Mitchell Corporation (株式会社ミッチェル) was a Japanese video game developer based in the Suginami ward of Tokyo. Roy Ozaki served as president, and Koichi Niida served as vice-president. Some employees were former Capcom and TAD Corporation employees. The company was originally established on February 1, 1960, as an import/export business by the father of Roy Ozaki. Ozaki and Niida took over the company and began acting as exclusive overseas agents for such video game companies as Visco, Video System, Seta, Metro, Home Data, and other small video game manufacturers in the 1980s.

Mitchell Co., Ltd.
Native name
株式会社ミッチェル
Mitchell Co., Ltd.
IndustryVideo games
FoundedFebruary 1, 1960; 64 years ago (1960-02-01)
DefunctNovember 20, 2012; 11 years ago (2012-11-20)
FateAll research and development ceased
HeadquartersSuginami, ,
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Roy Ozaki (CEO)
  • Koichi Niida (Director)
  • Nishimura Shin (Director)
ProductsArcade games, video games, software development
Websitehttp://www.mitchell.jp

Company activity was suspended on 20 November 2012.[1]

Mitchell Corporation developed titles for home consoles, handhelds, Japanese mobile phones, the arcade[2] and interactive kiosks located in restaurants and other places. Mitchell also distributed printed circuit boards for the arcade/coin-op market. The company also developed video games for other publishers. Starting in 2004, they started developing games only for Nintendo hardware.

Mitchell Corporation is best known as the game developer of Puzz Loop. Copyright and trademark registration of Puzz Loop was established in December 1999, the same year it was released to the international coin-op arcade market. Prior to this, it developed the Buster Bros. series of games.

Puzz Loop was first released in North America, as well as Europe, under the title Ballistic for the original PlayStation console and Game Boy Color handheld. Infogrames published the PlayStation and Game Boy Color versions in North America in late 1999, while THQ published these same versions for European territories. Capcom published both versions for the Japanese market under the original Puzz Loop title in 2000.

Nintendo of America released Puzz Loop for the Nintendo DS under the title Magnetica on June 5, 2006. A four-player version, titled Magnetica Twist was released two years later on the WiiWare service. Tokyo Crash Mobs is the latest instalment of the Puzz Loop series.

Since 2012 edit

In 2014 a book, The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Volume 1, was published containing an interview with Mitchell Corp CEO Roy Ozaki who mentioned that many of their IPs were available for licensing.[3]

In 2016 a new game using the Pang license was released, only outside Japan, by DotEmu on modern platforms,[4] citing a 2016 copyright date for Mitchell Corporation.

In 2023 an emulated version of the arcade game Cannon Dancer (Osman) was released by ININ Games[5] for modern platforms, citing a 2022 copyright date for Mitchell Corporation.[6]

Games edit

Game Release date Genre(s) Platform
Gyoretsu Nageloop (Tokyo Crash Mobs) 2012-08-08 [7] Puzzle (Toss) Nintendo 3DS eShop
Wii Remote Plus Variety (Wii Play: Motion) [Treasure Twirl and Unicycle mini-games] 2011-07-07 [7][8] Action Nintendo Wii
Pang: Magical Michael 2010-09-17[9] Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery) Nintendo DS
Chotto Sūjin Taisen (Number Battle, Sujin Taisen: Number Battles) 2009-01-28 [7][10] Tabletop, Puzzle, Strategy Nintendo DSiWare
Kakonde Keshite Wakugumi no Jikan (Wakugumi: Monochrome Puzzle) 2009-04-01 [7] Puzzle (Match) Nintendo DSiWare
Minna de Puzzloop (Actionloop Twist, Magnetica Twist) 2008-04-22 [7] Puzzle (Toss) Nintendo WiiWare
Sūjin Taisen (Number Battle, Sujin Taisen: Number Battles) 2007-06-07 [11] Tabletop, Puzzle, Strategy Nintendo DS
Shunkan Puzzloop (Actionloop, Magnetica) 2006-03-02 [11] Puzzle (Toss) Nintendo DS
Tsuukin Hitofude (Polarium Advance) 2005-10-13 [11] Puzzle Game Boy Advance
Chokkan Hitofude (Polarium) 2004-12-02 [11] Puzzle Nintendo DS
Kono e-Tako (This Good Octopus)[12] 2003-11-19 [13] Puzzle (Match) Arcade
Gamshara (Daredevil)[14] 2002-08 [13] Shooter (Gallery) Arcade
Janpai Puzzle Choukou (Yangtze River Mahjong Tile Puzzle) [15] 2001-11 [13] Tabletop, Puzzle (Match), Mature Arcade
Puzz Loop 2[16] 2001-02 [13] Puzzle (Toss) Arcade
Mighty! Pang[17] 2000-11 [13] Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery) Arcade
Ballistic 2000-10-12 [11] Puzzle (Toss) Game Boy Color
Ballistic 2000-03-16 [11] Puzzle (Toss) PlayStation
Ballistic 2000 (unreleased)[18] Puzzle (Toss) NeoGeo Pocket Color
Ballistic 2000 Puzzle (Toss) Nuon
Puzz Loop[19] 1998-12 [13] Puzzle (Toss) Arcade
Buster Bros. Collection 1997-03-14 [20] Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery) PlayStation
Sankokushi (Three Engraved Intentions)[21] 1996-08 [13] Tabletop, Puzzle, Match, Mature Arcade
Osman (Cannon Dancer)[22] 1996-02 [13] Platform, Fighting (Scrolling) Arcade
Sotsugyo Shousho (Diploma)[23] 1995-11 [13] Mini-Games Arcade
Pang! 3[24] 1995-06 [13] Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery) Arcade
Ganbare! Gonta!! 2 (Party Time: Gonta the Diver II)[25] 1995-05 [26] Puzzle, Mature Arcade
Charlie Ninja[27] 1995 Platform, Shooter (Scrolling) Arcade
Mirage Youjuu Mahjongden (Demon Mirage Mahjong)[28] 1994-05 [26] Tabletop, Mahjong, Mature Arcade
Super-X [developed by Dooyong (Korea); licensed from NTC][29] 1994 Shooter (Flying Vertical) Arcade
Double Wings[30] 1993-12 Shooter (Flying Vertical) Arcade
Moeyo Gonta!! (Lady Killer) [licensed from Yanyaka][31] 1993-12 [26] Puzzle, Mature Arcade
Chatan Yarakuu Shanku (The Karate Tournament)[32] 1992-12 [26] Fighting (Versus) Arcade
Funky Jet [licensed from Data East][33] 1992-07 [26] Platform, Fighting Arcade
Pang Pom's [licensed from Metro][34] 1992 Platform, Puzzle Arcade
Super Buster Bros. 1992-08 [35] Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery) Super NES
Mahjong Ikaga Desu ka (Mahjong How Are You)[36] 1991? Tabletop, Mahjong, Mature Arcade
Super Buster Bros.[37] 1990-11 [26] Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery) Arcade
Buster Bros.[38] 1989-11 [26] Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery) Arcade
Mad Motor[39] 1989 Fighting (2.5D) Arcade
Poker Ladies[40][41] 1989 Casino, Mature Arcade

References edit

  1. ^ "Notice that company activity has been suspended". Mitchell.jp. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  2. ^ "CAESAR - Game Search Results". caesar.logiqx.com.
  3. ^ "Mitchell Corp Is Keen To Bring Strider's Spiritual Sequel To Home Formats". Nintendo Life. 2014-09-22. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  4. ^ ""PANG ADVENTURES IS NOW AVAILABLE ON CONSOLE, PC, AND MOBILE!" - Games Press". www.gamespress.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  5. ^ "ININ | Cannon Dancer". www.iningames.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  6. ^ "Cannon Dancer – Osman". Nintendo of Europe GmbH. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  7. ^ a b c d e "mitchell.jp". mitchell.jp. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  8. ^ "Iwata Asks". Iwataasks.nintendo.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  9. ^ Pang: Magical Michael
  10. ^ "Interview | Mitchell Talks Sujin Taisen (Nintendo DSiWare)". Cubed3. 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "mitchell.jp". mitchell.jp. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  12. ^ "Kono e-Tako - Arcade Otaku Wiki". Wiki.arcadeotaku.com. 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "mitchell.jp". mitchell.jp. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  14. ^ "CAESAR - Gamshara (10021 Ver.A)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  15. ^ "CAESAR - Janpai Puzzle Choukou (Japan 010820)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  16. ^ "CAESAR - Puzz Loop 2 (Japan 010205)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  17. ^ "CAESAR - Mighty! Pang (Japan 001011)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  18. ^ "NGPC Masterlist | complete NGPC list |". Neo-geo.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  19. ^ "CAESAR - Puzz Loop (Japan)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  20. ^ "Super Pang Collection - (NTSC-J)". Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  21. ^ "CAESAR - Sankokushi (Japan)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  22. ^ "CAESAR - Osman (World)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  23. ^ "CAESAR - Sotsugyo Shousho". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  24. ^ "CAESAR - Pang! 3: Kaitou Tachi no Karei na Gogo (Japan 950511)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  25. ^ "CAESAR - Party Time: Gonta the Diver II / Ganbare! Gonta!! 2 (World Release)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g "mitchell.jp". mitchell.jp. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  27. ^ "CAESAR - Charlie Ninja". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  28. ^ "CAESAR - Mirage Youjuu Mahjongden (Japan)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  29. ^ "CAESAR - Super-X (Mitchell)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  30. ^ "CAESAR - Double Wings". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  31. ^ "CAESAR - Lady Killer". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  32. ^ "CAESAR - Karate Tournament, The". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  33. ^ "CAESAR - Funky Jet (World)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  34. ^ "CAESAR - Pang Pom's (Mitchell)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  35. ^ Super Buster Bros
  36. ^ "CAESAR - Mahjong Ikaga Desu ka (Japan)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  37. ^ "CAESAR - Super Pang (World 900914)". Caesar.logiqx.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  38. ^ "CAESAR - Pomping World (Japan)". caesar.logiqx.com.
  39. ^ "CAESAR - Mad Motor". caesar.logiqx.com.
  40. ^ Jonas, Matt (March 16, 2011). "[NSFW] Poker Ladies (ARC)". GameCola. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011.
  41. ^ Ortolani, Mauro (October 1999). "Sex & Web". Next Gamer (in Italian). No. 2. Next Publishing s.r.l. pp. 120–124.

External links edit