The Taito Corporation (株式会社タイトー, Kabushikigaisha Taitō?) is a Japanese video game publisher of video game software and arcade hardware. It was founded by Michael Kogan as Taito Trading Company in 1953. Taito is best known for producing hit arcade games, such as Space Invaders, Bubble Bobble, Darius, Arkanoid and the home franchise of Lufia. Taito also owns several arcades in Japan known as Taito Stations.
Taito as a Square Enix subsidiary
In 2005, Square Enix negotiated with Taito to purchase enough shares of the company in order to make it a subsidiary. The reason for this was to increase the profit margin that Taito was able to gain, and, to have Square Enix compete against gaming conglomerates in the arcade gaming market (an industry that Square or Enix had not dabbled in since their existence) alongside expanding the market value and intellectual property portfolio of the parent company.
In March 2006, Square Enix wanted to own all the shares of Taito Corporation, so, they decided to combine Taito Corporation with SQEX (The Game Designers Studio). The result of this process meant that the original Taito Corporation company was dissolved, and that SQEX was the surviving entity in the process. In order to maintain the Taito assets and brand recognition, Square Enix renamed the surviving SQEX entity to Taito Corporation.
Taito game franchises
- Space Invaders established on the Arcade in 1978
- Bubble Bobble established on the Arcade in 1986
- Darius established on the Arcade in 1987
- Lufia established on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993
- Arkanoid established on the Arcade in 1986
- Rastan established on the Arcade in 1978
- Psychic Force established on the Arcade in 1995
- Time Gal established on the Arcade in 1985
Final Fantasy Games Developed
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (As The Game Designers Studio)
- Dissidia Final Fantasy (2015)
External links
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