BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Inc.

Moby ID: 1043

AKA +

Namco Limited - company name until April 2018
Namcot - Trade name used in the development of console titles. (from 1983 to 1994)
Nakamura Manufacturing - Original name (from 1955 to 1958)
Nakamura Amusement Machine Manufacturing Company - Full name before abbreviating (from 1958 to 1970)

Overview edit · view history

Namco Ltd is a Japanese corporation best known as a video game developer and publisher. Its headquarters are located in Ōta, Tokyo.

The company was founded by Masaya Nakamura as Nakamura Manufacturing in 1955. The company started out by running children's rides on the roof of a department store in Yokohama. Nakamura Manufacturing was reorganized in 1958 and underwent a slight name change to Nakamura Manufacturing Co., which would later be used to form the acronym Namco.

In 1970 the company produced Racer, a coin-operated mechanical driving simulator. Namco's first electronic arcade game was Gee Bee (1978). The company's most popular creation of all times is Pac-man (1980). Other influential titles include Galaxian (1979), Dig-Dug (1982), Xevious (1982), Pole Position (1983), and others.

In September 2005, Namco merged with Bandai.

Credited on 430 Games from 1978 to 2023

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We ♥ Katamari: Reroll+ Royal Reverie (2023 on Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5...)
Ace Angler: Fishing Spirits (2022 on Nintendo Switch)
Klonoa: Phantasy Reverie Series (2022 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One...)
QuickSpot (2022 on Nintendo Switch)
Katamari Damacy: Reroll (2018 on Windows, Windows Apps, PlayStation 4...)
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 6 (2018 on Arcade)
Pac-Man's Pixel Bash (2018 on Dedicated console, Arcade)
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 5DX+ (2016 on Arcade)
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 5DX (2015 on Arcade)
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 5 (2014 on Arcade)
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 4 (2011 on Arcade)
ExerBeat (2011 on Wii)
The Otherside: Realm of Eons (2009 on Windows, Macintosh)
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 3DX (2008 on Arcade)
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 3DX+ (2008 on Arcade)
Namco Classic Fighter Collection (2008 on PlayStation 2)
Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 3 (2007 on Arcade)
Taiko no Tatsujin: Doka! to Ōmori Nanadaime (2006 on PlayStation 2)
Tekken: Dark Resurrection (2006 on PSP, PlayStation 3)
Xenosaga: Episode III - Also Sprach Zarathustra (2006 on PlayStation 2)

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History +

May 2, 2005

The company is acquired by Bandai Co. for about $1.7 billion. The merged companies will form Namco Bandai Holdings Inc., led by Bandai President Takeo Takasu and Namco Vice Chairman Kyushiro Takagi.

April 1, 2005

Shigeichi Ishimura (age 51), formerly head of Namco's mobile division, is to become the company's new president. Koichi Tashiro will now move into Ishimura-san's former role.

With the change, Namco's former president, Kyushiro Takagi (age 61), will step up to vice chairman of the company.

March 18, 2004

Namco announces that they have signed a publishing agreement with Flagship Studios.

July 30, 2003

Namco acquires the rights to make games based on the films Escape from New York and its sequel Escape from L.A.

1997

Established Dream Pictures Studion Incorporated, a joint venture with Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. and Polygon Pictures, Inc., to produce digital contents for computer graphic-based films and entertainment software.

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