Kure Software Koubou
Encyclopedia
Kure Software Koubou or KSK, is a Japanese game development company founded in 1985 that creates games for many platforms, but focusing mostly on home computers. KSK's games are well known for the "Gochyakyara" (ゴチャキャラ "Multiple Character") system which KSK invented, which was a unique hybrid between the real-time strategy
, action role-playing game
and tactical role-playing game
genres. Some of their games also used a European art style in addition to a Japanese anime
style. KSK is also famous for having most of the cover art for their games created by renowned artist Yoshitaka Amano
.
for the NEC PC-88
. It was a first-person
view role-playing video game
. Two years later in 1988, KSK released two games, Silver Ghost and First Queen
, for the PC-88. These games established the new style of RPG that KSK would then use as the basis of most of their further productions, this was the concept of the 'Gochyakyara' system (Multiple Character System). This was basically an action role-playing game
system, but it let the player have a huge amount of party members and allowed for enormous battles as well as strategy video game
elements, such as army formations and real-time tactics
. This system was very simple yet highly dynamic, and gained such popularity that by 1995, KSK released a further seven titles using this system (Duel98, First Queen 2, Kawanakajima Izuroku, Early Kingdom, First Queen 3, First Queen 4, and Dark Seraphim).
In 1996 KSK then released a game called Duel Succession. This incorporated many elements from the 'Gochyakyara' system, but removed the RPG and action elements making it strictly a war strategy game
. In the same year, a PlayStation version of First Queen 4 was released featuring enhanced graphics and sound.
After this KSK then released a new First Queen game in 1999 called First Queen: The New World. This brought the 'Gochyakyara' system into 3D
but was not very popular and fans preferred the old style. This resulted in KSK's next game being a remake of First Queen, which was released in 2001. This featured the original game completely redone with new 2D graphics
and sound. A year after this in 2002, KSK released a Windows version of First Queen 2, this however was just the original First Queen 2 updated to work in Windows, and did not feature remade graphics and sound. Two years later in 2004, a compilation pack of First Queen 3 and 4 was released. This pack included First Queen 3 updated to work in Windows, as well as First Queen 4 updated to work in Windows and featuring the updated graphics from the PlayStation
version of First Queen 4 released in 1996.
Also released in 2004 was a game very different from anything KSK had done before. It was a game called Tennis, which obviously was just a tennis game. However, it was not released as a boxed game available in stores, instead it was only available to buy over the internet as a download for a small price. KSK followed this up with a Golf game released in 2005, which is also only available over the internet.
The president of Kure has noted recently in a diary on the KSK website that they are working on a new RPG using the 'Gochyakyara' system. This would mean it would be KSK's first proper original game since First Queen: The New World in 1999 (considering everything since then has just been the remakes/updates of the four First Queen games and the Tennis and Golf games were not properly boxed full priced games, just small internet downloads at a cheap price).
genre, released in 1988 for the NEC PC-8801
computer. Unlike later tactical RPGs, however, Silver Ghost was not turn-based, but instead used real-time strategy
and action role-playing game
elements. It also featured a point-and-click
interface, to control the characters using a cursor.
The game was later cited by Camelot Software Planning
's Hiroyuki Takahashi as inspiration for his Shining Force series of tactical RPGs. According to Takahashi, Silver Ghost was "a simulation action type of game where you had to direct, oversee and command multiple characters."
and NEC PC-9801 in Japan
in 1988
, and then subsequently released on the Super Famicom
as First Queen: Ornic Senki in 1994
and Microsoft Windows
as First Queen 1 in 2001
. The game had three sequels. It was also notable for featuring art work by Yoshitaka Amano
.
X68000
X-1
PC-98
Super Nintendo
IBM AT
PlayStation
Windows
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
, action role-playing game
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
and tactical role-playing game
Tactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
genres. Some of their games also used a European art style in addition to a Japanese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
style. KSK is also famous for having most of the cover art for their games created by renowned artist Yoshitaka Amano
Yoshitaka Amano
is a Japanese artist. He began his career as an animator and has become known for his illustrations for the anime Vampire Hunter D and for his character designs, image illustrations and title logo designs for the Final Fantasy video game series developed by Square Enix . His influences include...
.
History
One year after being founded, KSK released their first game ArgoArgo
In Greek mythology, the Argo was the ship on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcos to retrieve the Golden Fleece. It was named after its builder, Argus.-Legend:...
for the NEC PC-88
NEC PC-8801
The NEC PC-8801 was an early Zilog Z80-based computer exclusively released in Japan, where it became very popular, by NEC Corporation in 1981. It was informally called the "PC-88"....
. It was a first-person
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
view role-playing video game
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
. Two years later in 1988, KSK released two games, Silver Ghost and First Queen
First Queen
is a real-time strategy-action RPG video game developed by Kure Software Koubou. It was first released on the Sharp X68000 and NEC PC-9801 computer platforms in Japan in 1988, and then subsequently released on the Super Famicom as First Queen: Ornic Senki in 1994 and Microsoft Windows as First...
, for the PC-88. These games established the new style of RPG that KSK would then use as the basis of most of their further productions, this was the concept of the 'Gochyakyara' system (Multiple Character System). This was basically an action role-playing game
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
system, but it let the player have a huge amount of party members and allowed for enormous battles as well as strategy video game
Strategy video game
Strategy video games is a video game genre that emphasizes skillful thinking and planning to achieve victory. They emphasize strategic, tactical, and sometimes logistical challenges. Many games also offer economic challenges and exploration...
elements, such as army formations and real-time tactics
Real-time tactics
Real-time tactics or RTT is a subgenre of tactical wargames played in real-time simulating the considerations and circumstances of operational warfare and military tactics...
. This system was very simple yet highly dynamic, and gained such popularity that by 1995, KSK released a further seven titles using this system (Duel98, First Queen 2, Kawanakajima Izuroku, Early Kingdom, First Queen 3, First Queen 4, and Dark Seraphim).
In 1996 KSK then released a game called Duel Succession. This incorporated many elements from the 'Gochyakyara' system, but removed the RPG and action elements making it strictly a war strategy game
Strategy video game
Strategy video games is a video game genre that emphasizes skillful thinking and planning to achieve victory. They emphasize strategic, tactical, and sometimes logistical challenges. Many games also offer economic challenges and exploration...
. In the same year, a PlayStation version of First Queen 4 was released featuring enhanced graphics and sound.
After this KSK then released a new First Queen game in 1999 called First Queen: The New World. This brought the 'Gochyakyara' system into 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
but was not very popular and fans preferred the old style. This resulted in KSK's next game being a remake of First Queen, which was released in 2001. This featured the original game completely redone with new 2D graphics
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
and sound. A year after this in 2002, KSK released a Windows version of First Queen 2, this however was just the original First Queen 2 updated to work in Windows, and did not feature remade graphics and sound. Two years later in 2004, a compilation pack of First Queen 3 and 4 was released. This pack included First Queen 3 updated to work in Windows, as well as First Queen 4 updated to work in Windows and featuring the updated graphics from the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
version of First Queen 4 released in 1996.
Also released in 2004 was a game very different from anything KSK had done before. It was a game called Tennis, which obviously was just a tennis game. However, it was not released as a boxed game available in stores, instead it was only available to buy over the internet as a download for a small price. KSK followed this up with a Golf game released in 2005, which is also only available over the internet.
The president of Kure has noted recently in a diary on the KSK website that they are working on a new RPG using the 'Gochyakyara' system. This would mean it would be KSK's first proper original game since First Queen: The New World in 1999 (considering everything since then has just been the remakes/updates of the four First Queen games and the Tennis and Golf games were not properly boxed full priced games, just small internet downloads at a cheap price).
Silver Ghost
Silver Ghost was an early example of the tactical role-playing gameTactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
genre, released in 1988 for the NEC PC-8801
NEC PC-8801
The NEC PC-8801 was an early Zilog Z80-based computer exclusively released in Japan, where it became very popular, by NEC Corporation in 1981. It was informally called the "PC-88"....
computer. Unlike later tactical RPGs, however, Silver Ghost was not turn-based, but instead used real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
and action role-playing game
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
elements. It also featured a point-and-click
Point-and-click
Point-and-click is the action of a computer user moving a cursor to a certain location on a screen and then pressing a mouse button, usually the left button , or other pointing device...
interface, to control the characters using a cursor.
The game was later cited by Camelot Software Planning
Camelot Software Planning
is a Japanese video game developer established in 1990 under the name Sonic! Software Planning and to date is best known for partnering with Nintendo on many of Nintendo's spin-off franchise games such as Mario Tennis and Mario Golf, as well as the role-playing game series Golden Sun...
's Hiroyuki Takahashi as inspiration for his Shining Force series of tactical RPGs. According to Takahashi, Silver Ghost was "a simulation action type of game where you had to direct, oversee and command multiple characters."
First Queen
is a real-time strategy role-playing game first released on the Sharp X68000Sharp X68000
The Sharp X68000, often referred to as the X68k, is a home computer released only in Japan by the Sharp Corporation. The first model was released in 1987, with a 10 MHz Motorola 68000 CPU, 1 MB of RAM and no hard drive; the last model was released in 1993 with a 25 MHz Motorola 68030...
and NEC PC-9801 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1988
1988 in video gaming
-Events:*June — Nintendo releases the last issue of "Nintendo fun club news";*July — Nintendo releases the first issue of Nintendo Power magazine.-Notable releases:*January 8, Konami releases Super Contra....
, and then subsequently released on the Super Famicom
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
as First Queen: Ornic Senki in 1994
1994 in video gaming
-Events:*Nintendo calls this year "1994: The Year of the Cartridge".*Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd is established and opened by Hiroshi Yamauchi and effectively ends Mattel Australia's distribution of Nintendo's products throughout Australia.*"Project...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
as First Queen 1 in 2001
2001 in video gaming
-Events:* Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall of Fame...
. The game had three sequels. It was also notable for featuring art work by Yoshitaka Amano
Yoshitaka Amano
is a Japanese artist. He began his career as an animator and has become known for his illustrations for the anime Vampire Hunter D and for his character designs, image illustrations and title logo designs for the Final Fantasy video game series developed by Square Enix . His influences include...
.
List of works
PC-88- ArgoArgoIn Greek mythology, the Argo was the ship on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcos to retrieve the Golden Fleece. It was named after its builder, Argus.-Legend:...
(1986) - Silver Ghost (1988)
- DuelDuelA duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
(1989)
X68000
- First QueenFirst Queenis a real-time strategy-action RPG video game developed by Kure Software Koubou. It was first released on the Sharp X68000 and NEC PC-9801 computer platforms in Japan in 1988, and then subsequently released on the Super Famicom as First Queen: Ornic Senki in 1994 and Microsoft Windows as First...
(1988) - First Queen 2 (1990)
X-1
- Silver Ghost (1988)
PC-98
- ArgoArgoIn Greek mythology, the Argo was the ship on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcos to retrieve the Golden Fleece. It was named after its builder, Argus.-Legend:...
(1986) - First QueenFirst Queenis a real-time strategy-action RPG video game developed by Kure Software Koubou. It was first released on the Sharp X68000 and NEC PC-9801 computer platforms in Japan in 1988, and then subsequently released on the Super Famicom as First Queen: Ornic Senki in 1994 and Microsoft Windows as First...
(1988) - Duel98 (1989)
- First Queen 2 (1990)
- Kawanakajima Ibunroku (1992, 川中島異聞録)
- Early Kingdom (1992) (With help from C's World)
- First Queen 3 (1993)
- First Queen 4 (1994)
- Dark Seraphim (1995)
- Duel Succession (1996)
Super Nintendo
- First Queen: Ornic Senki (1993) (Developed by Culture BrainCulture Brain, formally known as , is a small Japanese video game developer and publisher founded on October 5, 1980.Culture Brain's first arcade video game was Monster Zero, released in . In North America, Culture Brain is mostly known for its six video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System and its three...
under license from KSK)
IBM AT
- First Queen 4 (1994)
PlayStation
- First Queen 4 (1996)
Windows
- First Queen: The New World (1999)
- First Queen 1 (2001)
- First Queen 2 (2002)
- First Queen 3+4 (2004)
- TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
(2004) - GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
(2005)