Difference between revisions of "Opera House"
From Game Developer Research Institute
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[[Image:Ohlogo_resize.jpg|thumb|right|Opera House logo (taken from 3DO ''F1GP''). Is that an "m" and an "f"?]] | [[Image:Ohlogo_resize.jpg|thumb|right|Opera House logo (taken from 3DO ''F1GP''). Is that an "m" and an "f"?]] | ||
| − | Satoru Miki and Hiroyuki Fujiwara were freelance programmers that worked together on games primarily for Pony Canyon and ISCO. In 1989 [http://review-site.net/developer/xo.html#オペラハウス], they established Opera House in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo. | + | THE FACTS: Satoru Miki and Hiroyuki Fujiwara were freelance programmers that worked together on games primarily for Pony Canyon and ISCO. In 1989 [http://review-site.net/developer/xo.html#オペラハウス], they established Opera House in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo. |
The fate of Opera House is unknown, but it appears that Miki went on to work for Gram Design [http://www.gram.co.jp/knock/] and Fujiwara went on to work for Nintendo. [http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,150562/] | The fate of Opera House is unknown, but it appears that Miki went on to work for Gram Design [http://www.gram.co.jp/knock/] and Fujiwara went on to work for Nintendo. [http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,150562/] | ||
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===3DO=== | ===3DO=== | ||
| − | *''F1GP'' (programming) (Planning, Game Design, Direction: Office Dynamite; Design, Digital Video: Access Ten | + | *''F1GP'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon) |
| + | :<small>Planning, Game Design, Direction: Office Dynamite; Design, Digital Video: Access Ten</small> | ||
:[http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs215&d=07212&f=f1gp.jpg Actual mention] | :[http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs215&d=07212&f=f1gp.jpg Actual mention] | ||
===Famicom/NES=== | ===Famicom/NES=== | ||
*''Break Time: The National Pool Tour'' (planning, programming, graphics) (US Publisher: FCI) | *''Break Time: The National Pool Tour'' (planning, programming, graphics) (US Publisher: FCI) | ||
| − | :[http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Image:BreakTime.png Actual mention | + | :[http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Image:BreakTime.png Actual mention] [[Credits:Break Time: The National Pool Tour|[Shared credits]]] |
===FM Towns=== | ===FM Towns=== | ||
| Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
===Game Gear=== | ===Game Gear=== | ||
| − | *''Devilish'' (under Hot-B) (JP Publisher: Genki; US Publisher: Sage's Creation; EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy) | + | *''Devilish'' (under contract with Hot-B?) (JP Publisher: Genki; US Publisher: Sage's Creation; EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy) |
:[[Code comparison:Opera House SMS/GG|[Code comparison]]] | :[[Code comparison:Opera House SMS/GG|[Code comparison]]] | ||
| − | *''Honoo no Toukyuuji: Dodge Danpei'' (programming | + | *''Honoo no Toukyuuji: Dodge Danpei'' (programming; under subcontract with [[Sanritsu/SIMS|SIMS]]?) (JP Publisher: Sega) |
| + | :<small>Planning, Graphics, Sound: SIMS</small> | ||
:[[Code comparison:Opera House SMS/GG|[Code comparison]]] | :[[Code comparison:Opera House SMS/GG|[Code comparison]]] | ||
| − | *''Side Pocket'' (programming, graphics; under ISCO) (US Publisher: Data East) | + | *''Side Pocket'' (programming, graphics; under subcontract with ISCO) (US Publisher: Data East) |
:[[Credits:Side Pocket (GG)|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Side Pocket (GG)|[Shared credits]]] | ||
===Mark III/Master System=== | ===Mark III/Master System=== | ||
| − | *''Cloud Master'' (under Hot-B) (US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy) | + | *''Cloud Master'' (under contract with Hot-B?) (US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy) |
:[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] [[Code comparison:Opera House SMS/GG|[Code comparison]]] | :[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] [[Code comparison:Opera House SMS/GG|[Code comparison]]] | ||
| − | *''Double Hawk'' (design, programming) (Planning, Direction: | + | *''Double Hawk'' (design, programming; under subcontract with Sanritsu?) (EU Publisher: Sega) |
| + | :<small>Planning, Direction: Sanritsu</small> | ||
:[[Credits:Double Hawk|[Shared credits]]] [[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] [[Code comparison:Opera House SMS/GG|[Code comparison]]] | :[[Credits:Double Hawk|[Shared credits]]] [[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] [[Code comparison:Opera House SMS/GG|[Code comparison]]] | ||
*''Running Battle'' (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy) | *''Running Battle'' (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy) | ||
| Line 43: | Line 46: | ||
===Mega Drive/Genesis=== | ===Mega Drive/Genesis=== | ||
| − | *''Captain America and the Avengers'' (programming; under ISCO) (US Publisher: Data East; EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy) | + | *''Captain America and the Avengers'' (programming; under subcontract with ISCO) (US Publisher: Data East; EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy) |
:[[Credits:Captain America and the Avengers (MD)|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Captain America and the Avengers (MD)|[Shared credits]]] | ||
| − | *''Master of Monsters'' (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Toshiba EMI; US Publisher: Renovation) | + | *''Master of Monsters'' (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Toshiba EMI; US Publisher: Renovation) |
:[[Credits:Master of Monsters (MD)|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Master of Monsters (MD)|[Shared credits]]] | ||
| − | *''Midnight Resistance'' (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Data East; US Publisher: Sega) | + | *''Midnight Resistance'' (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Data East; US Publisher: Sega) |
:[[Credits:Midnight Resistance (MD)|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Midnight Resistance (MD)|[Shared credits]]] | ||
*''Rastan Saga II'' (JP/US Publisher: Taito) | *''Rastan Saga II'' (JP/US Publisher: Taito) | ||
:[[Code comparison:Opera House MD|[Code comparison]]] | :[[Code comparison:Opera House MD|[Code comparison]]] | ||
| − | *''Two Crude Dudes / Crude Buster'' (under ISCO) (US/JP Publisher: Data East; EU Publisher: Sega) | + | *''Two Crude Dudes / Crude Buster'' (under subcontract with ISCO) (US/JP Publisher: Data East; EU Publisher: Sega) |
:[[Code comparison:Opera House MD|[Code comparison]]] | :[[Code comparison:Opera House MD|[Code comparison]]] | ||
| − | *''Verytex'' (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Asmik) | + | *''Verytex'' (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Asmik) |
:[[Credits:Verytex|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Verytex|[Shared credits]]] | ||
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*''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance'' (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon) | *''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance'' (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon) | ||
:[[Credits:Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance (MSX)|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance (MSX)|[Shared credits]]] | ||
| − | *''American Soccer'' (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Nidecom) | + | *''American Soccer'' (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Nidecom) |
:[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] | :[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] | ||
*''Nekketsu Juudou'' (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon) | *''Nekketsu Juudou'' (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon) | ||
| − | :[http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Image:NekketsuJuudou.jpg Actual mention | + | :[http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Image:NekketsuJuudou.jpg Actual mention] [[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] |
| − | *''Ninja Kun: Ashura no Shou'' (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: HAL Laboratory) | + | *''Ninja Kun: Ashura no Shou'' (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: HAL Laboratory) |
:[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] | :[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] | ||
*''Project A2: Shijou Saidai no Hyouteki'' (JP Publisher: Pony) | *''Project A2: Shijou Saidai no Hyouteki'' (JP Publisher: Pony) | ||
:[[Credits:Project A2: Shijou Saidai no Hyouteki|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Project A2: Shijou Saidai no Hyouteki|[Shared credits]]] | ||
| − | *''R-Type'' (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Irem) | + | *''R-Type'' (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Irem) |
:[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] | :[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] | ||
*''Super Runner'' (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon) | *''Super Runner'' (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon) | ||
| − | :[http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Image:SuperRunner.jpg Actual mention | + | :[http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Image:SuperRunner.jpg Actual mention] [[Credits:Super Runner|[Shared credits]]] |
*''Ultima: Exodus'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon) | *''Ultima: Exodus'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon) | ||
:[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] | :[[ROM text:Miki & Fujiwara Production/Opera House MSX|[ROM text]]] | ||
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===PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD=== | ===PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD=== | ||
| − | *''Shin Megami Tensei'' (programming, graphics; under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Atlus) | + | *''Shin Megami Tensei'' (programming, graphics; under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Atlus) |
:[[Credits:Shin Megami Tensei (PCE)|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Shin Megami Tensei (PCE)|[Shared credits]]] | ||
| Line 93: | Line 96: | ||
===Super Famicom/Super NES=== | ===Super Famicom/Super NES=== | ||
| − | *''Classic Road'' (game design, programming, graphics; under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Victor) | + | *''Classic Road'' (game design, programming, graphics; under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Victor) |
:[[Credits:Classic Road (SFC)|[Shared Credits]]] | :[[Credits:Classic Road (SFC)|[Shared Credits]]] | ||
| − | *''Classic Road II: Real Kouma Simulation'' (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Victor) | + | *''Classic Road II: Real Kouma Simulation'' (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Victor) |
:[[Credits:Classic Road II: Real Kouma Simulation (SFC)|[Shared Credits]]] | :[[Credits:Classic Road II: Real Kouma Simulation (SFC)|[Shared Credits]]] | ||
| − | *<div style="color:gray">''Jungle Wars 2: Kodai Mahou Atimos no Nazo'' (production cooperation with [[Marionette]]) (Programming: [[Atelier Double]]; Game Design: Powwow | + | *<div style="color:gray">''Jungle Wars 2: Kodai Mahou Atimos no Nazo'' (production cooperation with [[Marionette]]) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)</div> |
| − | :[ | + | :<small>Programming: [[Atelier Double]]; Game Design: Powwow</small> |
| − | *''Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei'' (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Atlus) | + | :[Shared credits] |
| + | *''Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei'' (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Atlus) | ||
:[[Credits:Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei|[Shared credits]]] | ||
| − | *''Super Hockey '94'' (planning, programming, graphics) (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: [[:Category:Sega#Yonezawa PR21|Party Room 21]]) | + | *''Super Hockey '94'' (planning, programming, graphics) (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: [[:Category:Sega#Yonezawa PR21|Party Room 21]]) |
:[[Credits:Super Hockey '94|[Shared credits]]] | :[[Credits:Super Hockey '94|[Shared credits]]] | ||
Revision as of 11:15, 8 September 2007
THE FACTS: Satoru Miki and Hiroyuki Fujiwara were freelance programmers that worked together on games primarily for Pony Canyon and ISCO. In 1989 [1], they established Opera House in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo.
The fate of Opera House is unknown, but it appears that Miki went on to work for Gram Design [2] and Fujiwara went on to work for Nintendo. [3]
We believe the company went under around 1998 or 1999. 1) The earliest Nintendo game Fujiwara is credited with (assuming it is indeed the same Fujiwara) was originally released in Japan in 1999 (Pocket Monsters Stadium 2 / Pokémon Stadium). 2) Though it was not released until 2001, Block Wars for PlayStation features a copyright notice which reads, "©1999 DYNAMIC PLANNING." We think the game was probably worked on in 1998/1999. 3) Hiroshi Akagi, who did graphics for many Opera House games over the years, seems to have already been working for Office Dynamite by 2001. He turns up on Devilman: Akuma Uchi for Windows [4], which Dynamite planned, developed, and did graphics for. [5]
3DO
- F1GP (programming) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
- Planning, Game Design, Direction: Office Dynamite; Design, Digital Video: Access Ten
- Actual mention
Famicom/NES
- Break Time: The National Pool Tour (planning, programming, graphics) (US Publisher: FCI)
FM Towns
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance (programming) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
Game Boy
- Bubble Ghost (programming) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon; US Publisher: FCI)
Game Gear
- Devilish (under contract with Hot-B?) (JP Publisher: Genki; US Publisher: Sage's Creation; EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
- Honoo no Toukyuuji: Dodge Danpei (programming; under subcontract with SIMS?) (JP Publisher: Sega)
- Planning, Graphics, Sound: SIMS
- [Code comparison]
- Side Pocket (programming, graphics; under subcontract with ISCO) (US Publisher: Data East)
Mark III/Master System
- Cloud Master (under contract with Hot-B?) (US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
- Double Hawk (design, programming; under subcontract with Sanritsu?) (EU Publisher: Sega)
- Planning, Direction: Sanritsu
- [Shared credits] [ROM text] [Code comparison]
- Running Battle (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
Mega CD/Sega CD
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon; US/EU Publisher: Sega)
Mega Drive/Genesis
- Captain America and the Avengers (programming; under subcontract with ISCO) (US Publisher: Data East; EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
- Master of Monsters (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Toshiba EMI; US Publisher: Renovation)
- Midnight Resistance (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Data East; US Publisher: Sega)
- Rastan Saga II (JP/US Publisher: Taito)
- Two Crude Dudes / Crude Buster (under subcontract with ISCO) (US/JP Publisher: Data East; EU Publisher: Sega)
- Verytex (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Asmik)
MSX1
- Alpharoid (JP Publisher: Pony)
- Come On! Picot (JP Publisher: Pony)
MSX2
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
- American Soccer (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Nidecom)
- Nekketsu Juudou (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
- Ninja Kun: Ashura no Shou (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: HAL Laboratory)
- Project A2: Shijou Saidai no Hyouteki (JP Publisher: Pony)
- R-Type (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Irem)
- Super Runner (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
- Ultima: Exodus (programming) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
PC-98
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD
- Shin Megami Tensei (programming, graphics; under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Atlus)
PlayStation
- Block Wars (programming, graphics) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
Super Famicom/Super NES
- Classic Road (game design, programming, graphics; under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Victor)
- Classic Road II: Real Kouma Simulation (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Victor)
- Jungle Wars 2: Kodai Mahou Atimos no Nazo (production cooperation with Marionette) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
- Programming: Atelier Double; Game Design: Powwow
- [Shared credits]
- Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Atlus)
- Super Hockey '94 (planning, programming, graphics) (under subcontract with ISCO) (JP Publisher: Party Room 21)
CRV's Theory of Opera House Development
"My theory is simple: If game music guru Hitoshi Sakimoto worked on it and it was published by Pony Canyon or subcontracted by ISCO, then it was probably programmed by Opera House. It has held up pretty well thus far.
The following are the most likely candidates. However, credits are not available, so I cannot confirm these at this time."
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dragons of Flame (PC-9801)
- Death Knight of Krynn (PC-9801)
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Champions of Krynn (PC-9801)
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder (PC-9801)
- My Best Friends: St. Andrew Jogakuin Hen (Saturn)
- Virtual Gallop Kishudou (PlayStation)
Links
- SIT Developer Table entry - We do not know why all those PS2 games are there
- ISCO official website - Contractor of work
