Difference between revisions of "ASCII"

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{{Company
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{{CompanyBob
 
| logo=ASCII logo.svg
 
| logo=ASCII logo.svg
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| width=300
 
 
| founded=1977-05-24
 
| founded=1977-05-24
 
| defunct=2002 (stopped game production)
 
| defunct=2002 (stopped game production)
 
| tseries=T-21
 
| tseries=T-21
−
| mergedwith=[[MediaWorks]] (2008)
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| mergedwith=[[Kadokawa]] (2004)<br>[[MediaWorks]] (2008)
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| mergedinto=
 
 
| headquarters=Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
 
| headquarters=Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
 
}}
 
}}
  
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'''ASCII Corporation, Inc.''' (アスキー) is a company founded by Kazuhiko Nishi on May 24, 1977.  They primarily served as a publisher for computing magazines and books.
+
'''ASCII Corporation, Inc.''' (アスキー) was a company founded by Kazuhiko Nishi on May 24, 1977.  They primarily served as a publisher for computing magazines and books.
  
 
In its early years ASCII focused on the development of said hardware and software for it but later, when the video game market got rough in the mid-eighties, the company started to develop and publish software for popular gaming consoles of that time, namely the Nintendo Entertainment System and the [[Sega Mega Drive]].
 
In its early years ASCII focused on the development of said hardware and software for it but later, when the video game market got rough in the mid-eighties, the company started to develop and publish software for popular gaming consoles of that time, namely the Nintendo Entertainment System and the [[Sega Mega Drive]].
  
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Due to their success in the market, ASCII decided to establish an U.S. subsidiary in 1991 which became known as ASCII Entertainment. Additionally, ASCII created a number of controllers for [[Sega]] home console systems. The company also produced two [[Sega Saturn]] games under the "[[ASCII Something Good]]" name, primarily known for its telecom involvement.
+
Due to their success in the market, ASCII decided to establish an U.S. subsidiary in 1991 which became known as '''ASCII Entertainment Software''' (often publishing under the '''Asciiware''' brand). Additionally, ASCII created a number of controllers for [[Sega]] home console systems. The company also produced two [[Sega Saturn]] games under the "[[ASCII Something Good]]" name, primarily known for its telecom involvement.
  
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In the following years the Japanese market of ASCII declined slowly while the US market became profitable and so another subsidiary was founded in 1998. It became known as "Ascii Game Entertainment TEChnology", or [[Agetec]] for short. Agetec's primary field of business was the publication of video games. In 1999 Agetec was spun off and became a fully independent publisher of games though business relationships remained.
+
In the following years the Japanese market of ASCII declined slowly while the US market became profitable and so another subsidiary was founded in 1998. It became known as "ASCII Game Entertainment TEChnology", or [[Agetec]] for short. Agetec's primary field of business was the publication of video games. In 1999 Agetec was spun off and became a fully independent publisher of games though business relationships remained.
  
 
In March 2002, ASCII Corporation finally ceased to distribute and publish video games on the Japanese market and started to center its attention around its early core competencies, IT- and computer-magazines like the prestigious ASCII-magazine. The software development branch was subsequently spun off as Media Leaves Inc.
 
In March 2002, ASCII Corporation finally ceased to distribute and publish video games on the Japanese market and started to center its attention around its early core competencies, IT- and computer-magazines like the prestigious ASCII-magazine. The software development branch was subsequently spun off as Media Leaves Inc.
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In 2008 ASCII was absorbed by [[MediaWorks]], becoming [[ASCII Media Works]], a subsidiary of [[Kadokawa]].
 
  
 
==Softography==
 
==Softography==
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{{multicol|
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|ASCII|ASCII Entertainment Software}}
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===[[Master System]]===
 
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* ''[[Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord]]'' (1987)
 
  
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===[[Game Gear]]===
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==Accessories produced==
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* ''[[Solitaire Poker]]'' (1991)
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|ASCII|Asciiware|type=accessories}}
  
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===[[Mega Drive]]===
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==Books==
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* ''[[Double Clutch]]'' (1993)
 
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* ''[[AWS Pro Moves Soccer]]'' (1994) (as ASCII Entertainment)
 
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===[[Saturn]]===
 
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* ''[[Kakinoki Shougi]]'' (1995)
 
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* ''[[Mahjong Ganryuujima]]'' (1995)
 
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* ''[[Jikuu Tantei DD (Dracula Detective): Maboroshi no Lorelei]]'' (1996)
 
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* ''[[Shin Kaitei Gunkan: Koutetsu no Kodoku]]'' (1997)
 
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* ''[[Wizardry: Llylgamyn Saga]]'' (1998) (as ASCII Entertainment)
 
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* ''[[Game Basic for SegaSaturn]]'' (1998)
 
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* ''[[Simulation RPG Tsukuru]] (1998)
 
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* ''[[Linda³ Kanzenban]]'' (1998)
 
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* ''[[Derby Stallion]]'' (1999)
 
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===[[Dreamcast]]===
 
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* ''[[Panzer Front]]'' (as ASCII Entertainment)
 
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* ''[[Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage]]'' (2000)
 
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* ''[[Lack of Love]]'' (2000)
 
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* ''[[Metal Max: Wild Eyes]]'' (unreleased)
 
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}}
 
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==Hardware produced==
 
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
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===[[Master System]]===
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{{CompanyHistory|ASCII|format=book|role=Publisher}}
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* [[ASCII Stick α]] (1987)
 
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===[[Mega Drive]]===
 
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* [[6 Button Arcade Fighter Pad]]
 
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* [[AsciiPad MD]]
 
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* [[ASCII Fighter Stick SG-6]]
 
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* [[AsciiPad SG-6]]
 
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* [[Capcom Pad Soldier MD]]
 
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* [[Mega Pad]]
 
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* [[Mega Stick]]
 
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* [[Rhino Pad]]
 
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===[[Saturn]]===
 
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* [[ASCII Grip X]]
 
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* [[ASCII Pad X]]
 
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* [[ASCII Saturn Stick]]
 
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===[[Dreamcast]]===
 
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* [[ASCII Mission Stick]]
 
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* [[ASCII Pad FT]]
 
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* [[ASCII Stick FT]]
 
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===[[PlayStation]]===
 
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* tambourine controller for ''[[MiniMoni. Shaker tto Tambourine! Dapyon!]]''
 
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===[[PlayStation 2]]===
 
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* Trance Vibrator for ''[[Rez]]''
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
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==Books==
 
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{{multicol|
 
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*''[[Virtua Fighter Maniax]]'' (1994)
 
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*''[[Shining Force CD Koushiki Guide Book]]'' (1994)
 
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*''[[Virtua Fighter Maniax Replays]]'' (1994)
 
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*''[[Virtua Fighter Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 1 for Novice]]'' (1994)
 
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*''[[Virtua Fighter Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 2 for Expert]]'' (1995)
 
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*''[[Shining Wisdom Koushiki Guide Book]]'' (1995)
 
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*''[[Virtua Fighter Remix Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Complete]]'' (1995)
 
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*''[[Virtua Fighter 2 Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 1 for Novice]]'' (1995)
 
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*''[[Dennou Senki Virtual-On Ace Pilot Yousei Text]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Sega Rally Championship Course Attack Manual]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Virtua Fighter 2 Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 2 for Expert]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Dragon Force Koushiki Guide Book]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Panzer Dragoon Zwei no Sekai: Panzer Dragoon Zwei Koushiki Guide Book]]'' (1995)
 
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*''[[Virtua Fighter Kids Fan Book]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Virtua Fighter Kids Sega Saturn Fighting Manual]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[NiGHTS Nice Night Tours]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Last Bronx Tokyo Bangaichi Koushiki Command Book]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Sakura Taisen Koushiki Guide: Sentou Hen]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Last Bronx Tokyo Bangaichi Koushiki Guide Book]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Shining the Holy Ark Koushiki Guide Book]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Sakura Taisen Koushiki Guide: Renai Hen]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Dennou Senki Virtual-On Pilot Manual for Saturn]]'' (1997)
 
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*''[[Fighters Megamix Fighting Master's Guide]]'' (1997)
 
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*''[[Shining Force III Scenario 1: Outo no Kyoshin Perfect Navi]]'' (1998)
 
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*''[[Pro Yakyuu Team mo Tsukurou! Kanzen Guide]]'' (1998)
 
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*''[[Shining Force III Scenario 2: Nerawareta Miko Perfect Navi]]'' (1998)
 
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*''[[Sakura Taisen 2 Kouryaku Guide Book: Ti no Maki]]'' (1998)
 
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*''[[Sakura Taisen 2 Kouryaku Guide Book: Ten no Maki]]'' (1998)
 
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*''[[Azel Panzer Dragoon RPG Guide Book]]'' (1998)
 
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*''[[Shining Force III Scenario 3: Hyouheki no Jashinguu Perfect Navi]]'' (1998)
 
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*''[[Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! Guide Book]]'' (1999)
 
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*''[[Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! Complete Guide]]'' (1999)
 
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|cols=3}}
 
 
==Magazines==
 
==Magazines==
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*''[[Tech Saturn]]''
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{{CompanyHistory|{{PAGENAME}}|format=Magazine}}
 +
 
 +
==Gallery==
 +
<gallery>
 +
Asciiware logo.png|Asciiware logo
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 +
{{NECRetro}}
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
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{{clear}}
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{{BookPubJP}}
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{{NECRetro}}
 
 
[[Category:Third-party accessory manufacturers]]
 
[[Category:Third-party accessory manufacturers]]
 
[[Category:Third-party print publishers]]
 
[[Category:Third-party print publishers]]

Latest revision as of 11:36, 20 February 2024

https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bc/ASCII_logo.svg

ASCII logo.svg
ASCII
Founded: 1977-05-24
Defunct: 2002 (stopped game production)
T-series code: T-21
Merged with: Kadokawa (2004)
MediaWorks (2008)
Headquarters:
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

ASCII Corporation, Inc. (アスキー) was a company founded by Kazuhiko Nishi on May 24, 1977. They primarily served as a publisher for computing magazines and books.

In its early years ASCII focused on the development of said hardware and software for it but later, when the video game market got rough in the mid-eighties, the company started to develop and publish software for popular gaming consoles of that time, namely the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Mega Drive.

Due to their success in the market, ASCII decided to establish an U.S. subsidiary in 1991 which became known as ASCII Entertainment Software (often publishing under the Asciiware brand). Additionally, ASCII created a number of controllers for Sega home console systems. The company also produced two Sega Saturn games under the "ASCII Something Good" name, primarily known for its telecom involvement.

In the following years the Japanese market of ASCII declined slowly while the US market became profitable and so another subsidiary was founded in 1998. It became known as "ASCII Game Entertainment TEChnology", or Agetec for short. Agetec's primary field of business was the publication of video games. In 1999 Agetec was spun off and became a fully independent publisher of games though business relationships remained.

In March 2002, ASCII Corporation finally ceased to distribute and publish video games on the Japanese market and started to center its attention around its early core competencies, IT- and computer-magazines like the prestigious ASCII-magazine. The software development branch was subsequently spun off as Media Leaves Inc.

Softography

System 16

SG-1000

Master System

Mega Drive

Game Gear

Saturn

Dreamcast

Accessories produced

Mega Drive

Game Gear

Saturn

Dreamcast

PlayStation 2

Books

Magazines

Gallery

  • Asciiware logo

References

Necretro-round.svg
NEC Retro has more information related to ASCII


History of Japanese Book Publishers








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Subsidiary of Sega




ASCII (1st)




MediaLeaves (Merged with Enterbrain)




Astroarts




ASCII (2nd) (Merged with Mediaworks)







Kadokawa (Enterbrain)




Gz Brain













Kadokawa (ASCII Media Works)






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