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Natsume
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo game developer and publisher
FoundedOctober 20, 1987 (Natsume-Atari)
May 1988 (Natsume Inc)
HeadquartersShinjuku, Tokyo, Japan[1]
Burlingame, California, United States[2]
Key people
Takashi Matsumoto (CEO, Natsume-Atari)
Hiro Maekawa (President, Natsume Inc)
Taka Maekawa (President, Natsume Inc Japan)
ProductsHarvest Moon series
Lufia
Pocky and Rocky
Rune Factory
Reel Fishing
River King series
Number of employees
150 (Natsume-Atari)[1]
Websitewww.natsume-game.com (Natsume-Atari)
www.natsume.com (Natsume Inc)

Natsume is the name of two video games publishers, Natsume-Atari and Natsume Inc, that were once the same company but are now completely separated.

Natsume Co Ltd was founded in Japan on October 20, 1987.[1] It established in 1988 an American division called Natsume Inc. In 1995, Natsume Inc split from Natsume Co Ltd to become an independent company. The name "Natsume" was retained by both companies in their respective countries. In 2013, Natsume Co Ltd renamed itself Natsume-Atari following a merger with its subsidiary Atari that year.[3] Also in 2013, Natsume Inc (the American company) inaugurated a Japanese division called Natsume Inc Japan with no connection to its former parent company.[4]

Natsume-Atari is based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan and is known for developing licensed titles and mobile games. Natsume Inc is located in Burlingame, California[2] and is best known for publishing unique, family-oriented niche games, such as Harvest Moon and Reel Fishing.

Products[]

During the NES and SNES era, Natsume-Atari developed numerous titles, often licensed, such as Power Rangers. Natsume Inc published a wide range of titles, including those developed by Natsume-Atari, such as S.C.A.T., Wild Guns and Shadow of the Ninja. Natsume also released the SNES game Pocky & Rocky as well as Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. Natsume-Atari had also developed the Medabot games up until the end of the GBA era, which Natsume Inc published.

From the end of the Super NES era up until late 2014, Natsume Inc was known for publishing a series of Story of Seasons games in North America. The last game in the series they published was Harvest Moon: A New Beginning for the Nintendo 3DS. In 2015 the developer of the series, Marvelous AQL, brought the next game in the series, Story of Seasons, to North America with their own US branch, Xseed Games, ending the relationship they had with Natsume. Since then, Natsume has released their own games under the Harvest Moon name, starting with Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley,[5] continuing with Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories and the upcoming Harvest Moon: Skytree Village.

Natsume has also operated an eBay shop, selling copies of older games sealed in their original packaging, collected from storage at its offices. At auction, the company sold a sealed copy of Pocky & Rocky for over $1,600.[6]

Corporate divisions[]

Natsume Co Ltd was previously the parent company of Natsume Inc, founded in May 1988. Although founded in 1988, Natsume Inc started publishing video games in 1990 [7] By 1995 Natsume Inc had broken away into its own company and is separately owned and operated.[8]

In October 2002, Natsume Co Ltd founded the pachinko company Atari Inc. (not to be confused with the American game company) in Osaka, specialized on developing slot and pinball machines.

On May 6, 2005, Natsume Solution began operation in Shinjuku, Osaka. This division specializes on web site development, providing mobile solutions/services and developing web systems. On March 1, 2006, Natsume Solution was merged with Evolve co.,ltd.

Meanwhile, Natsume Inc opened up a development studio of their own, named Natsume Inc Japan[4]

Natsume Co Ltd company is now known as Natsume-Atari since 2013, and is not directly connected to Natsume Inc USA or its subsidiary Natsume Inc Japan.[9]

Works[]

Pre-split Natsume[]

These are games produced while Natsume Inc., was still operating as a subsidiary of Natsume Co., Ltd. Natsume Inc. would publish only Natsume Co., Ltd games until becoming independent in the mid-90s.

Nintendo Entertainment System[]

Developer

  • Chōjin Sentai Jetman (鳥人戦隊 ジェットマン)
  • Idol Hakkenden (アイドル八犬伝)
  • The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper!
  • Mitsume ga Tooru (The Three-Eyed One)
  • Power Blade
  • Power Blade 2
  • Shatterhand
  • Touhou Kenbun Roku[10]

Developer, JP Publisher

  • Abadox
  • Chaos World (カオスワールド)
  • Dragon Fighter
  • Dungeon Magic: Sword of the Elements

Developer, JP/US Publisher

  • S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team
  • Shadow of the Ninja

MSX[]

Developer, JP Publisher

  • Mitsume ga Tooru: The Three-Eyed One Comes Here

Game Boy[]

Developer, JP/US Publisher

  • Amazing Penguin
  • Spanky's Quest
  • Tail 'Gator

Developer

  • Ninja Gaiden: Shadow

Super NES[]

Developer, JP/US Publisher

  • Pocky & Rocky
  • Pocky & Rocky 2
  • Spanky's Quest
  • Wild Guns

Developer, US Publisher

  • Natsume Championship Wrestling

Developer

  • Zennihon Pro Wrestling (全日本プロレス)
  • Ghost Sweeper Mikami: Joreishi ha Nice Body
  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
  • The Ninja Warriors

Sega Master System[]

Developer

  • Sagaia
  • Special Criminal Investigation
  • Renegade

Natsume-Atari / Natsume Co., Ltd.[]

Natsume-Atari, formerly Natsume Co., Ltd, has mostly acted as a developer since splitting from Natsume Inc. - although it has also published some games, notably in the Medarot series.

Super NES[]

Developer

  • The Ninja Warriors (1994 video game)
  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition
  • Shin Kidō Senki Gundam Wing: Endless Duel (新機動戦記ガンダムW Endless Duel)
  • Power Rangers Zeo: Battle Racers
  • Gekisō Sentai Carranger: Zenkai! Racer Senshi

Game Boy[]

  • Medarot: Kuwagata Version
  • Medarot: Kabuto Version
  • Medarot: Parts Collection
  • Medarot: Parts Collection 2

Game Boy Color[]

Developer

Game Boy Advance[]

Developer

  • Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder
  • WWF Road to WrestleMania
  • Medarot Navi
  • Power Rangers: Wild Force
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King
  • Power Rangers Ninja Storm
  • Power Rangers: Dino Thunder
  • WWE Survivor Series
  • Keitai Denjū Telefang II
  • WWE Road to WrestleMania X8
  • Medabots (Published by Natsume Inc.)
  • Medabots AX (Published by Natsume Inc.)

GameCube[]

Publisher

  • Medabots Infinity

Nintendo DS[]

Developer

Xbox 360[]

Developer

  • Omega Five (Xbox Live Arcade)

Natsume Inc.[]

These are games published by Natsume Inc. and/or developed by its subsidiary in Japan after becoming independent from Natsume Co., Ltd.

Most of these games were only published by Natsume in North America, although some reached Europe under the Natsume name through distribution deals with European companies, and some digital releases were self-published by Natsume in Europe.

Super NES[]

Publisher

  • Casper
  • Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
  • Harvest Moon

Sega Saturn[]

Publisher

  • Highway 2000
  • Virtual Casino

Nintendo 64[]

Publisher

PlayStation[]

Publisher

  • Lode Runner
  • Reel Fishing
  • Bust-A-Move 4
  • Burstrick Wake Boarding
  • Turnabout
  • Blockids
  • Reel Fishing II

NA Publisher

PlayStation 2[]

Publisher

Game Boy[]

Publisher

Game Boy Color[]

Developer/Publisher

  • Lufia: The Legend Returns (co-developed with Neverland)

Publisher

  • Harvest Moon 2
  • Harvest Moon 3
  • Hole in One Golf (developed by Natsume Co., Ltd.)
  • Legend of the River King
  • Legend of the River King 2

Game Boy Advance[]

Publisher

GameCube[]

Publisher

Nintendo DS[]

Publisher

iPhone and iPod Touch[]

Developer/Publisher

Developer

  • Gabrielle's Zombie Attack[13]
  • Gabrielle's Sweet Defense
  • Gabrielle's Monster Match
  • Ninja Climb
  • Reel Fishing Pocket

PlayStation Portable[]

Publisher

Wii[]

Publisher

PlayStation 3[]

Publisher

Nintendo 3DS[]

Developer

  • Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove 3D
  • Reel Fishing Paradise 3D

Publisher

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 INC., NATSUME ATARI. "ゲーム遊技機開発のナツメアタリ株式会社|ナツメアタリ株式会社". ナツメアタリ株式会社. {{cite web}}:
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2009. {{cite web}}: ; deadurlCS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. INC., NATSUME ATARI. "ゲーム遊技機開発のナツメアタリ株式会社|ナツメアタリ株式会社". ナツメアタリ株式会社. {{cite web}}:
  4. 4.0 4.1 "NATSUME INC. ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICE OPENING IN JAPAN" (PDF). Natsume.com. Retrieved 2017-08-10. {{cite web}}:
  5. "Harvest Moon And Beyond, What's Next For Natsume?". March 18, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  6. "Classic game publisher cleans out its closet, makes thousands on eBay". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/01/classic-game-publisher-cleans-out-its-closet-makes-thousands-on-ebay/. Retrieved 13 January 2016. 
  7. "Wayback Machine". March 3, 2005. Archived from the original on March 3, 2005. {{cite web}}: ; deadurl
  8. "Fragments of Silicon - Live & Recorded Episodes". www.talkshoe.com. {{cite web}}:
  9. "WIKIPEDIA: BAD SOURCE OF INFO". CeeCee's Musings. {{cite web}}:
  10. "Touhou Kenbun Roku - The Cutting Room Floor". tcrf.net. {{cite web}}:
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Natsume Announce Next Two Harvest Moons, DS and Wii". Gaming Union. 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-05-25. {{cite web}}:
  12. "RETURN TO THE WORLD OF LUFIA THIS FALL WITH NATSUME'S LUFIA: CURSE OF THE SINISTRALS FOR NINTENDO DS" (PDF). natsume.com. Retrieved 2010-05-31. {{cite web}}:
  13. Natsume Aren't Done With Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove Yet. Siliconera (2013-05-23). Retrieved on 2013-08-23.
  14. 14.0 14.1 "IGN: Natsume Reveals E3 Lineup". IGN. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-05-28. {{cite web}}:

External links[]

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