Westone

Westone Bit Entertainment is a Mukoujima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan-based development company originally established in May 1986 as Escape (as in the escape key on computer keyboards). Since that name didn't exactly reinforce the image of a company to be relied upon, it was later changed to Westone. The company's name was changed yet again to Westone Bit Entertainment in April 2000. The company is best known for developing Sega's Wonder Boy series.

The Westone name is derived from the first characters of the names of company founders Ryuuichi Nishizawa (西澤龍一) (Nishi = West) and Michishito Ishizuka (石塚路志人) (Ishi = Stone).