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]
 
'''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]
  
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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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]], Koji Miyoshi (三好弘二) of [[Spiel]], 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>
  
 
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.
 
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.

Latest revision as of 04:14, 17 April 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, Koji Miyoshi (三好弘二) of Spiel, 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)
  • Dead Moon: Gessekai no Akumu / Dead Moon (JP Publisher: T.S.S.; US Publisher: NEC)
Music: Mecano Associates

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.