- Nihon Falcom
-
Nihon Falcom Type Public kabushiki kaisha Traded as TYO: 3723 Industry Video games Founded March 1981 Headquarters Japan Key people Masayuki Kato, Founder
Toshihiro Kondo, PresidentProducts Dragon Slayer
Xanadu
The Legend of Heroes
Ys
Brandish
Vantage Master
ZweiWebsite www.falcom.com Nihon Falcom Corporation (日本ファルコム株式会社 Nihon Farukomu Kabushiki-kaisha) is a Japanese computer game company. The company was founded in March 1981 by Masayuki Kato. Falcom has played a definite role in the growth and development of the Japanese personal computer software industry. The company released the first Japanese computer role-playing game in 1983 and followed with real-time action and adventure games as well as games with fully developed soundtracks. They were pioneers of the action role-playing game genre[1] and Japanese role-playing game industry,[2][3] and remain one of the oldest role-playing game developers still in existence today.[3]
Contents
Overview
Falcom were one of the three most important Japanese role-playing video game developers in the 1980s, alongside Enix and Square,[2] both of which were influenced by Falcom.[2][4] Falcom's flagship titles include the Dragon Slayer, The Legend of Heroes and Ys series. In the 1980s, these franchises, particularly Dragon Slayer, were responsible for setting the template for the action role-playing game genre,[1] and laying the foundations for the Japanese role-playing game industry.[2] With more than 400,000 copies sold, Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu (1985) was the best-selling personal computer game in Japan.[5]
While most of Falcom's games have been ported to various video game consoles of all generations, they have only developed a few non-PC video games themselves. The company's decision to develop mainly for PCs rather than consoles set them apart from their main rivals, Enix and Square, but limited the company's popularity in the Western world.[2][3] Nevertheless, in terms of the number of game releases, Falcom's flagship Ys series is second only to Final Fantasy as the largest Eastern role-playing game franchise.[6]
Falcom was also a pioneer in video game music, with their early soundtracks mostly composed by chiptune musicians Yuzo Koshiro and Mieko Ishikawa,[6][7] and some arranged by Ryo Yonemitsu.[7][8] They were the first company to produce game music CDs, the first to apply vocals to game music, and the first to have a band composed of professional musicians dedicated to games, the Falcom Sound Team JDK.[6] Falcom's Ys soundtracks in particular are considered some of the finest and most influential role-playing game scores of all time.[9]
Published works
System indicated reflects the first release (or concurrent releases) of the game.
- (1982.06) Galactic Wars (PC-8801)
- (1983.10) Super Mahjong (X1)
- (1983.10) Bird Land (PC-8001)
- (1983.10) Computer the Golf (PC-8801)
- (1983.10) Horror House (PC-8801)
- (1983.10) Cosmo Fighter II (X1)
- (1983.11) Private Stripper (PC-8801)
- (1983.12) SSGN Covert Cruise Special Attack Strategy (FM-8)
- (1983.12) Panorama Island (PC-8801)
- (1983.12) Horror House Part-II (PC-8801)
- (1984.01) Monster House (MZ-2200)
- (1984.03) Demon's Ring (PC-8801)
- (1984.06) The Threat of North (PC-6001)
- (1984.07) Escape from Twilight Zone (FM-7)
- (1984.11) Dragon Slayer (PC-8801)
- (1985.04) Asteka (PC-8801)
- (1985.10.28) Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu (PC-8801)
- (1986.10) Xanadu Scenario 2: The Resurrection of Dragon (PC-8801)
- (1986.10.06) Asteka II: Templo del Sol (PC-8801)
- (1986.10.24) Dragon Slayer Jr.: Romancia (PC-8801)
- (1987.06.21) Ys: Ancient Ys Vanished Omen (PC-8801)
- (1987.07.17) Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family (Famicom)
- (1987.12.20) Dragon Slayer V: Sorcerian (PC-8801)
- (1988.04.22) Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapter (PC-8801)
- (1989.03) Star Trader (PC-8801)
- (1989.07.21) Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (PC-8801/PC-9801)
- (1989.12.10) Dragon Slayer VI: The Legend of Heroes (PC-8801/PC-9801)
- (1990.12.21) DINOSAUR (PC-8801)
- (1991.03.21) Dragon Slayer VII: Lord Monarch (PC-9801)
- (1991.10.25) Brandish (PC-9801)
- (1991.12.20) Popful Mail (PC-8801/PC-9801)
- (1992.03.19) Dragon Slayer VI: The Legend of Heroes II (PC-8801/PC-9801)
- (1993.03.12) Brandish 2: Planet Buster (PC-9801)
- (1994.02.18) Dragon Slayer VIII: The Legend of Xanadu (PC Engine CD)
- (1994.03.18) The Legend of Heroes III: White Witch (PC-9801)
- (1994.06.10) Popful Mail (Super Famicom)
- (1994.11.25) Brandish 3: Spirit of Balcan (PC-9801)
- (1995.04.28) Revival Xanadu (PC-9801)
- (1995.06.30) The Legend of Xanadu II: The Last of Dragon Slayer (PC Engine CD)
- (1995.12.08) Revival Xanadu II Remix (PC-9801)
- (1995.12.29) Ys V: Kefin, The Lost City of Sand (Super Famicom)
- (1996.05.24) The Legend of Heroes IV: A Red Drop (PC-9801)
- (1996.10.04) Brandish VT (PC-9801)
- (1996.12.22) Lord Monarch Original (Windows PC)
- (1997.03) Lord Monarch First (Windows PC)
- (1997.04.25) The Legend of Heroes (Windows PC)
- (1997.05) Lord Monarch Pro (Windows PC)
- (1997.06.27) Sorcerian Forever (Windows PC)
- (1997.12.12) Vantage Master (Windows PC)
- (1998.04.24) Ys 1 ETERNAL (Windows PC)
- (1998.07.10) Vantage Master V2 (Windows PC)
- (1998.10.30) Monarch Monarch (Windows PC)
- (1998.12.11) Brandish 4 (Windows PC)
- (1999.04.23) The Legend of Heroes III: White Witch (Windows PC)
- (1999.12.09) The Legend of Heroes V: A Cagesong of the Ocean (Windows PC)
- (2000.07.06) Ys 2 ETERNAL (Windows PC)
- (2000.11.07) Sorcerian Original (Windows PC)
- (2000.12.07) The Legend of Heroes IV: A Tear of Vermillion (Windows PC)
- (2001.06.26) Ys 1&2 Complete (Windows PC)
- (2001.12.20) Zwei!! (Windows PC)
- (2002.06.27) VM Japan (Windows PC)
- (2002.12.19) Dinosaur Resurrection (Windows PC)
- (2003.09.27) Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim (Windows PC)
- (2004.06.24) The Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no Kiseki (Windows PC)
- (2004.12.25) Gurumin (Windows PC)
- (2005.06.30) RINNE (Windows PC)
- (2005.06.30) Ys: The Oath in Felghana (Windows PC)
- (2005.10.29) Xanadu Next (Windows PC)
- (2006.03.09) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki Second Chapter (Windows PC)
- (2006.06.29) Gurumin (PSP)
- (2006.09.28) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki First Chapter (PSP)
- (2006.12.21) Ys Origin (Windows PC)
- (2007.06.28) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki The 3rd (Windows PC)
- (2007.09.27) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki Second Chapter (PSP)
- (2008.04.24) Vantage Master Portable (PSP)
- (2008.07.24) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki The 3rd (PSP)
- (2008.09.25) Zwei II (Windows PC)
- (2008.12.11) Zwei!! (PSP)
- (2009.03.19) Brandish: Dark Revenant (PSP)
- (2009.07.16) Ys I & II Chronicles (PSP)
- (2009.09.17) Ys Seven (PSP)
- (2009.12.24) Ys I & II Chronicles (Windows PC)
- (2010.04.22) Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP)
- (2010.07.29) Ys vs. Sora no Kiseki: Alternative Saga (PSP)
- (2010.09.30) The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki (PSP)
- (2011.09.29) The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki (PSP)
- (TBA) Ys: Woodland of Celceta (PlayStation Vita)
- (TBA) The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki (PlayStation Vita)
English-localized products
Many of these titles were not developed by Falcom, and in some cases bear little resemblance to the original game.
- Faxanadu (NES) Nintendo
- Tombs & Treasure (NES) Brøderbund Software
- Ys: The Vanished Omens (SMS) Sega
- Ancient Land of Ys (DOS) Brøderbund Software
- Legacy of the Wizard (NES) Brøderbund Software
- Sorcerian (DOS PC) Brøderbund Software
- Ys Book I & II (Turbo CD) NEC Home Entertainment
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (Genesis) Renovation Productions
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (Super NES) American Sammy
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (Turbo CD) Turbo Technologies
- Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (Turbo CD) Turbo Technologies
- Brandish (SNES) Koei
- Popful Mail: Magical Fantasy Adventure (Sega CD) Working Designs
- Xanadu Next (N-Gage) Nokia
- Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion (PSP) Namco Bandai Games
- Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch (PSP) Namco Bandai Games
- Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean (PSP) Namco Bandai Games
- Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2 and PSP) Konami
- Ys Book 1 (mobile) Hudson
- Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PSP) Mastiff Games
- Ys Book I & II (Virtual Console) Hudson
- Legacy of Ys: Books I & II (DS) Atlus
- Ys Seven (PSP) XSEED Games
- Ys I & II Chronicles (PSP) XSEED Games
- Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP) XSEED Games
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky: First Chapter (PSP) XSEED Games
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky: Second Chapter (PSP) XSEED Games
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky: Third Chapter (PSP) XSEED Games
Many Falcom games have been licensed and developed by other companies such as NEC, Hudson Soft, Epoch, Tokyo Shoseki (aka Tonkin House), Sega, RIOT, Victor, Koei and Konami, for various PC and video game systems.
See also
References
- ^ a b Bailey, Kat (May 18, 2010). "Hack and Slash: What Makes a Good Action RPG?". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9030743. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
- ^ a b c d e Szczepaniak, John (7 July 2011). "Falcom: Legacy of Ys". GamesTM (111): 152–159 [153]. http://imageshack.us/f/32/yshistory02.jpg/. Retrieved 2011-09-07. (cf. Szczepaniak, John (July 8, 2011). "History of Ys interviews". Hardcore Gaming 101. http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2011/07/history-of-ys-interviews-by-john.html. Retrieved 6 September 2011.)
- ^ a b c Gifford, Kevin (09/07/2011). "The Trail of Nihon Falcom: The president of Japan's oldest existing RPG maker speaks". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/news/trail-nihon-falcom. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ John Harris (July 2, 2009). "Game Design Essentials: 20 RPGs - Dragon Slayer". Gamasutra. p. 13. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4066/game_design_essentials_20_rpgs.php?page=13. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ^ "Xanadu Next home page". http://www.falcom.co.jp/xanadu_next/xanadu/xanadu.html. Retrieved 2008-09-08. (Translation)
- ^ a b c Szczepaniak, John (7 July 2011). "Falcom: Legacy of Ys". GamesTM (111): 152–159 [154]. http://imageshack.us/f/844/yshistory03.jpg/. Retrieved 2011-09-08. (cf. Szczepaniak, John (July 8, 2011). "History of Ys interviews". Hardcore Gaming 101. http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2011/07/history-of-ys-interviews-by-john.html. Retrieved 8 September 2011.)
- ^ a b Kalata, Kurt (11/27/10). "Ys". Hardcore Gaming 101. http://hardcoregaming101.net/ys/ys.htm. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ Ryan Mattich. "Falcom Classics II". RPGFan. http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/falcomclassics2/Falcom_Classics_2-2.html. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ Chris Greening & Don Kotowski (February 2011). "Interview with Yuzo Koshiro". Square Enix Music Online. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/yuzokoshiro.shtml. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
External links
- Falcom Home Page (Japanese)
Categories:- Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
- Video game companies of Japan
- Companies established in 1981
- Video game developers
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