Japan's Game Dev/Co West Japan - Backloggdpedia
List of gaming companies located West of Sekigahara, Gifu-ken, Japan. The order of the textual information is: chihō/region and ken/prefecture, company name (in bold) and my comments. The game titles were chosen at my own discretion, as I consider them to be representative of the target game company. So, if you have any objections, please give your opinion in the comments section.
Map of all Japan: simplified ver1, simplified ver2, Tokyo-to Map
Note1: 地方/chihō = region, 都/to = capital city/metropolis, 府/fu = prefecture, 県/ken = prefecture, 市/shi = city, 区/ku = ward
Note2: Games not registered with the IGDB, publisher companies, port development, some development support, and game companies that only make chess/mahjong games and educational games were excluded.
Note3: When the list was initially drawn up, the intention was to exclude eroge/adult game companies. But then I thought, "What the hell are Enix, Nihon Falcom and Koei in the early days?" and so it was decided to include eroge-companies in the list. In addition, only eroge-companies that had all-ages ports and known addresses were included in the list.
PS: News of ZA/UM jumped out at me while I was compiling this list. Bitter smile.
Map of all Japan: simplified ver1, simplified ver2, Tokyo-to Map
Note1: 地方/chihō = region, 都/to = capital city/metropolis, 府/fu = prefecture, 県/ken = prefecture, 市/shi = city, 区/ku = ward
Note2: Games not registered with the IGDB, publisher companies, port development, some development support, and game companies that only make chess/mahjong games and educational games were excluded.
Note3: When the list was initially drawn up, the intention was to exclude eroge/adult game companies. But then I thought, "What the hell are Enix, Nihon Falcom and Koei in the early days?" and so it was decided to include eroge-companies in the list. In addition, only eroge-companies that had all-ages ports and known addresses were included in the list.
PS: News of ZA/UM jumped out at me while I was compiling this list. Bitter smile.
37 Games
近畿地方 関西/Kinki-chihō Kansai
京都府 京都市/Kyoto-fu Kyoto-shi
任天堂/NINTENDO
An empire in Japan’s video game industry.
京都府 京都市/Kyoto-fu Kyoto-shi
任天堂/NINTENDO
An empire in Japan’s video game industry.
京都府 京都市/Kyoto-fu Kyoto-shi
インテリジェントシステムズ/Intelligent Systems
It is disguised under the name 2nd party but is effectively a subsidiary of Nintendo.
インテリジェントシステムズ/Intelligent Systems
It is disguised under the name 2nd party but is effectively a subsidiary of Nintendo.
京都府 京都市/Kyoto-fu Kyoto-shi
ロコモティブ/Locomotive
Information on 1999 onwards is not known.
ロコモティブ/Locomotive
Information on 1999 onwards is not known.
京都府 京都市/Kyoto-fu Kyoto-shi
ビスコ/VISCO
2002, game business suspended.
ビスコ/VISCO
2002, game business suspended.
京都府 京都市/Kyoto-fu Kyoto-shi
ビデオシステム/Video System
The company was created independently from VISCO. The company is still in existence in the corporate register as of 2022, but the Game Development Office has effectively ceased to exist.
ビデオシステム/Video System
The company was created independently from VISCO. The company is still in existence in the corporate register as of 2022, but the Game Development Office has effectively ceased to exist.
近畿地方 関西/Kinki-chihō Kansai
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
カプコン/CAPCOM
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
カプコン/CAPCOM
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
クローバースタジオ/Clover Studio
2007 Dissolved. Platinum Games proto, a subsidiary of Capcom.
クローバースタジオ/Clover Studio
2007 Dissolved. Platinum Games proto, a subsidiary of Capcom.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
プラチナゲームズ/PlatinumGames
プラチナゲームズ。A company with a bald head Yokai/ハゲ妖怪 who gets angry when you write プラチナゲームス and corrects you.
プラチナゲームズ/PlatinumGames
プラチナゲームズ。A company with a bald head Yokai/ハゲ妖怪 who gets angry when you write プラチナゲームス and corrects you.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
ナツメ/NATSUME → ナツメアタリ/NATSUME ATARI
ナツメ/NATSUME → ナツメアタリ/NATSUME ATARI
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
アクセスゲームズ/ACCESS GAMES
The head office is located in Tokyo, but the development team is in Osaka, so they are placed on this list.
アクセスゲームズ/ACCESS GAMES
The head office is located in Tokyo, but the development team is in Osaka, so they are placed on this list.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
データウエスト/DATAWEST
The company name is similar but has nothing to do with DataEast. Imitation City is apparently Ishiijiro's game production debut.
データウエスト/DATAWEST
The company name is similar but has nothing to do with DataEast. Imitation City is apparently Ishiijiro's game production debut.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
メトロ/METRO
I hate idols. I hate the trends in the entertainment industry shaped by Akimoto Yasushi, Johnny's, Tsunku and others. I want the whole idol culture to die. But the game and its creators are blameless. Go METRO.
Edit: I knew the idol industry and idol fans suck. (Looking at the Johnny's uproar itself and the Johnny's fans.)
メトロ/METRO
I hate idols. I hate the trends in the entertainment industry shaped by Akimoto Yasushi, Johnny's, Tsunku and others. I want the whole idol culture to die. But the game and its creators are blameless. Go METRO.
Edit: I knew the idol industry and idol fans suck. (Looking at the Johnny's uproar itself and the Johnny's fans.)
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
日本物産/Nihon Bussan
2009 Inactive. 2015 Dissolved.
日本物産/Nihon Bussan
2009 Inactive. 2015 Dissolved.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
システム・プリズマ/System Prisma
2016, the company merged with Nippon Ichi Software and was dissolved.
システム・プリズマ/System Prisma
2016, the company merged with Nippon Ichi Software and was dissolved.
大阪府 吹田市/Osaka-fu Fukita-shi
SNK PLAYMORE → SNK
SNK PLAYMORE → SNK
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
ヴァニラウェア/VANILLA-WARE
ヴァニラウェア/VANILLA-WARE
大阪府 吹田市/Osaka-fu Fukita-shi
アルヴィオン/ALVION
アルヴィオン/ALVION
大阪府 吹田市/Osaka-fu Fukita-shi
ウィンキーソフト/Winkysoft
2016 Bankrupt
ウィンキーソフト/Winkysoft
2016 Bankrupt
大阪府 堺市/Osaka-fu Sakai-shi
ユークス/Yuke's
ユークス/Yuke's
兵庫県 神戸市/Hyogo-ken Kobe-shi → 大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
コナミ神戸開発部/Konami Kobe Dev → 小島プロダクション/Kojima Production
コナミ神戸開発部/Konami Kobe Dev → 小島プロダクション/Kojima Production
兵庫県 伊丹市/Hyogo-ken Itami-shi → 大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
リーフ/Leaf アクアプラス/Aquaplus
There is also a development office in Tokyo. Is it rather more accurate to assume that Tokyo Development Office is now the main body of the Leaf/Aquaplus.
リーフ/Leaf アクアプラス/Aquaplus
There is also a development office in Tokyo. Is it rather more accurate to assume that Tokyo Development Office is now the main body of the Leaf/Aquaplus.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
プレイム/PLAYM
2009 Inactive. A games company created by the core members who created ToHeart out of Leaf. (The ZA/UM confusion in Disco Elysium and the Leaf confusion in Disco Elysium, which are now being discussed, look very similar phenomena to me.) Although they became independent from Leaf, both this Realise and a game called Reynana, released in 2006, failed to sell and PLAYM effectively ceased to exist. Today, writer Takahashi Tatsuya is an animation scriptwriter.
プレイム/PLAYM
2009 Inactive. A games company created by the core members who created ToHeart out of Leaf. (The ZA/UM confusion in Disco Elysium and the Leaf confusion in Disco Elysium, which are now being discussed, look very similar phenomena to me.) Although they became independent from Leaf, both this Realise and a game called Reynana, released in 2006, failed to sell and PLAYM effectively ceased to exist. Today, writer Takahashi Tatsuya is an animation scriptwriter.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
タクティクス/Tactics
Key's prototypical game development company.
タクティクス/Tactics
Key's prototypical game development company.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
Key/VisualArts
This company is now apparently making a lot of money from smartphone games.
Key/VisualArts
This company is now apparently making a lot of money from smartphone games.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
戯画/GIGA
戯画/GIGA
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
TGL/テイジイエル/TECHNICAL GROUP LABORATORY
TGL/テイジイエル/TECHNICAL GROUP LABORATORY
奈良県橿原市/Nara-ken Kashigara-shi → 大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
アリスソフト/ALICESOFT
By process of elimination, I had no choice but to choose Pastel Chime Continue, which would be completely unknown, as my representative work. Although not listed on the IGDB, Pastel Chime Continue has a PSP version for all ages. By the way, why is the Rance series famous in English-speaking countries when, like the Megami Tensei series, it has not had an English version for so long? It is an eternal mystery.
アリスソフト/ALICESOFT
By process of elimination, I had no choice but to choose Pastel Chime Continue, which would be completely unknown, as my representative work. Although not listed on the IGDB, Pastel Chime Continue has a PSP version for all ages. By the way, why is the Rance series famous in English-speaking countries when, like the Megami Tensei series, it has not had an English version for so long? It is an eternal mystery.
中国地方 中国/Chūgoku-chihō Chūgoku
広島県 呉市/Hiroshima-ken Kure-shi
ケムコ/KEMCO → コトブキ・ソリューション/Kotobuki Solution
広島県 呉市/Hiroshima-ken Kure-shi
ケムコ/KEMCO → コトブキ・ソリューション/Kotobuki Solution
中国地方 四国/Chūgoku-chihō Shikoku
香川県 高松市/Kagawa-ken Takamatsu-shi
ジーン/Xeen
The head office is based in Osaka, but the ToM was developed by a branch team in Kagawa.
香川県 高松市/Kagawa-ken Takamatsu-shi
ジーン/Xeen
The head office is based in Osaka, but the ToM was developed by a branch team in Kagawa.
九州地方/Kyūshū-chihō
熊本県 熊本市/Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-shi
アルファシステム/AlfaSystem
The blue miracle of Kumamoto. GPM was allocated almost zero advertising money by Sony, after which GPM sold 200,000 copies by word of mouth alone, having a major impact on later games and manga. Incidentally, the idea for the novel on which this movie is based came from the author's reading of a play diary by GPM gamer. But AlfaSystem is now just a sub-contractor for smartphone games and other products.
熊本県 熊本市/Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-shi
アルファシステム/AlfaSystem
The blue miracle of Kumamoto. GPM was allocated almost zero advertising money by Sony, after which GPM sold 200,000 copies by word of mouth alone, having a major impact on later games and manga. Incidentally, the idea for the novel on which this movie is based came from the author's reading of a play diary by GPM gamer. But AlfaSystem is now just a sub-contractor for smartphone games and other products.
長崎県佐世保市/Nagasaki-ken Sasebo-shi
テクノソフト/Technosoft
2001, The legal entity ceased to exist.
テクノソフト/Technosoft
2001, The legal entity ceased to exist.
福岡県 福岡市/Fukuoka-ken Fukuoka-shi
サイバーコネクトツー/CyberConnect2
This CEO of this company is funnier than the average comedian. Because he was furious about the Saint Seiya kusoge and yet he himself made another legendary kusoge. There is far more anger about this kusoge against Famitsu than against CC2, who made this kusoge.
サイバーコネクトツー/CyberConnect2
This CEO of this company is funnier than the average comedian. Because he was furious about the Saint Seiya kusoge and yet he himself made another legendary kusoge. There is far more anger about this kusoge against Famitsu than against CC2, who made this kusoge.
福岡県 福岡市/Fukuoka-ken Fukuoka-shi
システムソフト/SystemSoft
2020, withdrawal from the computer games business. The company is also headquartered in Tokyo, but was founded in Fukuoka-ken, so it has been placed on this list.
システムソフト/SystemSoft
2020, withdrawal from the computer games business. The company is also headquartered in Tokyo, but was founded in Fukuoka-ken, so it has been placed on this list.
福岡県 福岡市/Fukuoka-ken Fukuoka-shi
シング/CING
2010 Bankrupt. Former Lovedelic staff's company.
シング/CING
2010 Bankrupt. Former Lovedelic staff's company.
福岡県 福岡市/Fukuoka-ken Fukuoka-shi
リバーヒルソフト/Riverhill Soft → アルティ/althi
リバーヒルソフト/Riverhill Soft → アルティ/althi
福岡県 福岡市/Fukuoka-ken Fukuoka-shi
レベルファイブ/Level-5
A games company that is a commercialism avatar. Level-5 is an evil video game company that is robbing Japanese children of their ability to think and see by selling fake Custom Robo, Captain Tsubasa and Pokemon and GHIBLI anime to children. Incidentally, Rogue Galaxy was Kusoge of the year/KOTY in 2005. Think of it, Level-5 was probably a decent game company until Dark Cloud 2.
レベルファイブ/Level-5
A games company that is a commercialism avatar. Level-5 is an evil video game company that is robbing Japanese children of their ability to think and see by selling fake Custom Robo, Captain Tsubasa and Pokemon and GHIBLI anime to children. Incidentally, Rogue Galaxy was Kusoge of the year/KOTY in 2005. Think of it, Level-5 was probably a decent game company until Dark Cloud 2.
大阪府 大阪市/Osaka-fu Osaka-shi
↓
福岡県 福岡市/Fukuoka-ken Fukuoka-shi
comcept → LEVEL5 comcept
The company was created after Inafune Keiji, who had made Mega Man, was ousted after he ruined Capcom, notably with Ace Attorney 4. After spinning off from Capcom, the company made fake Mega Man products, but they didn't sell, so it merged with Level-5, the leading manufacturer of fake products in Japan. Best couple formed. Some kind of demon fusion.
Hino Akihiro: "コンゴトモヨロシク"
Inafune Keiji: "オレサマ、オマエマルカジリ"
↓
福岡県 福岡市/Fukuoka-ken Fukuoka-shi
comcept → LEVEL5 comcept
The company was created after Inafune Keiji, who had made Mega Man, was ousted after he ruined Capcom, notably with Ace Attorney 4. After spinning off from Capcom, the company made fake Mega Man products, but they didn't sell, so it merged with Level-5, the leading manufacturer of fake products in Japan. Best couple formed. Some kind of demon fusion.
Hino Akihiro: "コンゴトモヨロシク"
Inafune Keiji: "オレサマ、オマエマルカジリ"