Banpresto

2025-08-31T03:47:56Z

2603:8001:8403:7188:9416:C19B:BE7B:F632:

{{short description|Japanese toy company and video game developer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Banpresto Co. Ltd.
| logo = Banpresto logo.svg
| logo_size = 180px
| logo_alt = The word "BANPRESTO" in red, above a black visor graphic.
| image = Shinagawa seaside west tower 2009.JPG
| image_size = 250px
| image_alt = A tall glass building
| image_caption = Headquarters in Shinagawa, Tokyo
| native_name = 株式会社バンプレスト
| native_name_lang = ja
| romanized_name = [[Kabushiki gaisha]] Banpuresuto
| former_name = {{unbulleted list|Hoei International Co., Ltd. (1977–1982)|Coreland Technology Inc. (1982–1989)}}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = {{ubl|[[Video game industry|Video games]]|[[Toy industry|Toys]]}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1977|04|30}}{{efn|Current company established on April 1, 2008}}
| founder = Yasushi Matsuda
| fate = Dissolved; video game operations folded into [[Bandai Namco Entertainment|Namco Bandai Games]]. Currently active as a brand for [[Bandai Spirits]].
| defunct = {{Start date and age|2008|04|01}}{{efn|Current company dissolved on February 23, 2019}}
| hq_location = [[Shinagawa]], Tokyo
| area_served = Japan
| key_people = {{ubl|Takashi Nakada|(president and CEO)}}
| products = {{ubl|''[[Another Century's Episode]]'' series|''[[Ar Tonelico]]'' series|''[[Compati Hero]]'' series|''[[Crayon Shin-chan]]'' series|''[[Magna Carta: Crimson Stigmata|Magna Carta]]'' series|''[[List of Sailor Moon video games|Sailor Moon]]'' series|''[[Summon Night]]'' series|''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' series}}
| revenue = {{increase}} {{yen}}3.020 billion (2008)
| parent = {{ubl|[[Bandai]]|<small>(1989–2006)</small>|[[Bandai Namco Holdings]]|<small>(2006–2008)</small>}}
| subsid = {{ubl|Artpresto|Banpresoft|Banpresto HK|Banpresto Sales|[[Hanayashiki]]|PleasureCast}}
| website = {{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20080102154459/http://www.banpresto.co.jp/|banpresto.co.jp}}
| footnotes = {{cite web |title=English Company Profile |url=http://www.banpresto.co.jp/japan/company/kigyo/english/gaiyou.html |publisher=Banpresto |access-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321121218/http://www.banpresto.co.jp/japan/company/kigyo/english/gaiyou.html |archive-date=March 21, 2008 |location=Japan |date=2008}}
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''Banpresto Co., Ltd.'''|株式会社バンプレスト|[[Kabushiki gaisha]] Banpuresuto|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} (formerly '''Coreland Technology Inc.''') was a Japanese [[video game developer]] and [[video game publisher|publisher]] headquartered in [[Shinagawa]], Tokyo. It had a branch in Hong Kong named Banpresto H.K., which was headquartered in the [[New Territories]]. Banpresto was a partly owned subsidiary of toymaker [[Bandai]] from 1989 to 2006, and a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Bandai Namco Holdings]] from 2006 to 2008. In addition to video games, Banpresto produced toys, keyrings, apparel, and plastic models.

Banpresto was founded by Japanese businessman Yasushi Matsuda as Hoei International on April 30, 1977. Its poor reputation led to its name being changed to Coreland Technology in 1982, becoming a contractual developer for companies such as [[Sega]]. Coreland was majority-acquired by Bandai in 1989 following severe financial difficulties and renamed Banpresto, becoming Bandai's arcade game division. Banpresto focused primarily on producing games with licensed characters, such as [[Ultraman]] and [[Gundam]]. Its sharing of Bandai's library of popular characters allowed the company to become one of Japan's largest game publishers in the 1990s.

The company's first hit was the [[Family Computer]] role-playing game (RPG) ''SD Battle Ōzumō: Heisei Hero Basho'' in 1990. The tactical RPG ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' became one of Banpresto's biggest hits, spawning an extensive franchise with several sequels, spin-offs, and other forms of media. Banpresto was negatively impacted by the [[Lost Decade (Japan)|Japanese recession]] during the late 1990s, as well as a failed merger between Bandai and Sega in 1997, as it began enduring several financial losses. In 2006, Banpresto became a wholly owned subsidiary of the entertainment conglomerate [[Bandai Namco Holdings]]. It continued producing games until 2008 when it was absorbed by [[Namco Bandai Games]], and its toy and arcade divisions were spun-off into an unrelated company that carried the same name.

Banpresto produced several successful video game franchises, including ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'', ''[[Compati Hero]]'', ''[[Sailor Moon]]'', ''[[Summon Night]]'', and ''[[Another Century's Episode]]''. It also operated amusement facilities across Japan, including [[Hanayashiki]], as well as producing [[model kits]], stuffed toys, and [[UFO catcher]] prizes. Banpresto has been credited for contributing to the rise in popularity of [[List of crossovers in video games|crossover]] video games and licensed characters for arcades, though the quality of its creative output has received criticism.

==History==
===Origins and acquisition by Bandai (1977–1989)===
In April 1977, Japanese businessman Yasushi Matsusa established Hoei Sangyo Co. Ltd. (Hoei International) in [[Tanashi, Tokyo]].<ref name="Horowitz"/><ref name="Banpresto History">{{cite web |title=Corporate History |url=http://www.banpresto.co.jp/japan/contents/mainmee.html |website=www.banpresto.co.jp |publisher=Banpresto |accessdate=1 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029012147/http://www.banpresto.co.jp/japan/contents/mainmee.html |archivedate=29 October 2005 |location=Japan |date=2004}}</ref> His business began as a manufacturer of [[arcade cabinet]]s for other companies, as Japan's coin-operated game industry had seen considerable economic growth throughout the decade. In addition to distributing games from other manufacturers across the country, Hoei Sangyo also began production of its own games in-house, the majority being clones of other popular games like ''[[Space Invaders]]''.<ref name="Horowitz">{{cite book |last1=Horowitz |first1=Ken |title=The Sega Arcade Revolution: A History in 62 Games |date=22 June 2018 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-1476672250}}</ref> Matsusa's business established a relationship with Esco Trading, a company formed by [[Sega]] president [[Hayao Nakayama]], which gave the latter the rights to distribute Hoei Sangyo's video games to other parts of Japan.<ref>{{Cite book|title=They Create Worlds: The Story of the People and Companies That Shaped the Video Game Industry, Volume I|last=Smith|first=Alexander|publisher=[[CRC Press]]|year=2019|isbn=9781138389908|pages=433|ref=refSmith2019}}</ref> Hoei Sangyo released its first original video game in 1981, ''[[Jump Bug]]'', an early side-scrolling platform game released outside Japan by [[Rock-Ola]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hoei Grants "Jump Bug" —Rock-Ola for U.S.A. and Sega for Other Areas—|magazine=Game Machine|issue=179|publisher=Amusement Press|date=15 December 1981|page=30|lang=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jump Bug - Videogame by Rock-Ola Mfg. Corp. |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8250 |website=[[Killer List of Videogames]] |publisher=International Arcade Museum |accessdate=31 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325040901/https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8250 |archivedate=25 March 2019 |date=25 March 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Logo_Bandai.svg|thumb|left|150px|[[Bandai]] acquired Coreland as a way to get a foothold in the arcade game market.]]
Hoei Sangyo was reorganized into Coreland Technology Inc. in June 1982, where it became a contractor company that developed games for other companies.<ref name="Horowitz">{{cite book |last1=Horowitz |first1=Ken |title=The Sega Arcade Revolution: A History in 62 Games |date=22 June 2018 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-1476672250}}</ref> One of its first projects was ''[[Pengo (video game)|Pengo]]'', which was released the same year by [[Sega]]. ''Pengo'' was successful arcades and lead to several sequels and home conversions.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Bobinator |title=Pengo |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/pengo/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |accessdate=25 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124171527/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/pengo/ |archivedate=24 January 2020 |date=17 August 2015}}</ref> Coreland also designed games such as ''[[4-D Warriors]]'' and ''[[I'm Sorry (video game)|I'm Sorry]]'' for Sega,<ref>{{cite web |title=4-D Warriors - Videogame by Sega |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=6785 |website=[[Killer List of Videogames]] |publisher=International Arcade Museum |accessdate=25 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417155012/https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=6785 |archivedate=17 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Plasket |first1=Michael |title=I'm Sorry |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/im-sorry/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |accessdate=3 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117144406/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/im-sorry/ |archivedate=17 January 2020 |date=16 October 2015}}</ref> and ''[[Black Panther (video game)|Black Panther]]'' for [[Konami]].

In the late 1980s, Coreland established a partnership with toy company [[Bandai]], known for its [[model kits]] and action figures based on popular characters like ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]''.<ref name="RG36">{{cite journal|author=Wild, Kim|title=Retroinspection: WonderSwan |journal=[[Retro Gamer]] |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |issue=36 |issn=1742-3155|year=2007 |pages=68–71}}</ref> At the time, Bandai was suffering from numerous financial difficulties as a result of the slumping Japanese toy market affecting the demand for its products. Coreland's positive track record was the primary reason for the partnership, as Bandai hoped it would allow itself to secure a stronghold in the coin-op industry.<ref name="GM Bandai">{{cite news |title=Bandai Buys Coreland To Make Games |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19890301p.pdf |accessdate=1 August 2020 |agency=Game Machine |issue=351 |publisher=Amusement Press |date=1 March 1989 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522192955/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19890301p.pdf |archivedate=22 May 2020 |location=Japan |page=30}}</ref> However, Coreland was undergoing its own financial constraints, having accumulated more than {{yen}}1.5 billion in debt due to poor sales. As contractual agreements prevented Bandai from backing out of its deal, it chose to majority-acquire the company in February 1989.<ref name="GM Bandai"/> Coreland was reorganized again into Banpresto; the name came from a portmanteau of "Bandai" and "presto", a word used to describe magic. Yukumasa Sugiara, a member of Bandai's board of directors, became the company's president.<ref name="GM Bandai"/>

===''Super Robot Wars'' and expansion (1989–1996)===
Banpresto underwent significant changes as a result of Bandai's acquisition of the company. With Banpresto becoming Bandai's arcade game division, Banpresto was given the exclusive rights to use Bandai-owned characters for video arcade games and [[kiddie rides|children's rides]]. It was also allowed to produce games for home video game consoles, such as the successful Nintendo [[Family Computer]] (Famicom); Banpresto received strict orders to not release any games that could compete with those from Bandai.<ref name="Nikkei">{{cite book |title=第一章拡大するアニメ・ビジネス二.古いキャラクターの価値 ●版権窓口が異なる新旧のキャラクターを集めてヒット |date=17 May 1999 |publisher=[[Nikkei Business Publications]] |isbn=4-8222-2550-X |page=28 |language=ja}}</ref> One of the company's first projects was ''[[Compati Hero|SD Battle Ōzumō: Heisei Hero Basho]]'', a crossover for the Famicom featuring "super-deformed" interpretations of Gundam, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider. It is often credited as the first video game to cross over characters from other forms of media.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lopes |first1=Gonçalo |title=Zany Super Famicom Great Battle Series Gets Translated Into English |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/03/zany_super_famicom_great_battle_series_gets_translated_into_english |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |language=Japanese |date=12 March 2018 |accessdate=6 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924030600/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/03/zany_super_famicom_great_battle_series_gets_translated_into_english |archive-date=24 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Heisei Hero Basho'' was developed by Banpresto staff as a congratulatory gift to Sugiura shortly after assuming role of company president.<ref name="Nikkei"/> Beginning April 1990, the company supplied video arcades with prizes for [[UFO catchers]] and [[merchandiser]] machines, such as those designed after ''Ultraman'' and ''Kamen Rider'' characters. Over 70 million were sold in the year 1990 and contributed to Banpresto's {{yen}}30 million capital increase.

[[File:Game-Boy-FL.jpg|thumb|right|''Super Robot Wars'' for the [[Game Boy]] (pictured above) became one of Banpresto's most-successful titles upon its release in 1991.]]
In April 1991, Banpresto introduced ''Super Robot Wars'', a [[tactical role-playing game]] for the [[Game Boy]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=スーパーロボット大戦 (ゲームボーイ) |url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/13605/ |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]] |accessdate=1 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723094512/https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/13605/ |archivedate=23 July 2020 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="EuroG SRW"/> Developed by external studio WinkySoft,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barder |first1=Ollie |title=The End Of An Era As Winkysoft Files For Bankruptcy |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2015/12/01/the-end-of-an-era-as-winkysoft-files-for-bankruptcy/#25068b216b31 |website=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]] |accessdate=1 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621175816/https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2015/12/01/the-end-of-an-era-as-winkysoft-files-for-bankruptcy/ |archivedate=21 June 2018 |date=1 December 2015}}</ref> it was a spiritual successor to its ''[[Compati Hero]]'' series of games, crossing over popular [[mecha]] licenses like ''[[Getter Robo]]'' and ''[[Mazinger-Z]]''.<ref name="Hanatsu">{{cite book|title=''『浜村通信ゲーム業界を読み解く』'' (Hanamura Tsūshin: Gēmu Gyōkai o Yomitoku, ''"Hanamura Journal: Deciphering the Video Game Industry"'')|language=Japanese|publisher=Enterbrain|last=Hamamura|first=Hirokazu|pages=203–206}}</ref> ''Super Robot Wars'' was a commercial success, attributed to its release during the popularity of mecha anime in the early half of the decade.<ref name="Hanatsu"/> It became one of the company's most-successful games, spawning a multi-million-selling franchise with several sequels, remakes, and other forms of media.<ref name="Hanatsu"/><ref name="EuroG SRW"/> ''Super Robot Wars'' is considered important and influential for the genre, and contributed to the early success of the ''[[SD Gundam]]'' media franchise.<ref name="EuroG SRW">{{cite web |last1=Barder |first1=Ollie |title=All is fair in love and Super Robot Wars |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-21-all-is-fair-in-love-and-super-robot-wars |website=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |accessdate=1 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105141725/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-21-all-is-fair-in-love-and-super-robot-wars |archivedate=5 November 2019 |date=22 April 2014}}</ref> As of 2016, the ''Super Robot Wars'' series has sold over 16 million games across all available platforms.<ref>{{cite web|title=「スーパーロボット大戦」シリーズ累計出荷本数1,600万本突破。第1作のHDリメイク版がPS Storeで販売開始 |trans-title=Cumulative shipment of "Super Robot Wars" series exceeded 16 million. The first HD remake version is now available on the PS Store |language=Japanese |website=[[4Gamer.net]] |publisher=Aetas |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/243/G024393/20140424035/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922003731/https://www.4gamer.net/games/243/G024393/20140424035/ |archivedate= 22 September 2015|date=24 April 2014 |accessdate=5 July 2019}}</ref> Banpresto also began producing children's rides, using the likenesses of characters such as [[Anpanman]], [[Super Mario]], and [[Thomas the Tank Engine]].<ref>{{cite news |title=ミニ定置回転式 - バンプレスト「アンパンマン」 |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19950615p.pdf |accessdate=25 August 2020 |agency=Game Machine |issue=497 |publisher=Amusement Press |date=15 June 1995 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523090221/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19950615p.pdf |archivedate=23 May 2020 |page=17 |language=ja}}</ref>

By 1992, Banpresto was worth {{yen}}1.4 billion yen.<ref name="Banpresto History"/> The company began expanding its operations as a result, starting with the establishment of Sanotawa, a sales and distribution network subsidiary, in February. Banpresto found additional success in arcades with the release of Ugougo Luga, a stuffed toy that sold over 2.6 million by the end of the year. The company continued to develop and publish video games for home consoles. Among its most successful releases was ''Super Puyo Puyo'', a [[Super Famicom]] conversion of [[Compile (company)|Compile]]'s ''[[Puyo Puyo]]'' series that sold over one million copies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Japan Platinum Game Chart |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-JPPlatinum.shtml |website=The Magic Box |accessdate=23 August 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801030711/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-JPPlatinum.shtml |archivedate=1 August 2019}}</ref> In February 1994, Banpresto established Banpre Kikaku, Ltd. in [[Kita-ku, Osaka|Kita, Osaka]], which became its primary video game development division.<ref>{{cite web |title=バンプレソフトとベック、4月1日付で合併しB.B.スタジオに |url=https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2011/04/06/3453.html |website=GameBusiness |publisher=IID |accessdate=24 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824051150/https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2011/04/06/3453.html |archivedate=24 August 2020 |language=ja |date=6 April 2011}}</ref> As Banpresto was largely a publisher of games by other studios, the move allowed it to experiment with original game concepts and handle development of video games in-house. In addition, Banpre Kikaku also served as a second office, and assisted in its parent company's sales programs and product distribution. Unifive, a producer of merchandiser games, became a wholly owned subsidiary in March as part of the company's continuing expansion in the arcade industry. Banpresto began to spread its operations throughout other parts of Asia; Banpresto H.K. was founded in Hong Kong in June to import and distribute Banpresto-developed goods across the country.

===Restructuring and continuing expansion (1996–2005)===
[[File:Bandai-museum.jpg|thumb|left|Banpresto's headquarters in [[Matsudo]], [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]] from 1996 to 2004. The building was later repurposed for the [[Bandai Museum]] until it moved to [[Mibu, Tochigi]] in 2007.]]
{{Expand section|date=December 2024}}
In January 1996, Banpresto assisted in the founding of the [[Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association|Computer Entertainment Software Association]] (CESA), an organization funded by other game companies to allow for firm communications between each other.<ref>{{cite news |title=Home Vid Manufacturers Set Up New Association |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19960101p.pdf |accessdate=24 August 2020 |agency=Game Machine |issue=510 |publisher=Amusement Press |date=1 January 1996 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522041354/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19960101p.pdf |archivedate=22 May 2020 |page=36 |language=ja}}</ref> The company continued to publish games by external companies, including [[Gazelle (software company)|Gazelle]]'s ''[[Air Gallet]]'' and [[Fill-in-Cafe]]'s ''[[Panzer Bandit]]''.
{{-}}

===Namco Bandai takeover and dissolution (2005–2008)===
In September 2005, Bandai merged with fellow game company Namco to establish a new entertainment conglomerate, [[Namco Bandai Holdings]]. Namco and Bandai's video game operations were merged and transferred to a new subsidiary, [[Namco Bandai Games]], in March 2006.<ref name="GSpot Finalization">{{cite web |last1=Niizumi |first1=Hirohiko |title=Bandai and Namco outline postmerger strategy |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bandai-and-namco-outline-postmerger-strategy/1100-6133113/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=27 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724231428/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bandai-and-namco-outline-postmerger-strategy/1100-6133113/ |archivedate=24 July 2020 |date=13 September 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Karlin|first=David|title=Bandai and Namco Finalize Merger Details|url=http://www.1up.com/news/bandai-namco-finalize-merger-details|publisher=1UP.com|date=31 March 2006|access-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312025357/http://www.1up.com/news/bandai-namco-finalize-merger-details|archive-date=2014-03-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> Banpresto became a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings upon the formation of Namco Bandai Games,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gantayat |first1=Anoop |title=Bandai Namco Absorbs Banpresto |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/23/bandai-namco-absorbs-banpresto |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=April 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407172816/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/23/bandai-namco-absorbs-banpresto |archive-date=April 7, 2021 |date=February 23, 2006}}</ref> however the merge had little effect on the company itself.<ref name="GSpot Finalization"/> The company reported considerable financial success following the merge in April, as its net income forecast exceeded the expected {{yen}}1.6 billion to {{yen}}2.1 billion.<ref name="GSpot Forcast">{{cite web |last1=Tochen |first1=Dan |title=Banpresto upgrades profit forecast |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/banpresto-upgrades-profit-forecast/1100-6148390/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=26 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826005444/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/banpresto-upgrades-profit-forecast/1100-6148390/ |archivedate=26 August 2020 |date=26 April 2006}}</ref> The company continued to produce games based on licensed properties, notably ''[[Crayon Shin-Chan]]'', as well as selling arcade game equipment and maintaining its video arcade chains.<ref name="GSpot Forcast"/><ref>{{cite web |title=ニユースダイジェスト |url=http://www.ampress.co.jp/backnumber/bn2005.04.01.htm |website=Game Machine |publisher=Amusement Press |accessdate=October 20, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219183134/http://www.ampress.co.jp/backnumber/bn2005.04.01.htm |archivedate=December 19, 2018 |language=ja |date=March 23, 2005}}</ref>

In November 2007, Namco Bandai Holdings announced that Banpresto's video game development would be merged with Namco Bandai Games, with the latter assuming control of all Banpresto-owned franchises.<ref name="Sayonara">{{cite web |last1=Gantayat |first1=Anoop |title=Sayonara, Banpresto |url=http://uk.games.ign.com/articles/833/833693p1.html |publisher=[[IGN]] |accessdate=26 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209190744/http://uk.games.ign.com/articles/833/833693p1.html |archivedate=9 December 2007 |date=8 November 2007}}</ref> The merge took place on April 1, 2008, with Banpresto being reorganized as a producer of toys and prize machines for Japan.<ref name="Sayonara"/> Pleasure Cast and Hanayashiki subsequently became subsidiaries of [[Namco]],<ref name="Sayonara"/> while Banpresoft became a wholly owned division of Namco Bandai Games.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} Until February 2014, Namco Bandai Games continued using the Banpresto label on several of its games to signify the brand's legacy.<ref>{{cite web |author1=ITmedia Staff |title=「バンダイナムコゲームス」にレーベル統一ゲームから「バンダイ」「ナムコ」「バンプレスト」消滅 |url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1402/05/news124.html |website=ITmedia |accessdate=2 August 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818075757/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1402/05/news124.html |archivedate=18 August 2016 |language=ja |date=5 February 2014}}</ref>

The Banpresto name continued to be used as the name of a Bandai Namco division until 2019, when it was absorbed into the then-recently formed [[Bandai Spirits]] division of Bandai, relegating it into a brand of high-end figures based on licensed products.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

==Games==
===Hoei/Coreland===
{|class="wikitable sortable" width="auto"
|-
! Title
! Release year
! Distributor(s)
! Platform
|-
|''[[Jump Bug]]''
|{{dts|1981}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Sega]]
| rowspan="7" | [[Arcade video game|Arcade]]
|-
|''[[Pengo (video game)|Pengo]]''
|{{dts|1982}}
|-
|''SWAT''<ref name="SWAT">{{cite web |author1=Sotenga |title=SWAT |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/swat-%E3%82%B9%E3%83%AF%E3%83%83%E3%83%88-arcade-1984/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |date=September 28, 2014 |access-date=26 November 2021}}</ref>
|{{dts|1984}}
|{{vgrelease|JP|[[Sega]]|NA|[[Bally Midway]]}}
|-
|''[[I'm Sorry (video game)|Gombe's I'm Sorry]]''
|{{dts|1985}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Sega]]
|-
|''[[My Hero (video game)|Seishun Scandal]]''
|{{dts|1986}}
|-
|''[[WEC Le Mans]]''
|{{dts|1986}}
|[[Konami]]
|-
|''Cyber Tank''<ref>{{cite web |title=Cyber Tank |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M729147 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Openshaw |first=Mary |title=Paris Says Oui! Pins, video and — surprise! — poll all shine at best Paris show ever |magazine=RePlay |date=March 1990 |volume=15 |issue=6 |pages=134–5 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-14-issue-no.-6-march-1990-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2014%2C%20Issue%20No.%206%20-%20March%201990/page/134/mode/2up}}</ref>
|{{dts|1988}}
|[[Taito]]
|}

===Banpresto===
{|class="wikitable sortable" width="auto"
|-
!Title
!Platform(s)
!Release date
|-
|''[[List of Lupin III video games|SD Lupin the 3rd: Operation to Break the Safe]]''
|[[Game Boy]]
|{{dts|April 13, 1990}}
|-
|''[[Compati Hero|SD Battle Ōzumō: Heisei Hero Basho]]''
|[[Family Computer]]
|{{dts|April 20, 1990}}
|-
|''[[Compati Hero|SD Hero Soukessen: Taose! Aku no Gundan]]''
|Family Computer
|{{dts|July 7, 1990}}
|-
|''[[List of Ranma ½ video games|Ranma ½]]''
|Game Boy
|{{dts|July 28, 1990}}
|-
|''SD Sengoku Bushou Retsuden: Rekka no Gotoku Tenka wo Nusure!''
|Family Computer
|{{dts|September 8, 1990}}
|-
|''Kininkou Maroku Oni''
|Game Boy
|{{dts|December 8, 1990}}
|-
|''[[Hissatsu Shigotonin]]''
|Family Computer
|{{dts|December 15, 1990}}
|-
|''[[SD the Great Battle]]''
|[[Super Famicom]]
|{{dts|December 29, 1990}}
|-
|''[[List of Super Robot Wars video games|Super Robot Wars]]''
|Game Boy
|{{dts|April 20, 1991}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|''[[Compati Hero|Battle Dodge Ball]]''
|Super Famicom
|{{dts|July 20, 1991}}
|-
|Game Boy
|{{dts|October 16, 1992}}
|-
|''[[Puyo Puyo (video game)|Super Puyo Puyo]]''
|Super Famicom
|{{dts|December 10, 1993}}
|-
|''[[Puyo Puyo (video game)|Puyo Puyo]]''
|Game Boy
|{{dts|July 31, 1994}}
|-
|''[[Compati Hero|Battle Pinball]]''
|Super Famicom
|{{dts|February 24, 1995}}
|-
|''[[Compati Hero|Super Tekkyuu Fight!]]''
|Super Famicom
|{{dts|September 15, 1995}}
|-
|''[[北斗の拳|Hokuto no Ken]]''
|PlayStation
|{{dts|August 30, 1996}}
|-
|''[[Magna Carta: Tears of Blood|Magna Carta Portable]]''
|[[PlayStation Portable|PSP]]
|{{dts|May 25, 2006}}
|-
|''[[Crayon Shin-chan: Saikyou Kazoku Kasukabe King Wii]]''
|[[Wii]]
|{{dts|December 2, 2006}}
|-
|''[[Gin Tama#Video games|Gintama: Gintoki vs. Hijikata]]''
|[[Nintendo DS]]
|{{dts|December 14, 2006}}
|-
|''[[Crayon Shin-chan#Video_games|Crayon Shin-Chan: Arashi wo Yobu Cinema Land - Kachinko Gachinko Daikatsugeki!]]''
|Nintendo DS
|{{dts|March 20, 2008}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Tokyo|Companies}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20080102154459/http://www.banpresto.co.jp/|Official website}}

{{Bandai Namco Holdings}}

[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1977]]
[[Category:Amusement companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Companies disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Former Bandai Namco Holdings subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1977]]
[[Category:Toy companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1977]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Video game publishers]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

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