Toaplan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Revision as of 23:30, 20 May 2025 by 141.136.138.36 (talk)
(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Expand Japanese Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherTemplate:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Template:Nihongo foot was a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. It was best known for its catalogue of scrolling shooters and other arcade video games. The company was founded in 1979 but its gaming division was established in 1984 by former Orca and Crux employees, who wanted to make games, after both companies declared bankruptcy. Their first shoot 'em up game, Tiger-Heli (1985) on arcades, was a success and helped establish Toaplan as a leading producer of shooting games throughout the 1980s and 1990s that would continue to characterize their output.

Though initially exclusive to arcades, they expanded with the Sega Genesis in 1990. The company ceased development of shoot 'em up projects before declaring bankruptcy in 1994. Several offshoot developers such as Eighting, Tamsoft, CAVE, Gazelle, and Takumi Corporation were formed prior to and after the closure, while former members later joined to other studios such as Bandai Namco Entertainment, Capcom, Square Enix and Taito. Toaplan has since earned recognition from critics, being called one of the greatest and most influential Japanese shoot 'em up developers and "master" of the scrolling shooter genre.[1][2]

History

Template:Excessive citations Toaplan was established in April 1979 but its gaming division was established by former Orca and Crux members.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Performan was created by most of the same team that previously worked on several projects at Orca and Crux before both companies declared bankruptcy,[17][18][19][20] after which a group of employees from the two gaming divisions would go on to form Toaplan and among them were composers Masahiro Yuge and Tatsuya Uemura.[6][10][11][12][13]

In 1992, Yoshiyuki Kiyomoto stepped down from his position as CEO at Toaplan, with Taizo Hayashi now serving as the company's president.[21][22] Toaplan provided consultance and advising to Raizing (now Eighting) during the development of Sorcer Striker, as well as licensing their arcade board to the company, since the president of the latter company previously served as an employee of the former.[23][24] Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves served as one of the final projects to be developed by Toaplan, as the company ceased development of shoot 'em up games before their closure.[10][25]

The company declared bankruptcy on March 31, 1994.[25][26] Its closure led to the formation of several offshoot companies.[27][28] Prior to Toaplan's closure in 1994, several former employees formed or were involved with multiple companies, many of which were dedicated to arcade shooters:[29][30][31][32][33][34][35] Eighting, Tamsoft, CAVE, Gazelle, and Takumi (who continued development of Twin Cobra II after Toaplan's closure).

The rights to nearly every Toaplan IP are currently owned by Tatsujin, a Japanese company formed by Yuge.[36][37][38][39][40][41] In 2020, Japanese company M2 released every game by Toaplan (excluding Mahjong Sisters and Enma Daiō) for consoles in Japan.[42][43][44][45] In August 2022, Tatsujin was acquired by Embracer Group for a retro gaming focused operative group.[46] In 2023, Tatsujin announced several new projects, such as Truxton Extreme,[47] Snow Bros. Wonderland[48] (both games being sequels to their respective series) and Amusement Arcade TOAPLAN, a compilation of 25 arcade games for smartphones.[49] One of the titles from Tatsujin, Snow Bros. Wonderland, was released in 2024.[50]

Staff

Template:Excessive citations Various individuals have been important figures in the history of Toaplan:

  • Masahiro Yuge – One of the six original team members and frequent composer.[3][10][11][12][13] Later worked at Takumi Corporation and Eighting on several projects.[9]
  • Tatsuya Uemura – One of the six original team members and frequent composer.[3][10][11][12][13] Later worked at Gazelle and Eighting on several projects.[9]
  • Toshiaki Tomizawa – Music composer for Demon's World, Zero Wing and Vimana.[3][13][25] Co-founder of CAVE.[9][33]
  • Osamu Ōta – Music composer for Wardner, Rally Bike and Twin Hawk.[3][13] Producer of Gekirindan at Taito.[9]
  • Toshiaki Ōta – One of the six original team members and head of software development.[4][9][10][11][12] Founder of Tamsoft.[9][10][12][51]
  • Naoki Ogiwara – Artist and designer for Truxton and Out Zone.[6][10][25][13] Co-founder of CAVE.[9][33]
  • Kōetsu Iwabuchi – Artist for Guardian and Twin Cobra.[6] Later served as planning manager for Grind Stormer.[29]
  • Yuko Tataka – Character designer for Truxton, Hellfire, Twin Hawk, Zero Wing and Fire Shark.[8][9]
  • Sanae Nitō – Character designer for Truxton, Hellfire, Twin Hawk, Zero Wing and Fire Shark.[8][9]
  • Tsuneki Ikeda – Programmer for Grind Stormer and Batsugun.[29][31][32][35] Co-founder of CAVE.[9][12][33][35]
  • Satoshi Kōyama – Programmer for Batsugun. Later worked at CAVE on several projects.[52]
  • Junya Inoue – Designer for Dogyuun, Knuckle Bash and Batsugun.[30][34] Later worked at Gazelle and CAVE on several projects.[30][34][53]
  • Yusuke Naora – Graphic designer for Grind Stormer. Later worked at Square Enix on several projects.[30][54]
  • Kenichi Takano – One of the six original team members and designer for Performan.[10][11][12] Co-founder of CAVE.[9][12][33][35]
  • Yuichirō Nozawa – One of the six original team members and designer for Twin Hawk.[10][11][12]
  • Atsushi Kawaguchi – One of the six original team members and artist for Demon's World.[10][11]
  • Nanpei Kaneko – Designer for FixEight and Knuckle Bash.[30][55] Later worked as illustrator for Japanese magazines.[30][55]
  • Tomonobu Kagawa – One of the three graphic artists for Truxton II.[56][57] Later worked at Taito on several projects.[58][59]

Games

Developed

Year Title Original platform(s) Publisher Co-developer
1984 Jongō Arcade SNK Template:N/A
1985 Performan Arcade Data East Template:N/A
Tiger-Heli Arcade, Nintendo Entertainment System, PlayStation Taito, Romstar Micronics (NES), Gazelle (PS1)
Jongkyō Arcade Data East Template:N/A
1986 Guardian Arcade Taito, Kitkorp Template:N/A
Slap Fight Arcade, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Thomson MO5, Thomson TO8, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, Sega Mega Drive Taito Probe Software (CPC/ZXS), Imagine Software (C64), France Image Logiciel (MO5/TO8), Abersoft Limited (ST), M.N.M Software (SMD)
Mahjong Sisters Arcade Toaplan Template:N/A
1987 Flying Shark Arcade, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Nintendo Entertainment System, MS-DOS, X68000, FM Towns Taito, Romstar, Electrocoin Catalyst Coders (C64), Graftgold (ZXS/CPC), Images Software (AGA/ST), Software Creations (C64/NES), Banana Development Corporation (DOS), Kaneko (X68K), Ving (FMT)
Wardner Arcade, Famicom Disk System, Sega Genesis Taito Daiei Seisakusho (FDS), Dragnet (SG)
Twin Cobra Arcade, PC Engine, NES, Sega Genesis, X68000, FM Towns, PlayStation Taito, Romstar A.I Company (PCE), Micronics (NES), Graphic Research (SG), Inter State (X68K), Ving (FMT), Gazelle (PS1)
1988 Rally Bike Arcade, Nintendo Entertainment System, X68000 Taito Visco Corporation (NES), SPS (X68K)
Truxton Arcade, Sega Genesis, PC Engine Taito, Midway Sting Entertainment (PCE)
1989 Hellfire Arcade, Sega Genesis, PC Engine Super CD-ROM² Taito, U.S.A. Games NCS Corporation (SG), NEC Avenue (PCE SCD-ROM²)
Twin Hawk Arcade, Sega Mega Drive, PC Engine, PC Engine CD-ROM² Taito Center Tech (PCE), NEC Avenue (PCE CD-ROM²)
Demon's World Arcade, PC Engine Super CD-ROM² Taito, Catalina Games NEC Avenue (PCE SCD-ROM²)
Zero Wing Arcade, Sega Mega Drive, PC Engine CD-ROM² Namco, Williams Electronics Template:N/A
Fire Shark Arcade, Sega Genesis Toaplan, Romstar, Dooyong Template:N/A
1990 Snow Bros. Arcade, Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive Toaplan, Romstar Dual (GB), Soft House (NES)
Out Zone Arcade Tecmo, Romstar, Toaplan Template:N/A
1991 Teki Paki Arcade Tecmo, Honest Trading, Spacy Template:N/A
Vimana Arcade Tecmo, Toaplan Template:N/A
Ghox Arcade Taito Template:N/A
1992 Pipi & Bibi's Arcade Toaplan, Nova Apparate Template:N/A
Truxton II Arcade, FM Towns Toaplan Ving (FMT)
FixEight Arcade Toaplan Template:N/A
Dogyuun Arcade Toaplan Template:N/A
1993 Grind Stormer Arcade, Sega Genesis Toaplan Tengen (SG)
Knuckle Bash Arcade Toaplan, Atari Games Template:N/A
Enma Daiō Arcade Taito Template:N/A
Batsugun Arcade, Sega Saturn Toaplan, Taito, Unite Trading Gazelle (SS)
1994 Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves Arcade Hanafram Template:N/A

Published

Year Title Platform Developer Co-publisher Ref.
1990 MUSHA Sega Genesis Compile Seismic [60][61]
1991 Snow Bros. Nintendo Entertainment System Soft House Capcom [10][62]

Cancelled

Title Genre Publisher(s) Planned release date/Last year developed or mentioned Notes/Reasons
Batsugun sequel Shoot 'em up Toaplan 1 May 2001 [63]
Untitled Sega System 1 game Action Sega 1 June 2009 [10]
Dynamic Trial 7 Racing, vehicular combat Toaplan 1 June 2009 [10]
Teki Paki 2 Puzzle Template:N/A 1 June 2009 [10]
Genkai Chōsen Distopia Action, hack and slash, platform Template:N/A 1 June 2009 [10][64]
Tank da Don!! Platform, run and gun Template:N/A 27 October 2011 [25]

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Script error: No such module "Portal".

Template:Toaplan Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named DDPr-TfeotJ
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named T30gvgttf-p2
  3. ↑ a b c d e Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PSGv10
  4. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PCEFv3i2
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named B!MD7
  6. ↑ a b c d Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named G49
  7. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  8. ↑ a b c Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named B!MD14
  9. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AHoTi.ac
  10. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TFf25v9
  11. ↑ a b c d e f g h Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TSCa
  12. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named STGv4a
  13. ↑ a b c d e f g Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named STGv4b
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GM218
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GM219
  19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Mseed2
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Mseed3
  21. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GM211
  22. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GM427
  23. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named STGv1
  24. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Fam1
  25. ↑ a b c d e Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TSCb
  26. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GM472
  27. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named T:trafojgsgc
  28. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Wireframe13
  29. ↑ a b c Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1993V-VTI
  30. ↑ a b c d e f Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CONTINUEv6
  31. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Gpara.com
  32. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MA118
  33. ↑ a b c d e Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IGM8
  34. ↑ a b c Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TAoSwJI
  35. ↑ a b c d Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named SPOnG
  36. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Fam2
  37. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Tatsujin
  38. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Gamercafe1
  39. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named exA-A
  40. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Gamercafe2
  41. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 4G.net
  42. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Siliconera
  43. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Gematsu
  44. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named HC
  45. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NLife
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Tamsoft
  52. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named G196
  53. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PaVP-TXB
  54. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IZM
  55. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Wacom
  56. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named KTa
  57. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named KTb
  58. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named KTc
  59. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Hatena
  60. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named SHE
  61. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GPro20
  62. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NESGames
  63. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MA12
  64. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AGC2
Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Toaplan&oldid=122015"