【ROCKET CO.】A Former Game Developer! Known for Releasing Educational Games, Later Merged with Imagineer

The Japanese company “Rocket Company” was a game developer that forged its own path in the gaming industry.This company began as a subsidiary of Imagineer, established in 1998.While Imagineer focused primarily on developing non-gaming software, Rocket Company carved out its path by handling projects for home and portable gaming consoles.

Rocket Company was notable for its strength in developing educational and practical software.For example, titles like “Toru Matsumoto's Stock Trading Mastery” and “Gokaku Boy” for the Famicom were appreciated as tools that supported learning beyond the scope of traditional games.Continuing this trend, they developed “Gokaku Boy” for the Game Boy as preparation software for kanji proficiency tests.Later released as “KanKen DS,” it was embraced by many users as a new way of studying.

On the other hand, Rocket Company also produced works utilizing unique characters.For instance, the “Chobigurumi Series on Animal Island” captured fans' hearts with its adorable characters and unique world.Additionally, “Ultra Security Force: Monster Attack” attracted a different audience as an entertainment-focused action game.In this way, the company covered a wide range of genres from education to entertainment, earning enduring love from many fans.

Rocket Company's flagship series is the “Medarot” series.This series gained popularity as a robot-themed RPG, and in 2009, it released “Medarot DS,” its first new title in five years.Despite the long hiatus, the announcement of its revival created significant buzz due to its dedicated fanbase.The series continued to release new titles, including the Virtual Console version of “Medarot Navi” in 2016.This demonstrated the unwavering passion for the series.

Sadly, Rocket Company ceased to exist on July 1, 2016, when it was absorbed by its parent company, Imagineer.However, the works they created and their unique style of gaming remain in the hearts of many gamers.Their pioneering attempt to merge education and entertainment is still talked about as a “new form of learning.”

Looking back at Rocket Company's works, it becomes clear that they provided unique experiences that went beyond mere gaming, offering learning opportunities and soothing characters.