Capcom

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Capcom Co., Ltd.|株式会社カプコン|Kabushiki-gaisha Kapukon}} is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games,[1] known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Ghosts'n Goblins, Street Fighter, Mega Man, Resident Evil, and Dead Rising. Capcom also developed and published Bionic Commando, Ace Attorney, Lost Planet and Dark Void, though they are less known.[2] Its head office is in Chūō-ku, Osaka. Originally established in 1983,[3] it has since become an international enterprise with branches and subsidiaries in North America, Europe, and East Asia.[4]

History

The original companies that spawned Capcom's Japanese branch were I.R.M Corporation founded on May 30, 1979,[5] as well as its subsidiary Japan Capsule Computer Co., Ltd., both of which were devoted to the manufacturing and distribution of electronic game machines.[3] The two companies underwent a name change to Sambi Co., Ltd. in September 1981,[3] while Capcom Co., Ltd. itself was first established on June 11, 1983,[5] for the purpose of taking over the internal sales department.[6]

In January 1989, the old affiliate company Capcom Co., Ltd. merged with Sambi Co., Ltd., resulting in the current Japanese branch.[3] The name Capcom is an abbreviation of "Capsule Computer", a term coined by the company to describe the arcade machines it solely manufactured in its early years, designed to set themselves apart from personal computers that were becoming widespread at that time.[7] The word capsule alludes to how Capcom likened its game software to "a capsule packed to the brim with gaming fun", as well as to the company's desire to protect its intellectual property with a hard outer shell, preventing illegal copies and inferior imitations.[7]

While Capcom's first product was the coin-operated Little League from July 1983, its first real video game, the arcade title Vulgus, was released in May 1984.[3] Beginning with a Nintendo Entertainment System port of 1942 published in December 1985, the company started to venture into the market of home console video games,[3] which became its main business segment a few years later.[8] Since then, Capcom created 15 multi-million-selling game series, the most successful of which is Resident Evil.[2]

In addition to the development and publishing of home, online, mobile, arcade, pachinko, and pachislo games, the company publishes strategy guides,[3] maintains its own arcade centers, and licenses its franchise and character properties for use in tie-in products, movies, television series, and stage performances.[8] Suleputer, an in-house marketing and music label established in cooperation with Sony Music Entertainment Intermedia in 1998, publishes CDs, DVDs, and other media based on Capcom's games.[9] An annual private media summit called Captivate, renamed from Gamers Day in 2008, is traditionally used as a platform for new game and business announcements.[10]

Company structure

Development studios

In the first few years after its establishment, the Japanese branch of Capcom had three development groups referred to as "Planning Rooms", led by Tokuro Fujiwara, Takashi Nishiyama and Yoshiki Okamoto, respectively.[11][12] Later, games developed internally used to be created by several numbered "Production Studios", each assigned to different games.[13][14] Starting in 2002, the development process was reformed to better share technologies and expertise, and all of the individual studios were gradually restructured into bigger departments responsible for different tasks.[14] While there are self-contained departments for the creation of arcade, pachinko and pachislo, online, and mobile games, the Consumer Games R&D Division instead is an amalgamation of subsections in charge of various game development stages.[14][15][16] In addition to these internal teams, Capcom also commissions outside development studios to ensure a steady output of titles.[17][18] However, following bad sales of Dark Void and Bionic Commando, the company's management has decided to limit outsourcing to sequels and newer versions of installments in existing franchises, reserving the development of original titles for its in-house teams.[19] The production of games, budgets, and platforms supported are decided upon in development approval meetings, attended by the company management and the Marketing, Sales, and Quality Control Departments.[14]

Branches and subsidiaries

Apart from the head office building and the R&D building of Capcom Co., Ltd., both located in Chūō-ku, Osaka,[4] the Japanese parent company also has a branch office in the Shinjuku Mitsui Building in Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo.[20] It also has the Ueno Facility. a branch office in Iga, Mie Prefecture.[4] The international Capcom Group currently encompasses 15 subsidiaries in Japan, North America, Europe, and East Asia.[4][14] Affiliated companies include Koko Capcom Co., Ltd. in South Korea, Street Fighter Film, LLC in the United States, and Dellgamadas Co., Ltd.[14]

Subsidiary Established[3] Location[4] Details[4]
Capcom Pictures November 2011 San Mateo, California
Osaka, Japan
  • theatrical film division of Capcom, Ltd.
  • produces and distributes films in Japan, USA & Europe.
Capcom U.S.A., Inc. August 1985 San Mateo, California[21]
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom Co., Ltd.
  • holding company administering subsidiaries in the United States
Captron Co., Ltd. February 1991 Osaka
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom Co., Ltd.[3]
  • renting, leasing, and operating real estate properties
  • originally a related company known as Yunika Co., Ltd.[3]
Capcom Asia Co., Ltd. July 1993 Hong Kong
  • selling home video games
Capcom Entertainment, Inc. June 1995 San Mateo[21]
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom U.S.A., Inc.[3]
  • established to enhance and maximize management, distribution, and R&D in the United States[3]
CE Europe Ltd. Template:Nowrap 9th floor
George House
Hammersmith
London
[22][23]
  • selling home video games
Capcom Philippines., Inc. August 2012 Cebu, Philippines[21]
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom Co., Ltd.
  • holding company administering subsidiaries in the Philippines
CEG Interactive Entertainment GmbH February 2003 Hamburg[22]
  • selling home video games
Capcom Interactive Canada, Inc. May 2006[24] Toronto
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom Interactive, Inc.[3]
  • developing and distributing mobile phone games
  • originally an unrelated developer known as Cosmic Infinity, Inc. before it was acquired by Capcom[3][24]
Capcom Interactive, Inc. June 2006 Los Angeles[21]
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom U.S.A., Inc.[25]
  • distributing mobile phone games and integrating the wireless, online and console sectors[25]
Daletto Co., Ltd. October 2006 Tokyo
  • co-founded by Capcom Co., Ltd. and Dwango Co., Ltd.[3]
  • managing a virtual theme park website, and operating and developing online games[3][14]
Template:Nowrap March 2007 Seoul
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom Co., Ltd.[3]
  • selling home video games, and operating and developing online games[3]
Blue Harvest LLC FY 2007[26]
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom Co., Ltd.[27]
  • developing video games[27]
K2 Co., Ltd. May 2008 Osaka
  • developing home video games
  • originally an unrelated developer before it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom Co., Ltd. through a stock exchange[3]
Capcom Entertainment France, SAS July 2008 Template:Nowrap[22]
  • wholly owned subsidiary of CE Europe Ltd.[3]
  • selling home video games[3]
Enterrise Co., Ltd. July 2008 Tokyo
  • 90% of shares owned by Capcom Co., Ltd.[3]
  • developing, manufacturing and distributing arcade machines[3]

Former subsidiaries

Subsidiary Established[3] Closed/acquired Location[4] Details
A.C.A. Co., Ltd. Mito[9]
Status Co., Ltd. FY 2003[28] Osaka[28]
  • non-life insurance agency also responsible for financial activities[28]
  • closed for the purpose of achieving a sound financial structure[28]
Capcom Europe GmbH February 1992[9] FY 2002[29] Düsseldorf[9]
  • managed sales in Europe[9]
  • closed[29]
Template:Nowrap October 1993[9] FY 1997[9] Mexico City
  • sold products in Mexico, Central and South America[9]
  • closed for the purpose of improving the company's financial balance[9]
Capcom Coin-Op, Inc. June 1995[9] March 2004[30] Sunnyvale, California[9]
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom U.S.A., Inc.[9]
  • sold arcade game machines and operated amusement facilities[9]
  • closed[30]
Capcom Studio 8, Inc. June 1995 March 2007[14] Sunnyvale[31]
  • originally established as Capcom Digital Studios, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom U.S.A., Inc.[3]
  • also known as Production Studio 8[32]
  • developed video games[28]
  • acquired by Capcom Entertainment, Inc.[14]
Flagship Co., Ltd. April 1997 June 2007[3] Osaka[33]
Capcom Eurosoft, Ltd. July 1998[37] April 2007[38] London[37]
  • was the main base for the sale of home video games in Europe[37]
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom Entertainment, Inc.[37]
  • closed with all operations transferred to CE Europe Ltd.[38]
Capcom Charbo Co., Ltd. Template:Nowrap Template:Nowrap Osaka[16]
  • wholly owned subsidiary of Capcom Co., Ltd. before its closing[16]
  • offered support services for communication tools like mobile phones[16]
Clover Studio Co., Ltd. July 2004[28] March 2007[16] Osaka[16]
  1. ↑ Template:Cite web
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:Cite web
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 Template:Cite web
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Template:Cite web
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ign25th
  6. ↑ Template:Cite web
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Template:Cite web
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Template:Cite web
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 Template:Cite web
  10. ↑ Template:Cite web
  11. ↑ Template:Cite journal
  12. ↑ Template:Cite video game
  13. ↑ Template:Cite web
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 Template:Cite web
  15. ↑ Template:Cite web
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 Template:Cite web
  17. ↑ Template:Cite web
  18. ↑ Template:Cite web
  19. ↑ Template:Cite web
  20. ↑ "Locations." Capcom. Retrieved on August 12, 2011. "3-1-3 Uchihirano-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0037, Japan" and "Shinjuku Mitsui Building 2-1-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo"
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 "About Capcom." Capcom. Retrieved on August 12, 2011. "U.S. Headquarters Capcom U.S.A., Inc. Capcom Entertainment, Inc. 800 Concar Drive Suite 300 San Mateo, CA 94402-2649" Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "CapcomUSA" defined multiple times with different content
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Contact." Capcom. Retrieved on August 12, 2011. "UK: CE Europe Ltd 26-28 Hammersmith Grove, 9th Floor London W6 7HA" and "Germany: CEG Interactive Entertainment GmbH Barmbeker Strasse 4 b 22303 Hamburg, Germany" and "France: Capcom Entertainment France 30 bis, rue du Viel Abreuvoir FR.78100 Saint Germain En Laye"
  23. ↑ "Office Relocation for CE Europe to the Metro Building." Maris Interiors. May 2011. Retrieved on August 13, 2011. "Maris are pleased to announce the commencement of the office fit-out for CE Europe Ltd, who are relocating offices to the Metro Building, Hammersmith, London, W6." and "Maris are relocating CE Europe’s London operations from their present offices in George House, 26-28 Hammersmith Grove to Hammersmith’s Metro Building."
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Template:Cite web
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Template:Cite web
  26. ↑ Template:Cite web
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Template:Cite web
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 Template:Cite web
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Template:Cite web
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Template:Cite web
  31. ↑ Template:Cite web
  32. ↑ Template:Cite web
  33. ↑ Template:Cite web
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Template:Cite web
  35. ↑ Template:Cite web
  36. ↑ Template:Cite web
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 Template:Cite web
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Template:Cite web
  39. ↑ Template:Cite web
  40. ↑ Template:Cite web
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