Romstar

Romstar Inc. was an American video-game distribution company based in Torrance, California. It began operations in 1984 and became associated with the North American licensing and distribution of arcade titles from several prominent Japanese game companies. Rather than being identified primarily as a developer with a single proprietary series, Romstar operated as a bridge between overseas game makers and the U.S. arcade and home-console markets. The company’s early role was particularly important in relation to SNK. Before SNK established SNK of America in 1987, Romstar served as SNK’s first American distribution arm. This arrangement gave Romstar responsibility for bringing selected SNK products into the U.S. market, including arcade releases and home-console adaptations. The company also handled games connected with other major industry participants, including Taito, Capcom, Toaplan, and Seta, as well as titles from additional developers and publishers. Romstar’s arcade portfolio covered a broad range of genres. Its licensed releases included action games such as Ghosts ’n Goblins, Black Tiger, Tiger Road, Bubble Bobble, The Ninja Warriors, and Double Dragon II: The Revenge; shooting games such as Tiger Heli, Twin Cobra, Sky Shark, Out Zone, Snow Bros., Fire Shark, and Varth: Operation Thunderstorm; and sports, puzzle, racing, and novelty titles. The distribution model meant that the original development and publishing relationships varied from game to game. Some releases were developed by studios such as Toaplan, Technos, Alpha Denshi, Seta, Seibu Kaihatsu, Kaneko, and Visco, while Romstar handled the U.S. distribution or licensing relationship. Romstar also extended its activities beyond arcade machines. It released or distributed games for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Game Boy. These included console versions and adaptations such as Baseball Stars 2, Rally Bike, Thunder & Lightning, Nolan Ryan’s Baseball, Championship Bowling, Cowboy Kid, Magic Darts, World Bowling, Mr. Chin’s Gourmet Paradise, and Torpedo Range. The company’s console work reflected the broader transition in the North American games business during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when arcade properties and licensed international games were increasingly adapted for home systems. In 1993, Romstar partnered with Capcom to establish Game Star, also referred to as GameStar Inc. The venture operated as an electromechanical manufacturing business in Arlington Heights, Illinois, with Romstar holding a 30 percent stake. This initiative expanded the relationship between the two companies from game distribution into physical amusement-machine manufacturing. In 1995, Capcom took full control of Game Star and reorganized it as Capcom Coin-Op, a pinball-manufacturing operation. Games continued to be released under the Romstar name until at least 1994. The available reference material does not establish a precise closure date, a formal successor to Romstar’s original distribution business, or the company’s final ownership status. Several people associated with Romstar later moved into mobile and cellular entertainment. Takahito Yasuki, Ron Czerny, and Darryl Williams subsequently founded Atrativa Games and Playphone. Playphone was later acquired by GungHo Online Entertainment in October 2014, although that later transaction concerned Playphone rather than Romstar itself.

Romstar began operations in 1984 as a Torrance, California-based video-game distribution company. Its business was built around licensing and distributing games created by international arcade publishers and developers for the North American market. The company was especially significant as SNK’s first American distribution arm before SNK of America was established in 1987. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Romstar represented or distributed games associated with several important companies, including Taito, Capcom, SNK, Toaplan, and Seta. Its role varied by title: Romstar could serve as a distributor, licensee, or North American commercial partner, while the underlying games were developed by a range of studios. The resulting catalog included arcade action, shooting, puzzle, racing, sports, and amusement titles. Examples included Taito-linked releases such as Arkanoid, Bubble Bobble, Twin Cobra, Sky Shark, and The Ninja Warriors; Capcom-linked releases such as 1942, Ghosts ’n Goblins, Side Arms: Hyper Dyne, Black Tiger, and Varth: Operation Thunderstorm; and SNK-linked products such as Baseball Stars 2, Time Soldiers, Sky Soldiers, and Gold Medalist. Romstar’s distribution network also covered games from Toaplan, Seta, Technos, Data East, Seibu Kaihatsu, Kaneko, Alpha Denshi, Visco, and other companies. This made the Romstar name visible across a diverse set of arcade releases even when Romstar had not developed the underlying software. The company’s catalog included games such as Out Zone, Snow Bros., Fire Shark, Double Dragon II: The Revenge, Bloody Wolf, and Skeet Shot. As home consoles became increasingly important in North America, Romstar released and distributed software for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Game Boy. Its console catalog included adaptations and licensed products such as Baseball Stars 2, Rally Bike, Thunder & Lightning, Nolan Ryan’s Baseball, Championship Bowling, Cowboy Kid, Magic Darts, World Bowling, Mr. Chin’s Gourmet Paradise, and Torpedo Range. This activity placed the company within the broader arcade-to-console pipeline that defined much of the period’s video-game publishing business. In 1993, Romstar and Capcom created Game Star, also known as GameStar Inc. The Illinois-based company was established as an electromechanical factory in Arlington Heights, with Romstar retaining a 30 percent ownership interest. The venture represented a move beyond software distribution into the manufacture of physical amusement products. Capcom eventually took complete control of Game Star in 1995 and converted the operation into Capcom Coin-Op, a pinball manufacturer. Romstar-branded releases continued to appear until at least 1994. The available reference does not provide a definitive date for the end of Romstar’s independent operations, nor does it document a formal liquidation or successor organization. Former key personnel Takahito Yasuki, Ron Czerny, and Darryl Williams later founded Atrativa Games and Playphone, companies focused on cellular-phone entertainment. Playphone was acquired by GungHo Online Entertainment in October 2014. That later corporate history is connected to Romstar through personnel rather than through a documented continuation of Romstar’s corporate entity.

• 2014

  Playphone is acquired by GungHo

  [1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  GungHo Online Entertainment acquires Playphone, a cellular entertainment company founded by former Romstar-associated personnel.

• 1995

  Capcom takes over Game Star

  [1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  Capcom fully takes over Game Star and forms Capcom Coin-Op, a pinball-manufacturing operation.

• 1994

  Romstar releases continue

  [1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  Games continue to be released under the Romstar name until at least this year.

• 1993

  Game Star is formed with Capcom

  [1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  Romstar and Capcom establish Game Star, an electromechanical manufacturing company in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Romstar owns 30 percent of the venture.

• 1987

  SNK establishes SNK of America

  [1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  SNK of America is founded, following Romstar’s earlier role as SNK’s first American distribution arm.

• 1984

  Romstar begins operations

  [1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  Romstar starts operating as a video-game distribution company based in Torrance, California.

A U.S. licensing and distribution intermediary that brought international arcade and console games to North American players, while also participating in an electromechanical amusement-manufacturing venture with Capcom.

• Arcade games

  Licensed arcade catalog

  Romstar distributed a wide-ranging collection of licensed arcade games in North America. The catalog included titles from Taito, Capcom, SNK, Toaplan, Seta, Technos, Data East, and other companies. Representative releases covered shooting, action, puzzle, racing, sports, and amusement genres, including Arkanoid, Bubble Bobble, Ghosts ’n Goblins, Black Tiger, Tiger Heli, Snow Bros., and Double Dragon II: The Revenge.

• Home-console games

  NES releases

  Romstar released and distributed software for the Nintendo Entertainment System, including home versions and licensed games connected with its arcade relationships. Examples include Baseball Stars 2, Rally Bike, Thunder & Lightning, Championship Bowling, Cowboy Kid, and Magic Darts.

• Home-console games

  SNES releases

  The company also participated in Super Nintendo Entertainment System publishing and distribution. The reference catalog identifies Nolan Ryan’s Baseball among the SNES-related products associated with Romstar.

• Handheld games

  Game Boy releases

  Romstar distributed Game Boy software including World Bowling, Mr. Chin’s Gourmet Paradise, and Torpedo Range. These releases extended the company’s licensing and distribution role from arcades into handheld entertainment.

• Electromechanical amusement manufacturing · 1993

  Game Star

  Game Star, also called GameStar Inc., was an electromechanical manufacturing venture created by Romstar and Capcom in 1993. Romstar held a 30 percent stake. Capcom later acquired full control and reorganized the business as Capcom Coin-Op.

• 1995

  Transfer full control of Game Star to CapcomM&A

  Background

  The Game Star venture created by Romstar and Capcom was subsequently brought fully under Capcom’s control.

  Action taken

  Capcom took over Game Star and used the business to form Capcom Coin-Op, a pinball manufacturer.

  Aftermath

  The available reference does not describe a continuing ownership role for Romstar after the takeover.

  Source

• 1993

  Create Game Star with CapcomM&A

  Background

  Romstar had built its business around distributing licensed arcade and console games. Its partnership with Capcom expanded the relationship into the manufacture of electromechanical amusement products.

  Action taken

  Romstar and Capcom formed Game Star, an Arlington Heights, Illinois-based electromechanical factory. Romstar retained a 30 percent stake.

  Aftermath

  Capcom later acquired the remaining interest in 1995 and reorganized the company as Capcom Coin-Op.

  Source

• 2014

  GungHo Online Entertainment acquires Playphone[1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  GungHo Online Entertainment acquired Playphone in October 2014. Playphone had been founded by former Romstar-associated personnel, but the transaction was not an acquisition of Romstar.

• 1995

  Capcom assumes full control of Game Star[1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Capcom later took over the Game Star business completely and reorganized it as Capcom Coin-Op, a pinball manufacturer.

• 1993

  Romstar and Capcom establish Game Star[1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Romstar partnered with Capcom to form Game Star, an electromechanical manufacturing company in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Romstar held a 30 percent stake in the venture.

• Romstar-associated personnel later establish mobile entertainment companies[1]Romstaren.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Other

  Takahito Yasuki, Ron Czerny, and Darryl Williams, identified as key Romstar personnel, later founded Atrativa Games and Playphone in the cellular-phone entertainment sector.

1. 1Romstaren.wikipedia.org