Difference between revisions of "Mega Soft"

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__NOTOC__
 
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="Santos 1"=
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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.
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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The president of Megasoft assisted with the establishment of [[Treasure]]. Because both companies were in the same building, there was an interchange of employees.
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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]
  
[[Gaibrain]] was started by former staff.
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[[Gai Brain]] was started by former staff.
  
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared 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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*''Photo Mahjong: Gekisha'' (Whiteboard)
 
*''Photo Mahjong: Gekisha'' (Whiteboard)
 
*''Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko'' (Sega)
 
*''Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko'' (Sega)
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===Famicom/NES===
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*<div style="color:red">''Airwolf'' (sound?) (JP Publisher: Kyugo)</div>
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:<small>Programming: [[C-lab.]]?</small>
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*''Space Harrier'' (JP Publisher: Takara)
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:<small>Started out as a game based on Licca-chan, Takara's popular fashion doll</small>
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===Mark III/Master System===
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*''Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars'' (JP/US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
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*''Danan: The Jungle Fighter'' (EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
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*''Dynamite Dux'' (EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
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*''Masters Golf'' / ''Great Golf'' (JP/US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega)
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*''Megumi Rescue'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
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*''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)
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*''Reggie Jackson Baseball'' / ''American Baseball'' (US/CA/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
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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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==As Santos==
 
==As Santos==
 
===Arcade===
 
===Arcade===
*''Hammer Away'' (unreleased) (Sega) [http://unmamed.mameworld.info/non_sega.html]
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*''Hammer Away'' (unreleased) (Sega)
 
:<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===
*''Janshin Densetsu'' [MVS] (JP Publisher: Aicom)
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*''Janshin Densetsu'' [MVS] (Yubis)
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:<small>This was developed around 1991 and dusted off for a 1994 release.</small>
  
 
==As Megasoft==
 
==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; SK Publisher: Samsung)
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
*[http://jfk.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/gsaloon/1163933211/324-330 2ch conversation] (Japanese)
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*[http://www.smspower.org/forums/15286-WhodunitSantos SMS Power! thread]
*[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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*[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)
 
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="Santos 2"=
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After the Sega buyout, "Santos 1" president Takeshi Tozu started another company called '''Santos''' (株式会社サントス). This Santos published and developed original titles and collaborated with [[Aicom]] on Neo Geo conversions. The late Akio Inoue, president of Aicom, was an investor in the company. Part of Santos was later absorbed into [[Yumekobo]].
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'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, shared staff
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===Game Gear===
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*''Bust-A-Move / Puzzle Bobble'' (US Publisher: Sega; JP Publisher: Taito)
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:<small>Sound: Studio Cliche?</small>
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===Mega Drive/Genesis===
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*''Flintstones, The'' ([some?] programming, some graphics?) (US/JP Publisher: Taito; EU Publisher: Sega)
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===Neo Geo===
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*<div style="color:red">''Karate Ninja Shou'' (unreleased) (Yumekobo)</div>
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:<small>It has been confirmed that this game was already in production at Santos when Yumekobo was formed. However, it is unclear if development moved over to Yumekobo.</small>
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===PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD===
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*''Janshin Densetsu'' (JP Publisher: NEC Home Electronics)
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:<small>Sound: [[Daft]]</small>
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===PlayStation===
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[[Category:Companies]]
*''AirGrave'' (JP Publisher: Santos)
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:<small>Sound Effects/Music Composition/Voice Data Editing: Studio Cliche; Voice Coordination: Aoni Production; Audio Engineering: Onkio Haus</small>
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*''King of Fighters '95, The'' (some programming) (JP Publisher: SNK; US Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America)
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:<small>Some Programming: [[Electronics Application]]; Sound: First Circle</small>
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*<div style="color:red">''King of Fighters '96, The'' (JP Publisher: SNK)</div>
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*''Samurai Spirits: Kenkaku Shinan Pack'' (JP Publisher: SNK)
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*''Stahlfeder: Tetsukou Hikuudan'' (JP Publisher: Santos)
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:<small>Music Composition/Sound Design: Studio Cliche</small>
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*''Tripuzz'' (JP Publisher: Santos)
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:<small>Sound Production/Composition/Sound Programming: Crescendo</small>
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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