Mitchell Corporation

{{Short description|Defunct Japanese video game developer}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Mitchell Co., Ltd.

| native_name = 株式会社ミッチェル

| native_name_lang = ja

| romanized_name = Mitchell Co., Ltd.

| logo = File:Mitchell-Corporation-logo.gif

| logo_size =

| logo_alt = Mitchell Corporation

| logo_caption =

| logo_padding =

| type =

| founded = {{start date and age|1960|02|01}}

| founder =

| defunct = {{start date and age|2012|11|20}}

| fate = All research and development ceased

| hq_location = Suginami

| hq_location_city = Tokyo

| hq_location_country = Japan

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Roy Ozaki (CEO)|Koichi Niida (Director)|Nishimura Shin (Director)}}

| industry = Video games

| products = Arcade games, video games, software development

| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://mitchell.jp http://www.mitchell.jp]

}}

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.

Mitchell Corporation developed titles for home consoles, handhelds, Japanese mobile phones, the arcade{{cite web |title=CAESAR - Game Search Results |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/game_search.php?desc=&desc_match=begins&manu=Mitchell&manu_match=contains&year=&year_match=begins |website=caesar.logiqx.com}} 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.

History

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 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.

Company activity was suspended on 20 November 2012.{{cite web |title=Notice that company activity has been suspended |url=http://www.mitchell.jp/recruit/recruit.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214161712/http://mitchell.jp/recruit/recruit.htm |archivedate=February 14, 2015 |accessdate=2015-11-22 |publisher=Mitchell.jp}}

= Since 2012 =

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.{{Cite web |date=2014-09-22 |title=Mitchell Corp Is Keen To Bring Strider's Spiritual Sequel To Home Formats |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/09/mitchell_corp_is_keen_to_bring_striders_spiritual_sequel_to_home_formats |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}

In 2016 a new game using the Pang license was released, only outside Japan, by DotEmu on modern platforms,{{Cite web |title="PANG ADVENTURES IS NOW AVAILABLE ON CONSOLE, PC, AND MOBILE!" - Games Press |url=https://www.gamespress.com/PANG-ADVENTURES-IS-NOW-AVAILABLE-ON-CONSOLE-PC-AND-MOBILE |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=www.gamespress.com}} 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{{Cite web |title=ININ {{!}} Cannon Dancer |url=https://www.iningames.com/games/cannon-dancer-en |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=www.iningames.com}} for modern platforms, citing a 2022 copyright date for Mitchell Corporation.{{Cite web |title=Cannon Dancer – Osman |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Cannon-Dancer-Osman-2313664.html |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Nintendo of Europe GmbH |language=en-GB}}

Games

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
Game

! Release date

! Genre(s)

! Platform

Gyoretsu Nageloop (Tokyo Crash Mobs)

| 2012-08-08 {{cite web|url=http://www.mitchell.jp |title=mitchell.jp |publisher=mitchell.jp |accessdate=2015-11-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214115703/http://mitchell.jp/index.htm |archivedate=February 14, 2015 }}

| Puzzle (Toss)

| Nintendo 3DS eShop

Wii Remote Plus Variety (Wii Play: Motion) [Treasure Twirl and Unicycle mini-games]

| 2011-07-07 {{cite web|url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/wiiplaymotion/0/0 |title=Iwata Asks |publisher=Iwataasks.nintendo.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22}}

| Action

| Nintendo Wii

Pang: Magical Michael

| 2010-09-17Pang: Magical Michael

| Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery)

| Nintendo DS

Chotto Sūjin Taisen (Number Battle, Sujin Taisen: Number Battles)

| 2009-01-28 {{cite web|url=http://www.cubed3.com/news/13208/1/interview-mitchell-talks-sujin-taisen-nintendo-dsiware.html |title=Interview | Mitchell Talks Sujin Taisen (Nintendo DSiWare) |publisher=Cubed3 |date=2009-10-25 |accessdate=2015-11-22}}

| Tabletop, Puzzle, Strategy

| Nintendo DSiWare

Kakonde Keshite Wakugumi no Jikan (Wakugumi: Monochrome Puzzle)

| 2009-04-01

| Puzzle (Match)

| Nintendo DSiWare

Minna de Puzzloop (Actionloop Twist, Magnetica Twist)

| 2008-04-22

| Puzzle (Toss)

| Nintendo WiiWare

Sūjin Taisen (Number Battle, Sujin Taisen: Number Battles)

| 2007-06-07 {{cite web|url=http://www.mitchell.jp/game/game_consumer_top.htm |title=mitchell.jp |publisher=mitchell.jp |accessdate=2015-11-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022034232/http://mitchell.jp/game/game_consumer_top.htm |archivedate=October 22, 2013 }}

| Tabletop, Puzzle, Strategy

| Nintendo DS

Shunkan Puzzloop (Actionloop, Magnetica)

| 2006-03-02

| Puzzle (Toss)

| Nintendo DS

Tsuukin Hitofude (Polarium Advance)

| 2005-10-13

| Puzzle

| Game Boy Advance

Chokkan Hitofude (Polarium)

| 2004-12-02

| Puzzle

| Nintendo DS

Kono e-Tako (This Good Octopus){{cite web|url=http://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/Kono_e-Tako |title=Kono e-Tako - Arcade Otaku Wiki |publisher=Wiki.arcadeotaku.com |date=2012-03-15 |accessdate=2015-11-22}}

| 2003-11-19 {{cite web|url=http://www.mitchell.jp/game/game_arcade1.htm |title=mitchell.jp |publisher=mitchell.jp |accessdate=2015-11-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022034250/http://mitchell.jp/game/game_arcade1.htm |archivedate=October 22, 2013 }}

| Puzzle (Match)

| Arcade

Gamshara (Daredevil){{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=gamshara |title=CAESAR - Gamshara (10021 Ver.A) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140743/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=gamshara |url-status=dead }}

| 2002-08

| Shooter (Gallery)

| Arcade

Janpai Puzzle Choukou (Yangtze River Mahjong Tile Puzzle) {{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=choko |title=CAESAR - Janpai Puzzle Choukou (Japan 010820) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140751/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=choko |url-status=dead }}

| 2001-11

| Tabletop, Puzzle (Match), Mature

| Arcade

Puzz Loop 2{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=pzloop2j |title=CAESAR - Puzz Loop 2 (Japan 010205) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140747/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=pzloop2j |url-status=dead }}

| 2001-02

| Puzzle (Toss)

| Arcade

Mighty! Pang{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=mpangj |title=CAESAR - Mighty! Pang (Japan 001011) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140739/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=mpangj |url-status=dead }}

| 2000-11

| Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery)

| Arcade

Ballistic

| 2000-10-12

| Puzzle (Toss)

| Game Boy Color

Ballistic

| 2000-03-16

| Puzzle (Toss)

| PlayStation

Ballistic

| 2000 (unreleased){{cite web|url=http://www.neo-geo.com/pocket/ |title=NGPC Masterlist | complete NGPC list | |publisher=Neo-geo.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22}}

| Puzzle (Toss)

| NeoGeo Pocket Color

Ballistic

| 2000

| Puzzle (Toss)

| Nuon

Puzz Loop{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=puzzloopj |title=CAESAR - Puzz Loop (Japan) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140728/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=puzzloopj |url-status=dead }}

| 1998-12

| Puzzle (Toss)

| Arcade

Buster Bros. Collection

| 1997-03-14 {{cite web |url=http://ks23364.kimsufi.com/psxdata/databasepsx/games/J/S/SLPS-00360.html |title=Super Pang Collection - (NTSC-J) |accessdate=2013-05-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130629143345/http://ks23364.kimsufi.com/psxdata/databasepsx/games/J/S/SLPS-00360.html |archivedate=2013-06-29 }}

| Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery)

| PlayStation

Sankokushi (Three Engraved Intentions){{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=3kokushi |title=CAESAR - Sankokushi (Japan) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122135217/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=3kokushi |url-status=dead }}

| 1996-08

| Tabletop, Puzzle, Match, Mature

| Arcade

Osman (Cannon Dancer){{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=osman |title=CAESAR - Osman (World) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140734/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=osman |url-status=dead }}

| 1996-02

| Platform, Fighting (Scrolling)

| Arcade

Sotsugyo Shousho (Diploma){{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=sotsugyo |title=CAESAR - Sotsugyo Shousho |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140736/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=sotsugyo |url-status=dead }}

| 1995-11

| Mini-Games

| Arcade

Pang! 3{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=pang3j |title=CAESAR - Pang! 3: Kaitou Tachi no Karei na Gogo (Japan 950511) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122135215/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=pang3j |url-status=dead }}

| 1995-06

| Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery)

| Arcade

Ganbare! Gonta!! 2 (Party Time: Gonta the Diver II){{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=prtytime |title=CAESAR - Party Time: Gonta the Diver II / Ganbare! Gonta!! 2 (World Release) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140732/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=prtytime |url-status=dead }}

| 1995-05 {{cite web|url=http://www.mitchell.jp/game/game_arcade2.htm |title=mitchell.jp |publisher=mitchell.jp |accessdate=2015-11-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022034255/http://mitchell.jp/game/game_arcade2.htm |archivedate=October 22, 2013 }}

| Puzzle, Mature

| Arcade

Charlie Ninja{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=charlien |title=CAESAR - Charlie Ninja |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140753/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=charlien |url-status=dead }}

| 1995

| Platform, Shooter (Scrolling)

| Arcade

Mirage Youjuu Mahjongden (Demon Mirage Mahjong){{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=mirage |title=CAESAR - Mirage Youjuu Mahjongden (Japan) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140726/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=mirage |url-status=dead }}

| 1994-05

| Tabletop, Mahjong, Mature

| Arcade

Super-X [developed by Dooyong (Korea); licensed from NTC]{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=superxm |title=CAESAR - Super-X (Mitchell) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140730/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=superxm |url-status=dead }}

| 1994

| Shooter (Flying Vertical)

| Arcade

Double Wings{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=dblewing |title=CAESAR - Double Wings |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140749/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=dblewing |url-status=dead }}

| 1993-12

| Shooter (Flying Vertical)

| Arcade

Moeyo Gonta!! (Lady Killer) [licensed from Yanyaka]{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=ladykill |title=CAESAR - Lady Killer |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140755/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=ladykill |url-status=dead }}

| 1993-12

| Puzzle, Mature

| Arcade

Chatan Yarakuu Shanku (The Karate Tournament){{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=karatour |title=CAESAR - Karate Tournament, The |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2016-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119062017/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=karatour |url-status=dead }}

| 1992-12

| Fighting (Versus)

| Arcade

Funky Jet [licensed from Data East]{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=funkyjet |title=CAESAR - Funky Jet (World) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140722/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=funkyjet |url-status=dead }}

| 1992-07

| Platform, Fighting

| Arcade

Pang Pom's [licensed from Metro]{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=pangpomsm |title=CAESAR - Pang Pom's (Mitchell) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140745/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=pangpomsm |url-status=dead }}

| 1992

| Platform, Puzzle

| Arcade

Super Buster Bros.

| 1992-08 Super Buster Bros

| Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery)

| Super NES

Mahjong Ikaga Desu ka (Mahjong How Are You){{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=mjikaga |title=CAESAR - Mahjong Ikaga Desu ka (Japan) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140724/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=mjikaga |url-status=dead }}

| 1991?

| Tabletop, Mahjong, Mature

| Arcade

Super Buster Bros.{{cite web |url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=spang |title=CAESAR - Super Pang (World 900914) |publisher=Caesar.logiqx.com |date= |accessdate=2015-11-22 |archive-date=2015-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122140741/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=spang |url-status=dead }}

| 1990-11

| Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery)

| Arcade

Buster Bros.{{cite web|url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=pompingw|title=CAESAR - Pomping World (Japan)|website=caesar.logiqx.com|access-date=2013-05-29|archive-date=2015-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518031425/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=pompingw|url-status=dead}}

| 1989-11

| Platform, Puzzle, Shooter (Gallery)

| Arcade

Mad Motor{{cite web|url=http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=madmotor|title=CAESAR - Mad Motor|website=caesar.logiqx.com|access-date=2013-05-29|archive-date=2015-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518032548/http://caesar.logiqx.com/php/emulator_game.php?id=mame&game=madmotor|url-status=dead}}

| 1989

| Fighting (2.5D)

| Arcade

Poker Ladies{{cite web |last1=Jonas |first1=Matt |title=[NSFW] Poker Ladies (ARC) |url=https://gamecola.net/2011/03/poker-ladies-arc-nsfw/ |website=GameCola |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518101903/https://gamecola.net/2011/03/poker-ladies-arc-nsfw/ |archive-date=May 18, 2011 |date=March 16, 2011 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|title =Sex & Web |date =October 1999 |url =https://archive.org/details/NextGamer2/page/n119/mode/2up |magazine =Next Gamer |publisher =Next Publishing s.r.l. |last =Ortolani |first =Mauro |issue =2 |pages =120–124|language=Italian}}

| 1989

| Casino, Mature

| Arcade

References

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}