Video game developer · Japan · Closed in 2003
Data East
Founded in April 20, 1976
- 171
- games developed
- 59
- games published
- 0
- in development
History of Data East
Data East was a Japanese video game, pinball and electronic engineering company based in Suginami, Tokyo. Tetsuo Fukuda, a Tokai University graduate, founded it on 20 April 1976. Its first arcade machine, Jack Lot (1977), was a blackjack-based medal game, and its first true video game was Super Break (1978). In 1979 it set up its US division and developed the DECO Cassette System, the first arcade board with interchangeable games, which suffered from technical problems and was dropped by 1985.
Astro Fighter (1980) was its first major arcade title, and BurgerTime (1982), released in dedicated cabinets, became a hit. In 1984 and 1985 it distributed Karate Champ, Kung-Fu Master and Commando in North America, the three highest-grossing arcade games in the United States in 1985; the last two were licensed from Irem and Capcom. Karate Champ was the first successful fighting game. Other well-known games from its peak years include Heavy Barrel, Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja, Sly Spy, RoboCop, Bump 'n' Jump, Karnov and Atomic Runner Chelnov.
A 1985 port of Karate Champ gave it a successful start on home computers, and in 1986 it moved into consoles with B-Wings for the Famicom; in North America, Data East USA was the first licensee announced for the NES. It also created series made only for consoles, such as Tantei Jingūji Saburō, Glory of Hercules and Metal Max. Its subsidiary Data East Pinball built machines from 1987 to 1994, many based on licences such as Star Wars, Batman and The Simpsons, before the factory was sold to Sega.
Its finances had been in trouble since 1990. Data East USA closed before Christmas 1996 without any official announcement, and on 4 December 1997 the Japanese parent left the arcade business. In 1999 it filed for reorganisation and stopped making video games; for three more years it sold negative ion generators and licensed its old games. It filed for bankruptcy in April 2003 and a Tokyo court declared it bankrupt on 25 June. In February 2004 G-Mode, now owned by Marvelous, bought most of its library and the brand; other games, such as Windjammers and Karnov, belong to Paon DP.
Milestones
1976
Tetsuo Fukuda founds Data East in Tokyo.
1978
Super Break, its first video game.
1980
Astro Fighter, its first major arcade title.
1982
BurgerTime.
1984
Karate Champ.
1986
It enters consoles with B-Wings for the Famicom.
1987
Data East Pinball starts making machines.
1999
It files for reorganisation and stops making video games.
2003
A Tokyo court declares it bankrupt.
Its best-known games
BurgerTime
1982 · colecovision · Arcade · x1
Captain America and the Avengers
1991 · Arcade · SNES · Genesis/MegaDrive
RoboCop
1988 · Arcade
Windjammers
1994 · Arcade · neogeoaes · neogeomvs
Caveman Ninja
1991 · Arcade · Genesis/MegaDrive · DOS
Midnight Resistance
1989 · Arcade · C64 · ZXS
Karnov
1987 · Arcade · C64 · ZXS
Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja
1988 · Arcade · C64 · ZXS
Bump 'n' Jump
1982 · colecovision · Arcade · Atari2600
Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics
1994 · SNES · SFAM
Two Crude Dudes
1990 · Arcade · Genesis/MegaDrive
Fighter's History
1993 · Arcade · SNES · SFAM
Every game it has developed (171)
2026
- Arcade Archives 2: Karnov Series X|S, Switch 2, PS5
- Console Archives: Hercules no Eikou II - Taitan no Metsubou Switch 2, PS5
- Console Archives: Toujin Makyou-den - Heracles no Eikou Switch 2, PS5
- Console Archives: Rohga - Armor Force Switch 2, PS5
2023
- G-Mode Archives 52: Burger Time Switch
- G-Mode Archives 51: Trio the Punch Switch
2022
- Arcade Archives: Trio the Punch PS4, Switch
2021
- Arcade Archives: Darwin 4078 PS4, Switch
2020
- G-Mode Archives 22: Heracles no Eikou III - Kamigami no Chinmoku PC, Switch
- Arcade Archives: Burnin' Rubber PS4, Switch
- Arcade Archives: Burger Time PS4, Switch
2019
- BurgerTime Party! Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Joe and Mac Returns PC, Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Super Real Darwin PC, Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Fighter's History PC, Switch
2018
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Heavy Barrel PS4, PC, Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Break Thru PC, Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Express Raider PC, Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Two Crude Dudes PS4, PC, Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Wizard Fire PS4, PC, Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Joe and Mac Caveman Ninja PS4, PC, Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Super Burger Time PS4, PC, Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Sly Spy Switch
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Bad Dudes PS4, PC, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Magical Drop III Series X|S, PS4, PC, XONE
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Gate of Doom PS4, PC, Switch
2017
- ACA Neo Geo: Karnov's Revenge Series X|S, PS4, PC, XONE
- ACA Neo Geo: Street Hoop PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- ACA Neo Geo: Spin Master Series X|S, PS4, PC, XONE
- ACA Neo Geo: Magical Drop II PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
2012
- Super Road Blaster SNES
2010
- Magical Drop Touch Android, iOS
- Arcade Archives: Karate Champ PS4, Wii, Switch
2006
- Trio the Punch Mobile
- Burger Time Mobile
2000
- The Flintstones: Burgertime in Bedrock GBC
- Magical Drop GBC
1999
- Side Pocket for WonderSwan WonderSwan
- Tantei Jinguji Saburo: Tomoshibi ga Kienu Ma ni PS3, PS1, PSP
- Magical Drop Pocket
- Magical Drop III: Yokubari Tokudaigou! PS3, PS1, PSP
1998
- Tantei Jinguji Saburo: Yume no Owari ni PS3, Saturn, PS1, PSP
1997
- Side Pocket 3 PS3, Saturn, PS1, PSP
- Magical Drop III: Toretate Zoukangou! Saturn
- Janken Game Acchi Muite Hoi! Arcade
- Magical Drop III Arcade, neogeoaes, Wii
1996
- Mausuke no Ojama the World Arcade
- Tantei Jinguji Saburo: Mikan no Report PS3, Saturn, PS1, PSP
- Wolf Fang PS3, Saturn, PS1, PSP
- Suiko Enbu Fuunsaiki Saturn
- Magical Drop II Arcade, neogeoaes, Wii, Saturn
- Skull Fang Arcade, Saturn
- Avengers in Galactic Storm Arcade
1995
- Data East's Hoops Arcade
- Chain Reaction Arcade, PS3, Wii, Saturn
- Dark Legend Arcade, PS3, Vita, Saturn
- Magical Drop Arcade, SNES
- Minnesota Fats: Pool Legend Genesis/MegaDrive, Saturn
- Fighter's History 2 SFAM
- Worldcup Volleyball '95 Arcade
1994
- Captain America and the Avengers Game Boy
- Heracles no Eikou IV: Kamigami kara no Okurimono Wii, SFAM
- Joe & Mac Returns Arcade
- Karnov's Revenge Arcade, neogeoaes, Wii, Saturn
- Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics SNES, SFAM
- Street Hoop Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, Wii
- Windjammers Arcade, neogeoaes, neogeomvs, PS4
1993
- Captain America and the Avengers Game Gear
- High Seas Havoc Genesis/MegaDrive
- Death Brade SFAM
- Fighter's History Arcade, SNES, SFAM
- Metal Max 2 Wii, SFAM
- Spinmaster Arcade, neogeoaes, Wii
1992
- Pocket Gal Deluxe Arcade
- Congo's Caper SNES, SFAM
- Tumble Pop 3DS, Game Boy
- Atomic Runner Genesis/MegaDrive
- Dragon Gun Arcade
- Side Pocket SNES, Genesis/MegaDrive, SFAM
- Funky Jet Arcade
- Heracles no Eikou III: Kamigami no Chinmoku Wii, WiiU, Mobile, SFAM
- Diet Go Go Arcade
- Boogie Wings Arcade
- Super Birdie Rush SFAM
- Nitro Ball Arcade
- Rohga: Armor Force Arcade
- Wizard Fire Arcade
1991
- Captain America and the Avengers Arcade, SNES, Genesis/MegaDrive
- Caveman Ninja Arcade, Genesis/MegaDrive, DOS, Amiga
- Silent Debuggers Wii, turbografx16
- Turbo Racing NES
- China Town Arcade
- TumblePop Arcade
- Mutant Fighter Arcade
- Metal Max 3DS, Wii, famicom
- Wolf Fang: Kuhga 2001 Arcade
- BurgerTime Deluxe 3DS, Game Boy
- Dark Lord famicom
1990
- Super BurgerTime Arcade
- RoboCop 2 Arcade, C64, ZXS, Atari-ST
- Werewolf: The Last Warrior famicom, NES
- Tantei Jinguji Saburo: Toki no Sugiyuku Mama ni Wii, famicom
- Side Pocket 3DS, Game Boy
- Little Magic famicom
- Gate of Doom Arcade
- Lock 'n' Chase 3DS, Game Boy
- Heavy Barrel famicom, NES
- Al Unser Jr.'s Turbo Racing NES
- Two Crude Dudes Arcade, Genesis/MegaDrive
1989
- ABC Monday Night Football C64, SNES, DOS, Amiga
- Midnight Resistance Arcade, C64, ZXS, Genesis/MegaDrive
- Super Pool III Arcade
- Bad Dudes famicom, NES
- Sly Spy Arcade, C64, ZXS, Atari-ST
- Home Run Nighter: Pennant League!! famicom
- Makai Hakkenden Shada Wii, PC, turbografx16
- Act-Fancer: Cybernetick Hyper Weapon Arcade
- Winning Shot Wii, turbografx16
- Vapor Trail Arcade, Genesis/MegaDrive
- Hippodrome Arcade
- World Grand Prix: Pole to Finish famicom
1988
- Cobra Command Arcade
- Bloody Wolf Arcade, Wii, turbografx16
- RoboCop Arcade
- Cobra Command famicom, NES
- Be-Bop High School: Koukousei Gokuraku Densetsu famicom
- Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja Arcade, C64, ZXS, Atari-ST
- Donald Land famicom
- Tantei Jinguji Saburo: Yokohama-ko Renzoku Satsujin Jiken fds, Wii, PC, famicom
- Golf Club: Birdie Rush famicom
- Atomic Runner Chelnov Arcade
1987
- Pocket Gal Arcade
- SRD: Super Real Darwin Arcade, Genesis/MegaDrive
- The Real Ghostbusters Arcade, C64, ZXS, Atari-ST
- Karnov famicom, NES
- BreakThru NES
- Side Pocket famicom, NES
- Psycho-Nics Oscar Arcade
- Vs. TKO Boxing Arcade
- Tantei Jinguji Saburo: Shinjuku Chuuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken fds, Wii
- Heavy Barrel Arcade, DOS, Apple][, Switch
- Garyo Retsuden Arcade
- Captain Silver Arcade, famicom, SMS
- Karnov Arcade, C64, ZXS, Mac
1986
- BreakThru Arcade, C64, ZXS, ACPC
- Shackled Arcade, C64, ZXS, Atari-ST
- Express Raider Arcade, PS3, C64, ZXS
- Bump 'n' Jump famicom, NES
- B-Wings famicom
- Side Pocket Arcade
- Tag Team Wrestling famicom, NES
- Darwin 4078 Arcade, MSX2
- Last Mission Arcade, C64, ZXS
1985
- BurgerTime Wii, famicom, NES
- Shoot Out Arcade
1984
- Liberation Arcade
- Cobra Command Arcade, x1, Sega CD, MSX
- Battle Wings Arcade
1983
- Cluster Buster Arcade
- Tag Team Wrestling Arcade, C64, DOS, Apple][
- BurgerTime Atari2600, intellivision
- Bega's Battle Arcade
1982
- Competition Golf: Final Round Arcade
- Mission X Arcade, intellivision
- Bump 'n' Jump colecovision, Arcade, Atari2600, PS3
- Lock 'n' Chase Atari2600
- BurgerTime colecovision, Arcade, x1, intellivision
1981
- 18 Holes Pro Golf Arcade
- Lock 'n' Chase Arcade, PS3, Android, intellivision
- Tournament Pro Golf Arcade
1980
- Mole Hunter Arcade
Games it has published without developing them (59)
- Depthcharge 1977
- Circus 1977
- Explorer 1982
- Karate Champ 1984
- Ring King 1985
- Boulder Dash 1985
- Kung-Fu Master 1985
- Shanghai Kid 1985
- Lock-On 1986
- Karate Champ 1986
- Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road 1986
- FireTrap 1986
- Ikari Warriors 1986
- Noboranka 1986
- Super Hang-On 1987
- Santa Claus no Takara-bako 1987
- Heracles no Eikou: Toujin Makyou-den 1987
- Ring King 1987
- Kid Niki: Radical Ninja 1987
- Platoon 1987
- Guerrilla War 1987
- Ikari Warriors 1987
- Ikari Warriors 1987
- Soccer League: Winner's Cup 1988
- Pachinko GP 1988
- Vigilante 1988
- Caveman Games 1988
- RoboCop 1988
- Ikari Warriors 1988
- Ikari Warriors 1988
- RoboCop 1989
- Heracles no Eikou II: Titan no Metsubou 1989
- Drop Off 1990
- Boulder Dash 1990
- Battle Chess 1990
- Daikaijuu Deburas 1990
- Home Run Nighter '90: The Pennant League 1990
- Continuum 1990
- Crystal Quest 1991
- Bo Jackson Baseball 1991
- Override 1991
- ABC Wide World of Sports Boxing 1991
- Cosmo Gang the Video 1992
- Nail 'n Scale 1992
- OutRunners 1992
- Heracles no Eikou: Ugokidashita Kamigami 1992
- Dragon's Lair 1993
- Shadowrun 1993
- Joe & Mac 1993
- Sengoku Denshou 1993
- Dream Soccer '94 1994
- Creature Shock 1994
- Mega Turrican 1994
- Side Pocket 1994
- Motteke Oh! Dorobou 1995
- Soukyuu Guren-tai 1996
- Doukoku Soshite... 1998
- Magical Drop for WonderSwan 1999
- Magical Drop F: Daibouken Mo Raku Janai! 1999