Namco

Namco (ナムコ) is a Japanese video game company.

Contents [hide]

1 Overview

2 History

2.1 1970s

2.2 1980s

2.3 1990s

3 List of Works

4 Related Articles

5 External Links

5.1 English

5.2 Japanese

5.3 Japanese

6 Article in Other Languages

Overview

Namco (ナムコ, Namuko) is one of Japan's leading video game manufacturers. Currently Namco Bandai Entertainment. It remained one of the company's brands until 2014 (now unified with the company name). On pixiv, most illustrations related to Namco Bandai Entertainment (former Namco works) are labeled with Namco.

History

1955: The late Masaya Nakamura founded the company as Nakamura Seisakusho (中村製作所, Nakamura Seisakujo). It started out with hand-cranked rocking horses placed on the roof of the Matsuya department store in Yokohama.

1970s

1971: Began using the "Namco" brand.

1973: The first arcade video game, Atari's competitive tennis game Pong, was released in Japan by Namco.

1977: Company name changed to Namco Limited (株式会社ナムコ, Kabushiki-gaisha Namuko)

1978: Released Gee Bee the first original Namco arcade video game.

1979: Galaxian released.

1980s

1980: Pac-Man was released. The game became so popular in the U.S. that it was made into an animated cartoon by Hanna-Barbera.

1983: Xevious released. The first issue of Namco Community Magazine NG, a PR magazine, is published. This period is commonly referred to as Namco's Golden Age.

1984: Namco began developing software for the MSX and started using the Namcot label. The first title is Pac-Man.

1984: President Nakamura asks Nintendo to introduce a third-party system for the Family Computer. The first title is Galaxian.

1986: Entry into Super Cassette Vision software development. The first title was Mappy.

1986: Acquired Italian Tomato, a restaurant company.

1988: Entered the PC Engine software development market. The first title was Yokai Dochuki.

1988: Listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1988: Entered the film production business. The first film, Mirai Ninja (Director: Keita Amemiya) was produced.

1989: Released Dangerous Seed for commercial use. The period after this is commonly referred to as "the dark period of Namco's arcade games" (although sales of large arcade machines were relatively strong).

1990s

1990: Entered software development for the Mega Drive. The first title was Phelios.

1990: Entered Game Boy software development. The first title was Famista.

1991: Listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1992: Namco Wonder Egg (ナムコ・ワンダーエッグ), a theme park, opened.

1993: Released Ridge Racer for commercial use. Some people refer to this period as "the period of Namco's revival.

1994: Namco entered the PlayStation software development market. Released Ridge Racer as a launch title.

1994: Released Tekken for arcade.

1994: Entered the development of software for the 3DO, but released only Starblade.

1995: Abolished the Namcot label.

1996: Released Time Crisis for arcade machines.

1997: Acquired Nikkatsu, a movie production company, as a subsidiary.

1997: Entered the pachinko/pachislot video software production business.

1997: Entered the development of software for Nintendo 64, but only released Famista 64.

1998: Released Soulcalibur for commercial use.

1999: Entered software development for Wonder Swan. The first title was Klonoa: Moonlight Museum.

1999: Developed only two software titles for Dreamcast. Soulcalibur and Mr. Driller (released the following year).

List of Works

Letter	Titles
A	Ace Combat　Assault
B	Bakutotsu Kijuutei　Baraduke　Battle City　Blast Off　Blazer　Bosconian　Burning Force
C	Chouzetsurin Jin: Bravoman　Colorful High School　Cyber Cycles
D	Dancing Eyes　Dangerous Seed　Dig Dug　Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II　Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei　Dragon Buster　Dragon Saber　Dragon Spirit
E	Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
F	Family Stadium　Famista　Famista 64　Fighter & Attacker　Finest Hour
G	Galaga　Galahad　Galaxian　Gaplus　Gator Panic　Gee Bee　Genpei Touma Den　Grobda　Gun Bullet
H
I	Idolmaster
J	Jikuu Yuuden Debias
K	Kabukiman　Katamari Damacy　Kaze no Klonoa　King & Balloon　King of Kings　Knuckle Heads　Kosodate Quiz: My Angel　Koufu Roushi
L	La Salle Ishii no Child's Quest　Libble Rabble
M	Mach Breakers　Mappy-Land　Mappy　Marchen Maze　Marvel Land　Mendel Palace　Metal Hawk　Metro-Cross　Mindseeker　Mirai Ninja　Mojipittan　Motos　Mr. Driller Drill Land
N	Ninja Assault　Numan Athletics
O	Ordyne
P	Pac-Attack　Pac-Land　Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures　Pac-Man　Phelios　Phozon　Pistol Daimyo no Bouken　Pole Position　Prop Cycle
Q	Quester
R	Rally-X　Ridge Racer　Rolling Thunder　Rompers
S	Sanma no Meitantei　Seven: Molmorth no Kiheita　Sky Kid　Solvalou　Soulcalibur　Soul Edge　Splatterhouse　Starblade　Star Luster　Steel Gunner
T	Tag-Team Pro Wrestling　Taiko no Tatsujin　Tales Series　Tank Battalion　Tekken　Tenkaichi Bushi: Keru Naguuru　The Blue Crystal Rod　The Outfoxies　The Quest of Ki　The Return of Ishtar　The Tower of Druaga　Thunder Ceptor　Time Crisis　Tower of Babel　Toy Pop
U
V	Valkyrie no Bouken　Valkyrie no Densetsu　Vampire Night　Venus & Braves
W	Wagan Land　Wagan Paradise　Wagan　Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune　Warp & Warp　Warp Man　Wonder Momo
X	Xevious
Y	Yokai Dochuki　Yumeria
Z