Opera House

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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 [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]

Works

3DO

  • F1GP (programming) (Planning, Game Design, Direction: Office Dynamite; Design, Digital Video: Access Ten; JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
Actual mention

Famicom/NES

  • Break Time: The National Pool Tour (US Publisher: FCI)
Actual mention - title screen [Shared credits]

FM Towns

  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance (programming) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
Actual mention

Game Boy

  • Bubble Ghost (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon; US Publisher: FCI)
[Shared credits]

Game Gear

  • Devilish (under Hot-B) (JP Publisher: Genki; US Publisher: Sage's Creation; EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
[Code comparison]
  • Honoo no Toukyuuji: Dodge Danpei (programming) (Planning, Graphics, Sound: SIMS; JP Publisher: Sega)
[Code comparison]
  • Side Pocket (under ISCO) (US Publisher: Data East)
[Shared credits]

Mark III/Master System

  • Cloud Master (under Hot-B) (US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
[ROM text] [Code comparison]
  • Double Hawk (design, programming) (Planning, Direction: Sanritsu; EU Publisher: Sega)
[Shared credits] [ROM text] [Code comparison]
  • Running Battle (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
[Code comparison]

Mega CD/Sega CD

  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon; US/EU Publisher: Sega)
[Shared credits]

Mega Drive/Genesis

  • Captain America and the Avengers (programming; under ISCO) (US Publisher: Data East; EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
[Shared credits]
  • Master of Monsters (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Toshiba EMI; US Publisher: Renovation)
[Shared credits]
  • Midnight Resistance (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Data East; US Publisher: Sega)
[Shared credits]
  • Rastan Saga II (JP/US Publisher: Taito)
[Code comparison]
  • Two Crude Dudes / Crude Buster (under ISCO) (US/JP Publisher: Data East; EU Publisher: Sega)
[Code comparison]
  • Verytex (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Asmik)
[Shared credits]

MSX1

  • Alpharoid (JP Publisher: Pony)
[Shared credits]
  • Come On! Picot (JP Publisher: Pony)
[Shared credits]

MSX2

  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
[Shared credits]
  • American Soccer (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Nidecom)
[ROM text]
  • Nekketsu Juudou (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
Actual mention - opening [ROM text]
  • Ninja Kun: Ashura no Shou (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: HAL Laboratory)
[ROM text]
  • Project A2: Shijou Saidai no Hyouteki (JP Publisher: Pony)
[Shared credits]
  • R-Type (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Irem)
[ROM text]
  • Super Runner (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
Actual mention - opening [Shared credits]
  • Ultima: Exodus (programming) (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
[ROM text]

PC-98

  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance (JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
[Shared credits]

PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16

  • Shin Megami Tensei (CD) (programming, graphics; under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Atlus)
[Shared credits]
Questionable game:

Advanced Variable Geo (CD)
The programmer is Hiroyuki Fujiwara. However, the kanji used
is different from what is used on "Block Wars" (PS).
But how many programmers named Hiroyuki Fujiwara could there be?

PlayStation

  • Block Wars (programming, graphics) (Opening Movie: Pandagraph; JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
[Shared credits]

Super Famicom/Super NES

  • Classic Road (game design, programming, graphics; under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Victor)
[Shared Credits]
  • Classic Road II: Real Kouma Simulation (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Victor)
[Shared Credits]
  • Jungle Wars 2: Kodai Mahou Atimos no Nazo (work cooperation with Marionette) (Programming: Atelier Double; Game Design: Powwow; JP Publisher: Pony Canyon)
[Actual mention - credits]
  • Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei (under ISCO) (JP Publisher: Atlus)
[Shared credits]
[Shared credits]

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)

External links