dB-SOFT Inc.
TypeJoint-stock company
IndustryVideo games, Information technology
FoundedMay 2, 1980 (1980-05-02)
FounderSadayuki Furuya
Defunct2001
FateMerged into NetFarm Communications
SuccessorNetFarm Communications
Headquarters
Sapporo, Hokkaido
,
Japan

dB-SOFT Inc. (デービーソフト株式会社) was a Japanese software development company that was in business from 1980 to 2003 based in Sapporo, Hokkaido. They started as a video game developer, releasing titles for various home computer platforms (including the Family Computer), but subsequently left the gaming business to focus solely on programming software and tools as they entered the 1990s.[1][2]

History

The company was founded on May 2, 1980, under the name Computer Land Hokkaido, publishing video games for various home computers under the "7 Turkey" brand name.[3] In 1984, they officially changed their name to dB-SOFT, taking their new name from the decibel (dB) unit.

Some of the company's most commercially successful video games include Flappy (which has been released in over 20 versions) and Woody Poco. dB-SOFT also published two pornographic games under the Macadamia Soft imprint: Macadam and 177 (the latter was banned from retail by the National Diet due to its controversial premise in which the player's objective is to pursue and rape a fleeing woman).[4] In addition to gaming software, dB-SOFT also produced programming tools such as dB-BASIC (a BASIC compiler), P1.EXE (a word processor) and HOTALL (a web designing tool).

On August 1, 2001, dB-SOFT ceased operation after being merged into NetFarm Communications (a company founded by Reiko Furuya, Sadayaki Furuya's wife). Their former office building was sold off in 2002.

Softography

Video games
Title Year Platforms
Flappy1983Famicom, FM-7, MSX, PC-6001, PC-8801, Sharp MZ, X1
Volguard1984NEC PC-8801
Zunō Senkan Garu (stylized as GALG)1985Famicom
Laptick1985PC-8801, PC-8001 Mk. II SR, X1, FM77AV
Volguard II1985Famicom
Cross Blaim 1986 MSX
Laptick II1986MSX
Layla1986Famicom
Woody Poco1986Famicom, MSX, PC-8801, PC-9801, FM-77AV, X1
Tetsudō Ō1987Famicom, MSX2, FM77AV
Produce1987PC-8801, Sharp X-1, PC-9801
Konyamo Asama de Powerful Mahjong 21988PC-8801, Sharp X68000, PC-9801, MSX
The Story of Melroon1989PC-8801, PC-9801

Notes

  1. ↑ "dB-SOFT". Universal Videogame List. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "DB Soft". GameFAQs. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  3. ↑ Sasaki, Jun (2013). Hachijū Nendai Maikon Daihyakka 80年代マイコン大百科 [Encyclopedia of '80's Micro Computers] (in Japanese). Japan: Sogo Kagaku Publishing. ISBN 978-4-88181-832-9.
  4. ↑ W. Lauteria, Evan (2015). Wysocki, Matthew (ed.). Rated M for mature : sex and sexuality in video games. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 31–34. ISBN 9781628925746.

References


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.