Difference between revisions of "Santos"

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'''Santos''' was a company headed by Takeshi Tozu (戸津猛), who previously ran Orca (''Game Machine'' 1983/8/15, pg. 6), Sesame Japan, and [[Crux]]. [https://twitter.com/Area51_zek/status/525992587824353280] It was established in July 1985 as '''Whiteboard''' (株式会社ホワイトボード) [https://www.google.com/books/edition/%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E7%94%A2%E6%A5%AD%E7%B7%8F%E8%A6%A7/Vre1AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%E6%A0%AA%E3%83%9B%E3%83%AF%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%83%9C%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89] [https://www.google.com/books/edition/%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E7%94%A2%E6%A5%AD%E7%B7%8F%E8%A6%A7/Vre1AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%E4%B8%89%E6%9C%A8%E6%98%A5%E8%80%95]
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'''Santos''' was a company headed by Takeshi Tozu (戸津猛), who previously ran Orca (''Game Machine'' 1983/8/15, pg. 6), Sesame Japan, and [[Crux]]. [https://twitter.com/Area51_zek/status/525992587824353280] It was established in July 1985 as '''Whiteboard''' (株式会社ホワイトボード) [https://www.google.com/books/edition/%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E7%94%A2%E6%A5%AD%E7%B7%8F%E8%A6%A7/Vre1AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22%E6%A0%AA%E3%83%9B%E3%83%AF%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%83%9C%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%22] [https://www.google.com/books/edition/%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E7%94%A2%E6%A5%AD%E7%B7%8F%E8%A6%A7/Vre1AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22%E4%B8%89%E6%9C%A8%E6%98%A5%E8%80%95%22]
  
In December 1991, Santos allegedly became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega called Megasoft [http://web.archive.org/web/20150109230617/http://sega.jp/fb/creators/vol_3/4.html], but it also allegedly went bankrupt [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363122004128272387], so the circumstances surrounding this are unclear. For more information, see the [[Megasoft]] entry.
+
In December 1991, Santos allegedly became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega called Mega Soft [http://web.archive.org/web/20150109230617/http://sega.jp/fb/creators/vol_3/4.html], but it also allegedly went bankrupt [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363122004128272387]; the circumstances surrounding this are unclear. For more information, see the [[Mega Soft]] entry.
  
Tozu did not join Megasoft, however; he apparently started a new company [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363125426378264576], also called [[Santos (2)|Santos]].
+
Tozu apparently proceeded to start a new company [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363125426378264576], also called [[Santos (2)|Santos]].
  
 
[[Gai Brain]] was started by former Santos staff.
 
[[Gai Brain]] was started by former Santos staff.
  
 +
==Game list==
 
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, code comparisons, hidden data, interviews, online resources, shared staff
 
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, code comparisons, hidden data, interviews, online resources, shared staff
  
==As Whiteboard==
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===As Whiteboard===
===Arcade===
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====Arcade====
 
*''Airwolf'' (Kyugo) [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1096733670222622720]
 
*''Airwolf'' (Kyugo) [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1096733670222622720]
 
*''Dakko-chan House'' (Sega)
 
*''Dakko-chan House'' (Sega)
 
*<div style="color:red">''Flashgal'' (Sega)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Flashgal'' (Sega)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Legend'' (Sega)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Legend'' (Sega)</div>
*''Photo Mahjong: Gekisha'' (Whiteboard)
+
*''Photo Jansou'' (unreleased?) (Whiteboard) [https://web.archive.org/web/20201016111808/https://twitter.com/blapa_3rd/status/1317062130756067329]
 
*<div style="color:red">''S.R.D. Mission'' (Taito)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''S.R.D. Mission'' (Taito)</div>
 
*''Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko'' (Sega)
 
*''Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko'' (Sega)
  
===Famicom/NES===
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====Famicom/NES====
 
*<div style="color:red">''Airwolf'' (sound?) (JP Publisher: Kyugo)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Airwolf'' (sound?) (JP Publisher: Kyugo)</div>
 
:<small>Programming: [[C-lab.]]?</small>
 
:<small>Programming: [[C-lab.]]?</small>
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:<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===
+
====Mark III/Master System====
 
*''Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars'' (JP/US/EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
 
*''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)
 
*''Danan: The Jungle Fighter'' (EU/AU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
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:<small>Similar fonts/graphics</small>
 
:<small>Similar fonts/graphics</small>
  
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
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====Mega Drive/Genesis====
 
*''Mahjong Cop Ryuu: Hakurou no Yabou'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
 
*''Mahjong Cop Ryuu: Hakurou no Yabou'' (JP Publisher: Sega)
  
===SG-1000===
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====SG-1000====
 
*<div style="color:red">''Wonder Boy'' (JP Publisher: Sega)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Wonder Boy'' (JP Publisher: Sega)</div>
 
:<small>Names of several staff members are found throughout the ROM: Kamei, Maruyama, Nakayama, Tanaka</small>
 
:<small>Names of several staff members are found throughout the ROM: Kamei, Maruyama, Nakayama, Tanaka</small>
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:<small>Has the same Sega logo animation at startup as ''Wonder Boy''</small>
 
:<small>Has the same Sega logo animation at startup as ''Wonder Boy''</small>
  
==As Santos==
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===As Santos===
===Arcade===
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====Arcade====
 
*''Hammer Away'' (unreleased) (Sega)
 
*''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)
  
===Game Gear===
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====Game Gear====
 
Possible games (and reasons for inclusion on this list):
 
Possible games (and reasons for inclusion on this list):
 
*<div style="color:red">''The Pro Yakyuu '91''</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''The Pro Yakyuu '91''</div>
 
:<small>Based on ''The Pro Yakyuu Pennant Race'' (Master System)</small>
 
:<small>Based on ''The Pro Yakyuu Pennant Race'' (Master System)</small>
*<div style="color:red">''Space Harrier''</div>
 
:<small>Appears on the Atari list, but there's no other evidence of Santos' involvement</small>
 
 
*<div style="color:red">''Wonder Boy'' / ''Revenge of Drancon''</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Wonder Boy'' / ''Revenge of Drancon''</div>
 
:<small>Based on ''Wonder Boy'' (Master System)</small>
 
:<small>Based on ''Wonder Boy'' (Master System)</small>
  
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
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====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; KR Publisher: Samsung)
 
*''Toki: Going Ape Spit'' / ''JuJu Densetsu'' (US/EU/JP Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; KR Publisher: Samsung)
  
===Neo Geo===
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====Neo Geo====
 
*''Janshin Densetsu'' [MVS] (Yubis)
 
*''Janshin Densetsu'' [MVS] (Yubis)
:<small>According to the game's director, Santos went bankrupt in the middle of development, and they (the director) were sent to a Sega subsidiary (presumably Megasoft). [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363122004128272387] They go on to say the staff of Tozu's new company (presumably the revived Santos) finished developing the game. [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363125426378264576]</small>
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:<small>The game's director Kanayama originally planned to make ''Mahjong Quest'' as a trilogy; this would have been ''Mahjong Quest II''. [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363116750619860992] However, Taito held the ''Mahjong Quest'' trademark, so that name could not be used. [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363119280976404484] Instead, Sammy [https://twitter.com/gdri/status/1549588231389384704] planned to release the game as ''Sei Janshi Densetsu: Chiyuuren no Majo'' (''聖雀士伝説 チユウレ一ンの魔女''). ''Sei Janshi Densetsu'' was displayed at the AOU Show in 1992 and was featured in ''Gamest''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s coverage of the event (Issue No. 71, May 1992), but it was not released, at least not under that name, or by Sammy.</small>
 +
 
 +
:<small>According to Kanayama, Santos went bankrupt in the middle of development; Kanayama was then transferred to a Sega subsidiary (presumably Mega Soft). [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363122004128272387] Kanayama goes on to say the staff of Tozu's new company (presumably the revived Santos) finished developing the game. [https://twitter.com/kin68000/status/1363125426378264576] ''Janshin Densetsu'', as it was now called, was released by Yubis (via [[Aicom]]) in 1994.</small>
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 
*[http://www.smspower.org/forums/15286-WhodunitSantos SMS Power! thread]
 
*[http://www.smspower.org/forums/15286-WhodunitSantos SMS Power! thread]
 
*[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://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)
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTyZyCFRGRI 2014 episode of OBSLive with guest Sotaro Suzuki (鈴木宗太郎), former Whiteboard/Santos programmer] (Japanese)
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTyZyCFRGRI 2014 episode of ''OBSLive'' with guest Sotaro Suzuki (鈴木宗太郎), former Whiteboard/Santos programmer] (Japanese)
  
 
[[Category:Companies]]
 
[[Category:Companies]]

Revision as of 23:18, 1 August 2022

Santos was a company headed by Takeshi Tozu (戸津猛), who previously ran Orca (Game Machine 1983/8/15, pg. 6), Sesame Japan, and Crux. [1] It was established in July 1985 as Whiteboard (株式会社ホワイトボード) [2] [3]

In December 1991, Santos allegedly became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega called Mega Soft [4], but it also allegedly went bankrupt [5]; the circumstances surrounding this are unclear. For more information, see the Mega Soft entry.

Tozu apparently proceeded to start a new company [6], also called Santos.

Gai Brain was started by former Santos staff.

Game list

Research Methods: Actual mentions, code comparisons, hidden data, interviews, online resources, shared staff

As Whiteboard

Arcade

  • Airwolf (Kyugo) [7]
  • Dakko-chan House (Sega)
  • Flashgal (Sega)
  • Legend (Sega)
  • Photo Jansou (unreleased?) (Whiteboard) [8]
  • S.R.D. Mission (Taito)
  • 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 said he worked on Dynamite Dux and Nekkyuu Koushien at Whiteboard. [9] A code comparison between the two revealed shared code in the rest of the games on this list except Alex Kidd and Great Golf.

Alex Kidd, Fantasy Zone, Great Golf, Megumi Rescue, and Nekkyuu Koushien have the same initials, "YM," in the header. [10] Additionally, the standings screen in Great Golf has the name "KEI M," likely a reference to Whiteboard programmer Kei Maruyama (though some of the other names appear to be Sega staff). [11]

Danan: The Jungle Fighter, Nekkyuu Koushien, and Reggie Jackson Baseball share a font. The other games use a variation of a font seen in Sega-developed titles like Black Belt with a less angular "A."

Whiteboard is named as a third party owed royalties for Danan: The Jungle Fighter on a list of Sega games that could be licensed to Atari Corp. as part of a settlement between the two companies over alleged patent infringement by Sega (referred to herein as "the Atari list"). [12]

Possible games (and reasons for inclusion on this list):

  • Great Baseball (overseas)
Similar graphics
  • The Pro Yakyuu Pennant Race
Similar fonts/graphics
  • Walter Payton Football / American Pro Football
Uses fonts similar to ones used in Flashgal
  • Wonder Boy
Displays same Mark III logo at startup on Japanese systems as Masters Golf / Great Golf and Opa Opa / Fantasy Zone: The Maze
  • World Games
Similar fonts/graphics

Mega Drive/Genesis

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

SG-1000

  • Wonder Boy (JP Publisher: Sega)
Names of several staff members are found throughout the ROM: Kamei, Maruyama, Nakayama, Tanaka

Possible games (and reasons for inclusion on this list):

  • Ninja Princess
Has the same Sega logo animation at startup as Wonder Boy

As Santos

Arcade

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

Game Gear

Possible games (and reasons for inclusion on this list):

  • The Pro Yakyuu '91
Based on The Pro Yakyuu Pennant Race (Master System)
  • Wonder Boy / Revenge of Drancon
Based on Wonder Boy (Master System)

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)
The game's director Kanayama originally planned to make Mahjong Quest as a trilogy; this would have been Mahjong Quest II. [13] However, Taito held the Mahjong Quest trademark, so that name could not be used. [14] Instead, Sammy [15] planned to release the game as Sei Janshi Densetsu: Chiyuuren no Majo (聖雀士伝説 チユウレ一ンの魔女). Sei Janshi Densetsu was displayed at the AOU Show in 1992 and was featured in Gamest's coverage of the event (Issue No. 71, May 1992), but it was not released, at least not under that name, or by Sammy.
According to Kanayama, Santos went bankrupt in the middle of development; Kanayama was then transferred to a Sega subsidiary (presumably Mega Soft). [16] Kanayama goes on to say the staff of Tozu's new company (presumably the revived Santos) finished developing the game. [17] Janshin Densetsu, as it was now called, was released by Yubis (via Aicom) in 1994.

Links