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Toaplan | |
Native name | 株式会社東亜プラン |
Romanized name | Kabushiki gaisha Tōapuran |
Company type | Kabushiki gaisha |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | April 1979 |
Founder | Kiyoshi Motoyoshi |
Defunct | March 1994 |
Fate | Bankruptcy |
Headquarters | Shimizu, Suginami, Tokyo |
Area served | Japan |
Key people | |
Products | Video games |
Toaplan Co., Ltd. [lower-alpha 1] was a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo responsible for the creation of a wide array 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 Tamsoft, Eighting, 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]
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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] Tamsoft, Raizing, 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 2019, Japanese company M2 announced that in 2020 they will release 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 September 2023, close to Tokyo Game Show 2023, TATSUJIN announced 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]
This section may contain an excessive number of citations .(May 2024) |
Various individuals have been important figures in the history of Toaplan:
Year | Title | Original platform(s) | Publisher | Co-developer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Jongō | Arcade | SNK | — |
1985 | Performan | Arcade | Data East | — |
Tiger-Heli | Arcade, Nintendo Entertainment System, PlayStation | Taito, Romstar | Micronics (NES), Gazelle (PS1) | |
Jongkyō | Arcade | Data East | — | |
1986 | Guardian | Arcade | Taito, Kitkorp | — |
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 | — | |
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 | — | |
Fire Shark | Arcade, Sega Genesis | Toaplan, Romstar, Dooyong | — | |
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 | — | |
1991 | Teki Paki | Arcade | Tecmo, Honest Trading, Spacy | — |
Vimana | Arcade | Tecmo, Toaplan | — | |
Ghox | Arcade | Taito | — | |
1992 | Pipi & Bibi's | Arcade | Toaplan, Nova Apparate | — |
Truxton II | Arcade, FM Towns | Toaplan | Ving (FMT) | |
FixEight | Arcade | Toaplan | — | |
Dogyuun | Arcade | Toaplan | — | |
1993 | Grind Stormer | Arcade, Sega Genesis | Toaplan | Tengen (SG) |
Knuckle Bash | Arcade | Toaplan, Atari Games | — | |
Enma Daiō | Arcade | Taito | — | |
Batsugun | Arcade, Sega Saturn | Toaplan, Taito, Unite Trading | Gazelle (SS) | |
1994 | Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves | Arcade | Hanafram | — |
Year | Title | Platform | Developer | Co-Publisher | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990 | MUSHA | Sega Genesis | Compile | Seismic | [59] [60] |
1991 | Snow Bros. | Nintendo Entertainment System | Soft House | Capcom | [10] [61] |
Title | Genre | Publisher(s) | Planned Release Date/Last Year Developed or Mentioned | Notes/Reasons |
---|---|---|---|---|
Batsugun sequel | Shoot 'em up | Toaplan | 1 May 2001 | [62] |
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 | — | 1 June 2009 | [10] |
Genkai Chōsen Distopia | Action, Hack and slash, Platform | — | 1 June 2009 | [10] [63] |
Tank da Don!! | Platform, Run and gun | — | 27 October 2011 | [25] |
Zero Wing is a 1989 side-scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Toaplan and originally published in Japan by Namco and in North America by Williams Electronics. Controlling the ZIG space fighter craft, players assume the role of protagonist Trent in a last-ditch effort to overthrow the alien cyborg CATS. It was the eighth shoot 'em up game from Toaplan, and their fourteenth video game overall.
Tiger-Heli is a vertically scrolling shooter game developed by Toaplan and released for arcades in 1985. It was published in Japan by Taito and in North America by Romstar. Controlling the titular attack helicopter, the player must fight endless waves of military vehicles while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles. The Tiger-Heli has a powerful bomb at its disposal that can clear the screen of enemies when fired. It was the first shoot 'em up game from Toaplan, and their third video game overall.
Twin Cobra, known as Kyukyoku Tiger in Japan, is a vertically scrolling shooter developed by Toaplan and released for arcades in 1987 by Taito in Japan and Europe, then in North America by Romstar. It is a sequel to the 1985 arcade game Tiger-Heli. Controlling the titular attack helicopter, the players must fight endless waves of military vehicles while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles. It was the fourth shoot 'em up game from Toaplan, and their tenth video game overall. It was ported to multiple platforms, with each done by different third-party developers that made several changes or additions.
Out Zone is a run and gun arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Tecmo, North America by Romstar and Europe in August 1990. Set in a future where an alien race from the fictional planet Owagira are threatening to wipe out humanity after multiple failed attempts to defend Earth against their attacks, players assume the role of cyborg mercenaries recruited by the United Nations in a last-ditch effort to overthrow the invaders.
Flying Shark, known as Sky Shark in North America, is a 1987 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published by Taito in Japan, Romstar in North America and Electrocoin in Europe. Controlling the titular biplane, the players must fight endless waves of military vehicles while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles. The plane has a powerful bomb at its disposal that can clear a portion of the screen of bullets and damage enemies when fired. It was the third shoot 'em up game from Toaplan, and their eighth video game overall.
Truxton is a 1988 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published in Japan and Europe by Taito, as well as in North America by Midway. Set in a future where the Gidans alien race led by Dogurava invaded the fictional planet Borogo, players assume the role of fighter pilot Tatsuo taking control of the Super Fighter ship on a last-ditch effort to overthrow the alien invaders.
Demon's World is a 1989 run and gun arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Taito and in North America by Catalina Games. In the game, players assume the role of two ghost hunters to fight against several ghosts and monsters that were unleashed upon Earth by the titular demon king. Initially launched for the arcades, the title was then ported to the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² by NEC Avenue and published exclusively in Japan on 26 February 1993, featuring various additions and changes compared with the original release.
Teki Paki is a 1991 puzzle arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Tecmo, Hong Kong by Honest Trading Co. and Taiwan by Spacy Co. Ltd.
Hellfire is a 1989 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Taito and North America by U.S.A. Games. The first horizontal shoot 'em up title to be created by Toaplan, the game takes place in the year 2998 where a space matter known as Black Nebula created by robot dictator Super Mech spreads and threatens to engulf human-controlled galaxies, as players assume the role of Space Federation member Captain Lancer taking control of the CNCS1 space fighter craft in a surprise attack to overthrow the enemies with the fighter craft's titular weapon.
Wardner is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Toaplan and published in arcades worldwide by Taito in 1987.
Gazelle Co., Ltd. was a Japanese video game developer founded in 1994 by former Toaplan employees after the latter company declared bankruptcy the same year.
Grind Stormer is a 1993 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed and published by Toaplan in Japan and North America. It is considered to be the spiritual successor to Slap Fight. Based around a video game within a video game concept, players assume the role of a young secret agent assigned by the government taking control of the NA-00 space fighter craft in an attempt to defeat the titular virtual reality simulator, rescue the abducted players who lost against it and unveil its true purpose.
Truxton II is a 1992 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed and published by Toaplan in Japan and Europe. It is the sequel to Truxton, which was released earlier on arcades in 1988 and later ported to various platforms.
Knuckle Bash is a 1993 side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade video game developed and published by Toaplan in Japan, as well as North America and Europe by Atari Games. It is notable for being one of the few titles by Toaplan that has not received any official port to home consoles as of date.
Repulse is a fixed shooter arcade video game developed by Crux and published by Sega on June 1985. In the game, players battle against the invading Aquila nation to defend Earth from world domination. The title is notable for being created by most of the same team that previously worked on several projects at Orca and Crux before both companies declared bankruptcy, after which a group of employees from the two gaming divisions would go on to form Toaplan.
Dogyuun is a 1992 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and published by Toaplan. Set on the colonized fictional planet of Dino in the future, where an alien race of metallic robots have invaded a police communication center and held its inhabitants as hostages, players assume the role of two fighter pilots taking control of the Sylfers bomber space fighter crafts in an revenge attempt to overthrow the invaders and free the surviving colonists after one of their comrades is killed by one of them during a reconnaissance assignment.
Guardian is a 1986 side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Taito and North America by Kitkorp. In the game, players assume the role of a robot fighting against a multitude of enemies and bosses across six locations on a futuristic science fiction setting. It is notable for marking the debut of Twin Cobra and Hellfire artist Kōetsu Iwabuchi in the video game industry, serving as its graphic designer.
Performan is an action arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published exclusively in Japan by Data East in April 1985. In the game, players assume the role of the titular robot in order to defeat enemies across multiple stages. The title is notable for being created by most of the same team that previously worked on several projects at Orca and Crux before both companies declared bankruptcy. A group of employees from the two gaming divisions would go on to form Toaplan as a result. Performan is one of the few titles by Toaplan that has not received any official port to home consoles.
Enma Daiō is a 1993 hybrid quiz/lie detector arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published exclusively in Japan by Taito. In the game, players answer a number of question. As of 2019, the rights to the title is owned by Tatsujin, a company founded in 2017 by former Toaplan member Masahiro Yuge and now-affiliate of Japanese arcade manufacturer exA-Arcadia alongside many other Toaplan IPs.
Mahjong Sisters is a 1986 eroge mahjong arcade video game developed and published exclusively in Japan by Toaplan. In the game, the players face off against a group of three sisters in a series of mahjong matches. As of 2019, the rights to the title is owned by Tatsujin, a company founded in 2017 by former Toaplan member Masahiro Yuge and now-affiliate of Japanese arcade manufacturer exA-Arcadia alongside many other Toaplan IPs.
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