ASCII
From Sega Retro
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| ASCII | ||
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| Founded: 1977-05-24 | ||
| Defunct: 2002 (stopped game production) | ||
| T-series code: T-21 | ||
| Merged with: MediaWorks (2008) | ||
Headquarters:
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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.
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. 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.
In 2008 ASCII was absorbed by MediaWorks, becoming ASCII Media Works, a subsidiary of Kadokawa.
Contents
Softography
Master System
Game Gear
- Solitaire Poker (1991)
Mega Drive
- Double Clutch (1993)
- AWS Pro Moves Soccer (1994) (as ASCII Entertainment)
Saturn
- Kakinoki Shougi (1995)
- Mahjong Ganryuujima (1995)
- Jikuu Tantei DD (Dracula Detective): Maboroshi no Lorelei (1996)
- Shin Kaitei Gunkan: Koutetsu no Kodoku (1997)
- Wizardry: Llylgamyn Saga (1998) (as ASCII Entertainment)
- Game Basic for SegaSaturn (1998)
- Simulation RPG Tsukuru (1998)
- Linda³ Kanzenban (1998)
- Derby Stallion (1999)
Dreamcast
- Panzer Front (as ASCII Entertainment)
- Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage (2000)
- Lack of Love (2000)
- Metal Max: Wild Eyes (unreleased)
Hardware produced
Master System
- ASCII Stick α (1987)
Mega Drive
- 6 Button Arcade Fighter Pad
- AsciiPad MD
- ASCII Fighter Stick SG-6
- AsciiPad SG-6
- Capcom Pad Soldier MD
- Mega Pad
- Mega Stick
- Rhino Pad
Saturn
Dreamcast
PlayStation
- tambourine controller for MiniMoni. Shaker tto Tambourine! Dapyon!
PlayStation 2
- Trance Vibrator for Rez
Books
- Virtua Fighter Maniax (1994)
- Shining Force CD Koushiki Guide Book (1994)
- Virtua Fighter Maniax Replays (1994)
- Virtua Fighter Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 1 for Novice (1994)
- Virtua Fighter Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 2 for Expert (1995)
- Shining Wisdom Koushiki Guide Book (1995)
- Virtua Fighter Remix Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Complete (1995)
- Virtua Fighter 2 Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 1 for Novice (1995)
- Dennou Senki Virtual-On Ace Pilot Yousei Text (1996)
- Sega Rally Championship Course Attack Manual (1996)
- Virtua Fighter 2 Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 2 for Expert (1996)
- Dragon Force Koushiki Guide Book (1996)
- Panzer Dragoon Zwei no Sekai: Panzer Dragoon Zwei Koushiki Guide Book (1995)
- Virtua Fighter Kids Fan Book (1996)
- Virtua Fighter Kids Sega Saturn Fighting Manual (1996)
- NiGHTS Nice Night Tours (1996)
- Last Bronx Tokyo Bangaichi Koushiki Command Book (1996)
- Sakura Taisen Koushiki Guide: Sentou Hen (1996)
- Last Bronx Tokyo Bangaichi Koushiki Guide Book (1996)
- Shining the Holy Ark Koushiki Guide Book (1996)
- Sakura Taisen Koushiki Guide: Renai Hen (1996)
- Dennou Senki Virtual-On Pilot Manual for Saturn (1997)
- Fighters Megamix Fighting Master's Guide (1997)
- Shining Force III Scenario 1: Outo no Kyoshin Perfect Navi (1998)
- Pro Yakyuu Team mo Tsukurou! Kanzen Guide (1998)
- Shining Force III Scenario 2: Nerawareta Miko Perfect Navi (1998)
- Sakura Taisen 2 Kouryaku Guide Book: Ti no Maki (1998)
- Sakura Taisen 2 Kouryaku Guide Book: Ten no Maki (1998)
- Azel Panzer Dragoon RPG Guide Book (1998)
- Shining Force III Scenario 3: Hyouheki no Jashinguu Perfect Navi (1998)
- Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! Guide Book (1999)
- Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! Complete Guide (1999)
Magazines
References
 NEC Retro has more information related to ASCII
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