Cave (company)

Last updated
CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd.
Native name
株式会社ケイブ
Company type Public
TYO: 3760
Industry Video games
FoundedJune 15, 1994
Headquarters,
Key people
Kenichi Takano
(Representative Director,
President and CEO)

Tsuneki Ikeda
(CCO)
Shinobu Yagawa
(Programmer, Director, Designer)
Products Bullet hell shoot 'em ups
Total assets JP¥ 1,094,000,000 (FY 2020) [1]
Number of employees
97 (2020)
Subsidiaries Beads Mania (merged with Cave on June 1, 2008)
Mini4WD Networks Co., Ltd. (44.8% stake)
Declease ltd. 2014 (9.2% stake)
Website cave.co.jp

CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd. [lower-alpha 1] is a Japanese video game company founded in 1994 by former employees of Toaplan following its bankruptcy. They are known primarily for their "bullet hell" shoot 'em ups; from 1995 up to 2013, CAVE was one of the most prolific shoot 'em up developers in the Japanese market. Alongside this, CAVE has produced a variety of other types games for arcades, home consoles, PCs, and smartphones, also dating back to 1995.

Contents

"CAVE" is an acronym for "Computer Art Visual Entertainment".

History

During a stockholder meeting in August 2011, the company changed the English company name to 'CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd'. [2] However, the foreign www.caveinteractive.com domain name had already been established on May 15, 2011. [3]

Key staff members include Tsuneki Ikeda (director and COO [4] ) and Makoto Asada (game development department head [5] ) who left the company in 2013. [6] On January 24, 2014, community manager "Masa-King" announced that the Cave-World Twitter and blog were shutting down on February 28, 2014, [7] terminating all existing English social media presence in the west.

Within the Guinness World Records, CAVE holds the record for the "most prolific developer of danmaku shooters", having released 48 games in the genre since 1995 as of October 2010. [8]

Subsidiaries

Former subsidiaries

Marketing

Games developed

Arcade games

CAVE's arcade titles have used various arcade boards over the years. Earlier titles used a CAVE-designed board based on a Motorola 68000 CPU, [22] with later releases moving over to the PolyGame Master hardware, [23] and then, starting with Mushihimesama, onto boards based on the Hitachi SH-3 CPU. [24] [25] CAVE dabbled in PC-based hardware for Deathsmiles II, [26] but switched back to SH-3 for later titles.

GameYearHardwarePublisher(s)
DonPachi 1995CAVE 68000 Atlus
Othello Derby1995 Toaplan Version 2 Tsukuda Original
DoDonPachi 1997CAVE 68000 Atlus
Steep Slope Sliders 1998 Sega ST-V Capcom
Puzzle Uo Poko 1998CAVE 68000 Jaleco
ESP Ra.De. 1998CAVE 68000 Atlus
Dangun Feveron / Fever S.O.S. 1998CAVE 68000Nihon System
Guwange 1999CAVE 68000 Atlus
Progear: Storm of Progear 2001 CPS2 Capcom
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou 2002 PGM AMI
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi 2003 PGM AMI
Espgaluda 2003 PGM AMI
Mushihimesama 2004CAVE CV1000BAMI
Ibara 2005CAVE CV1000BAMI
Puzzle! Mushihimetama2005CAVE CV1000BAMI
Espgaluda II 2005CAVE CV1000BAMI
Ibara Kuro: Black Label 2006CAVE CV1000BAMI
Pink Sweets: Ibara Sorekara 2006CAVE CV1000BAMI
Mushihimesama Futari 2006CAVE CV1000BAMI
Muchi Muchi Pork! 2007CAVE CV1000BAMI
Deathsmiles 2007CAVE CV1000BAMI
Deathsmiles Mega Black Label 2008CAVE CV1000DAMI
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu 2008CAVE CV1000DAMI
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Ver 1.5 2008CAVE CV1000DAMI
Omatsuri Yasan: Kingyo Sukui2009CAVE PCCave
Omatsuri Yasan: Ganso Takoyaki2009CAVE PCCave
Deathsmiles II: Makai no Merry Christmas 2009CAVE PCCave
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Black Label 2010CAVE CV1000DCave
Akai Katana 2010CAVE CV1000DCave
DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou 2012CAVE CV1000DCave
DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou EXA Label2020 exA-Arcadia exA-Arcadia
Akai Katana EXA Label2021 exA-Arcadia exA-Arcadia

Console games

On March 28, 2013 Cave released a special bundle called Cave Shooting Collection  [ ja ] which contained all Xbox 360 titles published by them to that date (Akai Katana, Deathsmiles, Deathsmiles IIX, DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Black Label, DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Ver 1.5, Espgaluda II, Muchi Muchi Pork & Pink Sweets, Mushihimesama, Mushihimesama Futari Ver 1.5, and a download voucher for Guwange on XBLA), a disc containing all DLC for the aforementioned titles, 7 "superplay" DVDs, and a 10-disc soundtrack selection with songs from all of the included games except Guwange. [27] This bundle was re-released as Cave Shooting Collection Complete on May 22, 2014 including DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou but not including the soundtrack collection. [28]

GameYearSystemPublisher(s)JPNAEU
Delisoba Deluxe1995 Sega Saturn TBS YesNoNo
Touge: King the Spirits 1995 Sega Saturn Atlus YesYesNo
DonPachi 1996 Sega Saturn Atlus YesNoNo
DonPachi 1996 PlayStation SPSYesNoNo
Touge: King the Spirits 21997 Sega Saturn Atlus YesNoNo
DoDonPachi 1997 Sega Saturn Atlus YesNoNo
Steep Slope Sliders 1997 Sega Saturn Sega YesYesYes
Peak Performance 1997 PlayStation Atlus YesYesYes
Trick'N Snowboarder 1999 PlayStation Capcom YesYesYes
Touge Max 21999 PlayStation Atlus YesNoNo
Touge Max G2000 PlayStation Atlus YesNoNo
Snowboard Heaven2000 PlayStation 2 Capcom YesNoNo
Yanya Caballista: City Skater 2001 PlayStation 2 Koei YesYesNo
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou 2003 PlayStation 2 Arika YesNoNo
Espgaluda 2004 PlayStation 2 Arika YesNoNo
Mushihimesama 2005 PlayStation 2 Taito YesNoNo
Ibara 2006 PlayStation 2 Taito YesNoNo
Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine 2007 Microsoft Windows Atlus YesYesYes
Princess Debut 2008 Nintendo DS Cave (JP)
Natsume Inc. (NA)
Midway (EU)
YesYesYes
Ketsui Death Label 2008 Nintendo DS Arika YesNo a No a
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou Black Label Extra 2009 Xbox 360 5pb. YesNoNo
Deathsmiles 2009 Xbox 360 Cave (JP)
Aksys Games (NA)
Rising Star Games (EU)
YesYesYes
Mushihimesama Futari Ver 1.5 2009 Xbox 360 CaveYesNo a No a
Espgaluda II Black Label 2010 Xbox 360 CaveYesNo b No b
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra 2010 Xbox 360 5pb. YesNoNo
Deathsmiles IIX: Makai no Merry Christmas 2010 Xbox 360 CaveYesYesNo
Guwange 2010 XBLA CaveYesYesYes
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2010 Xbox 360 Cave (JP)
Rising Star Games (EU)
YesNo c Yes
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Black Label 2011 Xbox 360 CaveYesNoNo
Muchi Muchi Pork! & Pink Sweets: Ibara Sore Kara 2011 Xbox 360 CaveYesNo a No a
Nin2-Jump2011 XBLA CaveYesYesYes
Akai Katana 2011 Xbox 360 Cave (JP)
Rising Star Games (NA & EU)
YesYesYes
Instant Brain 2011 Xbox 360 CaveYesNoNo
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Double Pack 2012 Xbox 360 CaveYesNoNo
Mushihimesama HD 2012 Xbox 360 CaveYesNoNo
DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou 2013 Xbox 360 CaveYesNo a No a
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra 2013 PlayStation 3 5pb. YesNo a No a
Mushihimesama HD 2015 Microsoft Windows DegicaYesYesYes
Deathsmiles 2016 Microsoft Windows DegicaYesYesYes
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2016 Microsoft Windows DegicaYesYesYes
Dangun Feveron 2017 PlayStation 4, Xbox One M2 YesYesYes
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi 2018 PlayStation 4 M2 YesYesNo
ESP Ra.De. Psi 2019 PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch M2 YesTBA a TBA a
Mushihimesama HD 2021 Nintendo Switch LiveWireYesYesYes
Espgaluda II 2021 Nintendo Switch LiveWireYesYesYes
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2021 Nintendo Switch LiveWireYesYesYes
Deathsmiles I・II 2021 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows City ConnectionYesYesYes
Akai Katana 2022 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows City ConnectionYesYesYes
Notes

^a Not released outside Japan but release is region-free.
^b Not released outside Japan but regular edition release is region-free.
^c Not released outside Japan and Europe but release is region-free.

Mobile games

GameYearPlatformPublisher(s)
Ninja Tower2004MobileNuvo Studios
Loveny's Picture Book2006MobileCave
Switch2008MobileCave
Espgaluda II 2010 iOS Cave
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2010 iOS Cave
Mushihimesama Bug Panic 2010 iOS Cave
Deathsmiles 2011 iOS Cave
Espgaluda II HD 2011 iOS Cave
Bug Princess 2011 iOS Cave
DoDonPachi Blissful Death 2012 iOS Cave
DoDonPachi Resurrection HD 2012 iOS Cave
Bug Princess 2 2012 iOS Cave
Bug Princess 2 Black Label 2012 iOS Cave
Espgaluda II 2012 Android G-Gee
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2012 Android G-Gee
DoDonPachi Maximum2012 iOS, Windows Phone Cave
Mushihimesama BUG PANIC 2013 Android G-Gee
Deathsmiles 2013 Android G-Gee
Hello Kitty Puzzle Chains2014 iOS, Android Mobage
Don Paccin2014 iOS, Android Mobage
PSYCHO-PASS Koushiki Appli2015 iOS, Android Cave
Gothic wa Mahou Otome  [ ja ]2015 iOS, Android Cave
DoDonPachi Ichimen Bancho2015 iOS, Android Cave
Cube Drop2016 iOS, Android Cave
Lord of Dungeon2017 iOS, Android Cave
Sangoku Justice2018 iOS, Android Cave
World Witches United Front2020 iOS, Android Cave
Touhou Gensou Eclipse2023 iOS, Android Cave

See also

Notes

  1. Japanese: 株式会社ケイブ, Hepburn: Kabushiki gaisha Keibu

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References

  1. Company Overview
  2. 英ゲームメディア「Pocketgamer.biz」にて副社長 渡邉幹雄のインタビューが掲載! Archived 2012-01-01 at the Wayback Machine
  3. CAVE Launches New English Website Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Tsuneki Ikeda (Person)
  5. Makoto Asada (Person)
  6. Makoto Asada leaves Cave
  7. To all CAVE WORLD supporters | CAVE WORLD Official Blog Archived 2014-01-30 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Most prolific developer of danmaku shooters". Guinness World Records.
  9. ケイブとタミヤ、新会社「ミニ四駆ネットワークス」を設立「ミニ四駆オンラインレーサー」等を展開
  10. ミニ四駆ネットワークス(株) 設立のお知らせ
  11. 1 2 子会社設立のお知らせ
  12. (株)ケイブ・オンライン・エンターテイメント 設立のお知らせ
  13. 当社子会社 「株式会社ケイブ・オンライン・エンターテイメント」 設立登記のお知らせ
  14. 子会社の吸収合併に関するお知らせ
  15. 組織変更に関するお知らせ
  16. クレイズカンパニー株式会社の株式譲受のお知らせ
  17. 子会社の商号変更に関するお知らせ
  18. "株式会社ケイブ の有価証券報告書 (2010年06月01日 – 2011年05月31日 期)". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  19. ビーズマニア株式会社(当社子会社)の事業統合に関するお知らせ
  20. コマース事業の一部譲渡ならびに事業の廃止に関するお知らせ
  21. Arcade games | CAVE Database
  22. "CAVE 68000 Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  23. "PGM Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  24. "CAVE CV1000B Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  25. "CAVE CV1000D Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  26. "CAVE PC Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  27. Cave's Gigantic Xbox 360 Shooter Collection Has 11 Games + A Disc Just To Install DLC – Siliconera
  28. Cave Shooting Collection Complete Packs 11 Games And 7 Playthrough DVDs – Siliconera