Difference between revisions of "Data West"
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| headquarters=[[wikipedia:Tsurumi-ku, Osaka|3-chōme-8-28 Hanatenhigashi, Tsurumi Ward, Osaka 538-0044, Japan]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20231201090259/https://www.datawest.co.jp/company.html}} | | headquarters=[[wikipedia:Tsurumi-ku, Osaka|3-chōme-8-28 Hanatenhigashi, Tsurumi Ward, Osaka 538-0044, Japan]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20231201090259/https://www.datawest.co.jp/company.html}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}} Co., Ltd.''' (データウエスト株式会社) is a Japanese car navigation systems company and former video game publisher and developer. It produced several notable | + | {{stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}} Co., Ltd.''' (データウエスト株式会社), sometimes written as '''DATAWEST'''{{fileref|Datawest logo.svg}}, is a Japanese car navigation systems company and former video game publisher and developer.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20231201090259/https://www.datawest.co.jp/company.html}} It produced several notable franchises during the 1980s and 1990s, such as the ''Rayxanber'' and ''Psychic Detective'' series, and are known for their early support of both [[CD-ROM]] technology and the [[FM Towns]] personal computer. |
The company is entirely unrelated to the similarly-named [[Data East]]. | The company is entirely unrelated to the similarly-named [[Data East]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Company== | ||
| + | {{PAGENAME}} was founded on May 29, 1984 in [[wikipedia:Tsurumi-ku, Osaka|Tsurumi, Osaka]], and officially established two years later on May 26, 1986.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20231201090259/https://www.datawest.co.jp/company.html}} The company initially focused on software development, ranging from peripheral firmware, car navigation systems, and video games, while also offering services like 3D graphics creation and professional CD pressing.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19981203142618/http://www.datawest.co.jp/gyom_ma.html}} The studio primarily focused on [[NEC]]'s platforms (particularly the [[FM Towns]]), and was an early embracer of [[CD-ROM]] technology. It also experimented in more obscure platforms, releasing software for both the [[PC-FX]] and [[LaserActive]]. {{PAGENAME}} was even one of the earliest developers to adopt [[wikipedia:JPEG|JPEG]] technology, with the compression prominently featured in the ''Psychic Detective Series''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The majority of the company's soundtracks were composed by their in-house composer, guitarist [[Yasuhito Saito]]. Known for his jazzy style of video game rock, and occasionally drawing inspiration from diverse genres like hip-hop and latin, his music was and continues to be one of {{PAGENAME}}'s most well-remembered legacies. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==DAPS== | ||
| + | [[File:DataWest DAPS logo.png|thumb|right|320px]] | ||
| + | Introduced in 1990, '''DAPS''' (DATAWEST ACTIVE PICTURE SYSTEM) is a graphics streaming technology developed by Data West to address issues of slow load times with early [[CD-ROM]] hardware. Reportedly, the technology works by efficiently loading upcoming graphic data during animated scenes to ensure a seamless viewing experience.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20231229043447/https://towerofclassicgame.com/pds_clm01#toc15}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==DCCS== | ||
| + | '''DCCS''' (DATAWEST COMPATIBLE CD SYSTEM) was introduced in 1993, and allows for game [[CD-ROM]]s to be played on multiple platforms. For example, ''[[Psychic Detective Series Vol. 4: Orgel]]'' features the same CD-ROM for both the [[FM Towns]] and [[PC-9821]] version, and is able to be used in either system. However, each game's accompanying Key-Disk (a 3.5" floppy disk) is platform-specific, with the company selling additional Key-Disks to customers through mail-order.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20231229043447/https://towerofclassicgame.com/pds_clm01#toc17}} | ||
==Softography== | ==Softography== | ||
| Line 26: | Line 38: | ||
*''[[Vajra Ni]]'' (1994) | *''[[Vajra Ni]]'' (1994) | ||
| − | ===[[PC- | + | ===[[PC-9821]]=== |
| + | *''[[Psychic Detective Series Vol. 1: Invitation]]'' (1994) | ||
| + | *''[[Psychic Detective Series Vol. 2: Memories]]'' (1994) | ||
*''[[Psychic Detective Series Vol. 3: Aya]]'' (1994) | *''[[Psychic Detective Series Vol. 3: Aya]]'' (1994) | ||
| − | + | *''[[Psychic Detective Series Vol. 4: Orgel]]'' (1994) | |
| − | + | *''[[Psychic Detective Series Vol. 5: Nightmare]]'' (1994) | |
*''[[Orikku Suburuuueu Eikou e no Kiseki: Ganbarou Koube]]'' (1995) | *''[[Orikku Suburuuueu Eikou e no Kiseki: Ganbarou Koube]]'' (1995) | ||
| Line 35: | Line 49: | ||
*''[[Return to Zork]]'' (1995) | *''[[Return to Zork]]'' (1995) | ||
*''[[Cutey Honey FX]]'' (1995) | *''[[Cutey Honey FX]]'' (1995) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External links== | ||
| + | *[https://www.datawest.co.jp/index.html Official website] (Japanese) | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 21:56, 10 May 2024
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| Data West |
|---|
| Founded: 1984-05-29[1][2] |
| Headquarters: 3-chōme-8-28 Hanatenhigashi, Tsurumi Ward, Osaka 538-0044, Japan[2] |
This short article is in need of work. You can help NEC Retro by adding to it.
Data West Co., Ltd. (データウエスト株式会社), sometimes written as DATAWEST[3], is a Japanese car navigation systems company and former video game publisher and developer.[2] It produced several notable franchises during the 1980s and 1990s, such as the Rayxanber and Psychic Detective series, and are known for their early support of both CD-ROM technology and the FM Towns personal computer.
The company is entirely unrelated to the similarly-named Data East.
Contents
Company
Data West was founded on May 29, 1984 in Tsurumi, Osaka, and officially established two years later on May 26, 1986.[2] The company initially focused on software development, ranging from peripheral firmware, car navigation systems, and video games, while also offering services like 3D graphics creation and professional CD pressing.[4] The studio primarily focused on NEC's platforms (particularly the FM Towns), and was an early embracer of CD-ROM technology. It also experimented in more obscure platforms, releasing software for both the PC-FX and LaserActive. Data West was even one of the earliest developers to adopt JPEG technology, with the compression prominently featured in the Psychic Detective Series.
The majority of the company's soundtracks were composed by their in-house composer, guitarist Yasuhito Saito. Known for his jazzy style of video game rock, and occasionally drawing inspiration from diverse genres like hip-hop and latin, his music was and continues to be one of Data West's most well-remembered legacies.
DAPS
Introduced in 1990, DAPS (DATAWEST ACTIVE PICTURE SYSTEM) is a graphics streaming technology developed by Data West to address issues of slow load times with early CD-ROM hardware. Reportedly, the technology works by efficiently loading upcoming graphic data during animated scenes to ensure a seamless viewing experience.[5]
DCCS
DCCS (DATAWEST COMPATIBLE CD SYSTEM) was introduced in 1993, and allows for game CD-ROMs to be played on multiple platforms. For example, Psychic Detective Series Vol. 4: Orgel features the same CD-ROM for both the FM Towns and PC-9821 version, and is able to be used in either system. However, each game's accompanying Key-Disk (a 3.5" floppy disk) is platform-specific, with the company selling additional Key-Disks to customers through mail-order.[6]
Softography
CD-ROM²
- Gulclight TDF 2 (1991)
- Rayxanber II (1991)
Super CD-ROM²
- Rayxanber II (1992)
- Psychic Detective Series Vol. 3: Aya (1992)
- Psychic Detective Series Vol. 4: Orgel (1993)
LD-ROM²
PC-9821
- Psychic Detective Series Vol. 1: Invitation (1994)
- Psychic Detective Series Vol. 2: Memories (1994)
- Psychic Detective Series Vol. 3: Aya (1994)
- Psychic Detective Series Vol. 4: Orgel (1994)
- Psychic Detective Series Vol. 5: Nightmare (1994)
- Orikku Suburuuueu Eikou e no Kiseki: Ganbarou Koube (1995)
PC-FX
- Return to Zork (1995)
- Cutey Honey FX (1995)
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
References
 Sega Retro has more information related to Data West
|
- ↑ http://www.datawest.co.jp/gyom_gai.html (Wayback Machine: 1999-10-21 21:38)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://www.datawest.co.jp/company.html (Wayback Machine: 2023-12-01 09:02)
- ↑ Datawest logo.svg
- ↑ http://www.datawest.co.jp/gyom_ma.html (Wayback Machine: 1998-12-03 14:26)
- ↑ https://towerofclassicgame.com/pds_clm01#toc15 (Wayback Machine: 2023-12-29 04:34)
- ↑ https://towerofclassicgame.com/pds_clm01#toc17 (Wayback Machine: 2023-12-29 04:34)