Creatures (company)

Creatures Inc.
Private
Industry Video games
Founded Ape: March 1989 (1989-03)
Creatures: November 8, 1995 (1995-11-08)
Headquarters Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Key people
 Tsunekazu Ishihara
(Chairman)
Hirokazu Tanaka
(President)
Products Various video game titles
Number of employees
 110 (as of June 2017)[1]
Website www.creatures.co.jp

Creatures, Inc. (株式会社クリーチャーズ, Kabushiki-gaisha Kurīchāzu) is a Japanese video game development company affiliated with The Pokémon Company.[1] It was founded by Tsunekazu Ishihara in November 1995, with the assistance of Nintendo's Satoru Iwata,[2] as a successor to Shigesato Itoi's company Ape Inc.[3] It is well known for producing Pokémon trading cards and toys, as well as developing many video games. Its current president is Hirokazu Tanaka, who was previously known for producing and composing various other Nintendo games. The company has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo,[1] in proximity to the Ichigaya Station.[4]

History

Ape, Inc. was founded in March 1989 and Shigesato Itoi became its chief executive officer. Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi had wanted to support new talent in game design. Liking Itoi's work, he proposed the idea of the company to Itoi and invested in it. Ape's staff included Tsunekazu Ishihara, who later became the Pokémon Company's CEO, and Ashura Benimaru Itoh, a renowned illustrator. They began work on Mother, which released in July. Its music was composed by Hip Tanaka, who later became the second CEO of Creatures.[5] The team continued with work on Mother 2. When the project began to falter, Satoru Iwata of HAL Laboratory was brought in to help the project. The game was released in August 1994 and the Ape team dismantled in 1995.

Creatures, Inc. was established on November 8, 1995 under CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara and former staff from Ape.[5]

Previously, Creatures had its headquarters on the 7th floor of the Nintendo Kanda Building (任天堂神田ビル, Nintendō Kanda Biru) in Sudachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo.[6] At a later point it was headquartered in the fifth floor annex of the Kawasakiteitoku Building (川崎定徳ビル, kawasakiteitoku Biru) in Nihonbashi, Chūō, Tokyo.[7] Creatures are also well known for making Pokémon card games and toys for the Pokémon franchise.[8]

Gameography

Ape/Creatures has developed or has contributed to the development of the following games.

  = developer
  = co-developer
  = assistant developer
  = publisher

As Ape

  Year Title Platform Developer Role Notes
  1989 Mother NES Ape Developer Initially Japan only. Re-released worldwide in 2015 as EarthBound Beginnings.
  1993 Monopoly SNES CreamSoft, Ape Co-developer Japan only.
  1994 EarthBound SNES Ape, HAL Co-developer Released as Mother 2 in Japan.
  1995 Mario's Picross Game Boy Ape, Jupiter Co-developer
  1995 Tamori's Picross SNES Ape, Jupiter[9] Co-developer Series of small games distributed over the Satellaview network, coinciding with a radio show by Japanese celebrity Tamori. Japan only.[9][10]
  1995 The Monopoly Game 2 SNES Tomcat System Publisher Jointly published by Tomy and Ape. Japan only.
  1995 Mario's Super Picross SNES Ape, Jupiter Co-developer Japan only.
  2003 Mother 1+2 Game Boy Advance Ape, HAL Porting Compilation cartridge of Mother and Mother 2. Japan only.[11]

As Creatures

  Year Title Platform Developer Role Notes
  1996 Picross 2 Game Boy Creatures, Jupiter[12][13] [14] Co-developer[15] Japan only.[16]
  1997 Mini Yonku GB: Let's & Go!! Game Boy Creatures, Jupiter[17][18] Co-developer[19] Based on mini yonku racing. Japan only.[20]
  1998 Game Boy Camera Game Boy Nintendo R&D1, Creatures, Game Freak, Jupiter[21][22] Software co-development.
  1998 Pokemon Stadium (Japanese version) Nintendo 64 Nintendo EAD Pokémon modeling.[23] Japan only.
  1998 Hey You, Pikachu! Nintendo 64 Ambrella Pokémon modeling.[23]
  1998 Pokémon Trading Card Game Game Boy Color Hudson, Creatures Planning, game design, card design.[23]
  1999 Super Smash Bros. Nintendo 64 HAL Pokémon modeling, opening design.[24]
  1999 Pokémon Snap Nintendo 64 HAL Part of 2D illustrations, Pokémon modeling.[24]
  1999 Pokémon Stadium (international version) Nintendo 64 Nintendo EAD Part of 2D illustrations, Pokémon modeling.[24] Upgraded version of the original Pokémon Stadium. Released in Japan as Pokemon Stadium 2.
  2000 Pokémon Stadium 2 Nintendo 64 Nintendo EAD Pokémon modeling.[25] Released in Japan as Pokemon Stadium Gold Silver.
  2001 Chee-Chai Alien Game Boy Color Creatures Developer Japan only.
  2001 Pokémon Card GB2: GR-dan Sanjo! Game Boy Color Hudson, Creatures Planning, game design, card design.[26] Japan only. Subtitle is often translated as Here Comes Team GR!,[27] and sometimes as The Invasion of Team GR![28]
  2001 Super Smash Bros. Melee GameCube HAL Character, stage, and figure modeling. Opening movie design.[26]
  2003 Pokémon Colosseum GameCube Genius Sonority Pokémon modeling.[29]
  2005 Nonono Puzzle Chailien Game Boy Advance Creatures, Nintendo[30] Co-developer Japan only. Chailien is sometimes spelled Chairian.[31]
  2005 Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness GameCube Genius Sonority Pokémon modeling.[32]
  2006 Pokémon Ranger Nintendo DS HAL Assistant developer.[33]
  2006 Project Hacker: Kakusei Nintendo DS Red Entertainment Assistant developer.[33] Japan only.
  2006 Pokémon Battle Revolution Wii Genius Sonority Pokémon modeling.[33]
  2007 Pokemon Battrio Arcade Tomy, AQ Interactive[34] Pokémon modeling, cabinet design.[35] Arcade cabinet. Japan only.
  2008 Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Nintendo DS Creatures Developer
  2008 Personal Trainer: Walking Nintendo DS Nintendo NSD, Creatures, Engines Software co-development.
  2009 PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure Wii Creatures Developer
  2010 Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Nintendo DS Creatures Developer
  2011 Pokémon Card Game: How to Play DS Nintendo 3DS Creatures, ZENER WORKS[36] Co-developer Instructional game on how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game, included with a deck kit called the Beginning Set. Japan only.[37]
  2011 Pokédex 3D Nintendo 3DS Creatures[38] Developer Free app.[39] Discontinued after 1 October 2012.[40]
  2011 PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Wii Creatures Developer
  2012 Pokémon Dream Radar Nintendo 3DS Creatures, Game Freak[41][42] Co-developer
  2012 Pokédex 3D Pro Nintendo 3DS Creatures[43] Developer Upgraded version of Pokédex 3D. Paid app, unlike its precursor.[43]
  2012 Pokédex for iOS iOS Creatures[44] Developer Discontinued on 30 November, 2015.[45]
  2013 Pokémon X and Y Nintendo 3DS Game Freak Pokémon modeling.[46]
  2016 Pokémon Go iOS, Android Niantic Pokémon modeling.[47]
  2016 Pokkén Tournament Wii U Bandai Namco Studios Pokémon modeling.[47]
  2016 Detective Pikachu Nintendo 3DS Creatures Developer

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Company Outline" (in Japanese). Creatures Inc. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Iwata Asks". Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  3. ↑ "スペシャル対談／後編1・田尻さんと石原さんの6年". 任天堂マガジン表紙(No.23). Nintendo. July 2007. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  4. ↑ "Access Map Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine.." (Direct image link Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine.) Creatures Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  5. 1 2 "Quick History of the MOTHER Series". 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  6. ↑ "Creatures Welcome Page." Creatures Inc. 2000-03-02. Retrieved 2010-10-04. "千代田区神田須田町1–22任天堂神田ビル7F"
  7. ↑ "Welcome to Creatures Inc." Creatures Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-04. "東京都中央区日本橋3-2-5川崎定徳ビル別館5F."
  8. ↑ "Creatures Pokémon game cards and toys." Creatures Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-04. "ポケモンカードゲームXY スーパーレジェンドデッキ60「ゼルネアスEX・イベルタルEX」2014.11.14"
  9. 1 2 Jupiter. "Tamori's Picross". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07.
  10. ↑ "Tamori's Picross". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on 2018-03-06.
  11. ↑ "Mother 1+2". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on 2018-03-05.
  12. ↑ Jupiter. "Picross 2". jupiter.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-04-24.
  13. ↑ "Picross 2 cartridge". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 2018-03-06.
  14. ↑ Mario's Picross 2 (Game Boy) (YouTube video). Enrique Garcia / kachorro 2. 2013-12-14.
  15. ↑ Creatures. "Company >> History >> 1996". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  16. ↑ "Picross 2". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 2018-03-02.
  17. ↑ Jupiter. "Mini 4x4 GB Let's & Go!!". jupiter.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-04-24.
  18. ↑ shisochou. "Mini Yonku 4WD Let's & Go Game Boy GB Japan import cartridge only" (direct link to picture of cartridge), eBay.
  19. ↑ Creatures. "Company >> History >> 1997". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  20. ↑ "Mini Yonku GB: Let's & Go!!". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on 2018-03-06.
  21. ↑ Jupiter. "Pocket Camera". jupiter.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-04-24.
  22. ↑ Game Boy Camera And Printer Review (YouTube video). Michael's Retro Game Reviews / davidhass3lh0ff. 2013-02-11.
  23. 1 2 3 Creatures. "Company >> History >> 1998". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  24. 1 2 3 Creatures. "Company >> History >> 1999". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  25. ↑ Creatures. "Company >> History >> 2000". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  26. 1 2 Creatures. "Company >> History >> 2001". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  27. ↑ "Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR!". Bulbapedia.
  28. ↑ "Pokemon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!". Arty's Generic Site. Archived from the original on 2017-07-17.
  29. ↑ Creatures. "Company >> History >> 2003". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  30. ↑ "Nonono Puzzle Chairian cartridge". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 2018-03-06.
  31. ↑ "Nonono Puzzle Chairian Releases". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 2018-03-06.
  32. ↑ Creatures. "Company >> History >> 2005". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  33. 1 2 3 Creatures. "Company >> History >> 2006". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  34. ↑ "ポケモンバトリオ | ポケモンバトリオとは" [Pokemon Batrio | What is Pokemon Batrio?]. battrio.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-17.
  35. ↑ Creatures. "Company >> History >> 2007". creatures.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  36. ↑ Pokemon TCG DS 15 Minutes Gameplay (YouTube video). TheLoneSwordsmen. 2013-02-11.
  37. ↑ "Pokémon Card Game: How to Play DS". Bulbapedia.
  38. ↑ Nintendo. "Pokédex 3D". nintendo.com. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11.
  39. ↑ Miller, Zachary (2011-06-14). "Pokédex 3D". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 2018-03-07.
  40. ↑ "Pokédex 3D Pro Coming Nov. 8; Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Debut New Features" (Press release). Nintendo. 2012-01-08. Archived from the original on 2018-03-07.
  41. ↑ Pokémon Dream Radar title screen (screenshot). Giant Bomb. 2013-03-17. Archived from the original on 2018-03-07.
  42. ↑ Nintendo. "Pokémon Dream Radar". nintendo.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-03-06.
  43. 1 2 Nintendo. "Pokédex 3D Pro". nintendo.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-10.
  44. ↑ "Pokédex for iOS". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 2013-01-22.
  45. ↑ "Pokédex for iOS App Goes Out of Service". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12.
  46. ↑ Gifford, Kevin. "How Game Freak built the new creatures and 3D models of Pokemon X and Y". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2017-08-14.
  47. 1 2 Creatures. "PRODUCTS". www.creatures.co.jp.
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