Romstar Inc. was a video game distribution company based in

Torrance, California Torrance is a coastal city in the Los Angeles metropolitan area located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city is part of what is known as the South Bay (Los Angeles County), South Bay region of the metropolitan ...

that started operations in 1984. They originally started as the first American distribution arm for

SNK is a Japanese video gaming and interactive entertainment company. It was founded in 1978 as by Eikichi Kawasaki and began by developing arcade games. SNK is known for its Neo Geo arcade system on which the company established many franchises ...

(before SNK of America was founded in 1987). They were known for licensing arcade games from major makers for distribution. Among Romstar's clients include

Taito is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, Toy, toys, arcade cabinets, and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the importing vodka, Vending machine, vending machines, and Juk ...

Capcom is a Japanese video game company. It has created a number of critically acclaimed and List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil'', ''Monster ...

, SNK,

Toaplan was a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. It was best known for its catalogue of scrolling shooters and other arcade video games. The company was founded in 1979 but its gaming division was established in 1984 by former Orca and Crux ...

, and

Seta In biology, setae (; seta ; ) are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms. Animal setae Protostomes Depending partly on their form and function, protostome setae may be called macrotrichia, chaetae, ...

. They also made games for the

Nintendo Entertainment System The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on 15 July 1983 as the and was later released as the redesigned NES in several test markets in the ...

, the

Super Nintendo Entertainment System The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a Fourth generation of video game consoles, 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in No ...

, and

Game Boy The is a handheld game console developed by Nintendo, launched in the Japanese home market on April 21, 1989, followed by North America later that year and other territories from 1990 onwards. Following the success of the Game & Watch single-ga ...

. The ultimate fate of the company is not known. Games continued to be released using the Romstar name until at least 1994 (Goofy Hoops). It is also partnered with Capcom in 1993 to form Game Star (a.k.a. GameStar Inc.), an electromechanical factory in

Arlington Heights, Illinois Arlington Heights is a village in Cook County, Illinois, Cook County Illinois, United States. A northwestern Chicago metropolitan area, suburb of Chicago, it lies about northwest of the city's downtown. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ...

that Romstar had a 30% stake in. In 1995, Capcom would later fully take over Game Star to form Capcom Coin-Op, a pinball manufacturer. The key personnel of Romstar, Takahito Yasuki, Ron Czerny, and Darryl Williams, later founded Atrativa Games and

Playphone Playphone is a mobile gaming platform founded in 2003 (merged and re-incorporated in 2006) headquartered in San Jose, California that provides direct-to-consumer mobile content distribution. It is funded by Menlo Ventures, Cardinal Venture Capita ...

, both cellular phone entertainment companies. Playphone was acquired by

GungHo Online Entertainment is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. They are primarily known for hosting the Japanese server of '' Ragnarok Online'' (developed by its listed Korean subsidiary Gravity), as well as their development of '' Ragnarok DS'' for the N ...

in October 2014.

List of Games Distributed by Romstar

Licensed from Taito

* ''

Tiger Heli is a vertically scrolling shooter game developed by Toaplan and released for arcades in 1985. It was published in Japan by Taito and in North America by Romstar. Controlling the titular attack helicopter, the player must fight endless waves of ...

'' (developed by Toaplan) * ''

Arkanoid is a 1986 Block kuzushi, block breaker arcade game developed and published by Taito. In North America, it was published by Romstar. Controlling a paddle-like craft known as the Vaus, the player is tasked with clearing a formation of colorful blo ...

'' * ''

Bubble Bobble is a platform game series originally developed and published by Taito. The first entry in the series, '' Bubble Bobble'', was released in 1986 as an arcade cabinet. In most entries in the series, players control two dragons named Bub and Bob. Th ...

'' * '' Arkanoid: Revenge of DOH'' * ''

Twin Cobra ''Twin Cobra'', known as in Japan, is a vertically scrolling shooter developed by Toaplan and released for Arcade game, arcades in 1987 by Taito in Japan and Europe, then in North America by Romstar. It is a sequel to the 1985 arcade game ''T ...

'' (developed by Toaplan) * ''

Sky Shark ''Flying Shark'', known as ''Sky Shark'' in North America, is a vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published in 1987 by Taito in Japan, Romstar in North America and Electrocoin in Europe. Control ...

'' (developed by Toaplan) * '' Empire City: 1931'' (developed by

Seibu Kaihatsu was a Japanese manufacturer of arcade games. The company was founded in 1982 in video gaming, 1982 at Chiyoda, Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan as , but changed to its current name sometime in 1984. It is currently owned by Hitoshi Hamada. One ...

) * ''

Aqua Jack ''Aqua Jack'' (アクアジャック) (also released as ''Aquattack'') is a 3D shoot 'em up arcade video game released by Taito in 1989. A hovercraft is piloted over water and land while dodging bullet A bullet is a kinetic projectile, a co ...

'' * ''

Twin Eagle ''Twin Eagle: Revenge Joe's Brother'' is a vertically scrolling shooter arcade game which was published in 1988. It was developed by SETA Corporation and licensed to Taito. It was one of the first arcade to use extensive digital sampling, from ...

'' (developed by Seta, NES version) * ''

Battle Lane Vol. 5 A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force co ...

'' (developed by Technos) * ''

Final Blow ''Final Blow'' is a boxing arcade video game released in 1988 by Taito. The name remained the same for all ported platforms, except for the Sega versions, which Sega released outside Japan as ''James 'Buster' Douglas Knockout Boxing'' featuring ...

'' * ''

Rally Bike ''Rally Bike'' is a racing arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published by Taito in May 1988.Translationby Shmuplations. ). In ''Rally Bike'', players compete against computer-controlled opponents in races across locations in ...

'' (developed by Toaplan, NES) * '' Top Speed'' * ''Kageki'' (developed by Kaneko) * ''

Tokio Tokio may refer to: * , the capital of Japan, used primarily in non-English-speaking countries may also refer to: Music * Tokio (band), a Japanese pop/rock band ** ''Tokio'' (album), their debut album * Tokio Hotel, a German rock band * Tok ...

'' * ''China Gate'' (developed by Technos) * ''

Thundercade ''Thundercade'', also known as ''Twin Formation'' and ", is a vertically scrolling shooter developed by SETA and released as an arcade game in 1987. A version for the Nintendo Entertainment System from American Sammy was released in 1989. The or ...

'' (developed by Seta) * ''Super Qix'' (developed by Kaneko) * ''

The Ninja Warriors is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed and released by Taito in 1987. The original arcade game situated one display in between projected images of two other displays, creating the appearance of a triple-wide screen. Ports were rel ...

'' * ''Kickstart'' * ''

Great Swordsman is an arcade fighting game developed by Allumer and published by Taito in 1984. In 2005, it was later included in ''Taito Legends''. Gameplay In ''Great Swordsman'', one or two players can play while taking turns. Players control with two-way ...

'' (developed by

Allumer , was a video game production company, established in February 1978 and headquartered in Meguro, Tokyo, Japan. The company suspended business in October 5, 1999. In February 2023, Japanese video game publisher Hamster Corporation acquired the rig ...

) * ''Tournament Arkanoid''

Licensed from Capcom

* ''

1942 The Uppsala Conflict Data Program project estimates this to be the deadliest year in human history in terms of conflict deaths, placing the death toll at 4.62 million. However, the Correlates of War estimates that the prior year, 1941, was th ...

'' (also distributed by

Williams Williams may refer to: People * Williams (surname), a surname English in origin, but popular in Wales, 3rd most common in the United Kingdom * Williams Nwaneri, American football player Places Astronomy * Williams (lunar crater) * Williams ...

) * ''

Ghosts 'n Goblins ''Ghosts 'n Goblins'', known in Japan as , is a series of Shoot 'em up, run-and-gun Platformer, platform video games developed and owned by Capcom. The first entry in the series was ''Ghosts 'n Goblins (video game), Ghosts 'n Goblins'', release ...

'' (also distributed by Taito) * '' Side Arms: Hyper Dyne'' * ''

Trojan Trojan or Trojans may refer to: * Of or from the ancient city of Troy * Trojan language, the language of the historical Trojans Arts and entertainment Music * '' Les Troyens'' ('The Trojans'), an opera by Berlioz, premiered part 1863, part 18 ...

'' * '' Black Tiger'' * ''

Gun.Smoke is a 1985 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. Unique from other scrolling shooters games, ''Gun.Smoke'' features a human as the shooter instead of a spacecraft, in this case a character named ...

'' * ''

Tiger Road is a 1987 hack and slash Platformer, platform video game developed and published by Capcom for Arcade video game, arcades. Home computer versions were released in Europe by U.S. Gold for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ...

'' * '' F-1 Dream'' * ''

The King of Dragons is a 1991 beat 'em up game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. It follows players as they control characters through the kingdom of Malus to defeat monsters led by the dragon Gildiss. It features a level advancement system, allowing ...

'' * '' Varth: Operation Thunderstorm'' * ''

SonSon is a 1984 platform video game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. It is loosely based on the Chinese novel ''Journey to the West''. The player assumes the role of a monkey boy (who is patterned after Sun Wukong from the story) and ...

Licensed from SNK

* ''

Baseball Stars 2 is a baseball sports arcade game released by SNK in 1992 for the Neo-Geo console. A less detailed console version was released for the NES by Romstar the same year. Neo Geo version The player can select from one of 18 teams across two leagu ...

'' (NES version) * '' Time Soldiers'' (developed by

Alpha Denshi , formerly known as , was a Japanese video game developer founded in 1980. ADK began as a developer of arcade games and is best known for their library of SNK Neo Geo (system), Neo Geo titles, including for its home consoles, produced in partner ...

) * ''

Sky Soldiers ''Sky Soldiers'' is a vertical scrolling shoot em’ up developed by Alpha Denshi and released to arcades in 1988 by Romstar in North America and SNK in the rest of the world. The game features a time travel theme as well as an organized weapon s ...

'' (developed by Alpha Denshi) * ''Gold Medalist'' (developed by Alpha Denshi) *

Neo Geo The , stylized as NEO•GEO, is a video game platform released in 1990 by Japanese game company SNK Corporation. It was initially released in two ROM cartridge-based formats: an arcade system board (Multi Video System; MVS) and a home video gam ...

(One-slot conversion kit version)

Licensed from Seta

* ''

Castle of Dragon was a Japanese video game developer, founded in July 1987. Due to the difficulties of recovering financially in the games market, in 2013, the Tokyo Court decided to start the company's bankruptcy process. In September 2023, it was announced t ...

'' (developed by

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretism, syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarde ...

) * ''DownTown'' * '' Caliber .50'' * '' Thunder & Lightning'' (developed by Visco, NES) * ''Meta Fox'' (developed by Jorudan) * '' Nolan Ryan's Baseball'' (SNES)

Licensed from Toaplan

* '' Out Zone'' * ''

Snow Bros is a 1990 platform arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan first published in Japan, then in North America by Romstar and later in Europe. Starring the eponymous snowmen twins Nick and Tom, players are tasked with travelling through ...

.'' * ''

Fire Shark ''Fire Shark'' is a 1989 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and published by Toaplan in Japan and Europe, and by Romstar in North America. It is the sequel to ''Flying Shark'', a game released in 1987 on multiple platforms. ...

Others

* '' Double Dragon II: The Revenge'' (developed by Technos) * ''

Bloody Wolf , released in Europe as ''Battle Rangers'', is a run and gun arcade game released by Data East in 1988. Two commandos take on an entire army with many weapons, and defeat bosses to advance levels. Plot Snake and Eagle, two commandos of the Blo ...

'' (developed by

Data East , also abbreviated as DECO, was a Japanese video game, pinball and electronic engineering company. The company was in operation from 1976 to 2003, and released 150 video game titles. At one time, the company had annual sales of 20 billion yen in ...

) * '' Flashgal'' (developed by Kyugo, published by

Sega is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises for arcade game, arcades and video game cons ...

) * ''Skeet Shot'' (developed by Dynamo, top new video game on ''RePlay'' arcade charts in December 1991) * ''Popshot'' (prototype, developed by Dynamo) * ''

World Bowling International Bowling Federation (IBF), formerly known as the ''Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs'' (FIQ) from 1952 to April 2014 and as World Bowling (WB) from April 2014 to November 2020, is the world governing body of nine-pin and ten ...

'' (developed by

, Game Boy) * ''

Championship Bowling was a Japanese video game developer, founded in July 1987. Due to the difficulties of recovering financially in the games market, in 2013, the Tokyo Court decided to start the company's bankruptcy process. In September 2023, it was announced t ...

'' (Arcade/NES) * ''Cowboy Kid'' (developed by Visco Games, NES) * ''Magic Darts'' (NES) * ''Mr. Chin's Gourmet Paradise'' (Game Boy) * ''Torpedo Range'' (developed by Seta, Game Boy) * ''Goofy Hoops'' (redemption, partially based on same hardware as Capcom pinballs)

References

{{Authority control Defunct video game companies of the United States Video game companies established in 1984