Natsume (company)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Natsume Incorporated | |
---|---|
Type | Private |
Founded | October 20, 1987 |
Headquarters | Shinjuku, Tokyo |
Industry | Video Game developer and publisher |
Products | Harvest Moon, Legend of the River King, S.C.A.T., Wild Guns, Shadow of the Ninja, Pocky & Rocky, Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals |
Website | [1] (Japanese) http://www.natsume.com (International) |
Natsume Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer in Shinjuku, Tokyo, founded on October 20, 1987. It is best known for publishing unique, family-oriented niche games, such as the Harvest Moon series and Legend of the River King. During the NES and SNES era, they published several action titles such as S.C.A.T., Wild Guns and Shadow of the Ninja. Natsume also released the SNES game Pocky & Rocky as well as Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals.
Since the end of the Super Nintendo era, Natsume Inc. is known for publishing a series of Harvest Moon games in North America. The most recent game released is Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots for the Nintendo DS. All the Harvest Moon games are translations of those produced first in Japan by Marvelous Interactive. Natsume also has developed Medabot games.
Natsume became somewhat famous[citation needed] for releasing games (particularly the Harvest Moon series) that contained several glitches or programming errors, even misspelling their own company name in one of their games, Harvest Moon 64, by changing it to Natume (if rendered with Japanese characters, however, this would not be a mistake, as the characters for "tu" and "tsu" are the same).
The pronunciation of the company's name in English can be approximated with "NAH-tsoo-meh".
Contents |
[edit] Corporate divisions
The company has a publishing branch in the United States named Natsume Inc. located in Burlingame, California, founded in October 1988.
In October 2002, Natsume founded ATARI Inc. (not to be confused with the American game company) in Osaka, specialized on developing slot and pinball machines.
On May 6, 2005, Natsume Solution began operation in Shinjuku, Osaka. This division specializes on web site development, providing mobile solutions/services and developing web systems. On March 1, 2006, Natsume Solution was merged with Evolve co.,ltd.
[edit] Company slogans
- "IT'S TECHNOSTASY. SINCE 1987." (1990s Japanese slogan)
- "Serious Fun" (USA, 1990s-current (as of 2006))
- "DREAM CREATOR" (Japan, current (as of 2006))
[edit] Works
Currently Natsume develops and publishes games on the following platforms:
[edit] 1989
[edit] Famicom/NES
- Abadox (アバドックス)
Developer, JP Publisher
- Dungeon & Magic: Sword of the Element (ダンジョン&マジック ソード オブ エレメント) / Dungeon Magic: Sword of the Elements
Developer, JP Publisher
[edit] MSX
- Mitsume ga Tooru: The Three-Eyed One Comes Here
[edit] 1990
[edit] Famicom/NES
- Dragon Fighter (ドラゴンファイター)
Developer
- Final Mission (ファイナルミッション) / S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team / Action in New York
Developer, JP/US (1991) Publisher
- Kage / Shadow of the Ninja / Blue Shadow
Developer, JP/US Publisher
[edit] 1991
[edit] Famicom/NES
- Tokkyuu Shirei: Solbrain (特救指令 ソルブレイン) / Shatterhand
Developer
- Chaos World (カオスワールド)
Developer, JP Publisher
[edit] Game Boy
- Lucky Monkey (ラッキーモンキー) / Spanky's Quest
Developer, JP/US (1992) Publisher
- Ninja Gaiden: Shadow / Ninja Ryukenden GB: Matenrou Kessen (忍者龍剣伝GB 摩天楼決戦)
Developer
[edit] Super Famicom/SNES
- Hansei Zaru Jiro kun no Daibouken (反省ザルジローくんの大冒険) (JP) / Spanky's Quest (US)
Developer, JP/US (1992) Publisher
[edit] 1992
[edit] Famicom/NES
- The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper (ジェットソン)
Developer
- Mitsume ga Tooru (三つ目がとおる)
Developer
[edit] Sega Master System
Developer
Developer
[edit] Super Famicom/NES
- Kiki Kaikai: Nazo no Kuro Manto (奇々怪界 謎の黒マント) (JP) / Pocky & Rocky (US, EU)
Developer, JP/US (1993)/EU (1993) Publisher
[edit] 1993
[edit] Sega Master System
Developer
[edit] Super Famicom/NES
- Zen Nihon Pro Wres (全日本プロレス)
Developer
[edit] 1994
[edit] Super Nintendo
- NATSUME Championship Wrestling
Developer & publisher
Developer & publisher
Developer
- Pocky & Rocky 2
Developer
[edit] 1995
[edit] Super Nintendo
Developer & publisher
Developer
[edit] Game Boy
Developer/publisher
[edit] 1996
[edit] Super Nintendo
US publisher
Developer
[edit] Sega Saturn
- Highway 2000
- Virtual Casino
[edit] 1997
[edit] Super Nintendo
Publisher
[edit] 1998
[edit] Game Boy
Publisher
- Legend of the River King GB
US publisher
[edit] Nintendo 64
US publisher
[edit] 1999
[edit] Nintendo 64
US publisher
[edit] PlayStation
US publisher
[edit] Game Boy Color
- Hole in One Golf
Developer & Publisher
- Legend of the River King GBC
Developer, US publisher
- WWF Wrestlemania 2000
Developer
[edit] 2000
[edit] Game Boy Color
Developer
- Legend of the River King 2 GBC
Developer, US publisher
Developer
Developer
Developer
Developer & publisher
Publisher
[edit] PlayStation
US publisher
Developer
[edit] 2001
[edit] Game Boy Color
Developer
Developer
Developer & publisher
US publisher
Developer
[edit] Game Boy Advance
Developer
- WWF: Road to Wrestlemania
Developer
- Medarot Navi: Kabuto
Publisher
[edit] PlayStation
- Burstrick Wake Boarding
Publisher
[edit] PlayStation 2
US publisher
[edit] 2002
[edit] Game Boy Advance
Developer & publisher
- Medabots AX
Developer & publisher
Developer
- Pocky & Rocky with Becky
Publisher
- Wizardry Summoner
Developer & publisher
Publisher
- WWE: Road to Wrestlemania X8
Developer
[edit] PlayStation 2
Developer & publisher
[edit] 2003
[edit] Game Boy Advance
Developer
US publisher
Developer
[edit] PlayStation 2
Publisher
[edit] 2004
[edit] Nintendo DS
- Legend of the River King Series
Publisher
[edit] Game Boy Advance
US publisher
Developer
Developer
Publisher
Developer
[edit] GameCube
US publisher
Developer & publisher
[edit] PSP
- Legend of the River King Series
Developer
[edit] Mobile (Java)
- Judgement High School
Developer & publisher
[edit] 2005
[edit] Nintendo DS
- Harvest Moon DS
- Bokujou Monogatari Korobokkuru Sutēshon for Gaaru
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy
Developer
[edit] Game Boy Advance
[edit] GameCube
[edit] PlayStation 2
- River King: A Wonderful Journey
US, Japan (rerelease only) publisher
US publisher
[edit] 2006
[edit] GameCube
US publisher
[edit] PlayStation 2
US & EU publisher
[edit] Nintendo DS
- Harvest Moon DS
- Bokujou Monogatari: Kimi to Sodatsu Shima (Japan release)
- Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island
- Freedom Wings
[edit] 2007
[edit] Playstation 2
US Publisher
[edit] Nintendo DS
[edit] Playstation Portable
[edit] Upcoming
[edit] Nintendo DS
US publisher
US publisher
[edit] Playstation 2
- Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Special Edition
[edit] Playstation 3
US Publisher (Co-published with Ubisoft)
[edit] Wii
US Publisher
[edit] Xbox Live Arcade
[edit] Xbox 360
US Publisher (Co-published with Ubisoft)