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Thread: Developer Obscura Vol. 2: Aicom

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    Strawberry (Level 2) CRV's Avatar
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    Default Developer Obscura Vol. 2: Aicom

    If you've heard of Aicom, chances are it was because of the Neo-Geo shooter, "Pulstar." But their works list is a little more extensive than that.

    History

    According to http://review-site.net/developer/xe.html#エイコム:

    "You establish in 1990 as subsidiary company Japanese thornback COM of [sami] industry.
    Because in 1992 with the Japan software technology it is absorbed is combined in [sami] itself,
    'at the time of view point' release of 1992 November it means [sami] industry.
    After that, it became independent, received the investment of SNK and [takara] and modified the company name to the dream atelier."

    In 1990, Sammy established a subsidiary called Nippon Eicom. In 1992, they were absorbed into Sammy. After that, they became independent. They received investment from SNK and Takara and became Yumekobo (I will not be talking about Yumekobo here). But as you will see, Aicom obviously predates 1990.

    Games

    Moero!! Junior Basket: Two on Two/Hoops by Jaleco (FC/NES, 1988)

    As proof, I submit the first screenshot. "Aicom" is written on the wall.



    P-47: The Freedom Fighter & Tenseiryu Saint Dragon by Aicom (PCE, 1989)
    Aicom published these ports of Jaleco arcade games, but I'm not so sure if they developed them (credits don't match other Aicom games).

    Ultimate Basketball/Taito Basketball by Sammy/Taito (NES/FC, 1990/1991)



    Gun-Dec/Vice: Project Doom by Sammy (FC/NES, 1991)



    Golgo 13: Dai 2 Shou: Riddle of Icarus/Golgo 13: The Mafat Conspiracy by VIC Tokai (FC/NES, 1990)

    I compared the credits to Ultimate Basketball, Hoops, and Vice: Project Doom and it checks out. Now I'm starting to wonder if maybe Aicom did other VIC games.



    Zenbei!! Pro Basket/All-Pro Basketball by VIC Tokai by (FC/NES, 1989)

    And upon closer inspection, it does look like Aicom did this VIC game (yes, I'm investigating WHILE typing up this post). It really does resemble Aicom's other NES basketball games.



    Takin' It to the Hoop by NEC (TG-16, 1990)

    Yet another Aicom basketball game.

    Viewpoint by Sammy (Neo-Geo, 1992)

    Aicom's other (and first) Neo-Geo shooter. Ported by Nexus Interact to the Gen/MD. Released in NGCD form in 1995. Given a graphical "upgrade" on the PS1.



    Janshin Densetsu by SNK (Neo-Geo CD, 1995)

    Pulstar by SNK (NG/NGCD, 1995)



    Fuuun Gokuu Ninjin by Aicom (PS1)

    Why Does It Say Aicom?

    Bomber King: Scenario 2/Blaster Master Boy by Sunsoft (GB, 1990)



    The title screen says the original game was by Aicom. But neither the NES or MSX versions of the first Bomber King seem to be by Aicom (though there is one Aicom programmer on the NES version, but everyone else seems firmly entrenched with Hudson). So what's the original game?

    Megumi Rescue by Sega (MKIII, 1988)

    Aicom has the copyright on the original game, but again, what is the original game? It looks like Aicom might have done Flying Hero on the FC, but that came the next year.

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    drowning in medals Ed Oscuro's Avatar
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    Default Re: Developer Obscura Vol. 2: Aicom

    Great writeup! So we see that simply "Sammy" is too basic. Would be nice to find out what the folks behind Vice and Viewpoint are doing today, but in the meantime this provides the answers to a few important questions

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    Peach (Level 3) NeoZeedeater's Avatar
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    Default

    I don't have any useful info to add but I must say I have been curious about the Megumi Rescue/Flying Hero relationship for a while. It does seem like a Kid Kool/Psycho Fox type scenario.

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    Strawberry (Level 2) CRV's Avatar
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    Speculation: I think Amagon and Flying Hero are by Aicom. Compare for yourself.

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    Strawberry (Level 2) CRV's Avatar
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    The credits for the Japanese version of Amagon have been uncovered (for some reason, they were cut out of the US version) and I can now confirm that it was by Aicom. With that, my suspicions have increased that FC Flying Hero is an Aicom game.

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    Strawberry (Level 2)
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    Default

    What do you think of the credits overlap between Amagon and Robowarrior?

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    Strawberry (Level 2) CRV's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by idrougge
    What do you think of the credits overlap between Amagon and Robowarrior?
    Don't ask. There's all kinds of overlapping. I give up...for tonight, anyway.

    Code:
    ------------
    Amagon (NES)
    ============
    
    PRODUCE
    Akio Inoue
    
    DESIGN
    Tokuhiro Yakemori (Tokuhiro Takemori?)*
    Hiroshi Kazama*
    
    GRAPHIC
    Mackey Ueno
    
    SOUND COMPOSER
    Kiyoshi Yokoyama
    Dota Ando
    
    PROGRAM
    Hiroyuki Okada*
    
    SPECIAL THANKS
    Hiroshi Ohta*
    
    ---------------------
    Dynamic Stadium (SFC)
    =====================
    
    VISUAL DESIGN
    Isao Suwa
    
    BG DESIGN
    Yuri Tomura*
    Hitoshi Suzuki
    
    SPRITE DESIGN
    Ken Katoku*
    
    MAIN PROGRAM
    Morikazu Aoki
    
    SUB PROGRAM
    Mitsuo Akaike
    
    DATA INPUT
    Kazuhiro Miyahara
    
    SOUND COMPOSE
    Sizlla
    Junichi Saitoh
    
    DIRECTION
    Sugar
    Yag
    
    CO OPERATE
    Nihon Puro Yakyu Kikou
    
    SPECIAL THANKS
    Tetsuro Kitagawa
    Hajime Kusano
    and Sammy All Staff
    
    --------------------
    Football Fury (SNES)
    ====================
    
    PROGRAMMER
    Hiroyuki Okada*
    
    PROGRAM ARRANGER
    Shingo Terui
    
    PLANNING DIRECTORS
    Kanmei Asakura
    Yasuhisa Kimura
    
    GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
    Kohisa
    Matajiu
    Yoshimi Takasugi*
    Keiz Marky
    Nomura Sunflower
    Ken Katoku*
    Junichiro Kobayashi
    
    SOUND COMPOSER
    Megumi Maz-ura
    
    SOUND DIRECTOR
    Sizlla Gainsbourg
    
    SOUND ENGINEER
    Magical DJ Masap
    
    SAMPLING NARRATERS
    Michael
    Matthew
    Christopher
    
    SPECIAL THANKS
    QB.Yamaguchi
    LB.Kawauso
    Ga!Ga!Ga!
    Ginga-Oh
    ...and You!
    
    PLANNING SUPERVISOR
    Showhey Sugar
    
    -----------
    Hoops (NES)
    ===========
    
    GAME DESIGN
    Kenji Nakajima
    Hiroshi Kazama*
    
    GRAPHIC ARTS
    Tsutomu Nakazawa*
    Yoshimi Takasugi*
    
    THANKS
    Tomoko
    and Mika
    
    MUSIC
    Kiyoshi Yokoyama
    Dota Ando
    Maasaki Nagakura
    
    PROGRAM
    Hiroyuki Okada*
    
    --------------------------
    Mafat Conspiracy, The (NES)
    ==========================
    
    GAME DESIGN
    Kunito Ikeda*
    
    ASSISTANT GAME DESIGN
    Tomoko Morii*
    
    ART WORK
    Tsutomu Nakazawa*
    
    ART WORK
    Miyuki Yakushiji*
    Yoshimi Takasugi*
    
    PROGRAM
    Rizaemon Morimoto
    
    MUSIC COMPOSE
    Seriinu
    
    SOUND ASSISTANT
    Warikashi Yokatta
    Ojamamusi
    Shouko Nakano
    
    TEST PLAY
    Tokuhiro Takemori*
    
    SPECIAL THANKS FOR
    Mr. Shijou
    and You
    
    SOUND EFFECT
    Toshiko Tasaki
    
    ------------
    Pulstar (AC)
    ============
    
    Nenko*
    M. Yoshida
    T. Nagakubo
    Naomi
    Daikiti
    Ken Katoku (K. Katoku)*
    K. Urahama
    K. Okabe
    Toshio. I
    Yamadasan
    Shion
    F. Ryuze
    
    -------------------------
    Ultimate Basketball (NES)
    =========================
    
    GAME DESIGN
    Kunito Ikeda*
    
    ART WORK
    Tsutomu Nakazawa*
    Miyuki Yakushiji*
    Sadao Watanabe
    Yoshimi Takasugi*
    
    GAME PROGRAMMER
    Hiroyuki Okada*
    
    MUSIC COMPOSER
    Dota Ando
    
    SOUND EFFECT
    Masaaki Nagakura
    
    Tomoko Morii*
    
    ------------------------
    Vice: Project Doom (NES)
    ========================
    
    STAFF CREDITS
    Hiroyuki Okada*
    Kiyoshi Yokoyama
    Tsutomu Nakazawa*
    Miyuki Yakushiji*
    Hiroshi Takeuchi*
    Michio Sato
    Nenko*
    
    --------------
    Viewpoint (NG)
    ==============
    
    GAME DESIGNERS
    Nenko*
    Tomoko Morii (Morii)*
    Terasaka
    Mokichi
    Akahoushi
    Run
    
    PROGRAMMERS
    S. Kinjo
    M. Tani
    
    SOUND
    Sizla
    Masaki Kase
    Megumi M.
    
    POLYGONIZER
    N. Yamaguchi
    
    GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
    Ashin
    Hiroshi Takeuchi (H. Takeuchi)
    Yuri Tomura*
    Maxma
    Miyaki
    Ken Katoku*
    Chirico
    
    BG DESIGNERS
    Hiroppi T.
    K. Nishithuka
    
    """""Are These By Aicom?"""""
    
    ---------------
    Angel Kids (AC)
    ===============
    
    From highscore table: Akio Inoue? (INOUE), (HAMADA), Hiroshi Ohta* (OHTA), (II3UKA), (SATOH), Tomoko Sugoh (SUGOH), Yoshimi Takasugi* (TAKASUGI), (HIRANO)
    
    ------------------
    Astyanax, The (AC)
    ==================
    
    Produced and directed by : Tokuhiro Takemori*
    Game designers : Tokuhiro Takemori*, Nenko*
    Graphic designers : Nenko*, Ns Naochan, Kan-Chan, Tomoko Sugoh
    Programmed by : Satoru K
    Music composed by : Kiyoshi Yokoyama
    
    --------------------------
    Legendary Axe, The (TG-16)
    ==========================
    
    GAME DESIGNERS
    Tokuhiro Takemori
    Abu
    
    PROGRAMMERS
    Tsurumoku
    P-Okabe
    Jun Yasuda
    
    GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
    Abu
    Shigenori Hashimoto
    Tomoko Sugou
    
    SOUND COMPOSERS
    Atsushi Chikuma
    Toshiaki Takimoto
    
    TEST PLAYERS
    Jun Yasuda
    P-Okabe
    
    SPECIAL THANKS
    Mr. Aoyama
    Ono-chan
    
    -------------------------
    Riddle of Pythagoras (AC)
    =========================
    
    Original story by : Teruo Ohhira
    Produced by Exa Planning.
    Producer : Mr. Large Coin
    Game designers : Hiroshi Ohta*, Tokuhiro Takemori*
    Development adviser : Kenji Nakajima
    Character designers : Buta-Kun, Tomoko Sugoh, Tetsushi Nakamura, Keisuke Abe
    System supervisor : Akimichi Oda
    Sound composers : Jiroh Itaya, Victory Ozawa
    Programmers &#58; Mamoru Shiratani, Yuuki <3 Miku
    
    ------------------
    RoboWarrior &#40;NES&#41;
    ==================
    
    ORIGINAL STORY
    Hiroshi Ohta*
    
    PRODUCED BY
    M9 Team
    
    DIRECTOR
    Hiroshi Ohta*
    
    GAME DESIGNER
    Tokuhiro Takemori*
    
    PROGRAMMER
    Toshiyuki Sasagawa
    Hiroyuki Okada*
    
    CHARACTER DESIGNER
    Tsuguyuki Yamamoto
    Kouji Matsuura
    Tomomi Wajima
    Mio Kuwabara
    
    MUSIC COMPOSER
    Uhei Inoh
    Kinoko Kunimoto
    
    SOUND DESIGNER
    Toshiaki Takimoto
    
    DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR
    Kenji Nakashima
    Toshiaru Ura
    
    SPECIAL THANKS FOR
    Motchi
    Kinnoji
    Lu Iwabuchi
    Happy Matsunaga
    
    Super Bonk &#40;SFC&#41;
    http&#58;//bonk.classicgaming.gamespy.com/credits-cg.shtml

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    Quote Originally Posted by CRV
    Speculation: I think Amagon and Flying Hero are by Aicom. Compare for yourself.
    Aicom was established in 1990. According to the database here, Amagon and Flying Hero both came out before 1990. Therefore it could have just been future Aicom staff members as opposed to Aicom itself. Do you have any proof other than just names in credits?
    Y helo thar.

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    So basically, you've concluded that a bunch of Sammy/Vic Tokai/Jaleco games were really done by Aicom?
    Y helo thar.

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    Strawberry (Level 2) CRV's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dart
    Aicom was established in 1990. According to the database here, Amagon and Flying Hero both came out before 1990. Therefore it could have just been future Aicom staff members as opposed to Aicom itself. Do you have any proof other than just names in credits?
    There's very little history on Aicom prior to 1990, but looking at these screenshots, it's obvious they were around. 1990 is the year Aicom became a subsidiary of Sammy.

    Hoops (NES) (1989)
    Note "Aicom" is written on the wall


    Megumi Rescue (SMS) (1988)


    Quote Originally Posted by Dart
    So basically, you've concluded that a bunch of Sammy/Vic Tokai/Jaleco games were really done by Aicom?
    Yes

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    As a fan of both Vice: Project Doom and Pulstar, I'm very intrigued by this discovery. I remember that some people thought Aicom was just a re-formed Irem back when Pulstar came out, largely because of the game's R-Type atmosphere. I guess they were wrong.

    The Vic Tokai connection is especially interesting. Do you think any Aicom staffers worked on the Trouble Shooter games?
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kid Fenris
    The Vic Tokai connection is especially interesting. Do you think any Aicom staffers worked on the Trouble Shooter games?
    IIRC, the Trouble Shooter games (as well as Socket/Time Dominator) were done by the same team that did Psycho Fox, Decap Attack, Whip Rush, etc...you'll notice that the item carrier in Trouble Shooter/Battle Mania is the ship from Whip Rush, and Socket makes a cameo in Battle Mania Daiginjou. This particular team is believed to be Vic Tokai's internal development staff. The name "Studio Uchuu Tetsujin" ("Studio Space Iron Men") is given in the TS games, but I read somewhere that it was just a staff club at Vic Tokai.

    AFAIK there's no connection to Aicom for these particular games. CRV could probably refute this if he wanted, though.

    Also, the sound in both TS games and Socket were done by another company called Graphic Research.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dimitri
    This particular team is believed to be Vic Tokai's internal development staff. The name "Studio Uchuu Tetsujin" ("Studio Space Iron Men") is given in the TS games, but I read somewhere that it was just a staff club at Vic Tokai.
    That's probably true; it'd fit the anime-parody style of the Trouble Shooter games.

    Vic Tokai's game history is really interesting to me. I'd like to start another thread to discuss such important matters as which team made Clash at Demonhead and The Krion Conquest, what AIMO was, and whether or not the people behind the first Golgo 13 game also made WURM.
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    The end credits for Totally Rad (NES) says "PRESENTED BY AICOM". It was published by Jaleco both in America and Japan (Magic John).

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    Nice article about Aicom.

    The games listed i played only this games:
    - Gun Dec / Vice Project Doom ( Famicom / NES )
    - Megumi Rescue ( Sega Mark III / Master System )

    I played Gun Dec / Vice Project Doom in my counsinīs home and i like this game. His plot is a union between police movies with sci-fi movies.
    I played Megumi Rescue in emulator. In my opinion this game is strange for me beacuse for his genre is uncommon for me.

    I interested in play this games by Aicom:
    - Viewpoint ( Neo Geo )
    - Jashin Densetsu ( Neo Geo and Neo Geo CD )
    - Pulstar (Neo Geo and Neo Geo CD )
    - Fuun Goku Ninjin ( Playstation 1 )

    I had a question:
    - What the genres of Jashin Densetsu for Neo Geo and Neo Geo CD and Fuun Goku Ninjin for Playstation 1?

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    Quote Originally Posted by B - Mark
    I had a question:
    - What the genres of Jashin Densetsu for Neo Geo and Neo Geo CD and Fuun Goku Ninjin for Playstation 1?
    Jashin Densetsu is a Mahjong game. Not sure about the other one.

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    Quote Originally Posted by idrougge
    The end credits for Totally Rad (NES) says "PRESENTED BY AICOM". It was published by Jaleco both in America and Japan (Magic John).
    Thanks for pointing that out. The credits don't look familiar, though.

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    Dimitri looked at the sound code from Amagon and it also appears in Chuugoku Senseijutsu, Seiryaku Simulation: Inbou no Wakusei: Shancara, and Wurm. In my opinion, these very well could be Aicom games.

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    Quote Originally Posted by CRV
    Dimitri looked at the sound code from Amagon and it also appears in Chuugoku Senseijutsu, Seiryaku Simulation: Inbou no Wakusei: Shancara, and Wurm. In my opinion, these very well could be Aicom games.
    I don't know about its sound coding, but Wurm was designed and directed by Shouichi Yoshikawa, who also helmed the first Golgo 13 NES game. He worked on some other Vic Tokai games, according to the "game history" on his site, but his only connection to Aicom seems to be some preliminary work he did on the second Golgo 13 title.
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    I'm bumping this with a little more info on Wurm. According to the credits on Yoshikawa's site, one of the game's lead planners was Hiroshi Kazama, who appears to have been an Aicom regular. The music (which is really the only good thing about Wurm) was written by Dota Ando, who worked on the soundtracks for several Aicom titles, including Amagon. That'd explain the similarity in the sound code.
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