Difference between revisions of "Bits Laboratory"

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__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
 
[[Image:Bitslogo.gif|Bits Laboratory logo|right]]
 
[[Image:Bitslogo.gif|Bits Laboratory logo|right]]
'''Bits Laboratory Co.''' (有限会社ビッツラボラトリー) was established on December 24, 1985 [http://web.archive.org/web/*/www.highway.ne.jp/bitslabo/bits/index.htm], by a group of freelancers. [http://review-site.net/dt/index.php/ひ#.E3.83.93.E3.83.83.E3.83.84.E3.83.A9.E3.83.9C.E3.83.A9.E3.83.88.E3.83.AA.E3.83.BC.EF.BC.88Bits_Laboratory.EF.BC.89] It was originally called '''Workss'''.
+
''Not to be confused with British developer [[Bits Studios]]''
  
Yasunori Takahara (高原保法) and Motoyuki Kanayama (金山泰志) went on to start GameCrab. [http://review-site.net/dt/index.php/け#.E3.82.B2.E3.83.BC.E3.83.A0.E3.82.AF.E3.83.A9.E3.83.96.EF.BC.88GameCRAB.EF.BC.89]
+
'''Bits Laboratory Co.''' (有限会社ビッツラボラトリー) was established on December 24, 1985 [https://web.archive.org/web/20030804073735/http://www.highway.ne.jp/bitslabo/bits/index.htm], by Satoru Miyazaki (宮崎暁) with fellow part-time workers from ASCII. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060211004803/http://www.gpara.com/contents/creator/bn_213.htm] Presumably it was originally called '''Workss'''. (The Famicom version of ''Ghostbusters'' credits "Workss"; The NES version credits "Bits." The Workss name is also present in the Famicom version of ''King's Knight''.)
  
Not to be confused with British developer Bits Studios.
+
Bits Laboratory had a close relationship with Game Arts for years. In the 1990s, the company had a hit with the PlayStation dating sim ''True Love Story''. It was also a member of Game Developers Network (GD-NET), a collective of smaller Japanese game developers. [https://archive.org/details/GamefanVolume4Issue11November1996ALT/page/n165/mode/1up]
  
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, code comparisons, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared staff
+
In 2017, Bits Laboratory entered into a formal business partnership with Miya Engineering [http://miyaeng.com/], a software development company run by Toyokazu Miyazaki (宮崎豊和). [http://miyaeng.com/company.html]
 +
 
 +
Yasunori Takahara (高原保法) and Motoyuki Kanayama (金山泰志) started GameCrab in 2001, which continued development of the ''True Love Story'' series. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030814070536/http://gamecrab.jp:80/profile.htm]
 +
 
 +
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, code comparisons, online resources, shared staff
  
 
===Famicom/NES===
 
===Famicom/NES===
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:<small>Music Composition: T's Music</small>
 
:<small>Music Composition: T's Music</small>
 
*''Minna no Taabou no Nakayoshi Daisakusen'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Character Soft)
 
*''Minna no Taabou no Nakayoshi Daisakusen'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Character Soft)
:<small>Original Concept: Game Arts; Some Music: T's Music</small>
+
:<small>Original Concept: Game Arts; Planning: ASCII; Some Music: T's Music</small>
 
*''SD Gundam Gachapon Senshi 4: New Type Story'' (programming; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Yutaka)
 
*''SD Gundam Gachapon Senshi 4: New Type Story'' (programming; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Yutaka)
 
:<small>Direction, Scenario: Game Arts; Graphics: Japan Art Media?</small>
 
:<small>Direction, Scenario: Game Arts; Graphics: Japan Art Media?</small>
 +
*<div style="color:red">''SD Gundam Gachapon Senshi 5: Battle of Universal Century'' (JP Publisher: Yutaka) [https://twitter.com/kouji_matuda/status/1618230450841063424]</div>
 +
*''Seiken Densetsu'' (unreleased) (co-developer) (Square)
 +
:<small>A 3D dungeon RPG in development before the release of ''Dragon Quest''. The game was half-finished when it was put on hold. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210330172448/https://tokyo.whatsin.jp/320584]</small>
 
*''Thexder'' (JP Publisher: Square)
 
*''Thexder'' (JP Publisher: Square)
  
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*''Urusei Yatsura: Dear My Friends'' (some programming) (JP Publisher: Game Arts)
 
*''Urusei Yatsura: Dear My Friends'' (some programming) (JP Publisher: Game Arts)
 
*<div style="color:red">''Wing Commander'' (US Publisher: Electronic Arts; JP Publisher: Sega)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Wing Commander'' (US Publisher: Electronic Arts; JP Publisher: Sega)</div>
 +
 +
===Mobile===
 +
*''Nyankoro Solitaire 10-ko-iri'' (some planning, some graphics, script) (JP Publisher: G-mode)
 +
:<small>Some Planning, Programming, Some Graphics: opti-wave</small>
  
 
===PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16===
 
===PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16===
Line 47: Line 58:
 
*''Darius Plus'' ([some?] programming) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
 
*''Darius Plus'' ([some?] programming) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
 
*''Fantasy Zone'' (programming, some graphics) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue; US Publisher: NEC)
 
*''Fantasy Zone'' (programming, some graphics) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue; US Publisher: NEC)
*''Toilet Kids'' (JP Publisher: Media Rings)
+
*''Toilet Kids'' (JP Publisher: Media Rings) [https://twitter.com/kouji_matuda/status/1618203177756819457]
 
:<small>Music: T's Music</small>
 
:<small>Music: T's Music</small>
 
*''Veigues Tactical Gladiator'' (programming; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Victor; US Publisher: NEC)
 
*''Veigues Tactical Gladiator'' (programming; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Victor; US Publisher: NEC)
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*''Charumera'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Soft)
 
*''Charumera'' (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Soft)
 
:<small>Sound: T's Music</small>
 
:<small>Sound: T's Music</small>
*''TearRing Saga: Yutona Eiyuu Senki'' (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Enterbrain)
+
*''TearRingSaga: Yutona Eiyuu Senki'' (some graphics?) (JP Publisher: Enterbrain)
 +
:<small>Developer: Tirnanog; Battle CG, Animation Production: [[Dream Japan]]; Some Graphics: Marchen Breaker; Some Graphics?: Ferga; 2D Character Graphics: Earthly Production; ?: Studio Ingaohboo; Debugging?: Pole To Win</small>
 
*''True Love Story'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
 
*''True Love Story'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
 
*''True Love Story 2'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
 
*''True Love Story 2'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
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===PlayStation 2===
 
===PlayStation 2===
 +
*''Amagami'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Enterbrain)
 
*''Chenuen no San Goku Shi'' (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Game Arts)
 
*''Chenuen no San Goku Shi'' (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Game Arts)
 
*''Kimi Kiss'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Enterbrain)
 
*''Kimi Kiss'' (programming) (JP Publisher: Enterbrain)
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===Saturn===
 
===Saturn===
 
*<div style="color:red">''Derby Stallion'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Derby Stallion'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)</div>
 +
:<small>Some Programming?: ScriptArts; Sound Data Conversion: T's Music</small>
 
*''Game BASIC for SegaSaturn'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
 
*''Game BASIC for SegaSaturn'' (JP Publisher: ASCII)
 
*<div style="color:red">''Kekkon Zenya'' (JP Publisher: Shogakukan Production)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''Kekkon Zenya'' (JP Publisher: Shogakukan Production)</div>
Line 107: Line 121:
 
*<div style="color:red">''SD Gundam X: Super Gachapon World'' (JP Publisher: Yutaka)</div>
 
*<div style="color:red">''SD Gundam X: Super Gachapon World'' (JP Publisher: Yutaka)</div>
 
:<small>Some Music (Composition?): T's Music</small>
 
:<small>Some Music (Composition?): T's Music</small>
*''Sengoku no Hasha: Tenka Fubu e no Michi'' (programming?; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Banpresto) [https://www35.atwiki.jp/sfcall/pages/804.html]
+
*''Sengoku no Hasha: Tenka Fubu e no Michi'' (programming?; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Banpresto) [https://w.atwiki.jp/sfcall/pages/804.html]
  
 
===Vita===
 
===Vita===
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===Wii===
 
===Wii===
*''Dairantou Smash Brothers X'' / ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' (co-developer)
+
*''Dairantou Smash Brothers X'' / ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' (development cooperation) (JP/US/AU/EU/KR Publisher: Nintendo)
  
 
===Wii U===
 
===Wii U===
*''Gotouchi Tetsudou: Gotouchi Chara to Nihon Zenkoku no Tabi'' (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Bandai Namco Games) [https://twitter.com/Diospada_009/status/538007123586580480]
+
*''Gotouchi Tetsudou: Gotouchi Chara to Nihon Zenkoku no Tabi'' (development cooperation) (JP Publisher: Bandai Namco Games) [https://twitter.com/Diospada_009/status/538007123586580480]
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 
*[http://bits-labo.com/ Official website] (Japanese)
 
*[http://bits-labo.com/ Official website] (Japanese)
 
*[http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.highway.ne.jp/bitslabo/ Official website (Internet Archive Wayback Machine)] (Japanese)
 
*[http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.highway.ne.jp/bitslabo/ Official website (Internet Archive Wayback Machine)] (Japanese)
*[http://review-site.net/dt/index.php/#.E3.83.93.E3.83.83.E3.83.84.E3.83.A9.E3.83.9C.E3.83.A9.E3.83.88.E3.83.AA.E3.83.BC.EF.BC.88Bits_Laboratory.EF.BC.89 Developer Table entry] (Japanese)
+
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100612201244/http://review-site.net/dt/index.php/%E3%81%B2#.E3.83.93.E3.83.83.E3.83.84.E3.83.A9.E3.83.9C.E3.83.A9.E3.83.88.E3.83.AA.E3.83.BC.EF.BC.88Bits_Laboratory.EF.BC.89 Developer Table entry (Internet Archive Wayback Machine)] (Japanese)
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20030420164337/http://www.sofarts.com/software/history/main.htm Naozumi Honma's works List 1], [http://web.archive.org/web/20080328130934/www.sofarts.com/oldnew/software/history/index.html 2] (Internet Archive Wayback Machine) (Japanese)
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20030420164337/http://www.sofarts.com/software/history/main.htm Naozumi Honma's works List 1], [http://web.archive.org/web/20080328130934/www.sofarts.com/oldnew/software/history/index.html 2] (Internet Archive Wayback Machine) (Japanese)
  
 
[[Category:Companies]]
 
[[Category:Companies]]

Revision as of 05:05, 29 January 2023

Bits Laboratory logo

Not to be confused with British developer Bits Studios

Bits Laboratory Co. (有限会社ビッツラボラトリー) was established on December 24, 1985 [1], by Satoru Miyazaki (宮崎暁) with fellow part-time workers from ASCII. [2] Presumably it was originally called Workss. (The Famicom version of Ghostbusters credits "Workss"; The NES version credits "Bits." The Workss name is also present in the Famicom version of King's Knight.)

Bits Laboratory had a close relationship with Game Arts for years. In the 1990s, the company had a hit with the PlayStation dating sim True Love Story. It was also a member of Game Developers Network (GD-NET), a collective of smaller Japanese game developers. [3]

In 2017, Bits Laboratory entered into a formal business partnership with Miya Engineering [4], a software development company run by Toyokazu Miyazaki (宮崎豊和). [5]

Yasunori Takahara (高原保法) and Motoyuki Kanayama (金山泰志) started GameCrab in 2001, which continued development of the True Love Story series. [6]

Research Methods: Actual mentions, code comparisons, online resources, shared staff

Famicom/NES

  • Gambler Jiko Chuushinha (programming; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Asmik)
Music: Mecano Associates
  • Gambler Jiko Chuushinha 2 (some music [sound programming?]; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Asmik)
Some Music (Composition?): Mecano Associates
  • Ghostbusters (JP Publisher: Tokuma Shoten; US Publisher: Activision)
  • Hanjuku Hero (main programming, sound programming?) (JP Publisher: Square)
  • King's Knight (programming?) (JP/US Publisher: Square)
  • Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Remember Dream (JP Publisher: Yutaka)
Music Composition: T's Music
  • Minna no Taabou no Nakayoshi Daisakusen (programming) (JP Publisher: Character Soft)
Original Concept: Game Arts; Planning: ASCII; Some Music: T's Music
  • SD Gundam Gachapon Senshi 4: New Type Story (programming; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Yutaka)
Direction, Scenario: Game Arts; Graphics: Japan Art Media?
  • SD Gundam Gachapon Senshi 5: Battle of Universal Century (JP Publisher: Yutaka) [7]
  • Seiken Densetsu (unreleased) (co-developer) (Square)
A 3D dungeon RPG in development before the release of Dragon Quest. The game was half-finished when it was put on hold. [8]
  • Thexder (JP Publisher: Square)

Famicom Disk System

  • Kiki Kaikai: Dotou-hen (JP Publisher: Taito)
  • Magma Project Hacker (some programming) (JP Publisher: Tokuma Soft)
Some Programming: OSS
Says "Workss" even though this came out after the NES version of Ghostbusters

Game Boy

  • Kitchen Panic (JP Publisher: Coconuts Japan)

Mega CD/Sega CD

  • Lunar: Eternal Blue (some animation graphics/painting) (JP Publisher: Game Arts; US Publisher: Working Designs)
  • Prince of Persia (under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Victor; US/EU Publisher: Sega)
Graphics: M.P.Run
  • Rise of the Dragon (JP Publisher: Sega; US Publisher: Dynamix)
  • Urusei Yatsura: Dear My Friends (some programming) (JP Publisher: Game Arts)
  • Wing Commander (US Publisher: Electronic Arts; JP Publisher: Sega)

Mobile

  • Nyankoro Solitaire 10-ko-iri (some planning, some graphics, script) (JP Publisher: G-mode)
Some Planning, Programming, Some Graphics: opti-wave

PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16

  • After Burner II (programming, graphics) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
  • Darius Alpha ([some?] programming) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
  • Darius Plus ([some?] programming) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
  • Fantasy Zone (programming, some graphics) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue; US Publisher: NEC)
  • Toilet Kids (JP Publisher: Media Rings) [9]
Music: T's Music
  • Veigues Tactical Gladiator (programming; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Victor; US Publisher: NEC)

PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD

  • Ai Cho Aniki (game design, programming) (JP Publisher: Masaya)
Planning, Graphics: Vanguard; Sound: Two-Five
  • CD Mahjong: Bishoujo Chuushinha (JP Publisher: Games Express)
Some Programming: Yellow Horn?; Music: T's Music
  • Doukyuusei (opening direction, some programming) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
  • Gain Ground SX ([some?] direction, programming?, some graphics?) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
Some Graphics: Fill in Cafe; Sound: T's Music
  • Gambler Jiko Chuushinha: CD dayo Zenin Shuugou!! Gekitou 36 Janshi (some programming) (JP Publisher: Hudson)
  • Hi-Leg Fantasy (JP Publisher: Games Express)
  • Rainbow Islands (programming) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
Main Programming?: Yellow Horn
  • Side Arms Special (some programming) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
  • Space Invaders: The Original Game (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
  • Splash Lake (programming) (JP/US Publisher: NEC Avenue)
Sound: T's Music
  • Super Darius ([some?] programming) (JP Publisher: NEC Avenue)
  • Uchuu Senkan Yamato (some music) (JP Publisher: Human)

PlayStation

  • Charumera (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Soft)
Sound: T's Music
  • TearRingSaga: Yutona Eiyuu Senki (some graphics?) (JP Publisher: Enterbrain)
Developer: Tirnanog; Battle CG, Animation Production: Dream Japan; Some Graphics: Marchen Breaker; Some Graphics?: Ferga; 2D Character Graphics: Earthly Production; ?: Studio Ingaohboo; Debugging?: Pole To Win
  • True Love Story (JP Publisher: ASCII)
  • True Love Story 2 (JP Publisher: ASCII)
  • True Love Story Fan Disc (JP Publisher: ASCII)
  • True Love Story: Remember My Heart (JP Publisher: ASCII)

PlayStation 2

  • Amagami (programming) (JP Publisher: Enterbrain)
  • Chenuen no San Goku Shi (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Game Arts)
  • Kimi Kiss (programming) (JP Publisher: Enterbrain)
  • Gungrave O.D. / Gungrave: Overdose (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Red; US Publisher: Mastiff; UK/AU Publisher: Play It)

Saturn

  • Derby Stallion (JP Publisher: ASCII)
Some Programming?: ScriptArts; Sound Data Conversion: T's Music
  • Game BASIC for SegaSaturn (JP Publisher: ASCII)
  • Kekkon Zenya (JP Publisher: Shogakukan Production)
  • Mahou Gakuen Lunar (JP Publisher: Game Arts)
  • Ooedo Renaissance (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Soft)
Graphics: Neverland?; Sound: T's Music
  • Puyo Puyo 2 (JP Publisher: Compile)

Super Famicom/Super NES

  • Cho Aniki: Bakuretsu Rantou-hen (game design, some graphics, motion design, balance direction) (JP Publisher: Masaya)
Programming: Yellow Horn?; Sound Production, Music: Two-Five; Sound Effects, Sound Driver: Cube
  • Gambler Jiko Chuushinha: Mahjong Kouisen (some programming?; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: PalSoft)
Some Programming: Yellow Horn; Music: T's Music
  • Gambler Jiko Chuushinha 2: Dorapon Quest (under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
Music: T's Music
  • Lasabirdie: Get in the Hole (JP Publisher: Ricoh)
  • Monstania (JP Publisher: Pack-In-Video)
Character Design?: Amccus; Some Graphics?: Japan Art Media
  • Pokonyan! Henpokorin Adventure (some programming, some coordination) (JP Publisher: Toho)
Planning, Production: Toho, Shougakukan Production; Game Design, Direction: Vanguard; Some Programming, Graphics: Radical Plan?; Sound: Two-Five?; Some Coordination: Game Arts
  • SD Gundam X: Super Gachapon World (JP Publisher: Yutaka)
Some Music (Composition?): T's Music
  • Sengoku no Hasha: Tenka Fubu e no Michi (programming?; under subcontract with Game Arts?) (JP Publisher: Banpresto) [10]

Vita

  • Yuusha Shisu. (JP Publisher: Nippon Ichi Software) [11]

Wii

  • Dairantou Smash Brothers X / Super Smash Bros. Brawl (development cooperation) (JP/US/AU/EU/KR Publisher: Nintendo)

Wii U

  • Gotouchi Tetsudou: Gotouchi Chara to Nihon Zenkoku no Tabi (development cooperation) (JP Publisher: Bandai Namco Games) [12]

Links