AQ Interactive, Inc. was a Japanese

video game developer A video game developer is a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large business with em ...

and

publisher Publishing is the activities of making information, literature, music, software, and other content, physical or digital, available to the public for sale or free of charge. Traditionally, the term publishing refers to the creation and distribu ...

. AQ stands for Artistic Quality. It was the parent company of the developers

Artoon Artoon Co., Ltd. (株式会社アートゥーン Kabushiki-Gaisha Ātūn) was a Japanese video game developer established in 1999. It became a subsidiary of AQ Interactive in May 2004 and became a wholly owned subsidiary in June 2005. The team w ...

Cavia ''Cavia'' is a genus in the subfamily Caviinae that contains the rodents commonly known as the guinea pigs or cavies. The best-known species in this genus is the domestic guinea pig, ''Cavia porcellus'', a meat animal in South America and a com ...

and

feelplus Feelplus Inc. (株式会社フィールプラス Kabushiki gaisha Fiirupurasu) was a Japanese video game developer and a subsidiary of AQ Interactive. The studio was conceived by Microsoft Game Studios specifically to aid Mistwalker in video g ...

, and most recently the U.S. publisher Xseed Games. AQ Interactive and its subsidiaries produced games both under the AQ Interactive name, as well as developing for other publishers such as

Microsoft Studios Xbox Game Studios (previously known as Microsoft Studios, Microsoft Game Studios, and Microsoft Games) is an American video game publisher based in Redmond, Washington. It was established in March 2000, spun out from an internal Games Group, fo ...

(now Xbox Game Studios) and

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and releases both video games and video game consoles. The history of Nintendo began when craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi ...

History

AQ Interactive was founded on October 1, 2005, when Cavia, established on March 1, 2000, changed its name and became a

holding company A holding company is a company whose primary business is holding a controlling interest in the Security (finance), securities of other companies. A holding company usually does not produce goods or services itself. Its purpose is to own Share ...

responsible for the management of subsidiary companies as well as sales and promotion of video game software. The old company's game planning & development business became Cavia Inc. which remained a subsidiary of AQI, until July 2010, when Cavia was re-absorbed as a part of AQI. It published its first game in November 2005, the

Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...

launch title '' Tetris: The Grand Master ACE''. On March 12, 2009, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced relocating its headquarters to

Shinagawa, Tokyo is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in the Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. The Ward refers to itself as Shinagawa City in English. The Ward is home to ten embassies. , the Ward had an estimated population of 380,293 and a population d ...

, between June and August 2009. On March 26, 2009, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced the establishment of its mobile contents and overseas business divisions, effective on April 1, 2009. In August 2010, AQ Interactive merged and relocated the

web sites into a single AQI Development product page. On March 31, 2011, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced merging its software and amusement business departments into consumer business department. On June 23, 2011, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced its merger with

Marvelous Entertainment (MMV) was a multinational corporation that produced animation, music, video games and television series. MMV is known for its involvement in the Story of Seasons (series), ''Story of Seasons'' series. They merged with AQ Interactive in 2011 an ...

and Liveware, effective on October 1, 2011.

Subsidiaries

* XSEED JKS, Inc.: On May 15, 2007, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced the acquisition of XSEED JKS, Inc., with share transfer before June 2007. On May 1, 2009, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced increasing its stake of XSEED JKS, Inc. from 55.0% (486636 shares) to 90.0% (766859 shares) on the day of announcement. *LINKTHINK Inc. (株式会社リンクシンク): On April 16, 2009, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced the acquisition of LINKTHINK Inc., effective on April 16, 2009. AQ Interactive, Inc. would own 66.8% stake (1030 shares) of the subsidiary. On November 6, 2009, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced increasing its stake of LINKTHINK Inc. to 100% (1540 shares).

Former subsidiaries

Microcabin , sometimes written as Micro Cabin, is a Japan-based video game developer and publisher incorporated in 1982, which grew from the Ōyachi Electrics Microcomputer Club. Known for their ''Xak'' series and its spinoff ''Fray in Magical Adventure'', ...

Corporation (株式会社マイクロキャビン): On 2008-05-09, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced the acquisition of Microcabin Corporation via share purchase, with trade on May 16, 2008. On January 14, 2011, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced selling its 85% stake (312704 shares) of Microcabin Corporation to Fields Corporation (フィールズ株式会社), and Microcabin Corporation became a consolidated subsidiary of Fields Corporation.マイクロキャビンをパチンコ機販売のフィールズが子会社化
/ref> *

Inc. (株式会社フィールプラス): A carryover subsidiary of cavia inc. On April 28, 2011, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced merging feelplus Inc. into AQ Interactive, Inc., effective on August 1, 2011.子会社株式の追加取得に関するお知らせ
/ref> * Cavia Inc. (株式会社キャビア): On April 28, 2011, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced merging Cavia Inc. into AQ Interactive, Inc., effective on August 1, 2011. *

(株式会社アートゥーン): On April 28, 2011, AQ Interactive, Inc. announced merging Artoon into AQ Interactive, Inc., effective on August 1, 2011.

Released games

The following are games developed and/or published by AQ Interactive.

Arcade

*'' Pokémon Battrio'' (2007): Fighting *''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Jong'' (''

Higurashi When They Cry is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft visual novel series produced by 07th Expansion that comprises the first two entries of the ''When They Cry'' franchise. The series focuses on a group of young friends living in the fic ...

'' characters mahjong video game) (2009) :

Mahjong Mahjong (English pronunciation: ; also transliterated as mah jongg, mah-jongg, and mahjongg) is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. It is played ...

*''Touch the Numbers'' (TBA) *''Cubemall'':

UFO catcher A claw machine is a type of arcade game. Modern claw machines are upright cabinets with glass boxes that are lit from the inside and have a joystick-controlled claw at the top, which is coin-operated and positioned over a pile of prizes, dropped ...

*''Minna de Derby'':

Horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

PlayStation 2

*''

Love Com is a Japanese romantic comedy manga series written and illustrated by Aya Nakahara. It was published by Shueisha in ''Bessatsu Margaret'' from 2001 to 2007, with its chapters collected in 17 volumes. The series is about the romance betwe ...

'' (2006):

Adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

*'' Driver: Parallel Lines'' (Japanese version) (2006):

Action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

*''

Arcana Heart is a 2D arcade game, arcade fighting game series developed by Team Arcana (originally co-owned with its former parent company Examu). The first edition was released to arcades (mostly in Japan, but a few in other countries) in late 2007. The g ...

'' (2007): Fighting *''Suggoi! Arcana Heart 2'' (2009): Fighting

PlayStation 3

*'' Vampire Rain: Altered Species'' (2008):

Action-adventure An action-adventure game is a video game genre, video game hybrid genre that combines core elements from both the action game and adventure game genres. Definition An action adventure game can be defined as a game with a mix of elements f ...

Stealth Stealth may refer to: Military *Stealth technology, technology used to conceal ships, aircraft, and missiles **Stealth aircraft, aircraft which use stealth technology ** Stealth ground vehicle, ground vehicles which use stealth technology ** Ste ...

PlayStation Portable

*''Jitsuroku Oniyome Nikki'' (2006):

*''Anata wo Yurusanai'' (2007): Sound novel *''Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Jan'' (2009):

*'' CR Hana no Keiji Zan'' (Cancelled):

Pachinko is a mechanical game originating in Japan that is used as an arcade game, and much more frequently for gambling. Pachinko fills a niche in Gambling in Japan, Japanese gambling comparable to that of the slot machine in the West as a form of l ...

simulator

Wii

*'' Victorious Boxers: Revolution'' (2007): Fighting *'' The World of Golden Eggs: Nori Nori Rhythm-kei'' (2008): Rhythm action *'' Ju-on: The Grudge'' (2009):

Survival horror Survival horror is a Video game genre, subgenre of horror games. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel less in control than in typical action games through limited ammunition or weapons, health, speed, and visio ...

Graphic adventure An adventure game is a video game genre in which the player assumes the role of a protagonist in an Interactive storytelling, interactive story, driven by exploration and/or Puzzle video game, puzzle-solving. The Video game genres, genre's focus ...

*'' Club Penguin: Game Day! (2010): Minigame collection''

Nintendo DS

*'' Boing! Docomodake DS'' (2007):

Puzzle A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together ( or take them apart) in a logical way, in order to find the solution of the puzzle. There are differe ...

* Korg DS-10 (2008): Music synthesizer software *'' Blue Dragon Plus'' (2008):

Tactical role-playing Tactical role-playing game (abbreviated TRPG), also known as strategy role-playing game or (both abbreviated SRPG), is a video game genre that combines core elements of role-playing video games with those of tactical (Turn-based tactics, turn-b ...

*'' Away: Shuffle Dungeon'' (2008):

Role-playing Role-playing or roleplaying is the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role. While the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' offers a definition of role-playing ...

*Korg DS-10 Plus (2009): Music synthesizer software * Korg M01 (2010): Music synthesizer software

Nintendo 3DS

*'' Cubic Ninja'' (2011): Action puzzle

Xbox 360

*'' Tetris: The Grand Master ACE'' (2005):

*'' Tsuushin Taisen Mahjong Touryuumon'' (2006):

*'' Bullet Witch'' (2006):

*'' Vampire Rain'' (2007):

Browser game

*''Browser Sangokushi'' (2009):

Strategy Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία ''stratēgia'', "troop leadership; office of general, command, generalship") is a general plan to achieve one or more long-term or overall goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the " a ...

Simulation A simulation is an imitative representation of a process or system that could exist in the real world. In this broad sense, simulation can often be used interchangeably with model. Sometimes a clear distinction between the two terms is made, in ...

*'' Baka to Test to Shōkanjū for Mixi'' (2010):

Quiz A quiz is a form of mind sport in which people attempt to answer questions correctly on one or several topics. Quizzes can be used as a brief Educational assessment, assessment in education and similar fields to measure growth in knowledge, abil ...

*''Derby Master'' (2010):

*''Browser Baseball'' (2010):

Sports Sport is a physical activity or game, often competitive and organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The number of participants in ...

iPhone

*''Glandarius Wing Strike'' (2009):

Shoot 'em up Shoot 'em ups (also known as shmups or STGs) are a Video game genre, subgenre of action games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain typ ...

Developed games

Wii

*'' The Last Story'' (2011) – co-developed with

Mistwalker is an American and Japanese video game development studio. The company was founded in 2004 by Hironobu Sakaguchi, best known for creating the ''Final Fantasy'' series. The company has created both game franchises such as '' Blue Dragon'' and '' T ...

/ published by

Nintendo 3DS

*''Animal Resort'' (2011) – published by

PlayStation 3

*'' No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise'' (2010) – published by Marvelous Entertainment and

Konami , commonly known as Konami, , is a Japanese multinational entertainment company and video game developer and video game publisher, publisher headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, Chūō, Tokyo. The company also produces and distributes trading card ...

References

External links

* (archived from th
original

profile at

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

LINKTHINK Inc. page
{{Authority control Japanese companies established in 2005 Japanese companies disestablished in 2011 Video game companies established in 2005 Video game companies disestablished in 2011 Software companies based in Tokyo Defunct video game companies of Japan Video game development companies Video game publishers