HighTech Lab. Japan
HighTech Lab. Japan Inc. (株式会社ハイテックラボジャパン) was a pioneering computer graphics production company that worked on such projects as NHK TV programs and the animated films Akira and Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise. It was founded in 1986 and headed by Takeshi Yoshizaki (吉崎武), formerly of ASCII. Yoshizaki was the editor-in-chief of ASCII magazine and established ASCII HighTech Lab., which developed the MSX LaserDisc game Starfighters. [1]
HighTech Lab. Japan was originally based in Higashiyama, Meguro, Tokyo [2], and later moved to Shibuya, Tokyo. [3]
CG production proved to be a profitable business for HighTech Lab. Japan because of Japan's bubble economy. However, the bubble eventually burst and in the 1990s, the company shifted its focus to video game production. [4]
HighTech Lab. Japan shut down in 1997. The company's last game was Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo for the PlayStation, released in March 1997; much of the team behind that title, with the backing of publisher Takara, started developer Barnhouse Effect that same month.
Research Methods: Actual mentions, interviews, online resources, shared staff
3DO
- Pyramid Intruder (JP Publisher: Taito)
- Starblade (JP Publisher: Namco; US/CA Publisher: Panasonic)
Arcade
- Bouken-Ou Topple (CG production) (Taito) [5]
- Pyramid Patrol (CG production) (Taito)
FM Towns
- Lupin Sansei: Hong Kong no Mashu (planning) (JP Publisher: CRI)
- Some Programming?: Wizard
LaserActive
- The Great Pyramid (some CG production) (JP/NA Publisher: Pioneer)
- Programming: CRC Research Institute; Video Production: Japan Academic Documentation; Translation: GK Associates; Music Selection: Vancl; Some CG Production: Plus One, A&L, Fuji TV; Package Design: FIS Incorporated
- Hyperion (JP/NA Publisher: Taito)
- Pyramid Patrol (JP/NA Publisher: Taito)
- [Some?] Programming, [Some?] Graphics: C-lab.
- Rocket Coaster (JP/NA Publisher: Taito)
- Time Gal (JP Publisher: Taito)
Macintosh
This section is sketchy due to lack of information on these titles.
- Derby Analyst (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
- Digital Gallery: Rocket Coaster (JP Publisher: Taito)
- Europe Vol. 1 (?)
- Sekai no Kessaku Sentouki Vol. 1 (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
- Time Gal (JP Publisher: Taito)
PC Engine CD/TurboGrafx-CD
- Let's Be Friends: Shougakusei no Eigo Gekan (unreleased) (HighTech Lab. Japan) [6]
- Supervision: Linguaphone Japan; Development Cooperation: CSK Research Institute
- Let's Be Friends: Shougakusei no Eigo Joukan (unreleased) (HighTech Lab. Japan)
- Supervision: Linguaphone Japan; Development Cooperation: CSK Research Institute
PlayStation
- A "submarine simulation game" based on the manga, this was eventually "abandoned in favor of a 'marine adventure game' that would be popular with the general public" (Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo).
- Deep Sea Adventure: Kaiteiguu Panthalassa no Nazo (JP Publisher: Takara)
- Some CG Support: Act Japan; Sound: Reeb
- Galaxian³ (JP Publisher: Namco; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment)
- Starblade α (JP/US Publisher: Namco; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment)
- Tokyo Shadow (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito)
- Toshinden 2 / Battle Arena Toshinden 2 (opening movie - production management, computer graphics) (JP Publisher: Takara; US Publisher: Playmates Interactive Entertainment; EU Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment)
- Zeitgeist / Jupiter Strike (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito; US/EU Publisher: Acclaim)
Saturn
- Tokyo Shadow (co-developer) (JP Publisher: Taito)
Windows
- Europe Vol. 1: Virtual Tour via Windows (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
- Sekai no Kessaku Sentouki Vol. 1 (JP Publisher: HighTech Lab. Japan)
See also
- Transpegasus Limited - Appears to be an adult brand used by High-Tech Lab. Japan or perhaps Digital Production (see below). High-Tech Lab. Japan registered the trademarks. (Example: [11])
- Digital Production (有限会社ディジタルプロダクション; later 株式会社ディジタルプロダクション) - Likely a subsidiary or affiliate of High-Tech Lab. Japan as it was located at the same address. Name is seen on some Transpegasus Limited products.
- Digital Studio - HighTech Lab. Japan's recording and computer graphics studio. Appears to have been spun off into its own company (株式会社デジタルスタジオ [12]; Digital Studio Inc. [13]).
- Denno Shokai - Company started by former employee Toshiharu Nishizawa
- Gijyutu Shounen Publishing - Company currently run by Yoshizaki. Involved with computer kits and technical books and operates the Dream Library computer museum.
