dB-SOFT

dB-SOFT Inc.
Joint-stock company
Industry Video game industry, Information technology
Fate Merged into NetFarm Communications
Successor NetFarm Communications
Founded May 2, 1980 (1980-05-02)
Founder Sadayuki Furuya
Defunct 2001
Headquarters Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Products Video games

dB-SOFT Inc. (デービーソフト株式会社) was a Japanese software development company that was in business from 1980 to 2003 based in Sapporo, Hokkaido. They started as a video game developer, releasing titles for various home computer platforms (including the Family Computer), but subsequently left the gaming business to focus solely on programming software and tools as they entered the 1990s.[1][2]

History

The company was founded on May 2, 1980 under the name Computer Land Hokkaido, publishing video games for various home computers under the "7 Turkey" brand name.[3] In 1984, they officially changed their name to dB-SOFT, taking their new name from the decibel (dB) unit.

Some of the company's most commercially successful video games include Flappy (which has been released in over 20 versions) and Woody Poko. dB-SOFT also published two pornographic games under the Macademia Soft imprint: Macadam and 177 (the latter was banned from retail by the National Diet due to its controversial premise in which the player's objective is to pursue and rape a fleeting woman). In addition to gaming software, dB-SOFT also produced programming tools such as dB-BASIC (a BASIC compiler), P1.EXE (a word processor) and HOTALL (a web designing tool).

On August 1, 2001, dB-SOFT ceased operation after being merged into NetFarm Communications (a company founded by Reiko Furuya, Sadayaki Furuya's wife). Their former office building was sold off in 2002.

Softography

Video games
Title Year Platforms
Flappy 1983 Family Computer, FM-7, MSX, NEC PC-6001, NEC PC-8801, Sharp MZ, Sharp X1
Volguard 1984 NEC PC-8801
Zunō Senkan Garu (stylized as GALG) 1985 Family Computer
Laptick 1985 PC-8801, PC-8001 Mk. II SR, X1, FM77AV
Volguard II 1985 Family Computer
Laptick II 1986 MSX
Layla 1986 Family Computer
Woody Poko 1987 Family Computer
Tetsudō Ō 1987 Family Computer, MSX2, FM77AV

Notes

  1. "dB-SOFT". Universal Videogame List. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  2. "dB-SOFT". GameFAQs. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  3. Sasaki, Jun (2013). Hachijū Nendai Maikon Daihyakka 80年代マイコン大百科 [Encyclopedia of '80's Micro Computers] (in Japanese). Japan: Sogo Kagaku Publishing. ISBN 978-4-88181-832-9.

References

External links


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