Game Arts
Game Arts Co., Ltd. (株式会社ゲームアーツ, Kabushiki gaisha gēmu ātsu) is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Originally established in 1985 as a computer software company, it expanded into producing for a number of game console and handheld systems.[1] Its President and CEO in 2007 was Yoichi Miyaji at which time it was a member of the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association of Japan (CESA). Its major trading partners then included Square Enix, Bandai Namco, Koei Tecmo, and Gung-Ho Online Entertainment, some of whom co-developed or produced games in cooperation with the company.[2]
Native name | 株式会社ゲームアーツ |
---|---|
Romanized name | Kabushiki gaisha gēmu ātsu |
Type | Public |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | March 2, 1985 |
Headquarters | Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
Key people | Yoichi Miyaji (President, CEO) |
Products | Thexder series Silpheed series Alisia Dragoon Lunar series Gungriffon series Grandia series Super Smash Bros. Brawl |
Revenue | ¥4.56 billion (2007) |
Number of employees | 27 |
Parent | GungHo Online Entertainment |
Website | www |
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.[3]
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.[4]
Release history
Title | Platform | Publisher | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|
Thexder | MSX, PC-88 | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
1985 (Japan) 1987 (US) |
Cuby Panic | PC-88 | Game Arts | April 1985 (Japan) |
Thexder | NES | SquareSoft | December 18, 1985 (Japan) |
Silpheed | PC-88 | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
1986 (Japan) 1988 (US) |
Zeliard | PC-88 | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
1987 (Japan) 1990 (US) |
Solitaire Royale | MSX2, PC-88 | Game Arts | June 3, 1988 (Japan) |
Fire Hawk: Thexder – The Second Contact | MSX2, PC-88 | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
1989 (Japan) 1990 (US) |
Faria: A World of Mystery and Danger | NES | Hi-Score Media Work (Japan) Nexoft (US) |
July 21, 1989 (Japan) 1990 (US) |
Harakiri | PC-88 | Game Arts | July 20, 1990 (Japan) |
Gyuwamburaa (Gambler) Jiko Chuushinha | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis | Game Arts | December 14, 1990 (Japan) |
Tenka Fubu | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts | December 28, 1991 (Japan) |
Alisia Dragoon | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis | Game Arts (Japan) Sega (US & Europe) |
April 24, 1992 (Japan) April 23, 1992 (US) 1992 (Europe) |
Lunar: The Silver Star | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts (Japan) Working Designs (US) |
June 26, 1992 (Japan) December 1993 (US) |
Gyuwamburaa (Gambler) Jiko Chuushinha 2 | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts | December 18, 1992 (Japan) |
Yumimi Mix | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts | January 29, 1993 (Japan) |
J-League Champion Soccer | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis | Shogakukan | February 26, 1993 (Japan) |
Silpheed | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts (Japan) Sega (US & Europe) |
July 30, 1993 (Japan) 1993 (US) 1993 (Europe) |
Jan'ou Touryumon | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis | Sega | November 5, 1993 (Japan) |
Urusei Yatsura: My Dear Friends | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts | April 15, 1994 (Japan) |
Lunar: Eternal Blue | Sega Mega-CD | Game Arts (Japan) Working Designs (US) |
December 21, 1994 (Japan) September 1995 (US) |
Thexder 95 | PC | Game Arts (Japan) Sierra Entertainment (US) |
1995 (Japan) 1995 (US) |
Yumimi Mix Remix | Sega Saturn | Game Arts | July 28, 1995 (Japan) |
Lunar: Samposuru Gakuen (co-developed with Ehrgeiz) | Game Gear | Game Arts | January 12, 1996 (Japan) |
Gungriffon: The Eurasian Conflict (Japan) Gungriffon (US & Europe) | Sega Saturn | Game Arts (Japan) Sega (US & Europe) |
March 15, 1996 (Japan) 1996 (US) 1996 (Europe) March 12, 1998 (Japan) (Saturn Collection) |
Lunar: Silver Star Story (co-developed with Japan Art Media) | Sega Saturn | Kadokawa Games | October 1996 (Japan) |
Tokyo Mahjong Land | Sega Saturn | Game Arts | October 18, 1996 (Japan) |
Daina Airan | Sega Saturn | Game Arts | December 27, 1996 (Japan) (Advanced Release) February 14, 1997 (Japan) |
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (with "MPEG" card) (co-developed with Japan Art Media and Kadokawa Games) | Sega Saturn | Entertainment Software Publishing | July 1997 (Japan) |
Mahō Gakuen Lunar! (co-developed with Kadokawa Games) | Sega Saturn | Entertainment Software Publishing | October 1997 (Japan) |
Grandia | Sega Saturn | Entertainment Software Publishing | December 18, 1997 (Japan) November 26, 1998 (Japan) (Memorial Package) |
Gungriffon II | Sega Saturn | Entertainment Software Publishing | April 23, 1998 (Japan) |
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (co-developed with Japan Art Media and Kadokawa Games) | PlayStation | Entertainment Software Publishing (Japan) Working Designs (US) |
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) |
Grandia: Digital Museum | Sega Saturn | Entertainment Software Publishing | May 28, 1998 (Japan) |
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (co-developed with Japan Art Media and Kadokawa Games) | Sega Saturn | Entertainment Software Publishing | July 1998 (Japan) |
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (co-developed with Japan Art Media and Kadokawa Games) | PC | Entertainment Software Publishing | 1998 (Japan) 1999 (Korea) |
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete (co-developed with Japan Art Media and Kadokawa Games) | PlayStation | Entertainment Software Publishing (Japan) Working Designs (US) |
May 27, 1999 (Japan) September 7, 2000 (Japan) (Kakukawa Best) December 15, 2000 (US) |
Grandia | PlayStation | Entertainment Software Publishing (Japan) Sony Computer Entertainment (US) Ubisoft (Europe) |
June 24, 1999 (Japan) September 30, 1999 (US) March 30, 2000 (Europe) July 27, 2000 (Japan) (PlayStation the Best) |
Gyuwamburaa (Gambler) Jiko Chuushinha: Tokyo Mahjong Land | PlayStation | Entertainment Software Publishing | June 22, 2000 (Japan) |
Grandia II | Dreamcast | Entertainment Software Publishing (Japan) Ubisoft (US & Europe) |
August 3, 2000 (Japan) December 6, 2000 (US) February 23, 2001 (Europe) May 23, 2002 (Japan) (DriKore) |
Gungriffon Blaze | PlayStation 2 | Capcom (Japan) Working Designs (US) Swing! Entertainment (Europe) |
August 10, 2000 (Japan) October 24, 2000 (US) July 12, 2002 (Europe) August 1, 2002 (Japan) (PlayStation 2 the Best) |
Silpheed: The Lost Planet (co-developed with Treasure and Tomy) | PlayStation 2 | Capcom (Japan) Working Designs (US) Swing! Entertainment (Europe) |
September 21, 2000 (Japan) April 23, 2001 (US) May 11, 2001 (Europe) July 19, 2002 (Europe) (Re-Release) |
Grandia: Parallel Trippers (co-developed with Hudson Soft) | Game Boy Color | Entertainment Software Publishing | December 22, 2000 (Japan) |
Lunar Legend (co-developed with Japan Art Media) | Game Boy Advance | Media Rings (Japan) Ubisoft (US) |
April 12, 2001 (Japan) December 10, 2001 (US) |
Chenwen no Sangokushi | PlayStation 2 | Entertainment Software Publishing | November 1, 2001 (Japan) |
Grandia II (port by Rocket Studio) | PlayStation 2 | Enix Corporation (Japan) Ubisoft (US & Europe) |
February 21, 2002 (Japan) January 28, 2002 (US) March 28, 2002 (Europe) |
Grandia Xtreme | PlayStation 2 | Enix Corporation | January 31, 2002 (Japan) September 30, 2002 (US) |
Grandia II (port by Rocket Studio) | PC | Ubisoft | March 10, 2002 (US) April 12, 2002 (Europe) |
Bomberman Generation | GameCube | Majesco Entertainment (US) Hudson Soft (Japan) Vivendi Universal Games (Europe) |
June 3, 2002 (North America) June 27, 2002 (Japan) December 6, 2002 (Europe) |
Gungriffon: Allied Strike (co-developed with Kama Digital) | Xbox | Tecmo | December 16, 2004 (Japan) December 14, 2004 (US) April 8, 2005 (Europe) |
Lunar Genesis (Japan & Europe) Lunar: Dragon Song (US) (co-developed with Japan Art Media and Rising Star Games) | Nintendo DS | Marvelous Entertainment (Japan) Ubisoft (US) Atari (Europe) |
August 25, 2005 (Japan) September 27, 2005 (US) February 17, 2006 (Europe) |
Grandia III | PlayStation 2 | Square Enix | August 4, 2005 (Japan) February 14, 2006 (US) |
Project Sylpheed (Japan) (co-developed with Square Enix and Seta Corporation) | Xbox 360 | Microsoft Corporation | September 28, 2006 (Japan) June 29, 2007 (Europe) July 10, 2007 (US) |
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (co-developed with Sora Ltd. and Nintendo, among others) | Wii | Nintendo | January 31, 2008 (Japan) March 9, 2008 (US) June 27, 2008 (Europe) |
Grandia (co-developed with Entertainment Software Publishing) | PlayStation 3 | D3Publisher (Japan) Sony Computer Entertainment (US) |
April 22, 2009 (Japan) February 25, 2010 (US) |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up | Wii, PlayStation 2 | Ubisoft | September 22, 2009 (US) September 25, 2009 (Europe) |
The Magic Obelisk[5] | Wii | GungHo Online Entertainment | October 27, 2009 (Japan) December 28, 2009 (US) |
Lunar: Silver Star Harmony | PSP, PlayStation Network | GungHo Online Entertainment (Japan) XSEED Games (US) |
November 12, 2009 (Japan) March 2, 2010 (US) |
Ragnarok Odyssey | PS Vita, PlayStation Network | GungHo Online Entertainment (Japan) XSEED Games (US) |
February 2, 2012 (Japan) September 11, 2012 (US) |
Dokuro | PS Vita, PlayStation Network | GungHo Online Entertainment | July 5, 2012 (Japan) |
Grandia II HD Remaster | PC | GungHo Online Entertainment | August 24, 2015 |
Grandia HD Collection | Switch | GungHo Online Entertainment (US) Square Enix |
August 16, 2019 |
Grandia HD Remaster | PC | GungHo Online Entertainment | October 15, 2019 |
References
- "Game Arts Product Information" (in Japanese). Game Arts. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- "Game Arts Corporate Profile" (in Japanese). Game Arts. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- "Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl". Nintendo. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- 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. Archived from the original on August 27, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
- Ishaan (September 7, 2009). "Game Arts Casts Its Shadow on WiiWare". Siliconera.com. Retrieved September 8, 2009.