sega) [http://unmamed.mameworld.info/non_sega.html]
 
:<small>Went on location test but was cancelled</small>
 
*''Mahjong Quest'' (Taito)
 
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
 
*''Battle Golfer Yui'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
 
*''Toki: Going Ape Spit / JuJu Densetsu'' (US/EU/JP Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; SK Publisher: Samsung)
 
 
===Neo Geo===
 
*''Janshin Densetsu'' [MVS/CD] (JP Publisher: Aicom [MVS], SNK [CD])
 
 
==As Megasoft==
 
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
 
*''Aa Harimanada'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
 
*''Aa Harimanada'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
*''Super Shinobi II, The / Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master'' (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; SK Publisher: Samsung)
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*''The Super Shinobi II'' / ''Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master'' (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; KR Publisher: Samsung)
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
*[http://jfk.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/gsaloon/1163933211/324-330 2ch conversation] (Japanese)
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*[http://web.archive.org/web/20160323022746/http://sega.jp/fb/creators/vol_3/1.html Sega.jp interview with sound designer Hirofumi Murasaki (村崎弘史) (Internet Archive Wayback Machine)] (Japanese)
*[http://sega.jp/archive/creators/vol_3/1.html Sega.jp interview with Santos/Megasoft/Wavemaster composer Hirofumi Murasaki (村崎弘史)] (Japanese)
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[[Category:Companies]]
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[[Category:Sega]]

Revision as of 04:54, 4 October 2022

Mega Soft Co., Ltd. (株式会社メガソフト) was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega (as of December 1991), allegedly the company formerly known as Santos. [1] However, there is some conflicting information.

A former Santos staffer said Santos went bankrupt. [2] Also, the book Japanese Corporate Groups (日本の企業グループ) has December 1991 ("平3.12") listed as when Mega Soft was established [3], which would suggest this was a new company. Of course, neither of these things would preclude Sega from buying Santos or its assets.

Tokinori Kaneyasu [兼安時紀], formerly of Data East, was the president of Mega Soft. [4] [5] The company was located in the same building as Treasure (東京都台東区上野 7 - 9 - 15 根本ビル 4F). [6] [7] It was allegedly merged into Sega in November 1992 [8] during the production of the games listed below, but it looks like only the staff was folded into Sega; the company itself appears to have been liquidated in 1996. [9] [10] (Mega Soft is still listed as a subsidiary in Sega's 1995 annual report. [11])

Game list

Research Methods: Interviews, online resources, shared staff

Game Gear [12]

  • Aa Harimanada (JP Publisher: Sega)
  • Doraemon: Nora no Suke no Yabou (JP Publisher: Sega)

Mega Drive/Genesis

  • Aa Harimanada (JP Publisher: Sega)
  • The Super Shinobi II / Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; KR Publisher: Samsung)

Links