Difference between revisions of "Mega Soft"

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'''Megasoft''' (メガソフト) was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega. Originally established as '''Whiteboard''' (ホワイトボード), it was later renamed '''Santos''' (サントス). Santos was acquired by Sega in December 1991 and changed names again. Megasoft was merged into Sega in November 1992. [http://sega.jp/fb/creators/vol_3/4.html]
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'''Megasoft''' (メガソフト) was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega. Originally established as '''Whiteboard''' (ホワイトボード), it was later renamed '''Santos''' (サントス). Santos was acquired by Sega in December 1991 and changed names again. Megasoft was merged into Sega in November 1992 [http://sega.jp/fb/creators/vol_3/4.html] during the production of the two games listed below.
  
Whiteboard/Santos president Takeshi Tozu was replaced after the Sega acquisition and started another company called [[Santos]]. [[Gai Brain]] was started by former staff. Tozu previously headed Sesame Japan and [[Crux]]. [https://twitter.com/Area51_zek/status/525992587824353280]
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Santos president Takeshi Tozu (戸津猛) was replaced after the Sega acquisition and apparently started [[Santos (2)|another company by the same name]]. Tozu previously headed Sesame Japan and [[Crux]]. [https://twitter.com/Area51_zek/status/525992587824353280]
  
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared staff
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[[Gai Brain]] was started by former staff.
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'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, code comparisons, hidden data, interviews, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared staff
  
 
==As Whiteboard==
 
==As Whiteboard==
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===Famicom/NES===
 
===Famicom/NES===
*''Airwolf'' (sound?) (JP Publisher: Kyugo)
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*<div style="color:red">''Airwolf'' (sound?) (JP Publisher: Kyugo)</div>
 
:<small>Programming: [[C-lab.]]?</small>
 
:<small>Programming: [[C-lab.]]?</small>
 
*''Space Harrier'' (JP Publisher: Takara)
 
*''Space Harrier'' (JP Publisher: Takara)
 
:<small>Started out as a game based on Licca-chan, Takara's popular fashion doll</small>
 
:<small>Started out as a game based on Licca-chan, Takara's popular fashion doll</small>
 +
 +
===Mark III/Master System===
 +
*''Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars'' (JP/US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
 +
*''Danan: The Jungle Fighter'' (EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
 +
*''Dynamite Dux'' (EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
 +
*''Masters Golf'' / ''Great Golf'' (JP/US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega)
 +
*''Megumi Rescue'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
 +
*''Nekkyuu Koushien'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
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*''Opa Opa'' / ''Fantasy Zone: The Maze'' (JP/US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
 +
*''Reggie Jackson Baseball'' / ''American Baseball'' (US/CA/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
 +
 +
Artist Ano Shimizu worked on ''Dynamite Dux'' and ''Nekkyuu Koushien'' at Whiteboard. [http://www.smspower.org/forums/16643-NekkyuuKoushienCheatCodeAndDeveloperTeam#97872] A code comparison between the two revealed shared code in the rest of the games on this list expect ''Alex Kidd'' and ''Great Golf''. ''Alex Kidd'', ''Fantasy Zone'', ''Great Golf'', ''Megumi Rescue'', and ''Nekkyuu Koushien'' contain the same initials, "YM," in the header. [http://www.smspower.org/Development/NamesInHeaders] Additionally, the "standing" screen in ''Great Golf'' contains the name "KEI M," likely a reference to Whiteboard programmer Kei Maruyama. [http://www.smspower.org/forums/15286-WhodunitSantos#98144]
  
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
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:<small>Went on location test but was cancelled</small>
 
:<small>Went on location test but was cancelled</small>
 
*''Mahjong Quest'' (Taito)
 
*''Mahjong Quest'' (Taito)
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 +
===Game Gear===
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*<div style="color:red">''Space Harrier'' (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; KR Publisher: Samsung)</div>
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:<small>Turns up on [http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Blog:Legal_Brief:_Atari_vs._Sega a list of Sega games], but there's no other evidence at this time</small>
  
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
 
*''Battle Golfer Yui'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
 
*''Battle Golfer Yui'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
*''Toki: Going Ape Spit'' / ''JuJu Densetsu'' (US/EU/JP Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; SK Publisher: Samsung)
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*''Toki: Going Ape Spit'' / ''JuJu Densetsu'' (US/EU/JP Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; KR Publisher: Samsung)
  
 
===Neo Geo===
 
===Neo Geo===
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==Links==
 
==Links==
*[http://sega.jp/fb/creators/vol_3/1.html Sega.jp interview with Santos/Megasoft/Wavemaster composer Hirofumi Murasaki (村崎弘史)] (Japanese)
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*[http://www.smspower.org/forums/15286-WhodunitSantos SMS Power! thread]
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*[http://sega.jp/fb/creators/vol_3/1.html Sega.jp interview with Santos/Megasoft/Wavemaster sound creator Hirofumi Murasaki (村崎弘史)] (Japanese)
  
 
[[Category:Companies]]
 
[[Category:Companies]]

Revision as of 05:24, 30 December 2017

Megasoft (メガソフト) was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega. Originally established as Whiteboard (ホワイトボード), it was later renamed Santos (サントス). Santos was acquired by Sega in December 1991 and changed names again. Megasoft was merged into Sega in November 1992 [1] during the production of the two games listed below.

Santos president Takeshi Tozu (戸津猛) was replaced after the Sega acquisition and apparently started another company by the same name. Tozu previously headed Sesame Japan and Crux. [2]

Gai Brain was started by former staff.

Research Methods: Actual mentions, code comparisons, hidden data, interviews, online resources (see Links), shared staff

As Whiteboard

Arcade

  • Dakko-chan House (Sega)
  • Photo Mahjong: Gekisha (Whiteboard)
  • Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko (Sega)

Famicom/NES

  • Airwolf (sound?) (JP Publisher: Kyugo)
Programming: C-lab.?
  • Space Harrier (JP Publisher: Takara)
Started out as a game based on Licca-chan, Takara's popular fashion doll

Mark III/Master System

  • Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars (JP/US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • Danan: The Jungle Fighter (EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • Dynamite Dux (EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • Masters Golf / Great Golf (JP/US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega)
  • Megumi Rescue (JP Publisher: Sega)
  • Nekkyuu Koushien (JP Publisher: Sega)
  • Opa Opa / Fantasy Zone: The Maze (JP/US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • Reggie Jackson Baseball / American Baseball (US/CA/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)

Artist Ano Shimizu worked on Dynamite Dux and Nekkyuu Koushien at Whiteboard. [3] A code comparison between the two revealed shared code in the rest of the games on this list expect Alex Kidd and Great Golf. Alex Kidd, Fantasy Zone, Great Golf, Megumi Rescue, and Nekkyuu Koushien contain the same initials, "YM," in the header. [4] Additionally, the "standing" screen in Great Golf contains the name "KEI M," likely a reference to Whiteboard programmer Kei Maruyama. [5]

Mega Drive/Genesis

  • Mahjong Cop Ryuu: Hakurou no Yabou (JP Publisher: Sega)

As Santos

Arcade

  • Hammer Away (unreleased) (Sega)
Went on location test but was cancelled
  • Mahjong Quest (Taito)

Game Gear

  • Space Harrier (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; KR Publisher: Samsung)
Turns up on a list of Sega games, but there's no other evidence at this time

Mega Drive/Genesis

  • Battle Golfer Yui (JP Publisher: Sega)
  • Toki: Going Ape Spit / JuJu Densetsu (US/EU/JP Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; KR Publisher: Samsung)

Neo Geo

  • Janshin Densetsu [MVS] (Yubis)
This was developed around 1991 and dusted off for a 1994 release.

As Megasoft

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; SK Publisher: Samsung)

Links