Editing Technosoft

{{Short description|Japanese video game company}}
{{Infobox company
| name         = Technosoft
| logo         = Tecno Soft logo.png
| type         = [[Kabushiki gaisha]]
| fate         = Assets incorporated into Twenty-one Company, [[Intellectual Properties]] acquired by [[Sega]]
| successor    = Twenty-One Technosoft div.
| foundation   = {{start date and age|1980|2}}<ref name="technosoft_profile">{{cite web|title=Corporate Profile |url=http://www.tecnosoft.com/MAIN/GAIYOU.HTM |publisher=Technosoft |accessdate=1 September 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980625184727/http://www.tecnosoft.com/MAIN/GAIYOU.HTM |archivedate=June 25, 1998 |url-status=unfit }}</ref>
| defunct      = {{end date and age|2001}}
| location     = [[Sasebo, Nagasaki]], [[Japan]]
| industry     = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| products     = Video games<br />Computer software
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''Technosoft'''|株式会社テクノソフト|Kabushiki-gashia Tekunosofuto|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} was a Japanese video game developer and publisher based headquartered in [[Sasebo, Nagasaki]]. Also known as "Tecno Soft", the company was founded in February 1980 as '''Sasebo Microcomputer Center''', before changing its name to Technosoft in 1982. The company primarily dealt with software for Japanese personal computers, including graphic toolsets and image processing software. Technosoft's first venture into the video game market was ''Snake & Snake'', released in 1982, before seeing success with titles such as ''[[Thunder Force (video game)|Thunder Force]]'' (1983) and ''Plasma Line'' (1984).

Technosoft became largely profitable during the late-1980s and early-1990s, largely in part due to the widespread popularity of their ''Thunder Force'' and ''Herzog'' franchises. However, later in the decade, Technosoft began to largely diminish as profits began to slump, before ultimately being acquired and folded into Japanese pachinko manufacturer Twenty-One Company in late 2001. Twenty-One began to release products in 2008 under the Technosoft brand, and sold the entirety of its video game library to [[Sega]] in 2016. The Technosoft name continues to be in use in the present day as the name for Twenty-One's research and development division, and as a brand name for various products such as soundtrack albums.

== History ==
Some staff members left Technosoft to start the game development companies [[Arsys Software]] in 1985 (founded by Kotori Yoshimura, creator of ''[[Thunder Force]]'' and ''Plazma Line''), CAProduction in 1993, and [[Ganbarion]] in 1999.

In 2006, the URL for Technosoft was registered and updated. However, no updates other than "We will restart soon! Please wait for a while." and "THUNDERFORCE is a registered trademark." have been added to the website. In 2008, The Technosoft brand was revived by Twenty-One company. Technosoft licensed merchandising and music of the brand's past titles. The copyright for Technosoft's intellectual properties were not registered under Technosoft nor Twenty-One Company, but to Kazue Matsuoka.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1216397_1407.html|title=『サンダーフォースVI』数々の伝説を残した名作シューティングが復活 - ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com}}</ref>

Sega revealed that ''[[Thunder Force III]]'' will be part of [[Sega 3D Classics Collection]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2016/09/17/technosofts-thunder-force-iii-will-third-sega-3d-classics-collection/ |title=Technosoft's Thunder Force III Will Be In The Third Sega 3D Classics Collection - Siliconera |website=www.siliconera.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919132857/http://www.siliconera.com/2016/09/17/technosofts-thunder-force-iii-will-third-sega-3d-classics-collection/ |archive-date=2016-09-19}}</ref> and on September 17, 2016, at the Tokyo Game Show, Sega announced that they acquired the intellectual property and development rights to all the games developed and published by Technosoft. When questioned about future Technosoft releases, Sega would look into re-releasing ''[[Thunder Force IV]]'', ''[[Thunder Force V]]'' and ''[[Herzog Zwei]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://segabits.com/blog/2016/09/17/sega-announces-acquisition-of-technosofts-ips/|title=Sega announces acquisitions of Technosoft IP's|date=September 2016}}</ref>

In September 2016, there was a total of 21 registrations made by Sega Holdings. These registrations revised the copyright of Technosoft intellectual properties from Kazue Matsuoka to Sega Games Co, Ltd thus completing the acquisition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/web/all/top/BTmTopPage|title = メンテナンス情報 (Maintenance information) &#124; J-PlatPat/AIPN}}</ref> As of 2016, the digital soundtrack rights for the ''Thunder Force'' series will still be handled by Twenty-One Company through the Twenty-One Technosoft division.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tecnosoft.com/ |title=Home |website=tecnosoft.com |access-date=2008-08-14 |archive-date=2010-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329080448/http://www.tecnosoft.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Factors that influenced the acquisition included the former Technosoft president stating that they did not want the Technosoft brand to desist, and so handing over the intellectual properties to Sega was the only other option. Sega and Technosoft also had an established collaboration during the Genesis/Mega Drive era and so this pre-established relationship was also a factor when acquiring the brand rights to Technosoft titles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1020718.html|title = 「セガ3D復刻アーカイブス3 Final Stage」に「サンダーフォースIii」収録!! テクノソフトの権利をセガが取得、元テクノソフトの新井氏も登場して経緯を語った|date = 17 September 2016}}</ref>

==Notable releases==
===''Thunder Force''===
{{Main|Thunder Force (series)}}

The company's most commercially successful franchise was the [[Thunder Force (series)|''Thunder Force'' series]]. It was a series of [[Shoot 'em up#Scrolling shooters|scrolling shooter]] [[video game]]s. The series began with the original ''[[Thunder Force]]'' in 1983. The games are known by fans of the genre for their hardcore appeal, pleasing graphics, and generally well composed [[synthesizer]]-based [[chiptune]] [[video game music|music soundtracks]].

The series' first game, ''[[Thunder Force]]'', appeared in 1983 on a variety of Japanese computers, such as the [[Sharp X1]], [[NEC PC-8801|NEC PC-8801 mkII]], and [[FM-7]]. Technosoft also released a [[level editor]], or [[game creation system]], entitled ''Thunder Force Construction'', for the original game on the [[FM-7]] computer in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thunder Force Construction|url=http://retropc.net/fm-7/museum/softhouse/tecnosoft/330602301.html|work=[[:jp:Oh!FM|Oh!FM]]|accessdate=1 September 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728113345/http://retropc.net/fm-7/museum/softhouse/tecnosoft/330602301.html|archivedate=28 July 2013|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> Since ''[[Thunder Force II]]'', the majority of installments in the series appeared on the [[Mega Drive]] console, where the series gained much of its popularity. The most recent entry was released on [[PlayStation 2]].

===''Plazma Line''===
{{Infobox video game
| title       = Plazma Line <br /> プラズマライン
| collapsible = 
| state       = expanded
| image       = 
| caption     = 
| developer   = Technosoft
| publisher   = Technosoft <ref name="ohfm_plazma"/>
| series      = 
| engine      = 
| platforms   = [[NEC PC-8801]], [[NEC PC-6001]], [[FM-7]], [[Sharp X1]]
| released    = '''PC-8801 / PC-6001 / X1''' <br /> [[1984 in video gaming|1984]] <br /> '''FM-7''' <br /> December 1984<ref name="ohfm_plazma"/>
| genre       = [[First-person (video games)|First -person]] [[racing video game|racing game]] <br /> [[space flight simulator game|Space flight simulator]]
| modes       = 
| director    = 
| producer    = 
| designer    = [[Arsys Software|Kotori Yoshimura]]<ref name="ohfm_plazma"/>
| programmer  = 
| artist      = 
| writer      = 
| composer    = 
}}
[[File:Plazma Line.gif|thumb|left|150px|The [[Sharp X1]] [[porting|port]] of ''Plazma Line'' (1984), an early [[first-person (video games)|first-person]] futuristic [[racing video game]]. This [[Graphics Interchange Format|GIF]] animation of the game demonstrates early use of [[3D computer graphics|3D polygon]] graphics and [[automap]] feature.]]
''Plazma Line'' ([[:jp:プラズマライン (ゲーム)|プラズマライン]]) is a [[first-person (video games)|first-person]] space [[racing video game|racing game]] released by Technosoft for the [[NEC PC-8801]] and [[FM-7]] computers in 1984. It is notable for being the first computer game, and home video game in general, with 3D polygon graphics.
The objective of the game is to race through [[outer space]] in a first-person view while avoiding obstacles (rendered in [[3D computer graphics|3D polygons]]) along the way. It also featured an [[automap]] radar to keep track of the player's position.<ref name="ohfm_plazma">{{cite web|title=Plazma Line|url=http://retropc.net/fm-7/museum/softhouse/tecnosoft/330602600.html|work=[[:jp:Oh!FM|Oh!FM]]|accessdate=1 September 2012|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130112015322/http://retropc.net/fm-7/museum/softhouse/tecnosoft/330602600.html|archivedate=12 January 2013|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>

The game was created by Kotori Yoshimura,<ref name="ohfm_plazma"/> who also created the original ''Thunder Force''.<ref name="ohfm_wibarm">{{cite web|title=Wibarm|url=http://www.retropc.net/fm-7/museum/softhouse/arsyssoftware/001100100.html|work=[[:jp:Oh!FM|Oh!FM]]|accessdate=1 September 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119012944/http://fm-7.com/museum/softhouse/arsyssoftware/001100100.html|archivedate=19 January 2015|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> Yoshimura later left the company in 1985 to start the development studio [[Arsys Software]] along with fellow Technosoft member Osamu Nagano.<ref name="cyberhead_profile">{{cite web|title=Corporate profile |url=http://www.cyberhead.co.jp/info.htm |publisher=Cyberhead |accessdate=30 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011024203406/http://www.cyberhead.co.jp/info.htm |archivedate=October 24, 2001 |url-status=unfit }}</ref>

In March 1985, ''Plazma Line'' was ranked number five on the [[Gemaga|''Beep'']] list of best-selling Japanese computer games.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Koyama |first=Yusuke |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uITCEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA35 |title=History of the Japanese Video Game Industry |date=2023-06-02 |publisher=[[Springer Nature]] |isbn=978-981-99-1342-8 |pages=35}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

===''Herzog''===
{{Main|Herzog (video game)|Herzog Zwei}}

''[[Herzog (video game)|Herzog]]'' ([[German language|German]]: "[[Herzog|Duke]]") is a [[strategy video game]] released by Technosoft in Japan for the [[MSX]] and [[NEC Corporation|NEC]] [[NEC PC-8801|PC-88]] computers in 1988. It was a [[real-time tactics]] and [[tactical shooter]] game with real-time strategy elements.

The series' best known entry is the [[Sega Mega Drive]] (Genesis) title ''[[Herzog Zwei]]'' (1989), which is sometimes regarded as the world's first [[real time strategy]] game. Although released two years after ''[[Nether Earth]]'', it was the first game with a feature set that falls under the contemporary definition of the real-time strategy genre, predating the genre-popularizing ''[[Dune II]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.strategyplanet.com/features/articles/strategypeak/|title=Are Real Time Strategy Games At Their Peak?|date=2001-05-09|publisher=www.strategyplanet.com|accessdate=2011-01-22|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115071241/http://www.strategyplanet.com/features/articles/strategypeak/|archivedate=2010-11-15}}</ref><ref name="1UP">{{cite web | url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3134179 | title=Essential Top 50: Herzog Zwei | author=Sharkey, Scott | website=[[1UP.com]] | accessdate=2007-09-27 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040913063641/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3134179 | archivedate=2004-09-13 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/p2_01.html|title = A History of Real-Time Strategy Games: Part I: 1989-1998|author = Geryk, Bruce | website = GameSpot|accessdate=2009-01-09}}</ref> The producers of ''Dune II'' acknowledged ''Herzog Zwei'' (meaning "Duke 2" in German) as an influence on the game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke-Willson|first=Stephen|title=The Origin of Realtime Strategy Games on the PC|url=http://above-the-garage.com/rblts/vie16b.htm|work=The Rise and Fall of Virgin Interactive|publisher=Above the Garage Productions|accessdate=30 January 2012|authorlink=Stephen Clarke-Willson|date=August 18, 1998}}</ref><ref name="Edge 2008">{{cite magazine|title=The Making of... Dune II|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/making-dune-ii|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208185911/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/making-dune-ii|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2012|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|publisher=Next-Gen.biz|accessdate=July 27, 2011|date=December 9, 2008|quote=''Herzog Zwei was a lot of fun, but I have to say the other inspiration for Dune II was the Mac software interface. The whole design/interface dynamics of mouse clicking and selecting desktop items got me thinking, ‘Why not allow the same inside the game environment? Why not a context-sensitive playfield? To hell with all these hot keys, to hell with keyboard as the primary means of manipulating the game!''}}</ref>

== Releases ==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Platform(s)
|-
|1982
|''Snake & Snake''
|[[PC-8000]], [[Sharp MZ]]
|-
|1983
|''[[Thunder Force (video game)|Thunder Force]]''
| rowspan="2" |[[FM-7]], [[PC-6601]], [[PC-88]], [[PC-98]], Sharp MZ, [[X1 (computer)|X1]]
|-
|1984
|''[[Plazma Line]]''
|-
|1987
|''COMSIGHT''
|PC88, X1, X68000
|-
| rowspan="3" |1988
|''Feedback''
|[[MSX2]]
|-
|''[[Herzog (video game)|Herzog]]''
|[[MSX2]], [[PC-8801]], [[PC-9801]], X1
|-
|''[[Thunder Force II]]''
|[[X68000]], [[Sega Genesis]]
|-
|1989
|''[[Herzog Zwei]]''
|Sega Genesis
|-
| rowspan="2" |1990
|''[[Thunder Force III]]''
|Sega Genesis, [[Arcade game|Arcade]]
|-
|''[[Elemental Master]]''
|Sega Genesis
|-
| rowspan="2" |1991
|''[[Devil's Crush]]''
|Sega Genesis
|-
|''[[Thunder Spirits]]''
|[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|-
|1992
|''[[Thunder Force IV]]''
|Sega Genesis
|-
|1993
|''[[Hyper Duel]]''
|Arcade, [[Sega Saturn]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |1994
|''Magical Error o Sagase!''
|Arcade
|-
|[[Starblade]]
|Sega CD
|-
|''Nekketsu Oyako''
| rowspan="2" |[[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], Sega Saturn
|-
|1995
|''Kyuutenkai: Fantasic Pinball''
|-
| rowspan="2" |1996
|''[[Thunder Force Gold Pack|Thunder Force Gold Pack 1]]''
| rowspan="3" |Sega Saturn
|-
|''[[Thunder Force Gold Pack|Thunder Force Gold Pack 2]]''
|-
| rowspan="2" |1997
|''[[Blast Wind]]''
|-
|''Neorude''
| rowspan="2" |PlayStation
|-
| rowspan="4" |1998
|''Kaze no Oka Kōen nite''
|-
|''Kumitate Battle: Kuttu Ketto''
| rowspan="2" |PlayStation, Sega Saturn
|-
|''[[Thunder Force V]]''
|-
|''[[Silent Möbius]]: Genei no Datenshi''
| rowspan="1" |PlayStation
|-
|1999
|My Garden
|PlayStation
|-
|1999
|''Getter Robo Daikessen''
|PlayStation
|}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.tecnosoft.com/}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/19980625185539/http://www.tecnosoft.com/INDEX.HTM Archived version of official website from 1998]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20011201222622/http://www.tecnosoft.com/index.htm Archived version of official website from 2001]

{{Sega Sammy Holdings}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Companies based in Nagasaki Prefecture]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1980]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2001]]
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1980]]
[[Category:Japanese companies disestablished in 2001]]