MangaGamer
| File:Mangagamer widelogo.jpg | |
| Status | Active |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Overdrive, Tarte, Nexton, Circus |
| Country of origin | Netherlands |
| Distribution | Worldwide |
| Fiction genres | Visual novel |
| Official website | http://www.mangagamer.com |
MangaGamer is a Netherlands-based company primary specializing in the English localization and distribution of Japanese visual novels.
History
MangaGamer was originally envisioned as a company that would sell Japanese visual novels overseas by Hiroshi Takeuchi, also known under his alias Bamboo, president of Japanese eroge development company Overdrive. Due to the cost involved, he convinced several other Japanese eroge companies (Tarte, Nexton and Circus) to take part in a joint venture.[1]
Due to this setup, the initial lineup of titles consisted of titles produced by companies involved in MangaGamer's creation, with Navel soon joining with their first title, Shuffle!. These early titles were translated by native Japanese speakers involved with parent companies, resulting in a subpar quality. After complaints from fans,[2][3] it was announced that a complete re-translation of Edelweiss was in progress.[4] Starting with Soul Link, translation and editing is handled by international team of native English speakers, resulting in an increase of quality. The company itself is headed by a relative of Takeuchi, and a core Japanese staff is spread across involved Japanese companies.[1] In addition to their primary domain, mangagamer.com, MangaGamer also own an alternative domain, manga-corp.com, that redirects to the all-ages version of their website on the primary domain.
At their panel at Otakon 2011, MangaGamer announced they are expanding their business into digital distribution of erotic manga (by Japanese publisher Akane Shinsha) and anime (by Discovery).[5][6]
Relations with fan translators
MangaGamer has served as a mediator in talks between several fan translation groups and Japanese game companies that ended in deals made to officially release said translations through MangaGamer. Their games include Kara no Shōjo by Innocent Grey[7] and Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two. by Minori.[8]
Distribution
Originally, MangaGamer sold their titles exclusively via digital distribution, and it remains their primary release channel. During the Anime Expo 2010 and Otakon 2010 conventions, physical disks were sold with the first four games in the Higurashi When They Cry series and Kira Kira All-Ages. Those games were later sold by HimeyaShop and Hendane!.com.[9] In January 2011, a collaboration was announced between Hendane!.com and MangaGamer resulting in the sale of physical copies of Da Capo Limited Edition through Hendane!.com.[10] In July 2011, J-List became the primary North American distributor of physical copies for all current MangaGamer titles, except Da Capo LE.[11] Around the same time, MangaGamer opened their own webshop for physical copies aimed at European customers.[12]
Lineup
| Marketed title | Japanese title | Japanese developer | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edelweiss | Ēderuwaisu (エーデルワイス) | Overdrive | July 10, 2008 | Re-released on September 2, 2011 with a new and improved translation |
| Which girl should I choose? | Hinatabokko (ひなたぼっこ) | Tarte | July 10, 2008 | |
| My sex slave is a classmate | Boku no Mesu Hisho wa Doukyuusei (僕の牝秘書は同級生) | Liquid | July 24, 2008 | Removed from MangaGamer website on June 4, 2009, restored on October 30, 2009 |
| Tasty Shafts | Oishii Bō ga 2-hon (美味しい棒が2本) | Psycho | December 10, 2008 | |
| Shera, My Witch | Sakkyuba☆Soon! (さっきゅば☆SOON!) | Score | December 20, 2008 | |
| Da Capo | D.C. ~Da・Kāpo~ (D.C.～ダ・カーポ～) | Circus | December 25, 2008 | Limited edition hard copy published on March 29, 2011 |
| Suika A.S+ | Suika A.S＋~SUIKA~ (水夏A.S＋~SUIKA~) | Circus & Moonstone | April 25, 2009 | |
| Kira Kira | Kira☆Kira (キラ☆キラ) | Overdrive | June 24, 2009 | |
| Shuffle! | Shuffle! | Navel | August 15, 2009 | |
| Suck my dick or die! | Ryoujoku Gerira Gari (凌辱ゲリラ狩り) | Liquid | October 30, 2009 | Removed from MangaGamer website on June 4, 2009, restored and released on October 30, 2009 |
| Higurashi When They Cry | Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (ひぐらしのなく頃に) | 07th Expansion | December 15, 2009 | Contains the first four games in the series |
| Soul Link | Souru Rinku (ソウルリンク) | Navel | December 25, 2009 | |
| Sandwiched by my wife and her sister | Shimai Don ~Shirudaku de~ (姉妹丼～汁だくで～) | Psycho | January 20, 2010 | |
| Kira Kira All-Ages Version | Kira☆Kira (キラ☆キラ) | Overdrive | January 31, 2010 | Translation used in iOS version published by Mtrix |
| Cosplay Alien | Kosutte Eirian -Yūwaku no Kosupure H- (コスってエイリアン -誘惑のコスプレH-) | Score | February 20, 2010 | |
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai "Meakashi" | Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Maekashi-hen (ひぐらしのなく頃に解 目明し編) | 07th Expansion | February 28, 2010 | |
| Edelweiss Eiden Fantasia | Ēderuwaisu Eiden Fantajia (エーデルワイス 詠伝ファンタジア) | Overdrive | March 20, 2010 | Edelweiss fandisc |
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai "Tsumihoroboshi" | Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Tsumihoroboshi-hen (ひぐらしのなく頃に解 罪滅し編) | 07th Expansion | April 15, 2010 | |
| Kira Kira Curtain Call | Kira☆Kira Kātenkōru (キラ☆キラ カーテンコール) | Overdrive | April 30, 2010 | Kira Kira sequel and fandisc |
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai "Minagoroshi" | Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Minagoroshi-hen (ひぐらしのなく頃に解 皆殺し編) | 07th Expansion | May 31, 2010 | |
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai "Matsuribayashi" | Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Matsuribayashi-hen (ひぐらしのなく頃に解 祭囃し編) | 07th Expansion | July 15, 2010 | |
| Da Capo Innocent Finale | D.C.I.F. ~Da・Kāpo~ Inosento Fināre (D.C.I.F.～ダ・カーポ～イノセントフィナーレ) | Circus | November 30, 2010 | Da Capo "alternative version" with the focus on Kotori Shirakawa |
| Da Capo 2 | D.C.II ~Da・KāpoII~ (D.C.II ～ダ・カーポII～) | Circus | December 24, 2010 | Limited edition hard copy published on July 1, 2011 |
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai Bundle Pack | Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai (ひぐらしのなく頃に解) | 07th Expansion | February 10, 2011 | Last four games bundled |
| Koihime Musou: A Heart-Throbbing, Maidenly Romance of the Three Kingdoms | Koihime † Musō ~Doki ☆ Otome Darake no Sangokushi Engi~ (恋姫†無双～ドキッ☆乙女だらけの三国志演義～) | BaseSon | February 28, 2011 | Released without voices, but after 2,000 sold copies, an update to add voices was announced |
| Guilty: The SiN | Zaishuu-The SiN- (罪囚-The SiN-) | Tactics | March 14, 2011 | |
| Kotori Love Ex P | Kotori Love Ex P (ことり Love Ex P) | Circus | April 29, 2011 | Da Capo fandisc, a bundle of various chapters from across the franchise that focuses on Kotori Shirakawa |
| Kara no Shoujo | Kara no Shōjo (殻ノ少女) | Innocent Grey | June 29, 2011 | Released without voices |
| We Love Master! | Goshujin-sama Daisuki (ご主人様だーいすき) | Score | August 1, 2011 | |
| Go! Go! Nippon! ~My First Trip to Japan~ | Go! Go! Nippon! (ゴー！ゴー！日本！) | Overdrive | September 30, 2011 | Written originally for the English market |
| Conquering the Queen | Mashō no Nie (魔将の贄) | Liquid | October 28, 2011 | |
| Harem Party | Harem☆Party (ハーレム☆パーティー) | Tactics | November 25, 2011 | |
| Deardrops | Deardrops (ディアドロップス) | Overdrive | March 2, 2012 | |
| Magical Teacher: My Teacher's a Mage? | Magical Teacher Sensei wa Majo? (まじかるティーチャー 先生は魔女?) | Score | April 13, 2012 | |
| Dengeki Stryker | Dengeki Striker (電激ストライカー) | Overdrive | June 22, 2012 | |
| Ef: The First Tale. | Ef: The First Tale. | Minori | July 27, 2012 | |
| Sexy Demon Transformation | Kozukuri Youkai H Henka ~Otome o Okasu Hyoui Gattai~ (子作り妖怪H変化～乙女を犯す憑依合体～) | Softhouse-Seal | September 14, 2012 | |
| Boob Wars: Big Boobs vs Flat Chests | Oppai Sensou - Kyonyuu VS Hinnyuu - (おっぱい戦争 -巨乳VS貧乳-) | Softhouse-Seal | October 19, 2012 | |
| Eroge | Eroge! ~H mo Game mo Kaihatsu Zanmai~ (えろげー！～Hもゲームも開発三昧～) | Clockup | 2012 | |
| Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru | Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru (処女はお姉さまに恋してる) | Caramel Box | 2012 | |
| Orion Heart | Orion Heart ~Injoku no Suku Mizu Sailor Senshi~ (オリオンハート～淫辱のスク水セーラー戦士～) | Portion | 2013 | |
| Slave Witch April | Reizoku no Majo April ~Injoku no Mahou Choukyou~ (隷属の魔女エイプリル～淫辱の魔法調教～) | Aconite | 2013 | |
| Ef: The Latter Tale. | Ef: The Latter Tale. | Minori | TBA | |
| Harukoi Otome ~Greetings from the Maidens' Garden~ | Harukoi Otome ~Otome no Sono de Gokigenyou~ (春恋＊乙女～乙女の園でごきげんよう。～) | BaseSon | TBA | |
| SSSS: Super Secret Sexy Spy | Nakadashi Spy no Sounyuu Sousa -Shikyuu no Heiwa wa Ore ga Mamoru!- (中出しスパイの挿入捜査 -子宮の平和は俺が守る!-) | Softhouse-Seal | TBA |
References
- ^ a b Brad Rice (January 19, 2011). "Interview: MangaGamer says adult content is just a bonus". Japanator. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ "MangaGamer rereleases Edelweiss". Encubed. September 20, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "MangaGamer releases Da Capo for Christmas". Encubed. December 25, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "This week at MangaGamer..." MangaGamer. October 8, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "MangaGamer announces games, anime, manga at Otakon". Encubed. August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "ディスカバリー DISCOVERY 公式サイト" (in Japanese). Discovery. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ "MangaGamer announces Kara no Shoujo". Encubed. May 16, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "a fairy tale of the three". Encubed. September 26, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "MangaGamer hard copies available for order". Encubed. September 22, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "Da Capo concreto". Encubed. January 27, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "MangaGamer partners with J-List for hardcopy distribution". Encubed. July 20, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "EU Hard Copy Sales Now Open". MangaGamer. June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.