On investigation of Marigul game companies/software
Jul 18, 2019 0:14:08 GMT -5
nocturnal YL likes this
Post by Evie ❤✿ on Jul 18, 2019 0:14:08 GMT -5
As is likely more widely documented, Ambrella (Hey You! Pikachu), Noise (Custom Robo), Param (Doshin the Giant) and Saru Brunei (Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest) worked on development under the Marigul Management group. Clever Trick is also commonly cited as a Marigul Management company, despite the fact that their only game Echo Delta was cancelled (however a prototype was leaked).
Incomplete research suggests Marigul Management produced other works, and that there may be names for these companies or groups.
If anyone here knows anymore information would love to hear it (if you like)!
Production of Monster Tactics:
First, there was a Marigul Management team who worked on Monster Tactics (as evident by the mention of Marigul Management in the manual's staff credits (and possibly in-game staff credits as well)). Was there a name for this development team?
The easiest assumption might be that Spiral Co., Ltd was in fact the company (Spiral Co., Ltd is responsible for the overall "production" as evident by the end of the credits) but without further careful analysis of each staff member in the credits and which company they worked for at the time this may be hard to confirm.
^ Monster Tactics manual staff credits mentioning Marigul Management
According to a source below (though without linking an original official source), Spiral Co., Ltd was at least supported by Marigul Management (and by extension, higher Nintendo teams) and had previously worked on NES titles Solomon's Key, and Tecmo Cup Soccer Game (the Japanese version is a licensed Captain Tsubasa (manga and franchise) game).
Curiously, the fact that Tsunekazu Ishihara was a producer may suggest Creatures, Inc. was involved (not only responsible for managing the Pokémon but also the Chalien series); which would seem natural given the collecting nature of the games. Mini Yonku GB: Let's & Go!! (Creatures, Jupiter) possibly counts in this context too under the 'Creatures, Inc. and its subsidiaries wanted to help/create monster collecting games' speculation, however there would need to be an official source like an interview to back this up.
Takehiro Izushi of Nintendo was also one of the producers, and no director heading is available.
A group called Sarugaku Agency also worked on the debugging of this game. (さるがくちょう in the credits under バグチェックちょうせいしえん)
Production of CatRoots:
According to the main NinDB site list of cancelled Nintendo 64 games:
Developed by an unknown team under Marigul Management, a video of a game called CatRoots was displayed at E3 2000, but no details were made available.
The video shows a red, cartoon cat running from a homicidal mouse attacking it with weapons, including a hammer, ninja stars and a flamethrower. At the end of the video, the cat is pinned and defeated by the mouse's pointed tail, and a Game Over sign is shown, suggesting you played as the cat.
The game was never shown or mentioned again.
Although specific details on the Marigul Management team are unknown, could we possibly find out more about the development team of this game through old magazines and interviews?
Production of CalcioBit (ParityBit and Jamswork):
According to a Nicovideo article.
If this is true, then possibly CalcioBit was under development much earlier than its release date or Marigul Management extended into the Game Boy Advance era? The useful Kyoto Report database of Nintendo staff credits doesn't seem to have a transcription of the staff credits yet, however both ParityBit and Jamswork Co., Ltd worked on the game (I'm unsure regarding the extent of development these companies played).
According to this Kyoto Report article, Jamswork would later work on DS Uranai Seikatsu, the Nintendo DS Classroom/Guide series and Nintendo Culdcept games (original 3DS and Revolt).
The Nicovideo article states Jamswork is part of Marigul Management. Apparently this is also true for ParityBit, who had previously worked on the Derby Stallion series (at least Derby Stallion 64 according to Wikipedia which may of course be wrong without staff credits/official interviews etc. to confirm it (and I read a post from the Kyoto Ninja not to trust unelaborated developer accounts)).
Production of peripherals (also "DT"):
ローソンでSFC、GBソフトが安価で書き換えられる「ニンテンドウパワー」は、マリーガルの提案により登場した、問屋を通らない新しい流通システムである。これは当時「ゲームキオスク構想」と呼ばれていた。ソフト開発、マネジメントにも関わっていたのか、たまごっちタウン（バンダイ）、お絵かきロジック（世界文化社）など一部の書き換え専用ソフトのタイトル画面に©Marigulの著作権表示がみられる。
また、GC向け周辺機器の「GBAケーブル」は、マリーガル及びランドネットディディで行われていた、N64とGBを繋げて、独立したモニタとして活用する「64GBケーブル」の実験から生まれたもの。このような手元とテレビで独立した画面を用いる遊びは、のちのWiiUにも活かされている。
64GBケーブルを活用するソフトとして開発されていたのが、遠藤雅伸率いるゲームスタジオが手がけたカードゲーム「DT」である。N64に接続したGBの画面に手札を表示して遊ぶことを想定して64DD版も開発されていたexitが、結局世に出ることはなかった。なお遠藤は「動物番長」のアドバイザーとしても関わっている。
64GBケーブルとは別に、GBカセットに液晶画面やボタンの付いたようなGBソケットという周辺機器も企画されていた。これは単体で遊べるほか、GBや64GBケーブルと接続することも可能で、新たな遊びを提案するものだったようだ。PSのポケットステーションやDCのビジュアルメモリのような物だろうか？
このように、マリーガルはゲームの新しい作り方、新しい遊び方、新しい売り方の提案を志した会社であった。
According to this block of text, Marigul Management were in fact response for proposing the Nintendo Power cartridge service for Game Boy and Super Famicom: the service that allowed players to download games on to flash RAM cartridges using Lawson machines in Japan for cheaper than the usual price.
Curiously, the article reveals Marigul was attributed in the copyright notices of games Tamagotchi Town and Oekaki Logic. These (according to GameFAQs release data) both appear to be Nintendo Power service exclusive titles.
Machine translation of one of above paragraphs but seems accurate:
Also, "GBA Cable", a peripheral for GC [is this the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable?], was created from the experiment of "64GB Cable", which was performed by Marigal and Landnet Diddy, and used as an independent monitor by connecting N64 and GB. This kind of play that uses an independent screen on a hand and a television is also used in the later WiiU.
This may link in with the 64GB Checker v1.05 ageing cartridge. The ageing cartridges were a series of Nintendo development cartridges (possibly to test things like bit rot or faulty hardware?).
It sounds amazing that this may have been an inspiration for the Wii U from as early as the Nintendo 64 era!
Additionally, I learned about a new cancelled game Nintendo may have considered as an IP.
Production of DT:
According to an archived IGN news article I found on Wikipedia, a game known as DT with work by "Game Studio" (I can't help but have the feeling what was originally meant was 'a game studio' not a developer called Game Studio) was shown at Space World 1999 which was intended to have used the 64GB Cable. It was intended for a Year 2000 release, but not much is documented in that article other than it was a "digital card collection and trading game".
A good reason now for me to go lurking for Space World 1999 videos.
The card game "DT" created by the game studio led by Masanobu Endo was developed as software that utilizes the 64GB cable. The 64DD version was also developed with the assumption that the hand is displayed on the screen of the GB connected to the N64 and the game was not developed. Endo is also involved as an adviser for the "banner".
Apart from the 64GB cable, a peripheral device called a GB socket with an LCD screen and buttons attached to a GB cassette was also planned. This can be played alone, can also be connected to the GB and 64GB cable, it seems to have proposed a new play. Is it something like PS Pocket Station or DC visual memory?
Frognation:
According to the Nicovideo article, the company Frognation was part of Marigul Management
A company founded with Techno Label "Frogman Records", established by Kensuke Watanabe (KEN = GO →) and Dai Sato. With the investment by Marigal, he produced En En Angel for PS. Currently, he is in charge of localization and voice direction such as "DARK SOULS", "Bloodborne" and "TOKYO JUNGLE".
In addition to planning a club event "Tokyo Gamers Night Groove" aiming to fuse games and techno in the 1990s, Dai Sato is also famous for having created an image album for software "Pulsman" for MD with Yoshinori Sunahara. He has been enrolled in the game freak that produced Pulseman, and he has also worked as a writer.
YouTube video of the game "En En Angel"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWqSyhn2uFQ
Additional note which I found too striking not to ignore:
From Shin Game Design, an official Game Freak book:
Saru Brunei (サルブルネイ) is mentioned here on the final page's attribution list. I can't read the kanji right now though, would anyone like to contribute this?
(Since I'm probably one of the only people outside of Japan who openly have it I can try to answer any further questions about it)
Incomplete research suggests Marigul Management produced other works, and that there may be names for these companies or groups.
If anyone here knows anymore information would love to hear it (if you like)!
Production of Monster Tactics:
First, there was a Marigul Management team who worked on Monster Tactics (as evident by the mention of Marigul Management in the manual's staff credits (and possibly in-game staff credits as well)). Was there a name for this development team?
The easiest assumption might be that Spiral Co., Ltd was in fact the company (Spiral Co., Ltd is responsible for the overall "production" as evident by the end of the credits) but without further careful analysis of each staff member in the credits and which company they worked for at the time this may be hard to confirm.
^ Monster Tactics manual staff credits mentioning Marigul Management
According to a source below (though without linking an original official source), Spiral Co., Ltd was at least supported by Marigul Management (and by extension, higher Nintendo teams) and had previously worked on NES titles Solomon's Key, and Tecmo Cup Soccer Game (the Japanese version is a licensed Captain Tsubasa (manga and franchise) game).
Curiously, the fact that Tsunekazu Ishihara was a producer may suggest Creatures, Inc. was involved (not only responsible for managing the Pokémon but also the Chalien series); which would seem natural given the collecting nature of the games. Mini Yonku GB: Let's & Go!! (Creatures, Jupiter) possibly counts in this context too under the 'Creatures, Inc. and its subsidiaries wanted to help/create monster collecting games' speculation, however there would need to be an official source like an interview to back this up.
Takehiro Izushi of Nintendo was also one of the producers, and no director heading is available.
A group called Sarugaku Agency also worked on the debugging of this game. (さるがくちょう in the credits under バグチェックちょうせいしえん)
Production of CatRoots:
According to the main NinDB site list of cancelled Nintendo 64 games:
Fryguy64 said:
Developed by an unknown team under Marigul Management, a video of a game called CatRoots was displayed at E3 2000, but no details were made available.
The video shows a red, cartoon cat running from a homicidal mouse attacking it with weapons, including a hammer, ninja stars and a flamethrower. At the end of the video, the cat is pinned and defeated by the mouse's pointed tail, and a Game Over sign is shown, suggesting you played as the cat.
The game was never shown or mentioned again.
Although specific details on the Marigul Management team are unknown, could we possibly find out more about the development team of this game through old magazines and interviews?
Production of CalcioBit (ParityBit and Jamswork):
According to a Nicovideo article.
If this is true, then possibly CalcioBit was under development much earlier than its release date or Marigul Management extended into the Game Boy Advance era? The useful Kyoto Report database of Nintendo staff credits doesn't seem to have a transcription of the staff credits yet, however both ParityBit and Jamswork Co., Ltd worked on the game (I'm unsure regarding the extent of development these companies played).
According to this Kyoto Report article, Jamswork would later work on DS Uranai Seikatsu, the Nintendo DS Classroom/Guide series and Nintendo Culdcept games (original 3DS and Revolt).
The Nicovideo article states Jamswork is part of Marigul Management. Apparently this is also true for ParityBit, who had previously worked on the Derby Stallion series (at least Derby Stallion 64 according to Wikipedia which may of course be wrong without staff credits/official interviews etc. to confirm it (and I read a post from the Kyoto Ninja not to trust unelaborated developer accounts)).
Production of peripherals (also "DT"):
nicovideo said:
ローソンでSFC、GBソフトが安価で書き換えられる「ニンテンドウパワー」は、マリーガルの提案により登場した、問屋を通らない新しい流通システムである。これは当時「ゲームキオスク構想」と呼ばれていた。ソフト開発、マネジメントにも関わっていたのか、たまごっちタウン（バンダイ）、お絵かきロジック（世界文化社）など一部の書き換え専用ソフトのタイトル画面に©Marigulの著作権表示がみられる。
また、GC向け周辺機器の「GBAケーブル」は、マリーガル及びランドネットディディで行われていた、N64とGBを繋げて、独立したモニタとして活用する「64GBケーブル」の実験から生まれたもの。このような手元とテレビで独立した画面を用いる遊びは、のちのWiiUにも活かされている。
64GBケーブルを活用するソフトとして開発されていたのが、遠藤雅伸率いるゲームスタジオが手がけたカードゲーム「DT」である。N64に接続したGBの画面に手札を表示して遊ぶことを想定して64DD版も開発されていたexitが、結局世に出ることはなかった。なお遠藤は「動物番長」のアドバイザーとしても関わっている。
64GBケーブルとは別に、GBカセットに液晶画面やボタンの付いたようなGBソケットという周辺機器も企画されていた。これは単体で遊べるほか、GBや64GBケーブルと接続することも可能で、新たな遊びを提案するものだったようだ。PSのポケットステーションやDCのビジュアルメモリのような物だろうか？
このように、マリーガルはゲームの新しい作り方、新しい遊び方、新しい売り方の提案を志した会社であった。
According to this block of text, Marigul Management were in fact response for proposing the Nintendo Power cartridge service for Game Boy and Super Famicom: the service that allowed players to download games on to flash RAM cartridges using Lawson machines in Japan for cheaper than the usual price.
Curiously, the article reveals Marigul was attributed in the copyright notices of games Tamagotchi Town and Oekaki Logic. These (according to GameFAQs release data) both appear to be Nintendo Power service exclusive titles.
Machine translation of one of above paragraphs but seems accurate:
Nicovideo said:
Also, "GBA Cable", a peripheral for GC [is this the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable?], was created from the experiment of "64GB Cable", which was performed by Marigal and Landnet Diddy, and used as an independent monitor by connecting N64 and GB. This kind of play that uses an independent screen on a hand and a television is also used in the later WiiU.
This may link in with the 64GB Checker v1.05 ageing cartridge. The ageing cartridges were a series of Nintendo development cartridges (possibly to test things like bit rot or faulty hardware?).
It sounds amazing that this may have been an inspiration for the Wii U from as early as the Nintendo 64 era!
Additionally, I learned about a new cancelled game Nintendo may have considered as an IP.
Production of DT:
According to an archived IGN news article I found on Wikipedia, a game known as DT with work by "Game Studio" (I can't help but have the feeling what was originally meant was 'a game studio' not a developer called Game Studio) was shown at Space World 1999 which was intended to have used the 64GB Cable. It was intended for a Year 2000 release, but not much is documented in that article other than it was a "digital card collection and trading game".
A good reason now for me to go lurking for Space World 1999 videos.
Nicovideo said:
The card game "DT" created by the game studio led by Masanobu Endo was developed as software that utilizes the 64GB cable. The 64DD version was also developed with the assumption that the hand is displayed on the screen of the GB connected to the N64 and the game was not developed. Endo is also involved as an adviser for the "banner".
Apart from the 64GB cable, a peripheral device called a GB socket with an LCD screen and buttons attached to a GB cassette was also planned. This can be played alone, can also be connected to the GB and 64GB cable, it seems to have proposed a new play. Is it something like PS Pocket Station or DC visual memory?
Frognation:
According to the Nicovideo article, the company Frognation was part of Marigul Management
A company founded with Techno Label "Frogman Records", established by Kensuke Watanabe (KEN = GO →) and Dai Sato. With the investment by Marigal, he produced En En Angel for PS. Currently, he is in charge of localization and voice direction such as "DARK SOULS", "Bloodborne" and "TOKYO JUNGLE".
In addition to planning a club event "Tokyo Gamers Night Groove" aiming to fuse games and techno in the 1990s, Dai Sato is also famous for having created an image album for software "Pulsman" for MD with Yoshinori Sunahara. He has been enrolled in the game freak that produced Pulseman, and he has also worked as a writer.
YouTube video of the game "En En Angel"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWqSyhn2uFQ
Additional note which I found too striking not to ignore:
From Shin Game Design, an official Game Freak book:
Saru Brunei (サルブルネイ) is mentioned here on the final page's attribution list. I can't read the kanji right now though, would anyone like to contribute this?
(Since I'm probably one of the only people outside of Japan who openly have it I can try to answer any further questions about it)
