Difference between revisions of "Zap"

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'''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]
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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. 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>
  
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.
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Heartbeat and Genius Sonority founder Manabu Yamana (山名学) and Climax founder Kan Naito (内藤寬) were among the early staff.<sup>[[#foot1|[1]]]</sup> Other 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. [https://books.google.com/books?id=EsXr5ntml54C&lpg=PT63&dq=%22%E3%83%A9%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%82%AB%E3%83%AB%E3%83%97%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%22&pg=PT63#v=onepage&q=%22%E3%83%A9%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%82%AB%E3%83%AB%E3%83%97%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%22&f=false] 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, shared staff
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'''[[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]]
  
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==As Way Limit==
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*''High Way Star'' (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)
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*''Midnight Building'' (JP/EU Publisher: ASCII)
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==As Zap==
 
===Famicom/NES===
 
===Famicom/NES===
 
*''Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu'' (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
 
*''Ankoku Shinwa: Yamato Takeru Densetsu'' (JP Publisher: Tokyo Shoseki)
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===MSX===
 
===MSX===
 
*''Bomber King'' (JP Publisher: Hudson)
 
*''Bomber King'' (JP Publisher: Hudson)
*''Cosmo Explorer'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
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*''Cosmo-Explorer'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
 
*''Fairy'' (JP Publisher: Zap)
 
*''Fairy'' (JP Publisher: Zap)
 
*''Funky Mouse'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
 
*''Funky Mouse'' (JP Publisher: Sony)
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===Unknown (MSX, PC)===
 
===Unknown (MSX, PC)===
 
*''1942'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
 
*''1942'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
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*Alien invasion game (unreleased)
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:<small>A game Manabu Yamana worked on that was rejected by ASCII</small>
 
*''Senjou no Ookami'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
 
*''Senjou no Ookami'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
  
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*''Super Rambo'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 
*''Super Rambo'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
 
:<small>Planning, Graphics: Bothtec</small>
 
:<small>Planning, Graphics: Bothtec</small>
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==Further reading==
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<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 05:25, 26 February 2018

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. 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) and Climax founder Kan Naito (内藤寬) were among the early staff.[1] Other former employees include Hitoshi Akashi (赤司仁) of Beyond Interactive and Sony Computer Entertainment producer Takeshi Kajii (梶井健) (Demon's Souls). [1] Programmer Kou Matsuda (松田康) started Radical Plan after leaving. [2] 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

  • 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)

Mega Drive/Genesis

  • Twinkle Tale (JP Publisher: Wonder Amusement Studio)

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: Aztec 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.