Ultra...where did they go?

[boatofcar]

Looking at my NES collection, I've noticed that a lot of my favorite games were published (is that the right word) by Ultra. TMNT, Skate or Die, Q*Bert, etc. Did they just kind of fade away over the years?

[NeoZeedeater]

Konami didn't need them as a label past the NES. They were originally created as a second licensee by Konami because Nintendo limited the number of games third-parties could publish.

[boatofcar]

Konami didn't need them as a label past the NES. They were originally created as a second licensee by Konami because Nintendo limited the number of games third-parties could publish.

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for the info! :D

[Mayhem]

As a third party publisher for the NES, Konami were limited like all the rest to five releases per year by Nintendo themselves. To get around this, many companies created other labels or side companies to publish additional titles.

[Snapple]

That makes sense. So Ultra is basically Konami.

Base Wars is another Ultra game for the NES. I've had quite a lot of fun with that one.

[shoes23]

Yepp, Ultra Games was just a subsidary of Konami so they could bypass the "5 games per company per year" rule. Acclaim did the same with LJN. I just completed an Ultra Games collection and the variety of games are fantastic. From adventure (Nightshade, Star Trek), strategy (Silent Service, Pirates!, and Defender of the Crown), to action (the first two TMNT games). They published some of my favorite games as well.

[Moo Cow]

I do LOVE Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.
It's one of my few games I can still find.

[joshnickerson]

Acclaim did the same with LJN.

Oh, so THAT's why the games made by both companies were so sh*tty. I knew both companies sucked, but I never knew they were actually the same.

[Jorpho]

I know Operation C for the Game Boy also had the Ultra name. What's up with that?

[Red Warrior]

So what about Tradewest? Were they a second licensee to someone? Or did they have a second licensee themselves? I've always wondered this.

[ShinobiMan]

Konami should bring them back. Would be a nice little blast from the past seeing that name on a new game.

[Chuplayer]

So what about Tradewest? Were they a second licensee to someone? Or did they have a second licensee themselves? I've always wondered this.

I think they were part of Midway.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I know Operation C for the Game Boy also had the Ultra name. What's up with that?

Probably because of the same reasons, to get around the limitation.

I think Tradewest -was- an independent company. I don't recall them selling any Midway titles; weren't those ported and sold by Acclaim and their usual companies?

[Bratwurst]

Just want to mention something obvious but most titles published under LJN, Ultra, etc. were known brands so it was less risky to do it that way. Turd Burglars Inc. could have come out with a TMNT game and it still would have sold well.

[killersquirel]

tradewest was bought out by WMS in the late 80's. WMS is the parent company of Williams. They bought Midway, and then they bought tradewest.

-mike

[Jorpho]

I know Operation C for the Game Boy also had the Ultra name. What's up with that?

Probably because of the same reasons, to get around the limitation.

So Nintendo did have limitations for the Game Boy at the time as well? I also can't quite recall if there were other games for the Game Boy released by Ultra.

[Ed Oscuro]

Konami should bring them back. Would be a nice little blast from the past seeing that name on a new game.
Yeah, while we're at it, I want $100 dollar games and an effectiveone-console monopoly, please.

Bratwurst makes a great point about the branding. It wouldn't help the Konami brand to be associated with crap, but as long as the games were halfway decent they could get away with it.

I didn't know about LJN/Acclaim. Thanks, shoes.

[Xexyz]

So Nintendo did have limitations for the Game Boy at the time as well? I also can't quite recall if there were other games for the Game Boy released by Ultra.

Nemesis and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan were also released under the subsidiary Ultra, for the GB.

[JPeeples]

What about Flying Edge? Was that another Acclaim subsidiary made to get around these things? Or was it just an Acclaim company made to produce ports?

[eightbitonline]

tradewest was an independant company, but if you look at their track record on the NES you can see that they published mostly RARE's NES efforts (Nintendo themselves also published a lot of RARE stuff).

i've sometimes wondered about tradewest though, 'cause for some reason i think they were credited on some NES games as a third entity. like for example on a game developed by Technos and published by Acclaim they might be credited somewhere in there for god knows what, maybe NA distribution rights to the brand (i.e.- double dragon) but not the game program itself. i can't think of any examples right now. has anyone else noticed this?

[neuropolitique]

So Nintendo did have limitations for the Game Boy at the time as well? I also can't quite recall if there were other games for the Game Boy released by Ultra.

Yup, Nintendo had similar restrictions on Game Boy releases, which were circumvented by these companies.

I'm not sure about Ultra, but LJN was a separate company which Acclaim then bought to get around the restrictions. LJN pretty much continued to act as a separate company, making toys and such, till Acclaim went under.

[idrougge]

Konami also had the PALCOM brand in Europe. TMHT was released with both Ultra and PALCOM logos.

[§ Gideon §]

i've sometimes wondered about tradewest though, 'cause for some reason i think they were credited on some NES games as a third entity. like for example on a game developed by Technos and published by Acclaim they might be credited somewhere in there for god knows what, maybe NA distribution rights to the brand (i.e.- double dragon) but not the game program itself. i can't think of any examples right now. has anyone else noticed this?
Yes. I can't shed any light, but yeah I know what you're talking about.

[CRV]

What about Flying Edge? Was that another Acclaim subsidiary made to get around these things? Or was it just an Acclaim company made to produce ports?

Like LJN, I believe Flying Edge existed before Acclaim owned them (but don't quote me on that).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LJN