Taito Corporation

The Taito Corporation (タイトー株式会社, tait? kabushikigaisha) {{tyo|9646}} is a Japanese developer of video game software and arcade hardware. The word Taito (pronounced "TIE-toe") translates to "far east". The company was founded in 1953 by Russian Michael Kogan as Taito Trading Company (????????, kabushikigaisha tait? b?eki).

Related Topics:
Japanese - Video game - Far east - 1953 - Michael Kogan

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Taito started out importing and distributing vending machines. Later, they began leasing jukeboxes but they eventually started to manufacture their own. Taito also imports and distributes American coin-op video games in Japan, as well as their own games all around the world.

Related Topics:
Vending machines - Leasing - Jukeboxes - Manufacture - American - Video games - Japan

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Although Taito was already making coin-op electro-mechanical and pinball games during the 1960's, it wasn't until 1973 that Taito introduced it's first video game. It was also in 1973 that they officially changed their entity name from "Taito Trading Company" to "Taito Corporation". In 1978 Toshihiro Nishikado, a designer working at Taito, created "Space Invaders" which would become Taito's most popular title ever. That game was published in the US by Bally Midway. Due to the huge success of Space Invaders, Taito opened in 1979 an american subsidiary called "Taito America" in order to release themselves their games in North America. While the majority of the games Taito America published were games developed by its Japanese parent company, they did also publish games that they licensed from third-party companies. 1995 would mark the very last year that Americans and Canadians would see the Taito name on games as Taito America closed their office meaning that all Taito games coming to America will now be published by other companies

Related Topics:
1973 - Space Invaders - Bally Midway - 1979 - North America - Third-party - 1995 - Canadians

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In 1992, Taito designed a CD-ROM-based console system that allowed people to download and play arcade-quality CD-ROM games, but the system was never released.

Related Topics:
1992 - CD-ROM - Console

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On 22 August 2005, It was announced that gaming giant Square-Enix would purchase 247,900 Taito shares worth 45.16 billion yen (409.10 million USD), to make Taito Corporation a subsidary of Square-Enix. The purpose of the takeover by Square-Enix is to both increase Taito's profit margin exponentially as well as begin their company's expansion into new forms of gaming (most notably, The Arcade Scene), and various other entertainment venues.

Related Topics:
22 August - 2005 - Square-Enix

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The takeover bid from Square-Enix was accepted by previous majority stockholder Kyocera, making Taito an offical Square-Enix subsidiary.

Related Topics:
Square-Enix - Kyocera - Taito

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As of 22 September 2005, Square Enix announced successfully acquiring 93.7% of all shares of Taito, effectively owning the entire company. By 28 September 2005, Taito will become a subsidiary wholly owned by Square Enix.

Related Topics:
22 September - 2005 - 28 September

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