Namco

Namco Ltd. (株式会社ナムコ, Kabushiki Kaisha Namuko; alternatively ナムコ) is a video game publisher and developer founded in Tokyo, Japan as Nakamura Manufacturing in 1955.

Initially focused on mechanical toys for children, Namco moved into the video game industry and released their first game, Gee Bee in 1978. Since then they have been responsible for some of the most revolutionary and successful games released in the last thirty years, including Galaxian, the first full RGB-colour video game and Pac-Man, one of the most iconic video games of all time. Other big franchises owned by Namco include the Ridge Racer and Tekken brands.

From 1984 through 1995, Namco published their consumer software in Japan under the Namcot branding. The Namco Hometek subsidiary would later be formed in 1990 as the company's U.S. publishing arm for their console games after years of relying on other publishers (such as Tengen and Bandai) for their overseas releases.

Namco also distributed their own Sega NAOMI and Sega Chihiro systems and was one of the three Triforce partners (along with Sega and Nintendo).

On September 29, 2005, Namco's management was merged with that of Bandai to create Namco Bandai Holdings Inc., the third largest video game entity in Japan.

Softography

SG-1000

• Sega Galaga (1983)

Master System

• Pac-Mania (1991)

Mega Drive

• Burning Force (1990)
• Phelios (1990)
• Klax (Namco) (1990)
• Megapanel (1990)
• Dangerous Seed (1990)
• Pac-Mania (1991)
• Rolling Thunder 2 (1991)
• Marvel Land (1991)
• Quad Challenge (1991)
• Powerball (1991)
• Fushigi no Umi no Nadia (1991)
• Kyuukai Douchuuki (1991)
• Chibi Maruko-chan: Waku Waku Shopping (1992)
• Splatterhouse 2 (1992)
• Pac-Attack (1993)
• Rolling Thunder 3 (1993)
• Splatterhouse 3 (1993)
• Ball Jacks (1993)
• Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures (1994)
• Weaponlord (1995)

Game Gear

• Pac-Man (1991)
• Gear Stadium (1991)
• Mappy (1991)
• Wagyan Land (1991)
• Galaga '91 (1991)
• Pocket Jansou (1992)
• Ms. Pac-Man (1993)
• Pac-Attack (1994)
• Gear Stadium Heiseiban (1995)

Mega CD

• StarBlade (1994)

Dreamcast

• SoulCalibur (1999)
• Mr. Driller (2000)
• Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness (2000)
• Namco Museum (2000)

NAOMI

• Shin Nihon Pro Wrestling Toukon Retsuden 4 Arcade Edition (1999)
• Ninja Assault (2001)
• World Kicks (2001)
• Gun Survivor 2: Biohazard CODE:Veronica (2001)
• Mazan: Flash Of The Blade (2002)

Chihiro

• Wangan Midnight: Maxi Boost / Wangan Midnight : Maximum Tune (2005)
• Wangan Midnight: Maxi Boost 2 / Wangan Midnight : Maximum Tune 2 (2005)
• Wangan Midnight: Maxi Boost 2 Ver.B / Wangan Midnight : Maximum Tune 2 Ver.B (2005)

Triforce

• Donkey Kong Jungle Fever (2005)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005)
• Donkey Kong: Banana Kingdom (2006)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (2007)
• Starfox (200? TODO)

NEC Retro has more information related to Namco