Nihon Falcom
Public kabushiki kaisha | |
Traded as | TYO: 3723 |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | March 1981 |
Headquarters | Japan |
Key people |
Masayuki Kato, Founder Toshihiro Kondo, President |
Products |
Panorama Island Dragon Slayer The Legend of Heroes Ys Brandish Vantage Master Zwei!! |
Website | www.falcom.com |
Nihon Falcom Corporation (日本ファルコム株式会社 Nihon Farukomu Kabushiki-kaisha) is a Japanese video game company. The company was founded in March 1981 by Masayuki Kato. Falcom has played a definite role in the growth and development of the Japanese personal computer software industry. The company released one of the first Japanese role-playing video games in 1983 and followed with real-time action and adventure games as well as games with fully developed soundtracks. They were pioneers of the Japanese role-playing game industry,[1][2] and remain one of the oldest role-playing game developers still in existence today.[2]
History
Falcom was one of the three most important Japanese role-playing video game developers in the 1980s, alongside Enix and Square,[1] both of which were influenced by Falcom.[1][3] They are credited with laying the foundations for the Japanese role-playing game industry.[1]
Falcom's first role-playing game was Panorama Toh (Panorama Island), released for the NEC PC-88 in 1983 and created by Yoshio Kiya, who would go on to create the Dragon Slayer and Brandish franchises. While the its RPG elements were limited, lacking traditional statistical or leveling systems, the game featured real-time combat with a gun, bringing it close to the action RPG formula that Falcom would later be known for. Set on a desert island, the game's overworld is presented as a hex grid and featured a day-night cycle. There were also indigenous non-player characters (NPCs) who the player could choose to attack, have a conversation with, or give money for items, though NPCs could choose to run away with the money. In order to survive on the island, the player needs to find and consume rations, as every normal action consumes hit points. The island also has traps, which require calling for help and waiting for NPCs to help. The player could also be bit by snakes that poison and paralyze the player, requiring medicine to heal or calling for help from NPCs.[4]
Falcom eventually went on to create their flagship franchises, including the Dragon Slayer, The Legend of Heroes and Ys series. The original Dragon Slayer was responsible for setting the template for the action role-playing game genre.[5] Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu (1985) had more than 400,000 copies sold,[6] making it the best-selling PC game up until that time.[7]
While most of Falcom's games have been ported to various video game consoles of all generations, they have only developed a few non-PC video games themselves. The company's decision to develop mainly for PCs rather than consoles set them apart from their main rivals, Enix and Square, but limited the company's popularity in the Western world, thus limiting their growth potential in the 1990s.[1][2] Nevertheless, in terms of the number of game releases, Falcom's flagship Ys series is second only to Final Fantasy as the largest Eastern role-playing game franchise, as of 2011.[8]
Falcom was also a pioneer in video game music, with their early soundtracks mostly composed by chiptune musicians Yuzo Koshiro and Mieko Ishikawa,[8][9] and some arranged by Ryo Yonemitsu.[9][10] They were the first company to produce game music CDs, the first to apply vocals to game music, and one of the very first to have their own sound team composed of professional musicians dedicated to games, the Falcom Sound Team jdk.[8] Falcom's Ys soundtracks in particular are considered some of the finest and most influential role-playing game scores of all time.[11]
Published works
System indicated reflects the first release (or concurrent releases) of the game.
- (1982.06) Galactic Wars (PC-8801)
- (1983.10) Super Mahjong (X1)
- (1983.10) Bird Land (PC-8001)
- (1983.10) Computer the Golf (PC-8801)
- (1983.10) Horror House (PC-8801)
- (1983.10) Cosmo Fighter II (X1)
- (1983) Super Horoscope Kanji Version (PC-8801)
- (1983.11) Private Stripper (PC-8801)
- (1983.12) SSGN Covert Cruise Special Attack Strategy (FM-8)
- (1983.12) Panorama Island (PC-8801)
- (1983.12) Horror House Part-II (PC-8801)
- (1984.01) Monster House (MZ-2200)
- (1984.03.12) Demon's Ring (PC-8801)
- (1984.04.10) Asteka (PC-8801)
- (1984.06) The Threat of North (PC-6001)
- (1984.07) Escape from Twilight Zone (FM-7)
- (1984.09.10) Dragon Slayer (PC-8801)
- (1985.11.01) Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu (X1)
- (1986.10.01) Xanadu Scenario 2: The Resurrection of Dragon (PC-8801)
- (1986.10.06) Dragon Slayer Jr.: Romancia (X1)
- (1986.10.09) Asteka II: Templo del Sol (PC-8801)
- (1987.06.21) Ys: Ancient Ys Vanished Omen (PC-8801)
- (1987.07.09) Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family (MSX 2)
- (1987.12.20) Dragon Slayer V: Sorcerian (PC-8801)
- (1988.04.22) Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapter (PC-8801)
- (1989.03.23) Star Trader (PC-8801)
- (1989.07.21) Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (PC-8801)
- (1989.12.10) Dragon Slayer VI: The Legend of Heroes (PC-8801)
- (1990.12.21) DINOSAUR (PC-8801)
- (1991.03.21) Dragon Slayer VII: Lord Monarch (PC-9801)
- (1991.10.25) Brandish (PC-9801)
- (1991.12.20) Popful Mail (PC-8801)
- (1992.03.19) Dragon Slayer VI: The Legend of Heroes II (PC-8801)
- (1993.03.12) Brandish 2: Planet Buster (PC-9801)
- (1994.02.18) Dragon Slayer VIII: The Legend of Xanadu (PC Engine CD)
- (1994.03.18) The Legend of Heroes III: White Witch (PC-9801)
- (1994.06.10) Popful Mail (Super Famicom)
- (1994.11.25) Brandish 3: Spirit of Balcan (PC-9801)
- (1995.04.28) Revival Xanadu (PC-9801)
- (1995.06.30) The Legend of Xanadu II: The Last of Dragon Slayer (PC Engine CD)
- (1995.12.08) Revival Xanadu II Remix (PC-9801)
- (1995.12.29) Ys V: Kefin, The Lost City of Sand (Super Famicom)
- (1996.05.24) The Legend of Heroes IV: A Red Drop (PC-9801)
- (1996.10.04) Brandish VT (PC-9801)
- (1996.12.20) Lord Monarch Original (Windows PC)
- (1997.03) Lord Monarch First (Windows PC)
- (1997.04.25) The Legend of Heroes (Windows PC)
- (1997.05) Lord Monarch Pro (Windows PC)
- (1997.06.27) Sorcerian Forever (Windows PC)
- (1997.12.12) Vantage Master (Windows PC)
- (1998.04.24) Ys 1 ETERNAL (Windows PC)
- (1998.07.10) Vantage Master V2 (Windows PC)
- (1998.10.30) Monarch Monarch (Windows PC)
- (1998.12.11) Brandish 4 (Windows PC)
- (1999.04.23) The Legend of Heroes III: White Witch (Windows PC)
- (1999.12.09) The Legend of Heroes V: A Cagesong of the Ocean (Windows PC)
- (2000.07.06) Ys 2 ETERNAL (Windows PC)
- (2000.11.07) Sorcerian Original (Windows PC)
- (2000.12.07) The Legend of Heroes IV: A Tear of Vermillion (Windows PC)
- (2001.06.26) Ys 1&2 Complete (Windows PC)
- (2001.12.20) Zwei!! (Windows PC)
- (2002.06.27) VM Japan (Windows PC)
- (2002.12.19) Dinosaur Resurrection (Windows PC)
- (2003.09.27) Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim (Windows PC)
- (2004.06.24) The Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no Kiseki (Windows PC)
- (2004.12.25) Gurumin (Windows PC)
- (2005.06.30) RINNE (Windows PC)
- (2005.06.30) Ys: The Oath in Felghana (Windows PC)
- (2005.10.27) Xanadu Next (Windows PC)
- (2006.03.09) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki Second Chapter (Windows PC)
- (2006.06.29) Gurumin (PSP)
- (2006.09.28) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki First Chapter (PSP)
- (2006.12.21) Ys Origin (Windows PC)
- (2007.06.28) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki The 3rd (Windows PC)
- (2007.09.27) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki Second Chapter (PSP)
- (2008.04.24) Vantage Master Portable (PSP)
- (2008.07.24) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki The 3rd (PSP)
- (2008.09.25) Zwei II (Windows PC)
- (2008.12.11) Zwei!! (PSP)
- (2009.03.19) Brandish: Dark Revenant (PSP)
- (2009.07.16) Ys I & II Chronicles (PSP)
- (2009.09.17) Ys Seven (PSP)
- (2009.12.24) Ys I & II Chronicles (Windows PC)
- (2010.04.22) Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP)
- (2010.07.29) Ys vs. Sora no Kiseki: Alternative Saga (PSP)
- (2010.09.30) The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki (PSP)
- (2011.09.29) The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki (PSP)
- (2012.07.26) Nayuta no Kiseki (PSP)
- (2012.09.27) Ys: Foliage Ocean in Celceta (PlayStation Vita)
- (2013.09.26) The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki (PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita)
- (2014.09.25) The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki II (PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita)
- (TBA 2015) Tokyo Xanadu
- (TBA 2015) A yet-to-be-titled Ys game (PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita)
English-localized products
Many of these titles were not developed by Falcom, and in some cases bear little resemblance to the original game.
- Faxanadu (NES) Nintendo
- Tombs & Treasure (NES) Infocom
- Ys: The Vanished Omens (SMS) Sega
- Ancient Land of Ys (DOS) Kyodai Software Publishing
- Legacy of the Wizard (NES) Brøderbund Software
- Sorcerian (DOS PC) Sierra Entertainment
- Ys Book I & II (Turbo CD) NEC Home Entertainment
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (Genesis) Renovation Productions
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (SNES) American Sammy
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (Turbo CD) Turbo Technologies
- Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (Turbo CD) Turbo Technologies
- Brandish (SNES) Koei
- Popful Mail: Magical Fantasy Adventure (Sega CD) Working Designs
- Xanadu Next (N-Gage) Nokia
- Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion (PSP) Namco Bandai Games
- Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch (PSP) Namco Bandai Games
- Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean (PSP) Namco Bandai Games
- Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2) Konami
- Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PSP) Konami
- Ys Book 1 (mobile) Hudson
- Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PSP) Mastiff Games
- Ys Strategy (DS) Rising Star Games
- Ys Book I & II (Virtual Console) Hudson
- Legacy of Ys: Books I & II (DS) Atlus
- Faxanadu (Virtual Console) Hudson
- Ys Seven (PSP) XSEED Games
- Ys I & II Chronicles (PSP) XSEED Games
- Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP) XSEED Games
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (PSP) XSEED Games
- Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PC) XSEED Games
- Ys Origin (PC) XSEED Games
- Ys I & II Chronicles+ (PC) XSEED Games
- Ys Memories of Celceta (PS VITA) XSEED Games
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC (PSP/PC) XSEED Games
- Ys VI The Ark of Napishtim (PC) XSEED Games
Many Falcom games have been licensed and developed by other companies such as NEC, Hudson Soft, Epoch, Tokyo Shoseki (aka Tonkin House), Sega, RIOT, Victor, Koei and Konami, for various PC and video game systems.
See also
- Dragon Slayer (series)
- The Legend of Heroes
- Ys (series)
- Yuzo Koshiro
- Falcom Sound Team JDK
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Szczepaniak, John (7 July 2011). "Falcom: Legacy of Ys". GamesTM (111): 152–159 [153]. Retrieved 2011-09-07. (cf. Szczepaniak, John (July 8, 2011). "History of Ys interviews". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 6 September 2011.)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Gifford, Kevin (09/07/2011). "The Trail of Nihon Falcom: The president of Japan's oldest existing RPG maker speaks". 1UP.com. Retrieved 13 September 2011. Check date values in:
|date=
(help) - ↑ John Harris (July 2, 2009). "Game Design Essentials: 20 RPGs - Dragon Slayer". Gamasutra. p. 13. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ↑ Sam Derboo (June 2, 2013), Dark Age of JRPGs (7): Panorama Toh ぱのらま島 - PC-88 (1983), Hardcore Gaming 101
- ↑ Bailey, Kat (May 18, 2010). "Hack and Slash: What Makes a Good Action RPG?". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
- ↑ "Xanadu Next home page". Retrieved 2008-09-08. (Translation)
- ↑ Hendricks, Fayyaad (22 December 2011). "A complete history of role-playing videogames: Part 2". EL33TONLINE. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Szczepaniak, John (7 July 2011). "Falcom: Legacy of Ys". GamesTM (111): 152–159 [154]. Retrieved 2011-09-08. (cf. Szczepaniak, John (July 8, 2011). "History of Ys interviews". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 8 September 2011.)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kalata, Kurt (11/27/10). "Ys". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 3 September 2011. Check date values in:
|date=
(help) - ↑ Ryan Mattich. "Falcom Classics II". RPGFan. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ↑ Chris Greening & Don Kotowski (February 2011). "Interview with Yuzo Koshiro". Square Enix Music Online. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
External links
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