Difference between revisions of "Zap"

From Game Developer Research Institute
Jump to: navigation, search
(9 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
'''Zap Corporation''' (株式会社ザップ) was a game company started by entrepreneur Yuichiro Itakura (板倉雄一郎) in February 1984 [http://www.yuichiro-itakura.com/partner/prof_itakura.html] at the age of 19. [http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Hitoshi_Akashi] It may have had its roots in a company called Way Limit. [http://www.generation-msx.nl/msxdb/softwareinfo/258]
+
'''Zap Corporation''' (株式会社ザップ) was a company started by 19-year-old Yuichiro Itakura (板倉雄一郎), who previously worked for Ample Software.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup> It was established in February 1984. [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%82%B6%E3%83%83%E3%83%97]
  
Former employees include Hitoshi Akashi (赤司仁) of [[Beyond Interactive]] and Sony Computer Entertainment producer Takeshi Kajii (梶井健) (''Demon's Souls''). [http://wiki.livedoor.jp/demons_souls/d/%B3%E1%B0%E6%B7%F2] Programmer Kou Matsuda (松田康) started [[Radical Plan]] after leaving.
+
<div style="color:red">It was originally called '''Way Limit Corporation''' (株式会社ウェイリミット), but the name was quickly changed.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup></div>
  
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, shared staff
+
Heartbeat and Genius Sonority founder Manabu Yamana (山名学), Climax Entertainment co-founder Kan Naito (内藤寬), and Square Enix producer Takashi Tokita (時田貴司) were among the early staff.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup> Other former employees include Hitoshi Akashi (赤司仁) of [[Beyond Interactive]], Kou Matsuda (松田康) of [[Radical Plan]], ''Demon's Souls'' producer Takeshi Kajii (梶井健), and writer/[[Geo Factory]] founder Takaharu Mita (三田隆治). Itakura went on to start various technology companies and write business self-help books.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup>
 +
 
 +
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, print (see [[#Further reading|Further reading]]), shared staff
  
 
'''[[Interviews|Related Interviews]]:''' [[Interview:Hitoshi Akashi|Hitoshi Akashi]]
 
'''[[Interviews|Related Interviews]]:''' [[Interview:Hitoshi Akashi|Hitoshi Akashi]]
  
 +
==As Way Limit==
 +
===MSX===
 +
*''High Way Star'' (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)
 +
*''Midnight Building'' (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)
 +
 +
==As Zap==
 
===Famicom/NES===
 
===Famicom/NES===
 
*''Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu'' (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
 
*''Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu'' (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
Line 13: Line 21:
 
*''Chuugoku Janshi Story: Tonpuu'' (JP Publisher: Natsume)
 
*''Chuugoku Janshi Story: Tonpuu'' (JP Publisher: Natsume)
 
*''Super Rugby'' (JP Publisher: T.S.S.)
 
*''Super Rugby'' (JP Publisher: T.S.S.)
 +
 +
===FM-7===
 +
*''Super Rambo'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 +
:<small>Planning, Graphics: Bothtec</small>
  
 
===Mark III/Master System===
 
===Mark III/Master System===
 
*''Summer Games'' / ''Jogos Olympícos'' (under subcontract with Kaga Electronics?) (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
 
*''Summer Games'' / ''Jogos Olympícos'' (under subcontract with Kaga Electronics?) (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
 
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
 
*<div style="color:red">''Twinkle Tale'' (JP Publisher: Wonder Amusement Studio)</div>
 
  
 
===MSX===
 
===MSX===
 
*''Bomber King'' (JP Publisher: Hudson)
 
*''Bomber King'' (JP Publisher: Hudson)
*''Cosmo Explorer'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
+
*''Cosmo-Explorer'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
 
*''Fairy'' (JP Publisher: Zap)
 
*''Fairy'' (JP Publisher: Zap)
 
*''Funky Mouse'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
 
*''Funky Mouse'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
Line 31: Line 40:
 
*''Pineapplin'' (JP Publisher: Zap)
 
*''Pineapplin'' (JP Publisher: Zap)
 
*''Raid on Bungeling Bay'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
 
*''Raid on Bungeling Bay'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
 +
*''Rally'' (JP Publisher: Takeru [Brother])
  
 
===MSX2===
 
===MSX2===
Line 36: Line 46:
 
*''Barunba'' (JP Publisher: Namco)
 
*''Barunba'' (JP Publisher: Namco)
 
*''Ninja'' (JP Publisher: Bothtec)
 
*''Ninja'' (JP Publisher: Bothtec)
*''Taiyou no Shinden: Aztec II'' (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
+
*''Taiyou no Shinden: Asteka II'' (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
 +
 
 +
===PC-88===
 +
*''Super Rambo'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 +
:<small>Planning, Graphics: Bothtec</small>
  
 
===PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16===
 
===PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16===
Line 44: Line 58:
 
:<small>Music: Mecano Associates</small>
 
:<small>Music: Mecano Associates</small>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Makai Prince Dorabocchan'' (JP Publisher: Naxat)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Makai Prince Dorabocchan'' (JP Publisher: Naxat)</div>
 +
 +
===Unknown (MSX, PC)===
 +
*''1942'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
 +
*Alien invasion game (unreleased)
 +
:<small>A game Manabu Yamana worked on that was rejected by ASCII</small>
 +
*''Senjou no Ookami'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
 +
 +
===X1===
 +
*''Super Rambo'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 +
:<small>Planning, Graphics: Bothtec</small>
 +
 +
==Further reading==
 +
<span id="foot1">1. Szczepaniak, John. <i>The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Volume 3: Monochrome</i>. United States: SMG Szczepaniak, 2018. Print.</span>
  
 
[[Category:Companies]]
 
[[Category:Companies]]

Revision as of 14:03, 21 August 2020

Zap Corporation (株式会社ザップ) was a company started by 19-year-old Yuichiro Itakura (板倉雄一郎), who previously worked for Ample Software.[1] It was established in February 1984. [1]

It was originally called Way Limit Corporation (株式会社ウェイリミット), but the name was quickly changed.[1]

Heartbeat and Genius Sonority founder Manabu Yamana (山名学), Climax Entertainment co-founder Kan Naito (内藤寬), and Square Enix producer Takashi Tokita (時田貴司) were among the early staff.[1] Other former employees include Hitoshi Akashi (赤司仁) of Beyond Interactive, Kou Matsuda (松田康) of Radical Plan, Demon's Souls producer Takeshi Kajii (梶井健), and writer/Geo Factory founder Takaharu Mita (三田隆治). Itakura went on to start various technology companies and write business self-help books.[1]

Research Methods: Actual mentions, interviews, print (see Further reading), shared staff

Related Interviews: Hitoshi Akashi

As Way Limit

MSX

  • High Way Star (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)
  • Midnight Building (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)

As Zap

Famicom/NES

  • Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
Programming: Another
  • Chuugoku Janshi Story: Tonpuu (JP Publisher: Natsume)
  • Super Rugby (JP Publisher: T.S.S.)

FM-7

  • Super Rambo (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
Planning, Graphics: Bothtec

Mark III/Master System

  • Summer Games / Jogos Olympícos (under subcontract with Kaga Electronics?) (EU Publisher: Sega; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)

MSX

  • Bomber King (JP Publisher: Hudson)
  • Cosmo-Explorer (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Fairy (JP Publisher: Zap)
  • Funky Mouse (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Glider (JP Publisher: Zap)
  • Manes (JP Publisher: Zap)
  • Midnight Brothers (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Payload (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Pineapplin (JP Publisher: Zap)
  • Raid on Bungeling Bay (JP Publisher: Sony)
  • Rally (JP Publisher: Takeru [Brother])

MSX2

  • Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
  • Barunba (JP Publisher: Namco)
  • Ninja (JP Publisher: Bothtec)
  • Taiyou no Shinden: Asteka II (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)

PC-88

  • Super Rambo (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
Planning, Graphics: Bothtec

PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16

  • Barunba (JP Publisher: Namco)
  • Burning Angels (JP Publisher: Naxat)
  • Dead Moon: Gessekai no Akumu / Dead Moon (JP Publisher: T.S.S.; US Publisher: NEC)
Music: Mecano Associates
  • Makai Prince Dorabocchan (JP Publisher: Naxat)

Unknown (MSX, PC)

  • 1942 (JP Publisher: ASCII)
  • Alien invasion game (unreleased)
A game Manabu Yamana worked on that was rejected by ASCII
  • Senjou no Ookami (JP Publisher: ASCII)

X1

  • Super Rambo (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
Planning, Graphics: Bothtec

Further reading

1. Szczepaniak, John. The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Volume 3: Monochrome. United States: SMG Szczepaniak, 2018. Print.