Entertainment Software Publishing
{{Short description|Japanese video game publisher}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox company
| name = {{nowrap|Entertainment Software Publishing, Inc.}}
| logo = Entertainment Software Publishing logo.png
| image = Shibuya-Mark-City-East-01.jpg
| image_alt = A tall glass and concentrate skyscraper
| image_caption = ESP's former headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo
| native_name = 株式会社エンターテインメント ソフトウェア パブリッシング
| native_name_lang = ja
| romanized_name = Kabushiki-gaisha Entāteinmento Sofutō~ea Paburisshingu
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Video games
| fate = Merged with D3 Publisher
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1997|11}}
| key_people = Youichi Miyaji (president)
| defunct = {{End date and age|df=yes|2010|04|01}}
| hq_location_city = Shibuya, Tokyo
| hq_location_country = Japan
| products = {{unbulleted list|Bangai-O series|Grandia|Ikaruga|Radiant Silvergun}}
| parent = {{unbulleted list|Game Arts (2002–2004)|D3 Publisher (2004–2010)}}
| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20090805062620/http://www.esp-web.co.jp|esp-web.co.jp}} (archived)
}}
{{nihongo foot|Entertainment Software Publishing, Inc.|株式会社エンターテインメント ソフトウェア パブリッシング|Kabushiki gaisha Entāteinmento Sofutō~ea Paburisshingu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} (ESP) was a Japanese video game publisher headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. It was founded in 1997 as a publisher for games developed by the Game Developers Network (GD-NET). GD-NET, which included companies such as Treasure and Game Arts, was established due to concerns over smaller developers not having the same financial backing like larger game companies did, as production of console games was beginning to rise. ESP was best known for publishing shoot 'em ups and role-playing games. While primarily a publisher, ESP also developed a handful of games internally.
ESP primarily published games for the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast. When both systems met their demise, the company started shifting operations towards consoles such as the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo DS. ESP was purchased by Game Arts in 2002 and became its publishing division. In 2004, ESP was sold to D3 Publisher, which had noticed ESP's track record and lineup of well-received titles. ESP was merged with D3 Publisher and its parent company, D3 Inc., in 2010.
Many games that were published by ESP, including Grandia, Radiant Silvergun, and the Bangai-O series, have received praise from critics. Several have sold well and have been ranked among the best in their genres. In the past, ESP helped co-publish several Japanese massively multiplayer online video games, and also collaborated with other game companies on various projects.
History
File:Sega-Saturn-JP-Mk2-Console-Set.jpg (pictured above).]]
In the late 1990s in Japan, several Japanese video game developers, including Treasure, Quintet, Sting Entertainment, and Game Arts, joined forces and established Game Developers Network (GD-NET). The purpose of GD-NET was to establish mutual assistance with one another. As the video game market in Japan began growing in size, the costs for developers to produce games for consoles was also rising.{{cite news |title=Japan's Most Talented Developers Join Forces To Publish Own Products |url=https://archive.org/details/GamefanVolume4Issue11November1996ALT/page/n165/mode/2up |access-date=30 May 2020 |agency=GameFan |issue=11 |publisher=DieHard Gamers Club |date=November 1996 |volume=4 |page=164}} Members of GD-NET did not have the same financial backing like larger companies did, and believed that creating healthy relationships between them would increase their chances of surviving the industry landscape of the time.{{cite news |title=Entertainment Software Publishing |url=https://archive.org/stream/gamecriticismvol12december1996600DPIScans/Game%20Criticism%20Vol.%2012%20December%201996#page/n32/mode/2up |access-date=30 May 2020 |agency=Game Criticism |volume=12 |publisher=Micromagazine co. |date=December 1996 |pages=32–35 |language=ja}} Companies under the network proposed a plan that would allow them to focus their resources on game development instead of production and promotion of their titles.{{cite web |title=What's GDNET [ESPとは？] |url=http://www.quintet.co.jp/gd_net.html |publisher=Quintet |access-date=31 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030427175444/http://www.quintet.co.jp/gd_net.html |archive-date=27 April 2003 |language=ja}}
GD-NET members established Entertainment Software Publishing (ESP) in November 1997.{{cite news |title=Newsline – A Grand Enterprise |url=https://archive.org/stream/GameOnMagazine/Game%20On%21%2007%20%281996%29%20Tobal%20No.%201#page/n13/mode/2up |access-date=30 May 2020 |agency=Game On! USA |issue=7 |publisher=Viz Communications |date=November 1997 |volume=1 |page=13}} Youichi Miyaji, the president and CEO of Game Arts, was appointed president of the company. ESP was funded by many game studios, including Japan Art Media, CSK Research Institute, and Onion Soft, as well as most of the companies that were part of GD-NET.{{cite magazine |title=ESP |magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine |issue=13 |publisher=Emap International Limited |date=November 1996 |page=7}}{{cite web |author1=IGN Staff |title=TGS: ESP Blends Action and Adventure |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/03/20/tgs-esp-blends-action-and-adventure |publisher=IGN |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530020419/https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/03/20/tgs-esp-blends-action-and-adventure |archive-date=30 May 2020 |date=19 March 1998}} Additional funding was provided by CSK Holdings, the parent company of Sega.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/04/business/sega-takes-aim-at-disney-s-world.html?pagewanted=3 |title=Sega Takes Aim at Disney's World |work=The New York Times |first=Andrew |last=Pollack |date=4 July 1993 |access-date=7 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526082802/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/04/business/sega-takes-aim-at-disney-s-world.html?pagewanted=3 |archive-date=26 May 2015 |url-status=live |pages=3–1}} GD-NET members would create and produce games, while ESP would handle marketing, sales, and promotion of these games.{{cite web |title=特別講演「伝説のゲームクリエイターに聞く」第4弾を終えて |url=https://www.gamepres.org/2019/08/28/ymiyaji-report/ |website=Game Preservation Society |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203144446/https://www.gamepres.org/2019/08/28/ymiyaji-report/ |archive-date=3 December 2019 |date=28 August 2019}} GD-NET members believed that ESP would allow them to gain more recognition within the industry, as companies such as Sega, Nintendo, and Sony Computer Entertainment would have taken credit for their works when they were published.
One of ESP's first hits was Grandia for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn.{{cite news |author1=Panda |title=Test Saturn – Grandia |url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Consoles%20Plus/consoleplus_numero073/Consoles%20Plus%20N73-Page095.jpg |access-date=8 August 2020 |agency=Consoles Plus |issue=73 |publisher=Éditions Mondiales |date=February 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808214803/http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Consoles%20Plus/consoleplus_numero073/Consoles%20Plus%20N73-Page095.jpg |archive-date=8 August 2020 |pages=94–95 |language=fr |url-status=live}} Developed by Game Arts, Grandia was released in 1997{{cite web |title=[セガハード大百科] セガサターン対応ソフトウェア（ライセンシー発売） |url=https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html |publisher=Sega |access-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728123006/https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html |archive-date=28 July 2019 |language=ja}} to critical acclaim.{{cite web |title=Grandia for PlayStation Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/grandia/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=31 May 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322063544/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation/grandia |archive-date=22 March 2020}} Treasure's Saturn conversion of the arcade game Radiant Silvergun was also released to acclaim for its gameplay and mechanics,{{Cite news |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/radiant-silvergun/ |title=Radiant Silvergun |last=Kalata |first=Kurt |date=4 May 2012 |work=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=25 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326003914/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/radiant-silvergun/ |archive-date=26 March 2018 |url-status=live |language=en-US}} and is cited among the best and most influential shoot'em up games created.{{cite magazine |last1=Cutlack |first1=Gary |date=September 1998 |title=Radiant Silvergun |url=https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_035/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_035_-_september_1998_UK#page/n59/mode/2up |magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) |issue=35 |pages=60–69 |access-date=2020-05-31 |archive-date=2016-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320161059/https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_035/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_035_-_september_1998_UK#page/n59/mode/2up |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/radiant-silvergun-import-review/1900-2534056/ |title=Radiant Silvergun (Import) Review |last1=Mielke |first1=James |date=8 September 1998 |website=GameSpot |access-date=17 March 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603114516/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/radiant-silvergun-import-review/1900-2534056/ |archive-date=3 June 2016}}{{cite magazine |last1=Alway |first1=Robin |date=December 1998 |title=Radiant Silvergun |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0e/Arcade_UK_01.pdf |magazine=Arcade |issue=1 |page=148 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326003914/https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0e/Arcade_UK_01.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2018}} Slayers Royal and its follow-up Slayers Royal 2, both based on the Slayers light novel and anime series, were also commercially successful.{{cite news |title=Sales Charts |agency=Sega Saturn Magazine |issue=35 |date=17 October 1997 |page=14 |language=ja}}
In 1998, Sega discontinued production of the Sega Saturn in Europe and North America amidst poor sales.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/14/business/international-business-sega-enterprises-pulls-its-saturn-video-console-us-market.html?pagewanted=1 |title=Sega Enterprises Pulls Its Saturn Video Console From the U.S. Market |access-date=7 December 2014 |author=Stephanie Strom |work=The New York Times |date=14 March 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430012902/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/14/business/international-business-sega-enterprises-pulls-its-saturn-video-console-us-market.html?pagewanted=1 |archive-date=30 April 2013 |url-status=live}} While the Saturn was still being sold in Japan, Sega largely abandoned the system in favor of the Dreamcast, which it released the same year.{{cite web |url=https://ign.com/articles/2009/04/21/ign-presents-the-history-of-sega?page=6 |author=Fahs, Travis |title=IGN Presents the History of Sega |work=IGN |page=6 |access-date=1 May 2014 |date=21 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306162629/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/04/21/ign-presents-the-history-of-sega?page=6 |archive-date=6 March 2014 |url-status=live}} As such, ESP began to shift its publishing operations from Saturn to Dreamcast and other consoles like the Nintendo 64. It published Bangai-O for the latter console in 1999, which while critically successful was produced in limited quantities out of concern over its niche appeal.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/28/bakuretsu-muteki-bangaio-import-2 |title=Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaio (Import) |last=IGN Staff |date=27 August 1999 |website=IGN |language=en-US |access-date=6 May 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520180741/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/28/bakuretsu-muteki-bangaio-import-2 |archive-date=20 May 2018}}{{Cite magazine |last=Kitts |first=Martin |date=1999 |title=Import Arena: Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaio |url=https://archive.org/details/N64_Magazine_Issue_036_1999_Future_Publishing_GB_christmas_edition |magazine=N64 Magazine |issue=36 |pages=86 }} ESP commonly participated in the Tokyo Game Show and other major video game events in the country, where they regularly presented their more popular titles such as Silhouette Mirage. ESP also began publishing games for the PlayStation 2, which had become the best-selling video game console in Japan and outsold the Dreamcast by a wide margin.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/PlayStationWorld04/page/n5/mode/2up?q=entertainment+software+publishing |title=Chiamatela PlayStation 2! |language=it |trans-title=Call it PlayStation 2! |first=Matteo |last=Camisasca |magazine=PlayStation World |issue=4 |date=October 1999 |publisher=Editoriale Il Faro |page=5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/07/sony-pulls-in-over-250-million-at-launch |title=Sony Pulls in Over $250 Million at Launch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055949/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/07/sony-pulls-in-over-250-million-at-launch |archive-date=21 September 2013 |website=IGN |date=17 June 2012}}{{cite web |title=PlayStation 2 Timeline |publisher=GameSpy |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/february04/PS2timeline/index2.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040604030423/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/february04/ps2timeline/index2.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2004 |access-date=19 December 2007 |pages=2–3}}
In 2002, ESP was acquired by Game Arts and became the latter's publishing division.{{cite web |author1=Tsuchimoto University |title=ディースリー、D3パブリッシャーとESPを吸収合併 |url=https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2010/03/30/1380.html |website=GameBusiness.jp |publisher=IID |access-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801220208/https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2010/03/30/1380.html |archive-date=1 August 2020 |language=ja |date=30 March 2010 |url-status=live}} In 2004, ESP was purchased by D3 Publisher, a Japanese video game studio best known for its Simple series of budget games.{{cite web |last1=Niizumi |first1=Hirohiko |title=D3 Publisher acquires Entertainment Software Publishing |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/d3-publisher-acquires-entertainment-software-publishing/1100-6105800/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530011315/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/d3-publisher-acquires-entertainment-software-publishing/1100-6105800/ |archive-date=30 May 2020 |date=26 August 2004}}{{cite web |last1=Gantayat |first1=Anoop |title=D3 To Purchase ESP |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/08/26/d3-to-purchase-esp |publisher=IGN |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322135926/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/08/26/d3-to-purchase-esp |archive-date=22 March 2016 |date=26 August 2004}} D3 purchased 100% of ESP's stock for a total of 120 million yen. ESP's track record and lineup of commercially successful games was the reason for the acquisition. In addition to publishing other developer's titles for systems like the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS, ESP also began developing its own games such as Hajime no Ippo Portable Victorious Spirits for the PlayStation Portable.{{cite web |author1=Siliconera Staff |title=Hajime no Ippo coming to the PSP too |url=https://www.siliconera.com/hajime-no-ippo-coming-to-the-psp-too/amp/ |website=Siliconera |access-date=31 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531223846/https://www.siliconera.com/hajime-no-ippo-coming-to-the-psp-too/amp/ |archive-date=31 May 2020 |date=17 September 2007}} ESP co-published several Japanese massively multiplayer online games as well.{{cite web |title=Kingdom Under Fire最新Screenshots公開 |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/003/G000368/20010109225710/ |website=4Gamer.net |publisher=Aetas |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618203100/https://www.4gamer.net/games/003/G000368/20010109225710/ |archive-date=18 June 2013 |language=ja |date=9 January 2001}} It announced at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show it would also begin production of games for the PlayStation 3.{{cite web |last1=Niizumi |first1=Hirohiko |last2=Thorsen |first2=Tor |title=TGS 2005: Full Japanese PlayStation 3 lineup revealed |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-2005-full-japanese-playstation-3-lineup-revealed/1100-6133515/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121092628/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-2005-full-japanese-playstation-3-lineup-revealed/1100-6133515/ |archive-date=21 January 2019 |date=2 February 2006 |url-status=live}} In 2008, the company partnered with Treasure, the only remaining GD-NET company to still have working relations with them, to form a publishing project known as "Treasure × ESP".{{cite web |title=Treasure X ESP X D3 |url=https://www.siliconera.com/treasure-x-esp-x-d3/ |website=Siliconera |publisher=Curse, Inc. |access-date=31 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531211643/https://www.siliconera.com/treasure-x-esp-x-d3/ |archive-date=31 May 2020 |date=17 September 2007}} The project lead to ESP publishing Bangai-O Spirits for the DS, a critically successful sequel to Bangai-O.{{Cite web |last=Kalata |first=Kurt |date=25 January 2009 |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bangai-o-spirits/ |title=Bangai-O Spirits |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |language=en-US |access-date=20 May 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520180741/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bangai-o-spirits/ |archive-date=20 May 2018}}
On 1 April 2010, ESP and D3 Publisher were merged into the latter's parent holding company, D3 Inc., wherein both ESP and D3 Publisher were dissolved, while D3 Inc. was renamed D3 Publisher.{{cite web |title=当社は2010年4月1日付で株式会社ディースリーと合併し解散いたしました。 |url=http://www.esp-web.co.jp/ |website=www.esp-web.co.jp |publisher=Entertainment Software Publishing |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923032553/http://www.esp-web.co.jp/ |archive-date=23 September 2010 |language=ja |date=1 April 2010}} The year prior, D3 Inc. had been majority-acquired by Namco Bandai Games.{{cite web |last1=Eisenbeis |first1=Richard |title=Japanese PS2 Budget Games Were an Outlet for Pure Insanity |url=https://kotaku.com/japanese-ps2-budget-games-were-an-outlet-for-pure-insan-1657086438 |website=Kotaku |publisher=Univision Communications |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=7 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513144825/https://kotaku.com/japanese-ps2-budget-games-were-an-outlet-for-pure-insan-1657086438 |archive-date=13 May 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Fahey |first1=Mike |title=Namco Bandai Plans Buyout Of D3 |url=https://kotaku.com/namco-bandai-plans-buyout-of-d3-5152556 |website=Kotaku |publisher=G/O Media |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706190351/https://kotaku.com/namco-bandai-plans-buyout-of-d3-5152556 |archive-date=6 July 2019 |date=12 February 2009}}{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Randy |title=Namco Bandai announces intent to purchase D3 Publisher |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/namco-bandai-announces-intent-to-purchase-d3-publisher/ |website=Joystiq |publisher=AOL |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213231250/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/namco-bandai-announces-intent-to-purchase-d3-publisher/ |archive-date=13 February 2009 |date=12 February 2009}}
Games published
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20081207093449/http://www.esp-web.co.jp/ESP/index.html}} (archived)
{{Bandai Namco Holdings}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Amusement companies of Japan
Category:Defunct video game companies of Japan
Category:Former Bandai Namco Holdings subsidiaries
Category:Japanese companies disestablished in 2010
Category:Japanese companies established in 1997
Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2010