HAL Laboratory
Japanese video game developer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
HAL Laboratory, Inc.,[b] formerly shortened as HALKEN, is a Japanese video game developer based in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded on February 21, 1980 by Mitsuhiro Ikeda. The company started out developing games for home computers of the era, but has since established a strong relationship with Nintendo, and is often referred to as a second-party developer.[4] In 1991, a second office in Kai, Yamanashi was established.[5] The company is best known for its work on the Kirby and Mother series, and the first two Super Smash Bros. games.
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Logo since December 1998 | |
 Headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo | |
Native name | 株式会社ハル研究所 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Kabushiki gaisha Haru Kenkyūjo |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Video games |
| Genre | |
| Founded | February 21, 1980 in Kanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
| Founder | Mitsuhiro Ikeda |
| Headquarters | Kanda Square, 2-2-1 Kandanishiki-cho, , Japan |
Number of locations | 2 studios[a] (2019) |
Key people |
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| Products |
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Number of employees | 242 (2024) |
| Subsidiaries | Warpstar, Inc. (50%; with Nintendo) |
| Website | www |
| Footnotes / references [1][2][3] | |
Its logo, Inutamago,[c] which depicts a dog incubating eggs, is meant to represent "an unexpected bond [...] one that brings the birth of something new."
History
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Perspective
HAL Laboratory was founded on February 21, 1980, and originally developed games for home computers, such as the MSX and VIC-20.[6] There have been conflicting claims on the origin of the company's name. During a GDC 2005 keynote, Satoru Iwata stated that HAL was named after the computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey.[7] However, in a 2012 Iwata Asks interview, he said the company was named HAL because "each letter put [them] one step ahead of IBM."[8]
In 1984, the company began its business relationship with Nintendo. HAL assisted in the development of first-party Famicom games such as Pinball and Golf, while also creating original titles such as F1 Race.[7] In the west, some titles were published under HAL America Inc. (HAI), a North American subsidiary of the company led by Yash Terakura and based in Beaverton, Oregon, USA.[9]
In 1992, following the protracted development of Metal Slader Glory, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Nintendo offered to rescue HAL on the condition that Satoru Iwata were to be appointed its president, a role he took from 1993 to 2000.[10][11]
The company's current logo, Inutamago, was created in 1998 by Shigesato Itoi. The imagery is meant to represent "an unexpected bond [...] one that brings the birth of something new". Reception was reportedly lukewarm at first.[12][13]
In August 2001, HAL Laboratory and Nintendo jointly established Warpstar, Inc., a company created to oversee Kirby merchandising and outside media, such as the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! anime series.[5][14]
In 2017, HAL Laboratory announced that the company would start developing games for mobile devices under the brand name HAL Egg, in order to clearly differentiate them from the company's usual output.[15] The first title released under the brand name was Part Time UFO.[16] The company released miniature versions of the MZ-80C and PC-8001 computers in October 2017 and October 2019, respectively.[17][18]
Games developed
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Perspective
 | This list related to video games is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2024) |
Cancelled games
- Kirby's Air Ride (Nintendo 64)
- EarthBound 64 (Nintendo 64DD, Nintendo 64)
- Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2 (GameCube)
- Battland (Game Boy Advance)[19]
- Luna Blaze (Game Boy Advance)[20]
- Kirby for Nintendo GameCube (GameCube)
Other systems
VIC-20
- Alien
- Avenger (Space Invaders clone)
- Jelly Monsters (Pac-Man clone)
- Jupiter Lander (Lunar Lander clone)
- Mole Attack
- Money Wars
- Pin Ball (Cutie Q clone)
- Poker
- Radar Rat Race (Rally-X clone)
- Road Race (Night Driver clone)
- Slot Machine
- Star Battle (Galaxian clone programmed by Satoru Iwata; ex-CEO of Nintendo and HAL Laboratory)
MAX Machine/Commodore 64
Source:[21]
- Avenger
- Billiards
- Bowling
- Clowns
- Gorf
- Jupiter Lander
- Kickman
- Le Mans
- Max Basic
- Mini Basic Max
- Mole Attack
- Money Wars
- Music Composer
- Music Machine
- Omega Race
- Pinball Spectacular (an adaptation of Bomb Bee)
- Poker
- Radar Rat Race
- Road Race
- Ski (aka Slalom)
- Super Alien
- Wizard of Wor
MSX
- Balance
- Butamaru Pants
- Cue Star
- Dunk Shot
- Eggerland Mystery
- Eggerland 2
- Fruit Search
- Gall Force
- Heavy Boxing
- Hole in One
- Hole in One Professional
- Inside the Karamaru
- Inspecteur Z
- Mobile Planet Stillus/The Roving Planet Stillus
- Mr. Chin
- Pachipro Densetsu
- Picture Puzzle
- Rollerball
- Space Maze Attack
- Space Trouble
- Step Up
- Super Billiards
- Super Snake
- Swimming Tango
- Tetsuman
MSX2
- Dragon Attack
- Hole in One Special
- Zukkoke Yajikita Onmitsudoutyuu
- Mr. Ninja – Ashura's Chapter
Windows
- Eggerland Episode 0: Quest of Rara
- Egger Land for Windows 95
- Revival! Eggerland
Games published
| Year | Title | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | HAL Wrestling[j] | Game Boy |
| 1991 | Kabuki: Quantum Fighter[j] | Nintendo Entertainment System |
| 1992 | Day Dreamin' Davey[k] | |
| NCAA Basketball[k][l] | Super NES |
Computer animation
- Pokémon: The Movie 2000 (CG Tool Development)
Notes
- Japanese: 犬たまご, "Dog Eggs"
- Co-developed with Ape
- Co-developed with Compile
- Co-developed with Flagship
- Co-developed with Creatures
- Co-developed with Brownie Brown
- Co-developed with Vanpool
- Developed by Human Entertainment
- Developed by Sculptured Software
References
External links
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