Game Freak
Game Freak Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社ゲームフリーク, Hepburn: Kabushiki gaisha Gēmu Furīku) is a Japanese video game developer, best known as the primary developer of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games published by Nintendo.
Private | |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | April 26, 1989 |
Founders | Satoshi Tajiri Ken Sugimori Junichi Masuda[1] |
Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
Key people |
|
Products | Pokémon series |
Number of employees | 143 (2018) |
Subsidiaries | Koa Games |
Website | www |
History
Predating the video game company, Game Freak was a self-published video game magazine created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori in the 1980s. Tajiri wrote and edited the text and Sugimori illustrated. Tajiri also used "Game Freak" as his pen name when he wrote as a freelance writer to publications such as Family Computer Magazine and Famicom Tsūshin.[2][3]
On April 26, 1989, Tajiri, Sugimori and Junichi Masuda started a video game development company with the same name.[4][5][6][7] One of Game Freak's first games was the Nintendo Entertainment System action and puzzle game Quinty, which was released in North America as Mendel Palace. Its most popular series, Pokémon—the romanized portmanteau of the Japanese brand Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター, Poketto Monsutā)[8]—is published and distributed respectively by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo worldwide.
In October 2015, Game Freak bought Koa Games, a mobile development company.[9]
In May 2019, Game Freak director Masayuki Onoue revealed that Game Freak is increasingly prioritizing original game creation, in order to grow the experience of its staff[10] . The company's Gear Project initiative, which encourages creators to pitch original game ideas during quiet periods, has so far resulted in original games HarmoKnight, Pocket Card Jockey, Tembo the Badass Elephant and Giga Wrecker.[11]
Gameography
Year | Title | Publisher | Platform(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Mendel Palace | NamcoJP, Hudson SoftNA | Nintendo Entertainment System |
1991 | Smart Ball | Epic/Sony RecordsJP, Sony ImagesoftNA | Super Nintendo Entertainment System |
Yoshi | Nintendo | NES, Game Boy | |
1992 | Magical Tarurūto-kun | Sega | Mega Drive |
1993 | Mario & Wario | Nintendo | SNES |
1994 | Nontan to Issho: Kuru-Kuru Puzzle | Victor Entertainment | Game Boy, Super Famicom |
Pulseman | Sega | Mega Drive | |
1996 | Pokémon Red and Blue | Nintendo | Game Boy |
Bazaar de Gosāru no Game de Gosāru | NEC Home Electronics | PC Engine CD-ROM² | |
1997 | Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha | T&E Soft | Super Famicom |
1998 | Game Boy Camera | Nintendo | Game Boy |
Pokémon Yellow | Nintendo | Game Boy | |
1999 | Click Medic | Sony Music Entertainment Japan | PlayStation |
Pokémon Gold and Silver | Nintendo | Game Boy Color | |
2000 | Pokémon Crystal | Nintendo | Game Boy Color |
2002 | Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Game Boy Advance |
2004 | Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Game Boy Advance |
Pokémon Emerald | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Game Boy Advance | |
2005 | Drill Dozer | Nintendo | Game Boy Advance |
2006 | Pokémon Diamond and Pearl | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Nintendo DS |
2008 | Pokémon Platinum | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Nintendo DS |
2009 | Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Nintendo DS |
2010 | Pokémon Black and White | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Nintendo DS |
2012 | Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Nintendo DS |
HarmoKnight | Nintendo | Nintendo 3DS | |
2013 | Pocket Card Jockey[12] | Game FreakJP, NintendoWW | Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android |
Pokémon X and Y | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Nintendo 3DS | |
2014 | Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | ||
2015 | Tembo the Badass Elephant | Sega | Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows |
2016 | Pokémon Sun and Moon | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Nintendo 3DS |
2017 | Giga Wrecker | Rising Star Games | Windows |
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Nintendo 3DS | |
2018 | Pokémon Quest | Nintendo The Pokémon Company | Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android |
Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! | Nintendo The Pokémon Company | Nintendo Switch | |
2019 | Giga Wrecker Alt[13] | Rising Star Games | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Little Town Hero[14] | Game Freak | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows | |
Pokémon Sword and Shield | Nintendo The Pokémon Company |
Nintendo Switch |
References
- https://www.gamefreak.co.jp/town/30th/en/
- Satoshi Tajiri (January 6, 1989). ぼくたちゲーセン野郎. Family Computer Magazine (in Japanese): 114–115. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- Satoshi Tajiri (August 1, 1986). ビデヲゲーム通信. Biweekly Famicom Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- Kohler, Chris (April 19, 2010). "Pokémon Creators' Fanzine Fetches High Price". Wired.
- "COLUMN: 'Game Mag Weaseling': Just Checking In". GameSetWatch.
- Previous post Next post (April 19, 2010). "Pokémon Creators' Fanzine Fetches High Price | GameLife". Wired.com. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
- Gifford, Kevin (April 7, 2008). "COLUMN: 'Game Mag Weaseling': Just Checking In". GameSetWatch. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
- Swider, Matt. "The Pokemon Series Pokedex". Gaming Target. Gaming Target. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
- "Pokémon Developer Game Freak Has Purchased a Mobile Game Development Company".
- Robinson, Andy. "Game Freak 'prioritising' original game projects". Video Games Chronicle.
- Robinson, Andy. "Game Freak interview: 'We're trying to create something more than Pokemon'". Video Games Chronicle.
- "Pocket Card Jockey for Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo of America, Inc. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- Good, Owen (January 18, 2019). "Game Freak's Giga Wrecker is coming to consoles in 2019". Polygon. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- Marks, Tom (September 4, 2019). "Game Freak's Little Town Hero Releases Next Month". IGN. Retrieved September 5, 2019.