Game Freak
Private | |
Industry | Video game |
Founded | April 26, 1989 |
Founders |
Satoshi Tajiri Ken Sugimori |
Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
Key people | |
Products | Pokémon series |
Number of employees | 108 (As of April 2016)[1] |
Website |
www |
Game Freak Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社ゲームフリーク Hepburn: Kabushiki gaisha Gēmu Furīku, stylized as GAME FREAK inc.) is a Japanese video game developer, best known as the primary developer of Nintendo's Pokémon series of role-playing video games.
History
Predating the video game company, Game Freak was a self-published video game magazine created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori in the 1980s. Tajiri wrote and edited the text and Sugimori illustrated. Tajiri also used "Game Freak" as his pen name when he wrote as a freelance writer to publications such as Family Computer Magazine and Famicom Tsūshin.[2][3]
On April 26, 1989, Tajiri and Sugimori started a video game development company with the same name.[4][5][6][7] One of Game Freak's first games was the Nintendo Entertainment System action and puzzle game Quinty, which was released in North America as Mendel Palace. Its most popular series, Pokémon—the romanized contraction of the Japanese brand Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター Poketto Monsutā)[8]—is published and distributed by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo worldwide.
In October 2015, Game Freak bought Koa Games, a mobile development company.[9]
Gameography
Year | Title | Publisher | Platform |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Mendel Palace | ‹See Tfd› | NES |
1991 | Smart Ball | Sony | SNES |
1991 | Yoshi | Nintendo | NES Game Boy |
1992 | Magical Tarurūto-kun | Sega | Mega Drive |
1993 | Mario & Wario | Nintendo | SNES |
1994 | Nontan to Issho: Kuru-Kuru Puzzle | Victor Interactive | Game Boy |
1994 | Pulseman | Sega | Mega Drive |
1994 | Smart Ball 2 | Sony | SNES |
1994 | Nontan to Issho: Kuru Kuru Puzzle | Victor Interactive | Super Famicom |
1996 | Pocket Monsters: Red & Green | Nintendo | Game Boy |
1996 | Pocket Monsters: Blue | Nintendo | Game Boy |
1996 | Pokémon Red and Blue | Nintendo | Game Boy |
1996 | Bazaar de Gosāru no Game de Gosāru | NEC | PC Engine |
1997 | Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha | T&E Soft | Super Famicom |
1998 | Game Boy Camera | Nintendo | Game Boy |
1998 | Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition | Nintendo | Game Boy |
1999 | Pokémon Gold and Silver | Nintendo | Game Boy Color |
1999 | Click Medic | Sony | PlayStation |
2000 | Pokémon Crystal | Nintendo | Game Boy Color |
2002 | Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire | Nintendo | Game Boy Advance |
2004 | Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen | Nintendo | Game Boy Advance |
2005 | Pokémon Emerald | Nintendo | Game Boy Advance |
2005 | Drill Dozer | Nintendo | Game Boy Advance |
2007 | Pokémon Diamond and Pearl | Nintendo | Nintendo DS |
2009 | Pokémon Platinum | Nintendo | Nintendo DS |
2010 | Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver | Nintendo | Nintendo DS |
2011 | Pokémon Black and White | Nintendo | Nintendo DS |
2012 | Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 | Nintendo | Nintendo DS |
2012 | HarmoKnight | Nintendo | Nintendo 3DS |
2013 | Pocket Card Jockey | ‹See Tfd› | Nintendo 3DS iOS Android |
2013 | Pokémon X and Y | Nintendo | Nintendo 3DS |
2014 | Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | Nintendo | Nintendo 3DS |
2015 | Tembo the Badass Elephant | Sega | Xbox One PlayStation 4 Windows |
2016 | Pokémon Sun and Moon | Nintendo | Nintendo 3DS |
TBD | Giga Wrecker | Game Freak | Windows |
References
- ↑ 会社概要 (in Japanese). Game Freak Inc. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
- ↑ Satoshi Tajiri (1989-01-06). ぼくたちゲーセン野郎. Family Computer Magazine (in Japanese): 114–115. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
- ↑ Satoshi Tajiri (1986-08-01). ビデヲゲーム通信. Biweekly Famicom Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved 2015-11-29.
- ↑ Kohler, Chris (2010-04-19). "Pokémon Creators' Fanzine Fetches High Price". Wired.
- ↑ "COLUMN: 'Game Mag Weaseling': Just Checking In". GameSetWatch.
- ↑ Previous post Next post (2010-04-19). "Pokémon Creators' Fanzine Fetches High Price | GameLife". Wired.com. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ Gifford, Kevin (2008-04-07). "COLUMN: 'Game Mag Weaseling': Just Checking In". GameSetWatch. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ Swider, Matt. "The Pokemon Series Pokedex". Gaming Target. Gaming Target. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
- ↑ "Pokémon Developer Game Freak Has Purchased a Mobile Game Development Company".
- ↑ "Pocket Card Jockey for Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo of America, Inc. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- Game Freak at IGN