Bandai Namco Holdings
| Bandai Namco Holdings | |
|---|---|
| |
| Founded | Bandai: July 5, 1950 Namco: June 1, 1955 Bandai Namco Holdings: September 29, 2005 Bandai Namco Entertainment: March 31, 2006 |
| First Super Mario game | Donkey Konga |
| Latest Super Mario game | Mario Kart Tour |
| Current president | Nao Udagawa |
Bandai Namco Holdings, also known as Bandai Namco, is a company jointly founded by toy maker Bandai and game developer Namco on September 29, 2005.[1] It has a group of companies[2] which have been involved with the Mario franchise in various ways, whether its developing video games or making toys. Bandai Namco also has its own successful franchises, including Tekken, Pac-Man, Galaxian, Ace Combat, and Tales.
Group[edit]
- Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BNE, known as Namco Bandai Games Inc. and Bandai Namco Games Inc. before April 1, 2015) is in charge of developing and publishing video games, with Bandai Namco Studios serving as its main studio. Originally founded as Namco Limited on June 1, 1955, the current company was formed after Bandai's video game division was merged into Namco on March 31, 2006.[3] It also handled arcade games until April 1, 2018, when its arcade division became part of a new company called Bandai Namco Amusement.[4]
- Bandai Namco Amusement Inc. develops and manufactures arcade machines. It was founded on April 1, 2018 after Bandai Namco Entertainment's arcade division was merged into Bandai Namco's arcade management subsidiary, which was also named Namco Limited.[4] The company has continued supporting Mario Kart Arcade GP DX and Mario Kart Arcade GP VR.
- Bandai Co., Ltd. is a toy company founded on July 5, 1950.[5] It has made several Mario-themed toys, like the S.H. Figuarts.
- Banpresto was a toy manufacturer and arcade game developer behind games like Mario Undōkai, Būbū Mario, and Super Mario Attack.
History[edit]
The first Mario game developed by Namco was Mario Superstar Baseball for the Nintendo GameCube. After the merger, it later developed the game's follow-up for the Wii, Mario Super Sluggers. The company produced an arcade crossover Mario Kart, which came to be known as Mario Kart Arcade GP, as well as three sequels, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, and Mario Kart Arcade GP VR. These arcade Mario Kart games have featured playable appearances of Pac-Man characters, as well as the Tamagotchi Mametchi and Don-chan from the Taiko no Tatsujin series. In addition, it also worked with Capcom to sell Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher.[6][7] The company also assisted in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart Tour's development, the former of which features a Mii Racing Suit based on Pac-Man. They are the primary developers for Mario Sports Superstars, with Camelot Software Planning co-developing for the tennis and golf segments of the game. Bandai Namco ended tech support for Korokoro Catcher on April 1, 2013,[8][9] then ended support for its first two Arcade GP games in June 2015.[10][9]
Bandai Namco co-developed Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with Sora Ltd. Their own character, Pac-Man, is featured as a playable fighter in those games, with various Namco characters appearing in one of his taunts, and the ghosts Blinky, Inky, Pinky, and Clyde appearing as an Assist Trophy. Heihachi Mishima from the Tekken series and Lloyd Irving from Tales of Symphonia are the basis for downloadable costumes for Mii Fighters. Additionally, the Tekken character Kazuya Mishima is playable in Super Smash Bros. Utimate as DLC.
Super Mario games[edit]
| Title | Year released | Console |
|---|---|---|
| Donkey Konga | 2003 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Donkey Kong/Donkey Kong Jr./Mario Bros. | 2004 | Arcade |
| Donkey Konga 2 | 2004 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Donkey Konga 3 JP | 2005 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Mario Superstar Baseball | 2005 | Nintendo GameCube |
| Mario Kart Arcade GP | 2005 | Arcade |
| Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 | 2007 | Arcade |
| Mario Super Sluggers | 2008 | Wii |
| Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher | 2009 | Arcade |
| Mario Kart Arcade GP DX | 2013 | Arcade |
| Mario Kart 8 | 2014 | Wii U |
| Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS | 2014 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | 2014 | Wii U |
| Mario Sports Superstars | 2017 | Nintendo 3DS |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 2017 | Nintendo Switch |
| Mario Kart Arcade GP VR | 2017 | Arcade |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 2018 | Nintendo Switch |
| Mario Kart Tour | 2019 | Mobile |
Super Mario toys[edit]
A set of figurines from Super Mario Kart
Super balls containing item figurines from Super Mario Galaxy
Keychain of a Light Block from New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Super Mario Land finger puppets[edit]
It has been requested that more images be uploaded for this article. Remove this notice only after the additional image(s) have been added. Reason: Missing Dragonzamasu and Mekabon finger puppets
A set of ten finger puppets produced by Bandai in 1989.
A finger puppet of Mario from Super Mario Land
A finger puppet of King Totomesu from Super Mario Land
A finger puppet of a Pionpi from Super Mario Land
A finger puppet of Daisy from Super Mario Land
A finger puppet of a Goombo from Super Mario Land
A finger puppet of a Gunion from Super Mario Land
A finger puppet of Hiyoihoi from Super Mario Land
A finger puppet of a Piranha Plant from Super Mario Land
Super Mario trading cards[edit]
Super Mario RPG 1996 Bandai trading cards[edit]
Package for Super Mario RPG "Scrash" off cards
Set of Bandai trading cards of various Super Mario RPG characters
Gallery[edit]
Namco's logo
Bandai's logo
External links[edit]
- Official website (Bandai Namco Entertainment, corporate profile)
- Official website (Bandai Namco Entertainment, consumer software)
- Official website (Bandai Namco Amusement, Japan)
- Official website (Bandai Namco Amusement, U.S.)
- Official website (Bandai)
References[edit]
- ^ "Bandai, Namco to merge". Gamespot.
- ^ "Our Businesses". Bandai Namco.
- ^ "ナムコのヒストリー". Bandai Namco.
- ^ a b "Notice Regarding Reorganization of Subsidiaries". Bandai Namco.
- ^ "Company Information". Bandai.
- ^ "バンダイナムコゲームスとカプコン、開発・販売を協業開始 ～第１弾は中型メダルゲーム機「マリオパーティ ふしぎのコロコロキャッチャー」～". Capcom.
- ^ Capcom and NAMCO BANDAI Games Begin of Medal-winning Game Machines -Starting with the "Mario Party – Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher" midsize medal-winning machine. Capcom.
- ^ "「マリオパーティーふしぎのコロコロキャッチャー」メンテナンス窓口変更のご案内(再掲)". Bandai Namco.
- ^ a b Archived banasupport page with BNE logos and copyright disclaimer
- ^ "『弊社商品の保守対応終了について』". Bandai Namco.
