Epics (company)

epics Inc
Native name
株式会社epics
Kabushiki gaisha epics
Company typePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedFebruary 1987
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
Key people
Tetsuji Yamamoto (president, CEO)
ProductsPopoloCrois series
Revenue¥ 100 million yen (2006)
ParentWiZ Co., LTD.
Websitewww.epics-gogo.com

epics Inc. (株式会社epics, Kabushiki gaisha epics) is a Japanese video game software developer located in Tokyo, Japan. Originally established as Gen Creative House Co., Ltd. in February 1987, changed company name to G-Artists Inc. in March 1991, then to epics Inc. in June 2006.

Release history

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Release Date Title Platform Publisher
Philosoma PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: July 12, 1996
PopoloCrois Monogatari PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: January 31, 1997
  • US: September 30, 1997
I.Q.: Intelligent Qube PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: November 26, 1998
PopoRogue PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: December 23, 1998
  • EU: August 1999
I.Q Final PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: January 27, 2000
PopoloCrois Monogatari II PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: June 20, 2002
PopoloCrois: Adventure of Beginnings PlayStation 2 Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: March 18, 2004
PopoloCrois: Adventure of the Law of the Moon PlayStation 2 Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: September 15, 2005
  • US: October 26, 2005
  • EU: October 21, 2005
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex PlayStation Portable
  • JP: February 10, 2005
  • US: December 6, 2005
  • EU: June 16, 2006
  • AU: June 30, 2006
PopoloCrois PlayStation Portable
  • EU: Ignition Entertainment
  • JP: 7 December 2006
  • US: 17 July 2007
PaRappa the Rapper PlayStation Portable Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: December 7, 2006
Ape Escape Racing PlayStation Portable Sony Computer Entertainment
  • JP: July 3, 2008
Nanashi no Game Nintendo DS Square Enix
  • JP: February 14, 2008
  • US: August 26, 2008
Digimon World Championship Nintendo DS
  • JP: Bandai Namco Games, epics
  • JP: November 27, 2008
Shiseido Beauty Solution Kaihatsu Center Kanshuu: Project Beauty Nintendo DS
  • JP: Sega, epics
  • JP: March 26, 2009
Keitai Sousakan 7 DS: Buddy Sequence Nintendo DS
  • JP: epics, 5pb
  • JP: August 27, 2009
Nanashi no Game: Me Nintendo DS Square Enix
  • JP: October 15, 2009
PoPoLoCrois Monogatari: Story Card Quest Smartphone
  • JP: Sony Computer Entertainment, EZWeb
  • JP: February 28, 2011
PoPoLoCrois Monogatari: The Adventure of Dreams and Bonds Smartphone
  • JP: Sony Computer Entertainment, epics
  • JP: June 18, 2015
  • US: March 1, 2016
Return to PopoloCrois Nintendo 3DS
  • JP: Marvelous, epics
  • US: Marvelous USA
PoPoLoCrois Monogatari: Narcia's Tears And The Fairy's Flute Smartphone
  • JP: Sega, epics

Nanashi no Game

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Nanashi no Game
Developer(s)Epics
Publisher(s)Square Enix[1]
Director(s)Nobuhiko Tenkawa
Producer(s)Seiichiro Tsuno
Yosuke Tomita
Artist(s)Arata Sakai
Composer(s)Masayoshi Soken
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • JP: July 3, 2008
Genre(s)Survival horror
Mode(s)Single-player

Nanashi no Game (ナナシ ノ ゲエム, Nanashi no Geemu, lit. "Nameless Game" or "The Game with No Name") is a first-person survival horror video game developed by Epics and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS. The game follows a university student who becomes cursed by the titular role-playing game, which causes people to die in seven days upon starting. It was released on July 3, 2008, in Japan.[2][3] A sequel, titled Nanashi no Game: Me, was later released on August 27, 2009 in Japan.

Most of the game takes place in the real world, where the player navigates real-time 3D environments using the DS's D-Pad and Touch Screen. While exploring, the player must solve puzzles and reach locations. The player can switch to the TS Menu at any time, where they can play the cursed game, read e-mail messages, and load a previous save file. In many cases, an e-mail message or update to the cursed game will interrupt the player's exploration. In the cursed game, which only uses the top DS screen, the player controls a 2D 8-bit RPG that provides clues to the current situations and can, in some cases, advance the story.[4] The player encounters Regrets (ルグレ, Rugure), zombie-like spirits that roam the area in exploration mode and end the game upon touching the player.[5][6]

As of September 30, 2008, Nanashi no Game has sold 60,000 copies in Japan.[7][8][9][10][11][12] Famitsu rated the game 30/40.[13]

Epics developed a sequel, Nanashi no Game: Me (ナナシ ノ ゲエム 目, Nanashi no Geemu Me, lit. "Nameless Game: Eye"), a survival horror video game for the Nintendo DS. It was published by Square Enix, and released on August 27, 2009 in Japan.[14] The story follows an anthropology student from Nanto University, as he discovers two cursed games, an RPG and a platformer. The game's title refers to the protagonist's left eye, represented by the left screen of the DS when held sideways, which allows the player to see things left (and hidden) by the curse.[15][16][17][18] It sold 15,000 copies on the week of its release.[19]

Much like in the original, Nanashi no Game: Me involves two separate modes of play. Most of the game takes place in the real world, where the player navigates real-time 3D environments using the DS's D-Pad and Touch Screen. While exploring, the player must solve puzzles and reach locations. The player can switch to the TS Menu at any time, where they can play the cursed game, read e-mail messages, and load a previous save file. In many cases, an e-mail message or update to the cursed game will interrupt the player's exploration. In the cursed game, which only uses the top DS screen, the player controls a 2D 8-bit RPG that provides clues to the current situations and can, in some cases, advance the story.[4] In Nanashi no Game: Me, the player can now choose the locations they want to explore out of the two available for each day (for three days only). Each destination provides different experiences, including the Regrets the player will encounter.[15]

Two spin-off DSiWare titles, named Noroi no Game: Chi (ノロイ ノ ゲエム 血, Noroi no Gēmu Chi, lit. "Cursed Game: Blood") and Noroi no Game: Oku (ノロイ ノ ゲエム 獄, Noroi no Gēmu Oku, lit. "Cursed Game: Prison") respectively, have also been released on 9 September 2009.[citation needed] Another sequel, Nanashi no Appli (ナナシ ノ 或プリ, Nanashi no Apuri, lit. "Nameless App"), was released on 26 January 2012 for iOS, and in February 2012 for Android.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Nanashi no Game - Nintendo DS". IGN. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Square Enix Tries Survival Horror". IGN. Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
  3. ^ Spencer (2011-03-28). "Nanashi No Game Was Considered For North America, Focus Groups Killed It". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  4. ^ a b Spencer (26 June 2008). "Surviving Nanashi no Game's cursed game". Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Nanashi no Game - Nintendo DS". GameSpy. 2008-07-03. Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  6. ^ "ナナシ ノ ゲエム". Square-enix.co.jp. Square Enix. 2008. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  7. ^ "Results Briefing Session: The First-Half of the Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2009" (PDF). Square-Enix.com. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  8. ^ "『ナナシ ノ ゲエム』を題材にしたホラーアトラクション"ナナシ ノ シタイ"をひと足さきに体験 - ファミ通.com". Famitsu.com. 2008-07-17. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  9. ^ "富士急ハイランドで「戦慄迷宮 ナナシ ノ シタイ」期間限定で登場 - 電撃オンライン". News.dengeki.com. 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  10. ^ "富士急ハイランド「戦慄迷宮 ナナシ ノ シタイ」が期間延長決定 - 電撃オンライン". News.dengeki.com. 2008-09-30. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  11. ^ "20080625162833_080625senritsu_nanashi2.pdf" (PDF).
  12. ^ プチたび取材班 (2008年7月18日 12:10). "速報/富士急ハイランドの『戦慄迷宮4.0ナナシ ノ シタイ』を公開直前に体験【取材班ブログ】旅行サイト『プチたび』". puchitabi.jp. Archived from the original on 2013-03-31. Retrieved 2013-06-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Famitsu Japanese Game Sales Ranking 6/30 - 7/6". Famitsu.
  14. ^ a b "『ナナシ ノ ゲエム』公式サイトに異変!? - ファミ通.com". Famitsu.com. Famitsu. 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  15. ^ a b "ナナシ ノ ゲエム 目". Square Enix. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  16. ^ Spencer (2009-09-08). "Nanashi no Game: Me: Open Your Eyes". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  17. ^ Spencer (May 29, 2009). "New Nanashi no Game Has A Cursed Platformer". Siliconera.com. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  18. ^ "ナナシ ノ ゲエム 目/ ファミ通.com". Famitsu.com. Famitsu. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  19. ^ "【ゲームソフト販売本数ランキング TOP30】集計期間:2009年8月31日〜9月6日 - ファミ通.com". Famitsu.com. Famitsu. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  20. ^ "『ナナシ ノ 或プリ』あの『ナナシノゲエム』シリーズ最新作がiOSで配信 現実とリンクする恐怖を体感せよ! - ファミ通App". Famitsu.com. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  21. ^ "774 Deaths". IGN. IGN. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
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