Koei
From Sega Retro
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Koei | ||
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Founded: 1978 | ||
T-series code: T-76 | ||
Merged with: Tecmo | ||
Merged into: Koei Tecmo | ||
Headquarters:
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Koei Co., Ltd. (株式会社コーエー Kabushiki gaisha Kōē, formerly 光栄 (Kōei)) is a Japanese video game publisher, developer, and distributor founded in 1978. The company is best known for its historical simulation games based on the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as well as simulation games based on historical events.
The company has also found mainstream success in a series of loosely historical action games, the flagship titles of which are Dynasty Warriors (真・三國無双 (Shin-Sangoku Musō)) and Samurai Warriors (戦国無双 (Sengoku Musō)), the Musō (無双) series. Koei also owns a division known as Ruby Party, which focuses in dating sim games.
Contents
History
Koei was established in July 1978 by Yoichi Erikawa and Keiko Erikawa. Yoichi was a student at Keio University, and when his family's rural dyestuffs business failed he decided to pursue his interest in programming. The company to this day is located in the Hiyoshi area of Yokohama along with Erikawa's alma mater, and the company's name is simply a spoonerism of the school's.
The company initially focused on personal computer sales and made-to-order business software. In 1983 it released Nobunaga's Ambition (信長の野望 Nobunaga no Yabō), a historical strategy game set during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. The game went on to receive numerous awards, and Koei produced several more such games set against the backdrop of world history, including Romance of the Three Kingdoms, set during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history, and Uncharted Waters (大航海時代 Dai Kōkai Jidai; lit. Great Navigation Era), set in Portugal during the Age of Exploration.
In 1988, Koei established a North American subsidiary, Koei Corporation, in California. This subsidiary localized Koei games for export to all territories outside of Japan, as well as producing original games and concepts with the leadership of designer Stieg Hedlund. After Hedlund's departure, this subsidiary ceased game development in 1995, focusing instead on localization, sales and marketing.
On September 4, 2008, Koei announced that it was in talks to purchase ailing competitor Tecmo. They agreed in November 2008 to merge on April 1, 2009 to form Koei Tecmo, with the combined American division being named Tecmo Koei. On January 26, 2009 the two companies approved the merger, and the holding company formed on April 1, 2009, as planned.
Softography
Mega Drive
- Nobunaga no Yabou: Bushou Fuuunroku (1991)
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (1991)
- Aerobiz (1992)
- Uncharted Waters (1992)
- Gemfire (1992)
- P.T.O.: Pacific Theater of Operations (1992)
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms III: Dragon of Destiny (1992)
- Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (1993)
- Operation Europe: Path to Victory 1939-45 (1993)
- Taikou Risshiden (1993)
- Nobunaga's Ambition (1993)
- Aerobiz Supersonic (1994)
- Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden (1994)
- Daikoukai Jidai II (1994)
- Liberty or Death (1994)
Mega-CD
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms III: Dragon of Destiny (1993)
- Winning Post (1993)
- Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (1993)
- Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden (1994)
Saturn
- Nobunaga no Yabou Tenshouki Hibaihin (1995)
- EMIT Vol. 1: Toki no Maigo (1995)
- EMIT Vol. 2: Inochigake no Tabi (1995)
- EMIT Vol. 3: Watashi ni Sayonara o (1995)
- Sangokushi IV (1995)
- Winning Post EX (1995)
- Nobunaga no Yabou Tenshouki (1995)
- EMIT Value Set (1995)
- Sangokushi Eiketsuden (1996)
- Sangokushi V (1996)
- Pacific Theater of Operations II (1996)
- Heir of Zendor: The Legend and The Land (1996)
- Winning Post 2 (1996)
- Air Management '96 (1996)
- Angelique Special (1996)
- Nobunaga no Yabou Returns (1996)
- Nanatsu no Hikan (1996)
- Mahjong Taikai II Special (1996)
- Winning Post 2 Program '96 (1996)
- Hideyoshi Nobunaga Set (1996)
- Taikou Risshiden II (1996)
- Suikoden: Tenmei no Chikai (1996)
- AMOK (1997)
- Sangokushi Returns (1997)
- Value Set Series: Nobunaga no Yabou Tenshouki & Nobunaga no Yabou Returns (1997)
- Value Set Series: Sangokushi V & Sangokushi Returns (1997)
- Fushigi no Kuni no Angelique (1997)
- Daikoukai Jidai II (1997)
- Sangokushi Koumeiden (1997)
- SS Adventure Pack: Nanatsu no Hikan & Myst (1997)
- Angelique Special 2 (1997)
- Dark Hunter Ijigen Gakuen (1997)
- Game Nihonshi: Kakumeiji Oda Nobunaga (1997)
- Dark Hunter Youma no Mori (1997)
- Teitoku no Ketsudan III (1997)
- Nobunaga no Yabou Tenshouki with Power-Up Kit (1997)
- Sangokushi IV with Power-Up Kit (1997)
- Ishin no Arashi (1997)
- Söldnerschild (1997)
- Mouri Motonari: Chikai no Sanshi (1997)
- Winning Post 2 Final '97 (1997)
- Suikoden Tendou 108 Sei (1997)
- Daikoukai Jidai Gaiden (1998)
- Teitoku no Ketsudan III with Power-Up Kit (1998)
- Nobunaga no Yabou Shouseiroku (1998)
- Winning Post 3 (1998)
- Nobunaga no Yabou Sengoku Gunyuuden (1998)
- Druid: Yami-He no Tsuiseki Sha (1998)
- Angelique Duet (1998)
- Winning Post 3 Program '98 (1998)
- Game Nihonshi: Tenka Bito Hideyoshi to Ieyasu (unreleased)
- Virtua Park: The Fish (unreleased)
Dreamcast
- Mahjong Taikai II Special (1999)
- Nobunaga no Yabou: Shouseiroku with Power-Up Kit (1999)
- Sangokushi VI (1999)
- Nobunaga no Yabou: Reppuden (1999)
- Nanatsu no Hikan: Senritsu no Bishou (2000)
- Winning Post 4 Program 2000 (2000)
- Sangokushi VI with Power-Up Kit (2000)
Accessories produced
Books
- Rampo Virtual Guide Book (1995)
- Nobunaga no Yabou Tenshouki Hyper Guide Book Gekan (1995)
- Nobunaga no Yabou Tenshouki Hyper Guide Book Joukan (1995)
- World Advanced Daisenryaku: Koutetsu no Senpuu Complete File (1995)
- Teitoku no Ketsudan II Hyper Guide Book (1996)
- Gungriffon Hyper Guide Book (1996)
- World Advanced Daisenryaku: Sakusen File Koushiki Guide (1996)
- Gungriffon Complete File (1996)
- Pro Yakyuu Greatest Nine 97 Perfect File (1997)
- Moon Cradle Official Guidebook (1997)
- Söldnerschild Official Guide Book (1997)
- Ishin no Arashi Hyper Guide Book (1997)
- Ochige Designer Tsukutte pon! Official Guide Book (1997)
- July Official Guide Book (1999)
- Advanced Daisenryaku: Europe no Arashi - Deutsch Dengeki Sakusen Heiki File (2000)
- Nanatsu no Hikan: Senritsu no Bishou Hyper Guide Book (2000)
- Derby Tsuku: Derby Ba o Tsukurou! Kettou Kanzen File (2000)
- Kaenseibo: The Virgin on Megiddo Complete Works (2001)
Gallery
External links
NEC Retro has more information related to Koei
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