【Produce】 A game maker that once existed! Established after leaving Irem, what kind of company was Produce which supported the development of Hudson and others?

Looking back on game history, you might sometimes wonder “Come to think of it, what kind of place was the company that made this work?”. One such company is Produce Co., Ltd., which once existed in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. A company whose main business was development and sales of computer games, opportunities to see its name have become fewer at present, but confirming titles it handled transforms impressions completely. While taking charge of development of games released from Enix or Hudson, it also created original works with strong unique colors, being a development company that left presence through works themselves rather than pushing company names out heavily on public stages.

A person indispensable when talking about the origins of Produce! is Shinji Imada. Mr. Imada is a person who was involved in planning “R-TYPE” and “Image Fight” at Irem, establishing Produce! after leaving Irem. Speaking of “R-TYPE”, it is a work whose name comes up when talking about shooting game history as well, so knowing that a creator involved there launched a new company, wouldn't interest in the company named Produce! deepen further? After that, it handled development of works released from game makers such as Enix and Hudson, expanding activity ranges to various genres.

The interesting place about Produce! is that it is not a company that kept making only its own original titles. Being involved in the “Bomberman” series representing Hudson as well, it also bore roles supporting production of widely known series works. Some people might think “I didn't know the name Produce!, but it was involved in games I have played”. While releasing makers are easily drawn attention to for games, there are cases where other enterprises participate in actual development. Investigating works from such perspectives, the place where connections between development companies supporting the game industry of those days come into view is also interesting.

Of course, titles of other companies' brands were not the only work of Produce!. It developed many unique titles such as “Ordyne”, “Mystic Ark”, and “Paka Paka Passion”. Work names lining up from shootings to RPGs, and furthermore up to music games, development postures not closing in single genres can be gathered. Especially considering that it handled works like “Paka Paka Passion”, it can be felt that it was a company possessing flexibility like “What kind of play will it shape next?”. While possessing technical capabilities allowing participation in production of famous series, sending games unique to themselves out to the world as well. The point of possessing these two faces would be a feature that cannot be missed when looking back on Produce!.

Produce! suspended operations ending with consumer “Paka Paka Passion 2” released in April 2000. After that, bankruptcy procedures commenced in 2015. Endings arrived for activities as a game company, but just because companies disappeared does not mean made games disappear up to that point. There are works remaining in memories of people who played, and people investigating those titles anew reach names of development companies. Produce! is precisely one of the companies leaving footprints at present in such forms.

Established by Shinji Imada involved in “R-TYPE” and “Image Fight”, while supporting development of the “Bomberman” series etc., Produce! also sent out unique works like “Ordyne”, “Mystic Ark”, and “Paka Paka Passion”. Pursuing its career, variety that cannot be disposed of by words like mere “game company that once existed” comes into view. Investigating staff or development origins of games played in old times, unexpected lines sometimes connect from a single company to another masterpiece. Produce! as well would be an existence teaching the fun of digging deeper into such game history.