Difference between revisions of "Zap"
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| − | + | '''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] | |
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| − | + | 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 himself went on to start various technology companies and write business self-help books.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup> | |
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| − | + | According to Yamana, Zap was originally called '''Way Limit''' (Way Limit Corporation, 株式会社ウェイリミット), but the name was quickly changed.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup> In actuality, Way Limit may have been a predecessor company, as the games made under that name would have come out prior to February 1984. | |
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| − | + | '''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, print (see [[#Further reading|Further reading]]), shared staff | |
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| − | + | '''[[Interviews|Related Interviews]]:''' [[Interview:Hitoshi Akashi|Hitoshi Akashi]] | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ==Way Limit== | |
| − | + | ===MSX=== | |
| − | + | *''High Way Star'' (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII) | |
| − | + | *''Midnight Building'' (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII) | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ==Zap== | |
| − | + | ===Famicom/NES=== | |
| − | + | *''Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu'' (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki) | |
| − | + | :<small>Programming: [[Another]]</small> | |
| − | + | *''Chuugoku Janshi Story: Tonpuu'' (JP Publisher: Natsume) | |
| − | + | *''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=== | |
| − | + | *''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) | |
| − | + | *''Shuto Dakkai'' (''首都奪回'') (unreleased) (Zap) | |
| − | + | *''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=== | |
| − | + | *''Barunba'' (JP Publisher: Namco) | |
| − | + | *<div style="color:red">''Burning Angels'' (JP Publisher: [[Naxat]])</div> | |
| − | + | *<div style="color:red">''Dead Moon: Gessekai no Akumu'' / ''Dead Moon'' (JP Publisher: T.S.S.; US Publisher: NEC)</div> | |
| − | + | :<small>Music: Mecano Associates</small> | |
| − | + | *<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> | |
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| − | + | [[Category:Companies]] | |
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Revision as of 04:32, 28 March 2023
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]
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 himself went on to start various technology companies and write business self-help books.[1]
According to Yamana, Zap was originally called Way Limit (Way Limit Corporation, 株式会社ウェイリミット), but the name was quickly changed.[1] In actuality, Way Limit may have been a predecessor company, as the games made under that name would have come out prior to February 1984.
Research Methods: Actual mentions, interviews, print (see Further reading), shared staff
Related Interviews: Hitoshi Akashi
Way Limit
MSX
- High Way Star (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)
- Midnight Building (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)
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)
- Shuto Dakkai (首都奪回) (unreleased) (Zap)
- 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.
