video game publisher A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that have been developed either internally by the publisher or externally by a video game developer. They often finance the development, sometimes by paying a video game developer ( ...

Suginami, Tokyo is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. The ward refers to itself as Suginami City in English. As of June 1, 2022, Suginami has an estimated population of 588,354 and a population density of 17,274 persons per km2. The total area is 34.06 km2 ...

Air Buster is a 1990 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Kaneko. It was published by Namco in Japan and Sharp Image Electronics in North America (licensed from Namco). Two players control the "Blaster Fighter" star ships in thei ...

Gals Panic , stylized as KANEJapanese

arcade Arcade most often refers to: * Arcade game, a coin-operated game machine ** Arcade cabinet, housing which holds an arcade game's hardware ** Arcade system board, a standardized printed circuit board * Amusement arcade, a place with arcade games * ...

in 2002.

History

The company began business as developer, manufacturer, vendor, trader of electronic machines, and manufacturing medical equipment. In 1982, it began its video game business as a developer of Taito Corporation's video games. In 1990, Kaneko began to make its own video game under the KANEKO brand. In Summer 1994, Kaneko closed its US branch and cancelled game projects such as '' Fido Dido'' and ''

Socks the Cat Rocks the Hill ''Socks the Cat Rocks the Hill'' is a platform game, platform video game developed by Realtime Associates for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game stars Socks (cat), Socks, the real-life United States presidential pets, presidential ...

''. In April 2000, Kaneko went through financial restructuring, and exited video game business except for maintenance department. The company was moved to Shibuya, Tokyo. On July 25, 2001, Kaneko filed a lawsuit against Hitachi Software Engineering over the Super Kaneko NOVA System arcade board, and demanded 1.52 billion yen for damages. On August 12, 2004, Kaneko filed for bankruptcy. However, the company's founder, Hiroshi Kaneko, vowed to continue. In 2006, a

civil Civil may refer to: *Civic virtue, or civility *Civil action, or lawsuit * Civil affairs *Civil and political rights *Civil disobedience *Civil engineering *Civil (journalism), a platform for independent journalism *Civilian, someone not a membe ...

lawsuit threatened to officially close the company. the fate of the company is unknown, though assumed no longer existent.

List of games

Arcade

*''

Air Buster is a 1990 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Kaneko. It was published by Namco in Japan and Sharp Image Electronics in North America (licensed from Namco). Two players control the "Blaster Fighter" star ships in thei ...

'' (1990) *'' B.Rap Boys'' (1992) *''

Blood Warrior ''Blood Warrior'', known in Japan as , is a 1993 fighting arcade game developed by Atop and published by Kaneko. It is the successor to the 1992 fighting arcade game, '' Shogun Warriors'', also developed by Atop and published by Kaneko. Unlike ...

'' (1994) *'' Boggy '84'' (1983) *'' Bonk's Adventure'' (1994, arcade version ''PC Genjin'' in Japan and ''B.C. Kid'' in Europe) *'' Cyvern: The Dragon Weapons'' (1998) *'' DJ Boy'' (1989, licensed by Sammy in America, Sega in Japan) *'' Dr. Topple's Adventure'' (1987, co-developed by Taito) *'' Explosive Breaker'' (1992, ''Bakuretsu Breaker'' in Japan) *'' Fighting Roller'' (1983, published and distributed by Williams as ''Roller Aces'' in the US) *'' Fly Boy'' (1982, published and distributed by

Atari, Inc. Atari, Inc. was an American video game developer and home computer company founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. Atari was a key player in the formation of the video arcade and video game industry. Based primarily around the Sunny ...

as ''Fast Freddie'' in the US) *''

Gals Panic , stylized as KANEJapanese

Gals Panic II'' (1993) *'' Gals Panic 3'' (1995) *'' Gals Panic 4'' (1996) *'' Gals Panic S Extra Edition'' (1997) *'' Gals Panic S2'' (1999) *'' Gals Panic S3'' (2002, Japan-exclusive) *'' Go Go Mr. Yamaguchi'' (1985, licensed by Taito) *'' Great 1000 Miles Rally'' (1994) *'' Great 1000 Miles Rally 2'' (1995) *'' Guts'n'' (2000, developed by Kouyousha) *'' Heavy Unit'' (1988) *'' Jan Jan Paradise'' (1996, developed by Electro Design) *'' Jan Jan Paradise 2'' (1997, developed by Electro Design) *'' Jump Coaster'' (1983) *''Lady Master Of Kung Fu'' (1985, published by Taito) *'' Kabuki Z'' (1988, published by Taito) *'' Kageki'' (1988, published and distributed by

Romstar Romstar Inc. was a video game distribution company based in Torrance, California that started operations in 1984. They originally started as the first American distribution arm for SNK (before SNK of America was founded in 1987). They were known ...

in the US) *'' Prebillian'' (1986, co-developed by Taito) *''Samurai Nipponichi'' (1985, published and distributed by Magic Electronics as ''Samurai'' in the US) *'' Red Clash'' (1981, distributed by Tecmo) *'' Tel Jan'' (developed by Electro Design) *'' The Berlin Wall'' (1991) *'' The Kung-Fu Master Jackie Chan'' (1995) *''Magical Crystals'' *''Panic Street'' * (1998, developed by Kouyousha) *''Sengeki Striker'' (1997, co-developed by Warashi) *'' Shogun Warriors'' (1992) *'' Super Qix'' (published and distributed by

Romstar Romstar Inc. was a video game distribution company based in Torrance, California that started operations in 1984. They originally started as the first American distribution arm for SNK (before SNK of America was founded in 1987). They were known ...

in the US, co-developed by Taito) *''VS Block Breaker'' (''Saru Kani Hamu Zou'' in Japan) *''Vs. Gong Fight'' / ''Ring Fighter'' (1984) *''Vs. Hot Smash'' (1987, co-developed by Taito) *'' VS Mahjong Otomeryouran'' (developed by Electro Design)

Game Boy

* (Game Boy version of the MSX game by Nippon Columbia)

MSX

*''Boggy '84'' (1984) (developed by Nippon Columbia) *''Jump Coaster'' (1984) (developed by Nippon Columbia)

NEC PC-9801

*''GalPani'' (1995) (developed by Creo I) *''GalPani II'' (1996) (developed by Mycom)

PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16

*''

Air Buster is a 1990 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Kaneko. It was published by Namco in Japan and Sharp Image Electronics in North America (licensed from Namco). Two players control the "Blaster Fighter" star ships in thei ...

'' (1990, developed by Inter State, published by Hudson Soft as ''Aero Blasters'') *'' Heavy Unit'' (1989, developed by Inter State, published by Taito) *'' Nexzr'' (1992, developed by Inter State and published by Naxat-Soft, followed up by an expanded re-release in 1993 as ''Summer Carnival '93: Nexzr Special'') *'' Star Parodier'' (1992, developed by Inter State, published by Hudson Soft) *'' Super Star Soldier'' (1990, developed by Inter State, published by Hudson Soft)

PlayStation

*''Hiza no Ue no Partner: Kitty on Your Lap'' (1998) *''Silhouette Stories'' (1996) *''Zen-Nihon GT Senshuken Kai'' (1996) *''Zen-Nihon GT Senshuken Max-Rev'' (1997)

Sega Game Gear

*''Berlin No Kabe'' (1991) (developed by Inter-State)

Sega Genesis

*''

Air Buster is a 1990 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Kaneko. It was published by Namco in Japan and Sharp Image Electronics in North America (licensed from Namco). Two players control the "Blaster Fighter" star ships in thei ...

'' (1991, a.k.a. ''Aero Blasters'' in Japan, developed by Inter State) *'' Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool'' (1993, developed by System Vision) *'' Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest'' (1993, developed by Kaneko USA) *'' Deadly Athlete'' (known outside Japan as ''Power Moves'' for the

Super NES The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in ...

and ''Deadly Moves'' for the Sega Genesis) *'' DJ Boy'' (1990, developed by Inter State) *'' Heavy Unit: MD Special'' (1991, developed by Funari and published by Toho) *''Kageki: Fists Of Steel'' (1991, developed by Sage's Creation) *'' Wani Wani World'' (1992, developed by Inter State)

Sega Saturn

*'' Gals Panic SS'' (1996)

Sharp X68000

*''Hishouzame'' / ''Flying Shark'' (1991) *''Kyukyoku Tiger'' / ''Twin Cobra'' (1993)

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

*'' Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool'' (1992, developed by System Vision) *'' Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest'' (1994, developed by Kaneko USA) *'' Power Athlete'' (known outside Japan as ''Power Moves'' for the

Super NES The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in ...

and ''Deadly Moves'' for the Sega Genesis) *''Zen-Nihon GT Senshuken: Hyper Battle Game'' (1995) (co-developed by C.P. Brain and published by Banpresto)

Unreleased games

*''

Air Buster is a 1990 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Kaneko. It was published by Namco in Japan and Sharp Image Electronics in North America (licensed from Namco). Two players control the "Blaster Fighter" star ships in thei ...

'' (1994) (Sharp X68000) *''Asuka 120% Burning Fest. Limited'' (1998) (Arcade) (developed by Fill-In-Cafe) *'' Battle Smash'' (1992) (Sega Genesis) *''Bonk's Adventure AC Version'' (PC-Engine) *''DOX-Q'' (1990) (Arcade) *'' Fido Dido'' (1994) (Super NES/Sega Genesis) (developed by Tweeny Weeny Games) *''Gals Panic 3D'' (1997) (Arcade) *''Gals Panic II'' (1994) (Super NES) *''Jump Kun'' (1983) (Arcade) *'' Pack'n Bang Bang'' (1994) (Arcade) *'' Poco Secret Flower'' (2000) (Arcade) (developed by CAVE) *'' Rainbow Chips'' (1991) (Game Boy) (developed by Inter-State) *'' Same! Same! Same!'' / ''Fire Shark'' in overseas (1994) (Sharp X68000) *''

Socks the Cat Rocks the Hill ''Socks the Cat Rocks the Hill'' is a platform game, platform video game developed by Realtime Associates for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game stars Socks (cat), Socks, the real-life United States presidential pets, presidential ...

'' (1993) (Super NES/Sega Genesis) (developed by Realtime Associates) *'' Speed Dive'' (1997) (Arcade) *''Super Gals Panic'' (1994?) (Sega CD) *'' Tatsujin'' / ''Truxton'' (1994) (Sharp X68000) *''Tenkū Retsuden Musashi'' (1992) (Sega Genesis) (unreleased port of ''Kabuki Z'') *'' The Berlin Wall'' (1991) (Sega Genesis, rumored that it got reskinned to ''Wani Wani World'') *''The Soda Kids'' (1994) *''Yuta Buta Man-P'' (1999) (Arcade) (developed by CAVE)

References

External links

Former KANEKO page
{{in lang, ja
Kaneko AX System arcade hardware (16-bit) at UVListKaneko AX System at coinop.orgKaneko Gals Panic Arcade at UVListKaneko Super Nova System at Arcade Otaku wikiKaneko Super Nova System at System16Super Kaneko Nova System at UVListSuper Kaneko NOVA System at coinop.org
Amusement companies of Japan Defunct video game companies of Japan Video game development companies Video game publishers