Game Arts
 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video game industry |
| Founded | March 2, 1985 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
Key people | Yoichi Miyaji (President, CEO) |
| Products | (See release history for full listing) |
| Revenue | ¥ 4.56 billion (2007) |
Number of employees | 33 (in 2013) |
| Parent | GungHo Online Entertainment |
| Website | www.gamearts.com |
Game Arts Co., Ltd. (株式会社ゲームアーツ, Kabushiki-gaisha Gēmu Ātsu) is a Japanese video game software developer located in Tokyo, Japan. Originally established in 1985 as a computer software company, they have since expanded their enterprise to produce for a number of game console and handheld systems.[1] Overseen by President and CEO Yoichi Miyaji, the company's philosophy is to create "new, innovative, and entertaining games", as well as exhibit games that can be considered "forms of art", both as developers and producers.[2] Game Arts is member of the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association of Japan (CESA), and major trading partners include Square Enix, Bandai, Koei, and Gung-Ho Online Entertainment, some of whom have co-developed or produced games in cooperation with the company.[3]
The company has produced a number of games for several genres, beginning with the action game Thexder for personal computers in 1985. A number of traditional and Mahjong-related games have also been produced for Japanese audiences. In the Western world, Game Arts is best known as the producers of the Lunar and Grandia series of role-playing video games, as well as the Gungriffon line of strategy games. Some of its staff has helped in the preliminary development of Nintendo's Wii title Super Smash Bros. Brawl.[4]
On April 22, 2009, Game Arts released the PlayStation port of Grandia in Japan on the PlayStation Network as a downloadable title in the PSone Classics range, to celebrate an upcoming announcement for Grandia Online, suggesting that they continue to provide for and support the title.[5]
Release history
| Release Date | Title | Platform | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 (Japan) 1987 (US) |
Thexder | MSX, PC | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
| April 1985 (Japan) | Cuby Panic | PC | Game Arts |
| December 18, 1985 (Japan) | Thexder | NES | Square Co., Ltd. |
| 1986 (Japan) 1988 (US) |
Silpheed | PC | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
| 1987 (Japan) 1990 (US) |
Zeliard | PC | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
| June 3, 1988 (Japan) | Solitaire Royale | MSX2, PC | Game Arts |
| 1989 (Japan) 1990 (US) |
Fire Hawk: Thexder - The Second Contact | MSX2, PC | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
| July 21, 1989 (Japan) 1990 (US) |
Faria: A World of Mystery and Danger | NES | Hi-Score Media Work (Japan) Nexoft (US) |
| July 20, 1990 (Japan) |
Harakiri | PC | Game Arts |
| December 14, 1990 (Japan) | Gyuwamburaa (Gambler) Jiko Chuushinha | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis | Game Arts |
| December 28, 1991 (Japan) | Tenka Fubu | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts |
| April 24, 1992 (Japan) April 23, 1992 (US) 1992 (Europe) |
Alisia Dragoon | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis | Game Arts (Japan) Sega (US & Europe) |
| June 26, 1992 (Japan) December 1993 (US) |
Lunar: The Silver Star | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts (Japan) Working Designs (US) |
| December 18, 1992 (Japan) | Gyuwamburaa (Gambler) Jiko Chuushinha 2 | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts |
| January 29, 1993 (Japan) | Yumimi Mix | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts |
| February 26, 1993 (Japan) | J-League Champion Soccer | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis | Shogakukan |
| July 30, 1993 (Japan) 1993 (US) 1993 (Europe) |
Silpheed | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts (Japan) Sega (US & Europe) |
| November 5, 1993 (Japan) | Jan'ou Touryumon | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis | Sega |
| April 15, 1994 (Japan) | Urusei Yatsura: My Dear Friends | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts |
| December 21, 1994 (Japan) September 1995 (US) |
Lunar: Eternal Blue | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts (Japan) Working Designs (US) |
| 1995 (Japan) 1995 (US) |
Thexder 95 | PC | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
| July 28, 1995 (Japan) | Yumimi Mix Remix | Sega Saturn | Game Arts |
| January 12, 1996 (Japan) | Lunar: Samposuru Gakuen (co-developed with Ehrgeiz) |
Game Gear | Game Arts |
| March 15, 1996 (Japan) 1996 (US) 1996 (Europe) March 12, 1998 (Japan) (Saturn Collection) |
Gungriffon: The Eurasian Conflict (Japan) Gungriffon (US) Gungriffon (Europe) |
Sega Saturn | Game Arts (Japan) Sega (US & Europe) |
| October 1996 (Japan) | Lunar: Silver Star Story (co-developed with Japan Art Media) |
Sega Saturn | Kadokawa Shoten |
| October 18, 1996 (Japan) | Tokyo Mahjong Land | Sega Saturn | Game Arts |
| December 27, 1996 (Japan) (Advanced Release) February 14, 1997 (Japan) |
Daina Airan | Sega Saturn | Game Arts |
| July 1997 (Japan) | Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (with "MPEG" card) (co-developed with Japan Art Media) |
Sega Saturn | Kadokawa Shoten |
| October 1997 (Japan) | Mahō Gakuen Lunar! (co-developed with Ehrgeiz) |
Sega Saturn | Kadokawa Shoten |
| December 18, 1997 (Japan) November 26, 1998 (Japan) (Memorial Package) |
Grandia | Sega Saturn | Entertainment Software Publishing |
| April 23, 1998 (Japan) | Gungriffon II | Sega Saturn | Entertainment Software Publishing |
| May 28, 1998 (Japan) April 28, 1999 (Japan) (PlayStation the Best) April 30, 1999 (US) June 1, 1999 (US) (Fan Art Edition) February 6, 2002 (US) (Limited Re-Release) |
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (co-developed with Japan Art Media) |
PlayStation | Kadokawa Shoten (Japan) Working Designs (US) |
| May 28, 1998 (Japan) | Grandia: Digital Museum | Sega Saturn | Game Arts |
| July 1998 (Japan) | Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (co-developed with Japan Art Media) |
Sega Saturn | Kadokawa Shoten |
| 1998 (Japan) 1999 (Korea) |
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (co-developed with Japan Art Media) |
PC | Kadokawa Shoten |
| May 27, 1999 (Japan) September 7, 2000 (Japan) (Kakukawa Best) December 15, 2000 (US) |
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete (co-developed with Japan Art Media) |
PlayStation | Kadokawa Shoten (Japan) Working Designs (US) |
| June 24, 1999 (Japan) September 30, 1999 (US) March 30, 2000 (Europe) July 27, 2000 (Japan) (PlayStation the Best) |
Grandia | PlayStation | Entertainment Software Publishing (Japan) SCEA (US) Ubisoft (Europe) |
| June 22, 2000 (Japan) | Gyuwamburaa (Gambler) Jiko Chuushinha: Tokyo Mahjong Land | PlayStation | Entertainment Software Publishing |
| August 3, 2000 (Japan) December 6, 2000 (US) February 23, 2001 (Europe) May 23, 2002 (Japan) (DriKore) |
Grandia II | Dreamcast | Game Arts (Japan) Ubisoft (US & Europe) |
| August 10, 2000 (Japan) October 24, 2000 (US) July 12, 2002 (Europe) August 1, 2002 (Japan) (PlayStation 2 the Best) |
Gungriffon Blaze | PlayStation 2 | Capcom (Japan) Working Designs (US) Swing! Deutschland (Europe) |
| September 21, 2000 (Japan) April 23, 2001 (US) May 11, 2001 (Europe) July 19, 2002 (Europe) (Re-Release) |
Silpheed: The Lost Planet (co-developed with Treasure) |
PlayStation 2 | Capcom (Japan) Working Designs (US) Swing! Deutschland (Europe) |
| December 22, 2000 (Japan) | Grandia: Parallel Trippers (co-developed with Will) |
Game Boy Color | Hudson Soft |
| April 12, 2001 (Japan) December 10, 2001 (US) |
Lunar Legend (co-developed with Japan Art Media) |
Game Boy Advance | Media Rings (Japan) Ubisoft (US) |
| November 1, 2001 (Japan) | Chenwen no Sangokushi | PlayStation 2 | Entertainment Software Publishing |
| February 21, 2002 (Japan) January 28, 2002 (US) March 28, 2002 (Europe) |
Grandia II (port by Rocket Studio) |
PlayStation 2 | Enix (Japan) Ubisoft (US & Europe) |
| January 31, 2002 (Japan) September 30, 2002 (US) |
Grandia Xtreme | PlayStation 2 | Enix (Japan & US) |
| March 10, 2002 (US) April 12, 2002 (Europe) |
Grandia II (port by Rocket Studio) |
PC | Ubisoft |
| June 3, 2002 (North America) June 27, 2002 (Japan) December 6, 2002 (Europe) |
Bomberman Generation | Nintendo GameCube | Hudson Soft (Japan) Majesco (US) Vivendi Universal (Europe) |
| December 16, 2004 (Japan) December 14, 2004 (US) April 8, 2005 (Europe) |
Gungriffon: Allied Strike (co-developed with Kama Digital) |
Xbox | Tecmo |
| August 25, 2005 (Japan) September 27, 2005 (US) February 17, 2006 (Europe) |
Lunar: Genesis (Japan & Europe) Lunar: Dragon Song (US) (co-developed with Japan Art Media) |
Nintendo DS | Marvelous Entertainment (Japan) Ubisoft (US) Rising Star Games (Europe) |
| August 4, 2005 (Japan) February 14, 2006 (US) |
Grandia III | PlayStation 2 | Square Enix |
| September 28, 2006 (Japan) June 29, 2007 (Europe) July 10, 2007 (US) |
Project Sylpheed (Japan) (co-developed with Seta Corporation) |
Xbox 360 | Square Enix (Japan) Microsoft Game Studios (US & Europe) |
| January 31, 2008 (Japan) March 9, 2008 (US) June 27, 2008 (Europe) |
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (co-developed with Sora Ltd. and Nintendo, among others)[1] |
Wii | Nintendo |
| April 22, 2009 (Japan) February 25, 2010 (US) |
Grandia | PlayStation Network | Entertainment Software Publishing |
| September 22, 2009 (US) September 25, 2009 (Europe) |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up [2] | Wii, PlayStation 2 | Ubisoft |
| October 27, 2009 (Japan) December 28, 2009 (US) |
The Magic Obelisk[6] | WiiWare | Game Arts |
| November 12, 2009 (Japan) March 2, 2010 (US) |
Lunar: Silver Star Harmony | PSP, PlayStation Network | GungHo (Japan) Xseed Games (US) |
| February 2, 2012 (Japan) September 11, 2012 (US) |
Ragnarok Odyssey | PS Vita, PlayStation Network | GungHo (Japan) Xseed Games (US) |
| July 5, 2012 (Japan) | Dokuro | PS Vita, PlayStation Network | GungHo (Japan) |
References
- ^ "Game Arts Product Information" (in Japanese). Game Arts. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
- ^ "Game Arts Corporate Profile" (in Japanese). Game Arts. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
- ^ "Game Arts Corporate Profile" (in Japanese). Game Arts. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
- ^ "Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl". Nintendo. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
- ^ グランディア (ゲームアーカイブス版) ゲームアーツ (in Japanese). Game Arts. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
- ^ Ishaan (September 7, 2009). "Game Arts Casts Its Shadow On WiiWare". Siliconera.com. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
