Vic Tokai

From Game Developer Research Institute
Revision as of 13:47, 25 April 2010 by CRV (Talk | contribs)

Jump to: navigation, search
VIC Tokai logo

VIC Tokai (株式会社ビック東海) is a telecommunications company and subsidiary of Tokai originally established in March 1977 as Yaizu Cablevision, a cable television provider. In May 1978, its name was changed to VIC Tokai. [1] (VIC currently stands for "Valuable Information & Communication" but used to stand for "Video Information Center." [2]). The company was involved with video games from about 1984 until 1997 and had operations in the US and Europe. [3]

A number of VIC Tokai's internally-developed games were actually co-developed with Seibu Lease, employees of both companies working in the same office. Seibu Lease primarily handled planning and graphics, while VIC Tokai handled programming and sales [4] It is unknown how long this partnership lasted. It does appear VIC had its own graphic artists, at least later on.

Graphic Techno EW was a label used on early VIC Tokai/Seibu Lease-developed arcade games. The "EW" is derived from the names of both companies. ("東," or "tou," means "east;" "西," or "sei," means "west.") [5]

Research Methods: Actual mentions, interviews (see below), online resources (see Links), shared staff

Related Interviews: Shouichi Yoshikawa

Arcade

  • Block Gal (Sega)
  • Calorie-kun vs. Moguranian (Sega)
  • Taxi Driver (Graphic Techno EW)
  • UFO Senshi Youko-chan (Sega)
  • X, The (Graphic Techno EW)
  • Witch (Sega)

Famicom/NES

  • Aigiina no Yogen: From the Legend of Balubalouk (JP Publisher: VIC Tokai)
  • Chester Field: Ankoku Shin e no Chousen (JP Publisher: VIC Tokai)
  • Conflict (JP/US Publisher: VIC Tokai)
  • Dengeki: Big Bang! / Clash at Demonhead (JP/US Publisher: VIC Tokai)
  • Golgo 13: Dai 1 Shou: Kamigami no Tasogare / Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode (JP/US Publisher: VIC Tokai)
  • Kakefu-kun no Jump Tengoku: Speed Jigoku / Kid Kool and the Quest for the Seven Wonder Herbs (JP/US Publisher: VIC Tokai)
  • Magical Doropie / Krion Conquest, The (JP/US Publisher: VIC Tokai)
  • Secret Ties (unreleased) (VIC Tokai)
Sound: Graphic Research

Mark III/Master System

  • Psycho Fox / Sapo Xule: O Mestre do Kung Fues do Brejo (US/CA/EU Publisher: Sega; SK Publisher: Samsung; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)

Mega Drive/Genesis

  • Battle Mania / Trouble Shooter (JP/US Publisher: VIC Tokai)
Sound: Graphic Research
  • Battle Mania Daiginjou (JP Publisher: VIC Tokai)
Sound: Graphic Research
  • Magical Hat no Buttobi Turbo! Daibouken / Decap Attack (JP/US/EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy; SK Publisher: Samsung)
Decap Attack Sound: Graphic Research
  • Time Dominator 1st / Socket (JP/US Publisher: VIC Tokai)
Sound: Graphic Research
  • Whip Rush: Wakusei Voltegas no Nazo / Whip Rush (JP Publisher: Sega; US Publisher: Renovation)

Super Famicom/Super NES

  • Shinseiki Odysselya (JP Publisher: VIC Tokai)
  • Shinseiki Odysselya II (JP Publisher: VIC Tokai)
Sound Driver: Graphic Research; Sound Composition: Studio Cliche

Links