Kemco

Kemco (abbreviated from Kotobuki Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher established in 1984. It is headquartered in Kure, Hiroshima.[2][3]

Not to be confused with Kenco.
Kemco
TypeBrand of Kotobuki Solution Co., Ltd
IndustryVideo games
PredecessorKotobuki System Co., Ltd.
Founded1984 (1984)
HeadquartersKure, Hiroshima, Japan
Number of employees
140[1] (2019)
Websitewww.kemco-games.com

One of its best known franchises is the Top Gear series, developed by Sheffield-based English developers Gremlin Graphics.[4]

History

1980s

Kemco was founded in 1984 as Kotobuki System Co., Ltd. to be the video game subsidiary of the multifaceted corporation Kotobuki Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (itself established in 1979).[5][6][7] The Kemco name represents the initial letters of Kotobuki Engineering Manufacturing Co.[5]

Kemco started by developing video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System.[5][7] Although technically called Kotobuki System until 2004, the company was already using the brand Kemco on its first game Dough Boy in 1985.[8]

In the late 1980s until the early 1990s, Kemco's video games were distributed in North America by Seika Corporation of Torrance, California under the joint label of Kemco * Seika.[9]

1990s

In the 1990s, Kemco developed and published video games for an array of platforms including the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy.[10] During this decade, the company had its first North American subsidiary, Kemco America, which operated from October 2, 1991 to January 24, 2000.[11]

2000s

In 2001, Kemco USA was founded as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kemco of Japan, especially targeting the American market.[7]

In 2004, Kotobuki's system development division split to become the company Kotobuki Solution Co., Ltd., keeping the Kemco video game brand in the spinoff.[5][3]

2010s

In the 2010s, Kemco is primarily known for its mobile games.[12] Kemco USA closed in 2007, but products continue to be released in North America through Kemco of Japan.[13][14]

See also

References
  1. "会社概要 | 株式会社コトブキソリューション". www.ksol.jp. Retrieved Jun 30, 2020.
  2. "About - KEMCO". www.kemco-games.com.
  3. "「鉄人28号」が軽快アクションゲームになった！！". www.ksol.jp.
  4. "Electronic Entertainment Expo 2003 Exhibitor Profiles".
  5. "ケムコって、ファミコン時代のメーカーでしょ？　ざんねん!!　ケムコの　ぼうけんは　モバイルアプリしじょうで　つづいていた!!".
  6. "COMPANY HISTORY : COMPANY INFORMATION : KOTOBUKI ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING Co.,Ltd". www.kemco.co.jp.
  7. "Kemco Games". 12 August 2003. Archived from the original on 12 August 2003.
  8. "Dough Boy Box Shot for NES - GameFAQs". www.gamefaqs.com.
  9. "Uninvited" (PDF). thevgatv.com.
  10. "Kemco Games - IGN". 2 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015.
  11. "Washington Company List". Washington Companies Directory.
  12. Sheffield, Brandon. "Interview: Valcon's Gordon On Why Game Boxes Matter, And 'Odd' Japanese Titles".
  13. "Washington Company List". Washington Companies Directory.
  14. "Contact us - KEMCO". www.kemco-games.com.
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