Capcom began in 1979 as Japan Capsule Computers, a company devoted to the manufacturing and distribution of gaming machines. In 1983, Capcom Co., Ltd. (株式会社カプコン, Kabushiki-gaisha Kapukon) was founded as a game development company. Capcom has its headquaters in Osaka, Japan and has offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, California, England, and Germany.
According to Capcom, its name is an abbreviation of Capsule Computer. The phrase was symbolic of the internal company goal to create a new gaming experience that would exceed that of their rivals. The company released thier first game in 1984, Vulgus, a scrolling arcade space shooter. Capcom initialy only devolped arcade games, but soon expaned to the home market with games based on some of their most successful arcade titles. Capcoms first home relase was 1942, a WWII shooter where you, as a U.S. Navy pilot, fight your way to Okinawa, Japan. The game is similar to Vulgus, but has a curious agenda. Other successful reales of the 80's are Senjo no Ōkami (a.k.a. Commando or Wolf of the Battlefield) and Makaimura (a.k.a. Ghost 'n Goblins). In the late 80's, Capcom created some of the longest lived franchises in video game history, Street Fighter and Mega Man (a.k.a. Rockman).
Street Fighter is a Japanese Fighting Game which two characters fight one-on-one through different scenes. Street Fighter was released in 1987 as an arcade game and in 1991 Street Fighter II was released for the ZX Spectrum and other home computers.
The first Mega Man was released in 1987 for the NES. There have been serveral sub-series of the original Mega Man series:
In 1996, Capcom released its frist 3D console excludisve game Resident Evil (a.k.a. Biohazard), a successful survival horror game for the PlayStation. In the following years, Resident Evil 2 and 3 were relased for the Playstation and later ported to the N64 and PC. In 2000 Resident Evil Code: Veronica was released on the Sega Dreamcast, followed by ports of 2 and 3. Code Veronica was later released on the Playstation 2 and GameCube under the title Code: Veronica X. In 2002, a remake of Resident Evil and a prequel Resident Evil Zero were released exclusivly for the GameCube. Resident Evil 4 was originally released exclusive to the GameCube, but was later relased for PC, PS2, and Wii. A movie based on the game, named Resident Evil, was released in 2002, and did well enough to warrent a sequal (Resident Evil: Apocalypse) released in 2004. A thrid instalment was released in 2007, and a fouth (Resident Evil: Afterlife) is planned for 2010.
Besides developing its own games, Capom also makes ports and distributes games from Western studios for the Japanese market.
Capcom is the first Japan based company to join with Valve's Steam digital distribution system. Some of thier titles currently avalialbe via Steam are Onimusha 3, Devil May Cry 3, Street Fighter 4, and Lost Planet.
1984 |
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May | Vulgus | |
Jul | Son Son | |
Sep | Higemaru | |
Dec | 1942 | |
1985 |
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Feb | Exed Exes | a.k.a. Savage Bees |
May | Senjo no Ōkami | a.k.a. Commando |
Sep | Makaimura | a.k.a. Ghosts'n Goblins |
Nov | Gun Smoke | |
Dec | Section Z | |
1986 |
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Apr | Tatakai no Banka | a.k.a. Trojan |
Sep | Rush & Crash | a.k.a. The Speed Rumbler |
Nov | Ares no Tsubasa | a.k.a. Legendary Wings |
Dec | Side Arms | |
1987 |
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Feb | Hissatsu Buraiken | a.k.a. Avengers |
Mar | Top Secret | a.k.a. Bionic Commando |
Jun | 1943 |
a.k.a. 1943 - The Battle of Midway |
Aug | Black Dragon | a.k.a. Black Tiger |
Aug | Street Fighter | |
Nov | Tora-he no Michi | a.k.a. Tiger Road |
Rockman | a.k.a. Mega Man | |
1988 |
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Apr | F1 Dream | |
Jun | 1943 Kai | |
Jul | Last Duel | |
Jul | Lost Worlds | a.k.a. Forgotten Worlds |
Aug | Capcom Bowling | |
Dec | Daimakaimura | a.k.a. Ghouls'n Ghost |
Rockman 2 | a.k.a. Mega Man 2 | |
1989 |
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Feb | Mad Gear | a.k.a. LED Storm |
Mar | Strider Hiryu | a.k.a. Strider |
Mar | Dokaben | |
Apr | Tenchi wo Kurau | a.k.a. Dynasty Warriors |
Jun | Willow | |
Aug | Dokanben 2 | |
Aug | Area 88 | a.k.a. UN Squadron |
Oct | Capcom Baseball | |
Nov | Capcom World | |
Dec | Final Fight | |
1990 |
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Feb | 1941 | |
Mar | Haten? no Daiboken | |
Apr | Senjo no Ōkami | a.k.a. MERCS |
Jun | Chiki Chiki Boys | a.k.a. Mega Twins |
Jul | Magic Sword | |
Oct | U.S. Navy | a.k.a. Carrier Airwing |
Nov | Nemo | |
Dec | Quiz Tonosama no Yabou | |
Rockman 3 | a.k.a Mega Man 3 | |
1991 |
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Mar | Street Fighter II | |
May | Ataxx | |
Jun | Quiz Sangokushi | |
Jul | Wonder 3 | a.k.a. Three Wonders |
Sep | The King of Dragons | |
Sep | Block Block | |
Nov | Captain Commando | |
Rockman 4 | a.k.a. Mega Man 4 | |
1992 |
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Jan | Knights of the Round | |
Apr | Street Fighter II' | |
Jul | Varth | |
Sep | Capcom World 2 | |
Nov | Tenchi wo Kurau II | a.k.a. Warriors of Fate |
Dec | Street Fighter II' Turbo | |
Rockman 5 | a.k.a. Mega Man 5 | |
1993 |
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Feb | Cadillacs |
a.k.a. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs |
Apr | The Punisher | |
Jul | Muscle Bomber |
a.k.a Saturday Night Slam Masters |
Oct | Super Street Fighter II | |
Dec | Muscle Bomber Duo | |
Rockman 6 | a.k.a. Mega Man 6 | |
1994 |
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Jan | Dungeons & Dragons -Tower of Doom | |
Mar | Super Street Fighter II X | a.k.a. Super Street Fighter II Turbo |
May | Alien vs Predator | |
Jun | Ultimate Ecology | a.k.a. ECO Fighters |
Jul | Vampires | a.k.a. Darkstalkers |
Sep | Quiz & Dragons | |
Sep | Super Muscle Bomber | |
Oct | Powered Gear | |
Dec | X-Men - Children of the Atom | |
1995 |
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Jan | Quiz Tonosama no Yabou 2 | |
Mar | Vampire Hunter | a.k.a. Night Warriors |
Apr | Cyberbots | |
Jun | Street Fighter Zero | a.k.a. Street Fighter Alpha |
Jun | Street Fighter - The Movie | |
Oct | Rockman - The Power Battle | a.k.a. Mega Man The Power Battle |
Oct | Marvel Super Heros | |
Nov | Tshinden 2 | |
Rockman 7 | a.k.a Mega Man 7 | |
1996 |
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Jan | 19XX | |
Feb | Dungeons & Dragons - Shadow Over Mystara | |
Mar | Super Street Fighter Zero 2 | a.k.a. Super Street Fighter Alpha 2 |
Jun | Super Puzzle Fighter II X | |
Jul | Star Gladiator | |
Jul | Rockman 2 - The Power Fighters | a.k.a. Mega Man 2 The Power Fighters |
Aug | Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha | |
Sep | Quiz Nanairo Dreams | |
Sep | X-Men vs Street Fighter | |
Oct | Warzard | a.k.a. Red Earth |
Dec | Street Fighter EX | |
Rockman 8 | a.k.a. Mega Man 8 | |
Biohazard | a.k.a Resident Evil | |
1997 |
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Feb | Street Fighter III | |
Apr | Battle Circuit | |
Apr | Street Fighter EX Plus | |
May | Vampire Savior | a.k.a. Darkstalkers 3 |
Jul | Marvel Super Heros vs Street Fighter | |
Aug | Capcom Sports Club | |
Sep | Vampire Hunter 2 | |
Sep | Vampire Savior 2 | |
Sep | Pocker Fight | a.k.a. Super Gem Fighter Mini Max |
Oct | Street Fighter III 2nd Impact | |
Dec | Justice Gakuen | a.k.a. Rival Schools |
1998 |
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Feb | Marvel vs Capcom | |
Apr | Star Gladiator 2 | a.k.a. Plasma Sword |
May | Street Fighter EX2 | |
Jul | Street Fighter Zero 3 | a.k.a. Street Fighter Alpha 3 |
Jul | Tetris - The Grand Master | |
Sep | Chokosenki Kikaioh | a.k.a. Tech Romancer |
Oct | Magical Tetris Challenge | |
Nov | Steep Slope Sliders | |
Dec | Jojo no Kimyo Na Boken | a.k.a. Jojo's Venture |
Mega Man & Bass | ||
Biohazard 2 | a.k.a. Resident Evil 2 | |
1999 |
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Feb | Power Stone | |
Mar | Giga WIng | |
May | Street Fighter III 3rd Strike | |
Jul | Street Fighter EX2 Plus | |
Sep | Jojo no Kimyo Na Boken 2 | a.k.a. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure |
Sep | Final Fight Revenge | |
Dec | Strider Hiryu 2 | a.k.a. Strider 2 |
Spawn | ||
Biohazard 3 | a.k.a Resident Evil 3: Nemesis | |
2000 |
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Feb | Great Mahou Daisakusen | a.k.a. Dimahoo |
Mar | Marvel vs Capcom 2 | |
Apr | Power Stone 2 | |
Jun | Mars Matrix | |
Aug | Capcom vs SNK | |
Sep | 1944 | |
Oct | Gunspike | |
Nov | Mighty! Pang | |
Dec | Moero! Justice Gakuen | a.k.a. Rival Schools 2 |
Resident Evil Code: Veronica | ||
2001 |
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Jan | Giga Wing 2 | |
Feb | Puzz Loop 2 | |
Apr | Progear no Arashi | a.k.a. Progear |
May | Capcom vs SNK Pro | |
Aug | Capcom vs SNK 2 | |
Heavy Metal Geomatrix | ||
DoDonpachi II | ||
Gundam - Federation vs Zeon | ||
Gundam - Federation vs Zeon DX | ||
Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper | ||
2002 |
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Gun Survivor 3 - Dino Crisis | ||
Jangokushi - Haoh no Saihi | ||
Resident Evil Zero | ||
Resident Evil: Survivor | ||
2001 |
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Resident Evil: Survivor 2 Code: Veronica | ||
Resident Evil Gaiden | ||
Devil May Cry | ||
2003 |
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Gundam Z - AEUG vs Titans | ||
Prode GP 2003 | ||
Resident Evil: Dead Aim | ||
Resident Evil Outbreak | ||
Devil May Cry 2 | ||
2004 |
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Hyper Street Fighter II | ||
Capcom Fighting Jam | ||
Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 | ||
2005 |
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Gundam Seed - Federation vs Z.A.F.T. | ||
Resident Evil 4 | ||
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney | ||
Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble | ||
Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble | ||
Resident Evil: The Missions | a.k.a Biohazard Stories | |
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening | ||
2006 |
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Ōkami | ||
Mega Man X Collection | ||
Mega Man: Powered Up | ||
Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X | ||
Mega Man ZX | ||
Dead Rising | ||
God Hand | ||
Power Stone Collection | ||
Resident Evil: Deadly Silence | a.k.a Biohazard: The Operations | |
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max | ||
Monster Hunter Freedom | ||
Street Fighter Alpha Anthology | ||
Ultimate Ghosts'n Goblins | ||
Resident Evil: Confidential Report | a.k.a. Biohazard: The Episodes | |
2007 |
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Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure | ||
Lost Planet: Extreme Conditions | ||
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles | ||
Phoenix Wright: Justice for All | ||
Phoenix Wright: Trials & Tribulations | ||
Resident Evil: Wii Edition | ||
Mega Man Star Force | ||
Mega Man ZX Advent | ||
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo | ||
2008 |
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Mega Man 9 | ||
Bionic Commando Rearmed | ||
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney | ||
Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix | ||
Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Cross Generation of Heros | ||
Devil May Cry 4 | ||
Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law | ||
1942: Joint Strike | ||
Resident Evil: Genesis | ||
Resident Evil: Degeneration | ||
2009 |
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Street Fighter IV | ||
Resident Evil 5 | ||
Bionic Commando | ||
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite | ||
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles | ||
Marvel vs Capcom 2 (re-release) | ||
Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop | ||
Spyborgs | ||
Fate | a.k.a Unlimited Codes | |
2010 |
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Mega Man 10 | ||
Sources:
History of Capcom: http://www.jap-sai.com/Games/Capcom/Capcom.htm
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capcom
Capcom: http://www.capcom.com/