Taito
From Sega Retro
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Taito |
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Founded: August 24, 1953 |
T-series code: T-11 |
Merged into: Square Enix (2005) |
Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
Taito Corporation (タイトー) is a video game publisher and developer known for games such as Space Invaders, Arkanoid, Bubble Bobble, Bust-A-Move and Darius. It is headquartered in Taitō (or Taito City), a special ward of Tokyo, Japan, which is where the company gets its name from.
Contents
History
On August 24, 1953, Russian-Jewish entrepreneur Michael Kogan established the Taito Trading Company. The company started its life off importing and distributing vending machines, and later jukeboxes before beginning to manufacture their own. In the 1960s it moved on to producing pinball tables, and saw its first video game released in 1973 (the same year the company was renamed Taito Corporation).
Michael Kogan passed away on February 5, 1984 while on a business trip in Los Angeles. A number of arcade industry figures wrote messages dedicated to him, including Sega figures David Rosen, Raymond Lemaire, and Hayao Nakayama.[1] Following his passing, Michael's son, Abba Kogan became chairman of Taito and Akio Nakanishi became Taito's president.
Taito distributed their own Sega NAOMI GD-ROM systems and games.
Taito was acquired by Square Enix in 2005, though the brand is still in use to this day.
Softography
NAOMI
- Cleopatra Fortune Plus (2002)
NAOMI GD-ROM
- Azumanga Daioh Puzzle Bobble (2002)
- Psyvariar 2: The Will To Fabricate (2003)
- Shikigami no Shiro II (2003)
- Usagi: Yasei no Touhai: Yamashiro Mahjong Hen (2003)
- Quiz Keitai Q mode (2003)
- Trizeal (2004)
- ExZeus (2005)
- Pochi to Nyaa (unreleased)
SG-1000
- Space Invaders (1985)
- The Legend of Kage (198x)
Master System
- Bubble Bobble (1988)
- Rastan (1989)
- Chase H.Q. (1990)
- Operation Wolf (1990)
- Darius II (1992)
- Renegade (1993)
- Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1993)
Mega Drive
- The NewZealand Story (1990)
- James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing (1990)
- Rastan Saga II (1990)
- Insector X (1990)
- Space Invaders 90 (1990)
- Rainbow Islands Extra (1990)
- Darius II (1990)
- Ultimate Qix (1991)
- Fire Mustang (1991)
- Thunder Fox (1991)
- Saint Sword (1991)
- Master of Weapon (1991)
- Mystical Fighter (1991)
- Growl (1991)
- Chase H.Q. II (1992)
- Hit the Ice (1993)
- The Flintstones (1993)
- Darius (2019)
- Darius Extra Version (2020)
- Kabuki (unreleased)
- Dragon's Lair: The Adventure Continues (unreleased)
- Lufia & The Fortress of Doom (unreleased)
Game Gear
- Chase H.Q. (1991)
- Halley Wars (1991)
- Rastan (1991)
- Bubble Bobble (1994)
- Bust-A-Move (1996)
Mega-CD
- The Ninja Warriors (1993)
- Night Striker (1993)
Mega LD
- Pyramid Patrol (1993)
- Rocket Coaster (1993)
- Hyperion (1994)
- Time Gal (1995)
Saturn
- Galactic Attack (1995)
- HatTrick Hero S (1995)
- Darius Gaiden (1995)
- Darius II (1996)
- Bust-A-Move 2: Arcade Edition (1996)
- Taito Chase H.Q. Plus S.C.I. (1996)
- Space Invaders (1996)
- Layer Section II Taikenban (1997)
- Cleopatra Fortune (1997)
- Elevator Action Returns (1997)
- Bust-A-Move 3 (1997)
- Puzzle Bobble 2X & Space Invaders (1997)
- Tokyo Shadow (1997)
- Bubble Symphony (1997)
- Densha de Go! EX (1998)
Dreamcast
- Psychic Force 2012 (1999)
- Densha de Go! 2: Kousoku-hen 3000 Bandai (2000)
- Bust-A-Move 4 (2000)
- Re-Volt (2000)
- Spirit of Speed 1937 (2001)
- Cleopatra Fortune (2001)
References
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