Epics (company)

is a Japanese video game software developer located in Tokyo, Japan. Originally established as Gen Creative House Co., Ltd. in February 1987, changed company name to G-Artists Inc. in March 1991, then to epics Inc. in June 2006.

Release history

''Nanashi no Game''

is a first-person survival horror video game developed by Epics and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS. The game follows a university student who becomes cursed by the titular role-playing game, which causes people to die in seven days upon starting. It was released on July 3, 2008, in Japan. A sequel, titled ''Nanashi no Game: Me'', was later released on August 27, 2009 in Japan.

Most of the game takes place in the real world, where the player navigates real-time 3D environments using the DS's D-Pad and Touch Screen. While exploring, the player must solve puzzles and reach locations. The player can switch to the TS Menu at any time, where they can play the cursed game, read e-mail messages, and load a previous save file. In many cases, an e-mail message or update to the cursed game will interrupt the player's exploration. In the cursed game, which only uses the top DS screen, the player controls a 2D 8-bit RPG that provides clues to the current situations and can, in some cases, advance the story. The player encounters , zombie-like spirits that roam the area in exploration mode and end the game upon touching the player.

As of September 30, 2008, ''Nanashi no Game'' has sold 60,000 copies in Japan. ''Famitsu'' rated the game 30/40.

Epics developed a sequel, , a survival horror video game for the Nintendo DS. It was published by Square Enix, and released on August 27, 2009 in Japan. The story follows an anthropology student from Nanto University, as he discovers two cursed games, an RPG and a platformer. The game's title refers to the protagonist's left eye, represented by the left screen of the DS when held sideways, which allows the player to see things left (and hidden) by the curse. It sold 15,000 copies on the week of its release.

Much like in the original, ''Nanashi no Game: Me'' involves two separate modes of play. Most of the game takes place in the real world, where the player navigates real-time 3D environments using the DS's D-Pad and Touch Screen. While exploring, the player must solve puzzles and reach locations. The player can switch to the TS Menu at any time, where they can play the cursed game, read e-mail messages, and load a previous save file. In many cases, an e-mail message or update to the cursed game will interrupt the player's exploration. In the cursed game, which only uses the top DS screen, the player controls a 2D 8-bit RPG that provides clues to the current situations and can, in some cases, advance the story. In ''Nanashi no Game: Me'', the player can now choose the locations they want to explore out of the two available for each day (for three days only). Each destination provides different experiences, including the Regrets the player will encounter.

Two spin-off DSiWare titles, named and respectively, have also been released on 9 September 2009. Another sequel, , was released on 26 January 2012 for iOS, and in February 2012 for Android.

References

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Software companies based in Tokyo
Video game development companies
Video game companies established in 1987
Video game companies of Japan
Japanese companies established in 1987