French Bread (game developer)

Soft Circle French-Bread
Native name
 フランスパン
Furansu Pan
Industry Video game industry
Predecessor Watanabe Seisakusho
Headquarters Japan
Key people
Products
Website www13.plala.or.jp/french/

French Bread (known as Watanabe Seisakusho prior to 2003) is a Japanese video game developer best known for their work in fighting games, particularly the Melty Blood series. The studio started off as a dōjin circle and has largely focused on fighting games, with a few older exceptions such as Bike Banditz. Their newest release, Under Night In-Birth, was released in September 2012.[1] An updated version of the game titled Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late was released in Summer 2013. French Bread collaborated with Sega and Ecole Software to develop a fighting game titled Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax.[2]

Foundation

The Queen of Heart '98 cover art

The studio was named Watanabe Manufacturing (渡辺製作所, Watanabe Seisakusho) by a friend of Narita Shinya, with whom he often played video games with after school. They initially developed desk accessories for Windows. Shinya discovered dojin Windows action games and fighting games such as the Tokimeki Taisen (ときめき大戦) and Moon Lights 2 that were ported from the X68000 home computer. He subsequently decided to develop his own project for Windows. It was initially conceived as an original work, but creating unique character designs and graphics proved difficult. Shinya was later introduced to the visual novel To Heart and decided to develop his game as a derivative work. Characters for his project were sourced from To Heart, while the system mechanics were based on Asuka 120%, a game that served as an influence for Shinya and his team. The Queen of Heart '98 was released on December 30, 1998 to positive critical reception from dojin gamers.[3][4]

The Melty Blood series, co-developed with Type-Moon in 2002, ranks among their most notable work. As of 2017, they continue to develop 2D fighting games with Sega.

Games developed

As Watanabe Seisakusho

TitleYearPlatform(s)Notes
The Queen of Heart '981998Microsoft WindowsFeatures characters from To Heart. Its game system was influenced by Asuka 120%.[3]
The Queen of Heart '991999Microsoft WindowsFeatures characters from Leaf games
The Queen of Heart '99 Second Edition2000Microsoft Windows
Punch Ayu-chan! (あゆちゃんパンチ!)2000Microsoft Windows
Demon Hunter Mai2000Microsoft WindowsFeatures characters from Kanon
The Queen of Heart '99 with Second Edition2001Microsoft Windows
Party's Breaker: The Queen of Heart 20012001Microsoft WindowsFeatures characters from Comic Party
-AIR- Flight (えあふり 観鈴ちん危機一髪)2001Features characters from Air
Melty Blood2002Microsoft Windows
Drill Milky Punch[5]2003Microsoft WindowsFeatures characters from Âge games
Glove on Fight2003Microsoft WindowsFeatures characters from various dating sims, anime, and dōjin games.
Bike Banditz2003Microsoft Windows
Melty Blood Re-ACT2004Microsoft Windows

As Soft Circle French-Bread

TitleYearPlatform(s)Notes
Melty Blood Re-ACT Final Tuned2005Microsoft Windows
Melty Blood: Act Cadenza2005Sega NaomiIn collaboration with Ecole Software
Melty Blood: Act Cadenza (PS2)2006PlayStation 2
Melty Blood: Act Cadenza Ver. B2007Microsoft Windows
Ragnarok Battle Offline2007Microsoft Windows
Glove on Fight 2: Gleam of Force[6]2008Microsoft Windows
Melty Blood: Actress Again2008Sega Naomi
Lilian Fourhand2009Microsoft WindowsFeatures characters from Maria-sama ga Miteru
Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code2010Sega RingWide
Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code Ver.1.052011Sega RingWide
Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code Ver.1.072011Sega RingWide
Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code (PC Version)2011Microsoft WindowsPublished to Steam store by Arc System Works in 2016.
Under Night In-Birth2012Sega RingEdge 2In collaboration with Type-Moon and Arc System Works.
Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[7]2013Sega RingEdge 2/PS3[8]/Microsoft Windows[9]Balancing update to Under Night In-Birth. Adds two new characters to the roster, and two new characters exclusively for consoles. In collaboration with Type-Moon, Subtle Style and Arc System Works.
Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax2014Sega RingEdge 2/PS3/PS VitaIn collaboration with Sega, Dengeki Bunko and Ecole Software.
Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st]2015Sega RingEdge 2/PS3/PS4/PSVita/Microsoft Windows[10]Balancing update to a console version of Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late. Adds two new characters to the roster, and two new characters exclusively for consoles. In collaboration with Type-Moon, Subtle Style and Arc System Works.
Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition2015Sega RingEdge 2/PS3/PS Vita/PS4Balancing update to a console version of Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax. Adds new characters to the roster. In collaboration with Sega, Dengeki Bunko and Ecole Software. The first game to have DLC add on.
Beast Busters: Ultimate2019Namco System ES4/Nintendo Switch/PS4/Xbox One/Microsoft WindowsIn collaboration with SNK and Bandai Namco Entertainment.

References

  1. ↑ Toyad, Jonathan Leo (February 6, 2011). "Melty Blood creator gives birth to new 2D fighter". GameSpot. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  2. ↑ http://gematsu.com/2013/10/dengeki-bunko-fighting-climax-developers-revealed
  3. 1 2 "名作同人ゲーム Best 5 : Queen of Heart '99" [The 5 Best Dōjin Video Games : Queen of Heart '99]. 同人ゲームマニアックス [Dōjin Games Maniax]. Kill Time Communication. 2001. pp. 30–45. ISBN 4-906650-96-1.
  4. ↑ "同人から商業にフィールドを移したフランスパンが，新作「アンダーナイト インヴァース」で目指したもの。代表・なりた氏に聞く，その思惑". 4Gamer.net. Aetas, Inc. 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  5. ↑ http://www13.plala.or.jp/french/dmp.htm
  6. ↑ http://www13.plala.or.jp/french/gof2.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.siliconera.com/2013/05/26/melty-blood-developer-upgrading-under-night-in-birth/
  8. ↑ http://gematsu.com/2014/04/night-birth-coming-ps3-japan-july
  9. ↑ http://arcsystemworksu.com/arc-system-works-releasing-5-titles-on-steam-by-summer-2016/
  10. ↑ https://arcsystemworks.com/under-night-in-birth-exelatest-is-coming-to-steam-on-8-20/


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