Natsume (Japan)

Credits

Compiled by
RSX-798

Background

Natsume Co., Ltd. was originally formed in Japan on October 20, 1987, by ex-former Konami employees to produce games for the Famicom. The company worked on several games, and opened its US division in 1988. The US division was later split in 1995. In 2013, Natsume Co., Ltd. was merged with Atari Inc. (no relation to American Atari companies) to form NatsumeAtari.

1st Logo (November 10, 1988)

Logo: On a dark blue background, we see the text "NATSUME". The text then sparkles from the top.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: A sparkling sound.

Availability: Seen on the Famicom game of Touhou Kenbun Roku.

2nd Logo (November 10, 1989-July 1995)

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Logo: On a white background, we see the text "NATSUME".

Variant:

• The logo usually appears within a copyright notice on a particular game.
• Starting in the fall of 1990, the logo was modified.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: The fullscreen version appears on the Famicom game of Dungeon & Magic: Swords of Element, while the copyright version appears on the MSX game of Mitsume ga Tooru, the Famicom game of QuarterBack Scramble: American Football Game, including the unfinished American version, the NES game of Shatterhand, the Japanese SFC game of Hansei Zaru Jirou-kun no Daibouken and the SNES game of Wild Guns.

3rd Logo (December 15-23, 1989)

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Logo: On a black background, we see the text "NATSUME". The logo then sparkles to the top right, similar to the 1st logo.

Variant: A still version exists on Chuugoku Janshi Story: Tonpuu.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on the Famicom games of Abadox and Chuugoku Janshi Story: Tonpuu.

4th Logo (June 22, 1990-October 25, 1991)

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  NES version (Old)

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  NES version (New)

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  GB version

Logo: On a black background, a blue gradient bar appears, which wipes in to reveal the Natsume logo from before, albeit in the same texture.

Variant:

• A black-on-white version exists on the Game Boy game of Spanky's Quest. Plus, the logo was modified.
• On the Famicom game of Chaos World, the logo was modified.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on the Famicom games of Final Mission, Kage and Chaos World, as well as the Game Boy game of Spanky's Quest. The logo also appears on the NES game of Shadow of the Ninja, a localized version of Kage. Oddly, the logo's graphics appear on the NES game of Shatterhand, albeit the logo is unfinished.

5th Logo (October 8, 1990-June 1991)

Logo: On a white background, the post-1990 Natsume logo in black wipes in.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on the Game Boy games of Amazing Penguin and Tail Gator.

6th Logo (January 25-June 1991)

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Logo: On a black background, we see a blue gradient version of the post-1990 Natsume logo from the previous logos. Below it was a slogan "It's TECHNOSTASY".

Variant: On S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team, the slogan is removed, and the copyright is added.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on the Famicom game of Koufuku o Yobu Game: Dora Dora Dora and the NES game of S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team.

7th Logo (December 27, 1991-June 30, 1995)

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Logo: On a white background, a blue line draws in. The text "It's TECHNOSTASY." and "SINCE 1987" slides in from the left and the right. The post-1990 Natsume logo then wipes in. Then the text and the logo splits away.

Variants:

• A still version of the logo exists on a white or black background.
• On Oomono Black Bass Fishing: Jinzouko-Hen, the still version has the text "PROGRAMMED BY" on the top left of the logo.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: The animated version was seen on the Super Famicom games of the two Pocky & Rocky games and the SNES game of Natsume Championship Wrestling. The still versions appears on the Super Famicom games of Hansei Zaru Jirou-kun no Daibouken, Shimono Masaki no Fishing to Bassing and Oomono Black Bass Fishing: Jinzouko-Hen.

8th Logo (August 12, 1994-July 1995)

Logo: On a wood background, we see gunshots that form the post-1990 Natsume logo from the previous logos inside. The logo turns to fire, and then the background turns to black, while the text turns blue.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: Gunshot sounds,

Availability: Seen on the SNES game of Wild Guns.

9th Logo (February 23, 1996-December 18, 1998)

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Logo: On a black background, the post-1990 Natsume logo from before appears in a blue-white gradient.

Variants:

• On Pyon Pyon Kyaruu no Mahjong Hiyori, the slogan "It's TECHNOSTASY. SINCE 1987" is shown below the logo.
• On Pocket Color Block, the background is white, and the text "PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT" is shown above the logo.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on the 3DO game of Royal Pro Wrestling: Jikkyou Live!, the Saturn game of Pyon Pyon Kyaruu no Mahjong Hiyori and the Game Boy Color game of Pocket Color Block.

10th Logo (April 23, 1999-November 28, 2013)

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Logo: On a white background, we see a stylized letter "N" made out of triangles. Below it was the text "naтsume" in a futuristic-like font.

Variants:

• Starting in 2001, there is a line with the text "DREAM CREATOR" below the logo.
• Sometimes, the logo is on a black background.
• On the Game Boy Color games of Action Man: Search for Base X and Saban's Power Rangers: Time Force, the "N" symbol is absent.
• A 3D version exists on the Game Boy Advance games of Power Rangers: Wild Force and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King.
• Starting with the DS version of Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island, the text is moved to the right, and "DREAM CREATOR" is now in the same color as the "N".

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: It's very common. It was seen on every Natsume game they developed, from the Game Boy Color games of Real Pro Yakyuu! to the Nintendo 3DS game of Toriko: Ultimate Survival.

Natsume (Japan)

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