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Nippon Ichi Software

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Nippon Ichi Software Inc.
Company typekabushiki-kaisha
JASDAQ: 3851
IndustryVideo game industry
FoundedSeptember 1991 (initial founding)
July 12, 1993 (reincorporation)
HeadquartersGifu Prefecture, Japan
NIS, America:
Santa Ana, California, United States[1]
Key people
Souhei Niikawa
ProductsDisgaea series
RevenueIncrease JPY 2,530,553 thousand (2013)[2]
Total assetsIncrease JPY 2,570,604 thousand (2013)[2]
Number of employees
138 (Full-Time) 27 (Temp) 2013 [2]
SubsidiariesNIS America, Inc.
Prisma System Corporation
ToOeuf STUDIO
Shishikui-ya Co., Ltd.
Dion Entertainment Ltd.[3]
Websitewww.nippon1.co.jp
www.nisamerica.com

Nippon Ichi Software, Inc. (日本一ソフトウェア, Nippon Ichi Sofutowea) (known as Prism Kikaku Ltd. from July 1993 to July 1995) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. They are responsible for such titles as Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Phantom Brave, La Pucelle: Tactics and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. More recently, particularly through their North American branch, NIS America, they have also published anime titles.

History

Nippon Ichi Software was founded in September 1991 in Gifu Prefecture, Japan,[4] as an entertainment software company. It was relocated and reincorporated[4] on July 12, 1993.[5] Since then Nippon Ichi Software, Inc. has grown into an international company focused on creating video game products across modern console platforms. NIS America, Inc. subsidiary of Nippon Ichi Software, Inc. of Japan, established its North American operations on December 24, 2003. Based in Santa Ana, California, NIS America, Inc. handles operations including localization, marketing, and publishing of Nippon Ichi titles. The first game to be released in North America by NIS America was Phantom Brave.

NIS America was the result of the company's wish to focus on international publication of their works in the U.S., given the increased popularity of their titles. Prior to the creation of this subsidiary, NIS software titles that appeared in the U.S. were localized and distributed by outside publishers. Notable examples would be Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, published in North America by Atlus and in Europe by Koei, La Pucelle, published in North America by Mastiff Inc, and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure which was also published in North America by Atlus. The publisher has become a somewhat of a well-known presence in the North American market, having won RPGLand's "Stateside Publisher of the Year Award" in 2009.[6]

Nippon Ichi, meaning "Japan's Best" or "#1 in Japan," is often abbreviated as "N1".[7]

During years 2008 and 2009 the financial results for Nippon Ichi saw a huge drop. The January 2009 financial report for the company recorded a drop of more than 97% in income in comparison to the previous year.[8] Kotaku editor Brian Ashcraft reported that after the release of the financial figures "The company's closing price on the JASDAQ (Japanese NASDAQ) was ¥36,200 on Friday. When the market opened this morning, and investors began reacting to Nippon Ichi's financial statement, the stock price ultimately dropped ¥7,000 (US$78) as the stock was unloaded."

On 2012 Nippon Ichi Software entered the Guinness World Records Book awarded for being the company that released the most strategy RPGs.[9]

Games

Though the company has developed a number of traditional role-playing video games, Nippon Ichi's latest releases have primarily been a series of tactical RPG games. Many characters from previous titles make their way into later games as secret characters, even though their respective titles may not be directly connected. The Rhapsody series, Disgaea series, Phantom Brave, Makai Kingdom, and Soul Nomad are the games that are usually connected with each other through secret characters.

Other games of separate genres, such as Cooking Fighter Hao, have been published by the company though they have never been released outside Japan. The most popular games are the Disgaea games. All of these games have connections to each other, whether it be the same world, dimensional travel, same creatures, or the same villain, Baal.

Games developed and/or published by Nippon Ichi Software

Title System Release date Developer(s) JP NA EU AUS Ref(s)
Jigsaw Party Super Nintendo Entertainment System July 22, 1994 Prism Kikaku
Jigsaw World PlayStation February 3, 1995 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
The Oni Taiji: Mezase! Nidaime Momotarou PlayStation October 13, 1995 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Jigsaw Land: Japan Graffiti PlayStation September 13, 1996 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Souryu: Logical Mahjong PlayStation December 20, 1996 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Doki Doki Shutter Chance PlayStation October 23, 1997 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
SatelliTV PlayStation January 8, 1998 Yes
Cooking Fighter Hao PlayStation May 21, 1998 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure PlayStation December 17, 1998 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Logic Mahjong Souryu PlayStation May 5, 1999 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Little Princess: Marl Ōkoku no Ningyō Hime 2 PlayStation November 25, 1999 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Tenshi no Present: Marl Ōkoku Monogatari PlayStation 2 December 21, 2000 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Marl de Jigsaw PlayStation 2 November 15, 2001 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
La Pucelle: Tactics PlayStation 2 January 31, 2002 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Jigsaw Madness PlayStation December 1, 2002 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness PlayStation 2 January 30, 2003 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes
Marujan!! April 23, 2004 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Phantom Brave PlayStation 2 January 22, 2004 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes
Hayari Gami August 5, 2004 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome PlayStation 2 March 17, 2005 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes
Tristia of the Deep-Blue Sea PlayStation 2 March 25, 2005 Kogado Studio Yes
Eien no Aseria: The Spirit of Eternity Sword PlayStation 2 May 12, 2005 Xuse Yes
Hayarigami Revenge PlayStation 2 July 14, 2005 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Rasetsu Alternative PlayStation 2 October 13, 2005 Kogado Studio Yes
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories PlayStation 2 February 23, 2006 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness PlayStation Portable November 30, 2006 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes
Soul Nomad & the World Eaters PlayStation 2 February 15, 2007 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes
GrimGrimoire PlayStation 2 April 12, 2007 Nippon Ichi Software
Vanillaware 		Yes Yes
Hayarigami 2 PlayStation 2 November 15, 2007 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice PlayStation 3 January 31, 2008 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes
Disgaea DS Nintendo DS June 26, 2008 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? PlayStation Portable November 20, 2008 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes
Phantom Brave: We Meet Again Wii March 12, 2009 System Prisma Yes Yes
Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days PlayStation Portable March 26, 2009 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes
A Witch's Tale Nintendo DS May 28, 2009 Hit Maker Yes Yes
Trinity Universe PlayStation 3 October 1, 2009 Gust
Idea Factory
Nippon Ichi Software 		Yes Yes
Disgaea Infinite PlayStation Portable November 1, 2009 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes
La Pucelle Ragnarok PlayStation Portable November 26, 2009 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Last Rebellion PlayStation 3 January 28, 2010 Hit Maker
Nippon Ichi Software 		Yes Yes
Cladun: This is an RPG PlayStation Portable February 18, 2010 System Prisma Yes Yes Yes
Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger VS Darkdeath Evilman PlayStation Portable March 11, 2010 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes
Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! PlayStation Portable March 25, 2010 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes
Blue Roses: Yousei to Aoi Hitomi no Senshitachi PlayStation Portable September 16, 2010 ApolloSoft Yes
Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle PlayStation Portable October 28, 2010 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes
Criminal Girls PlayStation Portable November 18, 2010 Imageepoch Yes
Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten PlayStation 3 February 24, 2011 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes
Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention PlayStation Vita December 17, 2011 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes
Legasista PlayStation 3 March 15, 2012 System Prisma Yes Yes Yes
Special Report Division PlayStation Vita August 23, 2012 Nippon Ichi Software Yes [10]
The Guided Fate Paradox PlayStation 3 January 24, 2013 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes
Disgaea Dimension 2 PlayStation 3 March 20, 2013 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes
Z/X PlayStation 3 May 23, 2013 Nippon Ichi Software Yes [11]
Battle Princess of Arcadias PlayStation 3 July 25, 2013 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes [12]
The Witch and The Hundred Knight PlayStation 3 July 25, 2013 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes [13][14]
Kamigami no Asobi: Ludere deorum PlayStation Portable October 24, 2013 Nippon Ichi Software Yes
Criminal Girls: Invite Only PlayStation Vita November 28, 2013 Imageepoch Yes Yes Yes Yes
Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited PlayStation Vita January 30, 2014 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes
If You Thought It Was Harem Paradise, It Was Yandere Hell PlayStation 3, April 24, 2014 Nippon Ichi Software Yes [15]
htoL #NiQ: The Firefly Diary PlayStation Vita June 19, 2014 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes [16]
Shin Hayarigami PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita August 7, 2014 Nippon Ichi Software Yes [17]
The Awakened Fate Ultimatum PlayStation 3 September 25, 2014 Nippon Ichi Software Yes Yes Yes Yes [18]
Great Edo Blacksmith PlayStation Vita November 27, 2014 Nippon Ichi Software Yes [19]
Disgaea 5 PlayStation 4 2015 Nippon Ichi Software Yes [20]

Games published by NIS America

Title System Release date Developer(s) NA EU
Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana PlayStation 2 June 28, 2005 Gust Yes Yes
Generation of Chaos PlayStation Portable February 28, 2006 Idea Factory Yes Yes
Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny PlayStation 2 April 25, 2006 Gust Yes Yes
Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light PlayStation Portable July 18, 2006 SCE Japan Studio, Hit Maker Yes Yes
Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires PlayStation Portable September 26, 2006 Idea Factory Yes
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia PlayStation 2 February 7, 2007 Gust Yes
Aedis Eclipse: Generation of Chaos PlayStation Portable May 24, 2007 Idea Factory Yes
Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm PlayStation 2 May 29, 2007 Gust Yes Yes
Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis PlayStation 2 March 31, 2008 Gust Yes Yes
Ar tonelico 2: Melody of Metafalica PlayStation 2 January 20, 2009 Gust Yes Yes
Mana Khemia: Student Alliance PlayStation Portable March 10, 2009 Gust Yes Yes
Puchi Puchi Virus Nintendo DS May 19, 2009 KeysFactory Yes
Cross Edge PlayStation 3 May 26, 2009 Idea Factory Yes Yes
What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? PlayStation Portable July 16, 2009 Acquire Yes Yes
Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy PlayStation 2 August 25, 2009 Gust Yes
Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island Nintendo DS October 27, 2009 Gust Yes
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love PlayStation 2, Wii March 30, 2010 Sega, Idea Factory Yes Yes
What Did I Do To Deserve This, My Lord? 2 PlayStation Portable May 4, 2010 Acquire Yes Yes
Viral Survival Wii May 24, 2010 Peakvox Yes Yes
Trinity Universe PlayStation 3 June 29, 2010 Nippon Ichi Software, Idea Factory, Gust Yes Yes
Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland PlayStation 3 September 28, 2010 Gust Yes Yes
Hyperdimension Neptunia PlayStation 3 February 15, 2011 Compile Heart, Idea Factory Yes Yes
Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel PlayStation 3 March 15, 2011 Gust, Banpresto Yes Yes
Bleach: Soul Resurrección PlayStation 3 August 2, 2011 SCE Japan Studio Yes Yes
Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland PlayStation 3 September 27, 2011 Gust Yes Yes
Cave Story 3D Nintendo 3DS November 8, 2011 Nicalis Yes Yes
Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2 PlayStation 3 February 28, 2012 Idea Factory, Compile Heart Yes Yes
Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland PlayStation 3 May 29, 2012 Gust Yes Yes
Way of the Samurai 4 PlayStation 3 October 5, 2012 Acquire Yes
Mugen Souls PlayStation 3 October 16, 2012 Compile Heart Yes Yes
Clan of Champions PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows October 30, 2012 Acquire Yes Yes
Generation of Chaos: Pandora’s Reflection PlayStation Portable February 19, 2013 Sting Entertainment, Idea Factory Yes Yes
Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory PlayStation 3 March 21, 2013 Compile Heart, Idea Factory Yes Yes
Black Rock Shooter: The Game PlayStation Portable April 23, 2013 Imageepoch Yes Yes
Time and Eternity PlayStation 3 July 16, 2013 Imageepoch Yes Yes
Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan Nintendo 3DS August 30, 2013 Atlus Yes
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Nintendo 3DS September 20, 2013 Atlus Yes
Dragon's Crown PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita October 11, 2013 Vanillaware Yes
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc PlayStation Vita February 14, 2014 Spike Chunsoft Yes Yes
Ys: Memories of Celceta PlayStation Vita February 21, 2014 Falcom Yes
Demon Gaze PlayStation Vita April 22, 2014 Experience Inc Yes Yes
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl Nintendo 3DS May 2, 2014 Atlus Yes
Mugen Souls Z PlayStation 3 May 20, 2014 Compile Heart Yes Yes
Hyperdimension Neptunia: Producing Perfection PlayStation Vita June 3, 2014 Tamsoft Yes Yes
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair PlayStation Vita September 2, 2014 Spike Chunsoft Yes Yes
Fairy Fencer F PlayStation 3 September 16, 2014 Compile Heart Yes Yes
Natural Doctrine PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita September 30, 2014 Kadokawa Games Yes Yes
Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita October 10, 2014 Acquire Yes
Tears to Tiara II: Heir of the Overlord PlayStation 3 November 11, 2014 Aquaplus Yes
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Nintendo 3DS November 28, 2014 Atlus Yes
Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!! PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita 2014 Examu Yes
Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late PlayStation 3 2015 French Bread Yes
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita 2015 Toybox Yes

Cancelled titles

Other media

Nippon Ichi have begun to branch out into different media recently. Their first project is an anime based loosely on the story from Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. The success of the Disgaea anime has influenced N1 to consider adapting some of their other properties to the small screen. Possible projects are La Pucelle, Phantom Brave and Makai Kingdom.

Anime

Releases in North America [21][22]

Toys and figurines

References

  1. ^ "NIS, America Inc. -- About NISA". NIS, America Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  2. ^ a b c "2013 Nippon Ichi Software Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Nippon Ichi Software Official Website". Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b "NIS Company History". Nippon Ichi Software Inc. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  5. ^ "NIS Company Summary". Nippon Ichi Software Inc. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  6. ^ "RPGLand.com Best of 2009 Awards". RPGLand.com. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  7. ^ Kurt Kalata (2006). "NIS games at Hardcore Gaming 101". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved January 2, 2010. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  8. ^ Brian Ashcraft. "Nippon Ichi Software, This Can't Be Good (Part II)". Kotaku.
  9. ^ Nippon Ichi Is In The Guinness Book Of World Records, Thanks Partially To Disgaea - Siliconera
  10. ^ Vita Game From Nippon Ichi Puts You Behind A Newsroom Camera - Siliconera
  11. ^ Zillions Of Enemy X, Nippon Ichi's Next PS3 RPG, Details Leak Out, Has Asagi In It - Siliconera
  12. ^ Battle Princess Of Arcadias Gives You An Army To Control - Siliconera
  13. ^ "NISAmerica Site". NIS America.
  14. ^ The Witch and the Hundred Knights Will Reach Japan This July - Siliconera
  15. ^ 2014-01-14, [1], Gematsu
  16. ^ 2014-03-11, Nippon Ichi announces Hotaru no Nikki for PS Vita, Gematsu
  17. ^ 2014-04-22, [2], Gematsu
  18. ^ 2014-04-23, [3], Gematsu
  19. ^ 2014-07-22, NIS announces Great Edo Blacksmith for PS Vita, Gematsu
  20. ^ 2014-01-01, [4], Gematsu
  21. ^ "NIS AMERICA TO RELEASE ANIME TITLES IN NORTH AMERICA!" (PDF) (PDF). NIS America. February 12, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  22. ^ "NIS America to Release Anime Titles in North America". Anime News Network.
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