View source for Q-Games

{{Distinguish|Q Entertainment}}
{{short description|Japanese video game developer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Q-Games, Limited
| logo = Q-Games Logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|2001|8|9|df=yes}}<ref name="company">{{cite web | title=Q-games Profile | url=http://www.q-games.com/prof.shtml | work=Q-Games.com | access-date=2009-08-08 | archive-date=2008-07-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708221457/http://www.q-games.com/prof.shtml | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| founder = Dylan Cuthbert
| location = [[Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto|Nakagyō-ku]], [[Kyoto|Kyoto, Japan]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| products = ''[[PixelJunk]]'' series<br>''[[The Tomorrow Children]]''
| owner = Dylan Cuthbert
| website = https://www.q-games.com/en/
| key_people = Dylan Cuthbert (President/Managing Director)<br />Kenkichi Shimooka (Vice-President/Director)<ref name="company"/>
}}
'''Q-Games, Limited''' is a [[video game developer]] based in [[Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto|Nakagyō-ku]], [[Kyoto]], [[Japan]].<ref>"[http://www.q-games.com/contact.php Q-Games Contact]." Q-Games. Retrieved on September 17, 2010. "Arte Oike 3F Oshinisinotouin-cho 612 Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan 604-0042."</ref> It was founded by [[Argonaut Games]] alumnus Dylan Cuthbert and was closely affiliated with [[Nintendo]] and [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]].<ref name="company"/>
==Foundation==
Q-Games was founded by Dylan Cuthbert,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n-sider.com/personnelview.php?personnelid=15|title=N-Sider.com: Dylan Cuthbert|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818190956/http://www.n-sider.com/personnelview.php?personnelid=15|archive-date=August 18, 2016}}</ref> who at Argonaut Software previously helped create ''[[Starglider]]'' and ''[[Starglider 2]]'', and gave programming assistance to ''[[X (Game Boy game)|X]]'' and the first ''[[Star Fox (1993 video game)|Star Fox]]'' for [[Nintendo]]. He also developed ''[[Star Fox 2]]'' to completion before heading off to work at [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony]] to make ''[[Blasto (video game)|Blasto]]'' on the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]. After this, Cuthbert moved back to Japan to work at [[Japan Studio]], where, in early 1999, he developed the Duck in a Bath technical demo that showcased the [[PlayStation 2]]'s power to early developers and publishers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://videogames1.mtv.com/pages/gamespace/story.php?id%3D6146436%26pid%3D928399 |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 13, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224223239/http://videogames1.mtv.com/pages/gamespace/story.php?id=6146436&pid=928399 |archive-date=February 24, 2007 }}</ref> Following that, he developed ''[[Pipo Saru 2001]]'' and then left Sony to start Q-Games Ltd. in Kyoto in September 2001.
==History==
The studio's first few years were spent accumulating staff and developing behind-doors technology projects for a number of clients including [[Sony]] and [[Microsoft]]. At E3 2004, they showed two graphic technology demos<ref>[http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040513/psp32.htm スクリーンショット] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060305053646/http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040513/psp32.htm |date=March 5, 2006 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040513/psp33.htm スクリーンショット] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912051859/http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20040513/psp33.htm |date=September 12, 2007 }}</ref> for the [[PlayStation Portable]] and then internally began development on two games, one for the [[Game Boy Advance]] and one for the [[Nintendo DS]]. These titles were announced as ''[[Digidrive]]'' (part of the ''[[bit Generations]]'' series of puzzle games for the Game Boy Advance) and ''[[Star Fox Command]]'' respectively. Both were later released.
Following these projects, Q-Games began to collaborate with [[Sony Computer Entertainment]], becoming a second-party studio partner, by developing the [[PixelJunk]] series of downloadable games for the [[PlayStation 3]]. They are available for download and purchase on the PlayStation Network Store worldwide. PixelJunk games are presented in 1080p full HD. PixelJunk made its worldwide debut on 11 July 2007 at E3 2007, held in Santa Monica, CA. At TGS 2009, Q-Games confirmed that it is extremely unlikely these games will ever appear on the Xbox 360.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamingunion.net/news/pixeljunk-appearing-on-xbox-360-extremely-unlikely--486.html |title=PixelJunk Appearing On Xbox 360: Extremely Unlikely |date=2009-10-07 |publisher=Gaming Union |access-date=2009-10-07 }}</ref>
Throughout its existence, Q-Games has continued to partner with multiple [[platform holders]] directly including Nintendo, Sony, and Google.
Q-Games have also worked with [[Nintendo]] again, releasing several games for the [[Nintendo DSi]]'s [[DSiWare]] digital distribution service from 2009 to 2010. The studio would co-develop ''[[Star Fox 64 3D]]'' for the [[Nintendo 3DS]] with [[Nintendo EAD]] in releasing in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS : "I Want to Work in Kyoto"|url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/starfox/0/0}}</ref>
At [[Gamescom|Gamescom 2014]], Q-Games announced ''The Tomorrow Children'', an online adventure game that featured asynchronous multiplayer. The title was co-developed by [[Japan Studio]] and published by [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cuthbert|first=Dylan|date=August 12, 2014|title=PS4 Exclusive The Tomorrow Children Announced at Gamescom 2014|url=https://blog.playstation.com/2014/08/12/ps4-exclusive-the-tomorrow-children-announced-at-gamescom-2014/}}</ref> The game launched in 2016 as a [[free to play]] title for the PlayStation 4, but was shut down by Sony after a year of operation.<ref name="gi nov2021"/>
Q-Games has also developed a number of titles exclusive for [[Apple Arcade]] including a new Frogger.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goslin|first=Austen|date=2019-09-10|title=Apple announces a new, exclusive Frogger from indie darling Q-Games|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/10/20859217/frogger-in-toy-town-apple-arcade-special-event}}</ref>
In 2021, it was announced that ''PixelJunk Raiders'' would be launching on Google Stadia. The title made use of the State Share feature to allow players to jump into other players game via a screenshot or video capture.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stadia Team|date=2021-02-26|title=Use State Share to give friends an advantage while saving the world in PixelJunk Raiders on March 1|url=https://community.stadia.com/t5/Stadia-Community-Blog/Use-State-Share-to-give-friends-an-advantage-while-saving-the/ba-p/54928|website=Stadia}}</ref>
Q-Games negotiated with Sony to secure the rights to ''The Tomorrow Children'' in November 2021, and stated their intent to revive the game in the future.<ref name="gi nov2021">{{cite magazine | url = https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/11/09/free-to-play-ps4-exclusive-the-tomorrow-children-set-to-return-four-years-after-going | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211109134411/https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/11/09/free-to-play-ps4-exclusive-the-tomorrow-children-set-to-return-four-years-after-going | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 9, 2021 | title = Free To Play PS4 Exclusive, The Tomorrow Children, Set To Return Four Years After Going Offline |first =Wesley | last= LeBlanc |date = November 9, 2021 | accessdate = November 9, 2021 | magazine = [[Game Informer]] }}</ref> It was re-released by Q-Games in September 2022 as ''The Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-07 |title=The Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition Launches September 6 |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2022/07/07/the-tomorrow-children-phoenix-edition-launches-september-6/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=PlayStation.Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Games developed==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Game Title
!Release!!Platform!!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|''[[Digidrive]]'' || {{dts|July 27, 2006}} || [[Game Boy Advance]] || Part of the [[Bit Generations]] series
|-
|''[[Star Fox Command]]'' || {{dts|August 28, 2006}} || [[Nintendo DS]]||
|-
|''[[PixelJunk Racers]]'' || {{dts|September 13, 2007}} || [[PlayStation 3]]||
|-
|''[[PixelJunk Monsters]]'' || {{dts|January 24, 2008}} || PlayStation 3, [[PlayStation Vita]], Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux||
|-
|''PixelJunk Monsters Encore'' || {{dts|April 24, 2008}} || PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux || Expansion pack/add-on to ''PixelJunk Monsters''
|-
|''[[PixelJunk Eden]]'' || {{dts|July 31, 2008}} || PlayStation 3, [[Microsoft Windows]]||
|-
|''PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe'' || {{dts|October 1, 2009}} || [[PlayStation Portable]]||
|-
|''[[Intersect (video game)|Art Style: DIGIDRIVE]]'' || {{dts|October 2, 2009}} || [[DSiWare]] || Port of ''Digidrive''
|-
|''Trajectile'' || {{dts|November 24, 2009}} || DSiWare || Known as ''Reflect Missile'' in PAL regions
|-
|''[[PixelJunk Shooter]]'' || {{dts|December 10, 2009}} || PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation Vita]]||
|-
|''[[Starship Defense]]'' || {{dts|December 18, 2009}} || DSiWare || Known as ''Starship Patrol'' in PAL regions
|-
|''[[X-Scape]]'' || {{dts|May 31, 2010}} || DSiWare || Known as ''X Returns'' in Japan and as ''3D Space Tank'' in PAL regions
|-
|''[[PixelJunk Shooter 2]]'' || {{dts|March 1, 2011}} || PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows || Sequel to ''PixelJunk Shooter''
|-
|''[[Star Fox 64 3D]]'' || {{dts|September 9, 2011}} || [[Nintendo 3DS]] || Remaster of Star Fox 64, co-developed with [[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development|Nintendo EAD]]
|-
|''[[PixelJunk SideScroller]]'' || {{dts|October 22, 2011}} || PlayStation 3||
|-
|''[[PixelJunk 4am]]'' || {{dts|May 15, 2012}} || PlayStation 3||
|-
|''Visualizer'' || {{dts|August 13, 2013}} || PlayStation 3|| [[Music visualization]]
|-
|''Nom Nom Galaxy'' || {{dts|August 3, 2015}} || Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4||
|-
|''PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate'' || {{dts|October 21, 2015}} || Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita||
|-
|''[[The Tomorrow Children]]'' || {{dts|September 6, 2016}} || PlayStation 4||
|-
|''Dead Hungry'' || {{dts|December 6, 2016}} || Microsoft Windows, PlayStation VR|| VR project for [[HTC Vive]] and [[Oculus Rift]]
|-
|''[[Eden Obscura]]'' || {{dts|May 18, 2018}} || [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]] || Follow-up to '' PixelJunk Eden''
|-
|''PixelJunk Monsters 2''
| {{dts|May 25, 2018}}
|[[Nintendo Switch]], PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
|Sequel to ''PixelJunk Monsters'', published by [[Spike Chunsoft]]
|-
|''Frogger in Toy Town'' || {{dts|September 20, 2019}} <ref>{{cite tweet|number=1174854319432036353|user=PixelJunkNews|title=It is official! Frogger in Toy Town...|date=20 September 2019}}</ref>  || [[Apple Arcade]] || Based on the 1981 arcade game [[Frogger]]
|-
|''Scrappers'' || {{dts|April 16, 2020}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.q-games.com/en/2020-4-16/|title=PixelJunk Scrappers is Coming Soon – Q-Games}}</ref>  || [[Apple Arcade]]
|-
|''[[PixelJunk Eden 2]]'' || December 10, {{dts|2020}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/pixeljunk-eden-2-switch/|title = PixelJunk Eden 2 for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details}}</ref>  || [[Nintendo Switch]] || a direct continuation of PixelJunk Eden and Eden Obscura<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.q-games.com/en/2020-03-18-2/|title=PixelJunk Eden 2 is Announced! – Q-Games}}</ref>
|-
|''PixelJunk Raiders''
|{{dts|March 1, 2021}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-23|title=This Week on Stadia: New games this week, plus PixelJunk Raiders & more coming March 1 to Stadia Pro|url=https://community.stadia.com/t5/Stadia-Community-Blog/This-Week-on-Stadia-New-games-this-week-plus-PixelJunk-Raiders/ba-p/54655|access-date=2021-02-23|website=community.stadia.com|language=en}}</ref>
|[[Google Stadia|Stadia]]
|
|-
|''The Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition''
|September 6, 2022
|PlayStation 4, [[PlayStation 5]]
|Re-release of ''The Tomorrow Children''
|-
|''All You Need is Help''
|September 26, 2024
|[[Microsoft Windows]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox One]], [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]]
|
|}
==Other projects==
As well as games development, Q-Games developed technology directly with Sony Japan for the [[PlayStation 3]]. The [[PlayStation 3|PS3]]'s XMB ([[Xross Media Bar]]) [[PlayStation 3#Default interface|interface, background and music visualizer]] were developed by Q-Games and they are credited with 3D Graphics Technology in the ''About PS3'' section of the PS3's OS.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-02|title=2005 August –|url=https://www.q-games.com/en/2005-august/|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Q-Games|language=en-US}}</ref>
===PlayStation Home===
On September 24, 2009, Q-Games released their own [[List of PlayStation Home Game Spaces#Game Developer Spaces|developer space]] for their series, ''[[PixelJunk]]'' in the PlayStation 3's online community-based service, [[PlayStation Home]] to the Japanese version and on October 9, 2009, to the North American version. The "PixelJunk Museum" (Japan), or "PixelJunk Exhibition" (North America), features the games ''[[PixelJunk Eden]]'', ''[[PixelJunk Monsters]]'', and ''[[PixelJunk Racers]]''. For ''PixelJunk Eden'' there are glass wall art displays, for ''PixelJunk Monsters'', there are displays of familiar characters from the game, and for ''PixelJunk Racers'', there are displays of two different race cars. There is also a virtual shop in the space selling ''PixelJunk'' virtual items. In Japan's version from September 24, 2009, to October 9, 2009, near the shop, there was a panel that took users to a virtual version of Q-Games TGS 2009 Booth. Called the "Q-Games virtual public TGS Booth", it was a virtual recreation of the Q-Games TGS 2009 Booth that had a free T-shirt and a video screen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=y&u=http://playstationhome.jp/member/lounge/pixel.html&sl=ja&tl=en&history_state0=|title=PixelJunk Museum|publisher=SCE}}</ref> On December 17, 2009, they released another exhibition room to the "PixelJunk Exhibition" space. This room is to display ''[[PixelJunk Shooter]]'' and is called the "PixelJunk Shooter Mother Ship Hangar."
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Sources==
*[[Chris Kohler]]'s book [[Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life]] - Chapter 6.
*[http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11022/ An Interview on Gamasutra.com with Q-Games]{{in lang|en}}
*[http://www.n-sider.com/personnelview.php?personnelid=15 Dylan Cuthbert's profile on N-Sider.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061122103123/http://www.n-sider.com/personnelview.php?personnelid=15 |date=2006-11-22 }}{{in lang|en}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080705131445/http://gamevideos.com/video/id/16331 Dylan Cuthbert video interview on the 1-UP Show] {{in lang|en}}
==External links==
{{Portal|Japan|Companies|Video games}}
*[http://www.q-games.com/ Q-Games Official website]
{{PixelJunk}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Companies based in Kyoto]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 2001]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 2001]]
[[Category:Video game companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]