Cave (company)

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CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd.
Native name
株式会社ケイブ
Company typePublic
TYO: 3760
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJune 15, 1994
Headquarters,
Key people
Kenichi Takano
(Representative Director,
President and CEO)

Tsuneki Ikeda
(CCO)
Shinobu Yagawa
(Programmer, Director, Designer)
ProductsBullet hell shoot 'em ups
Total assetsJP¥ 1,094,000,000 (FY 2020)[1]
Number of employees
97 (2020)
SubsidiariesBeads Mania (merged with Cave on June 1, 2008)
Mini4WD Networks Co., Ltd. (44.8% stake)
Declease ltd. 2014 (9.2% stake)
Websitecave.co.jp

CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd.[a] is a Japanese video game company founded in 1994 by former employees of Toaplan following its bankruptcy. They are known primarily for their "bullet hell" shoot 'em ups; from 1995 up to 2013, CAVE was one of the most prolific shoot 'em up developers in the Japanese market. Alongside this, CAVE has produced a variety of other types games for arcades, home consoles, PCs, and smartphones, also dating back to 1995.

"CAVE" is an acronym for "Computer Art Visual Entertainment".

History[edit]

During a stockholder meeting in August 2011, the company changed the English company name to 'CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd'.[2] However, the foreign www.caveinteractive.com domain name had already been established on May 15, 2011.[3]

Key staff members include Tsuneki Ikeda (director and COO[4]) and Makoto Asada (game development department head[5]) who left the company in 2013.[6] On January 24, 2014, community manager "Masa-King" announced that the Cave-World Twitter and blog were shutting down on February 28, 2014,[7] terminating all existing English social media presence in the west.

Within the Guinness World Records, CAVE holds the record for the "most prolific developer of danmaku shooters", having released 48 games in the genre since 1995 as of October 2010.[8]

Subsidiaries[edit]

  • Mini4WD Networks Co., Ltd. (ミニ四駆ネットワークス株式会社) is a joint venture of CAVE Co., Ltd. and Tamiya established in 2006-02-01.[9][10]
  • ORANGE AND PARTNERS Co., Ltd. (株式会社オレンジ・アンド・パートナーズ): A marketing division. On 2006-08-30, CAVE Co., Ltd. announced the establishment of the subsidiary, effective on 2006-09-05.[11]
  • CAVE Asset Management Co., Ltd. (株式会社ケイブアセットマネジメント): Stock management and investment division. On 2006-08-30, CAVE Co., Ltd. announced the establishment of the subsidiary, effective on 2006-09-20-30.[11]
  • Declease ltd., International Co., (日曜日の生): It/os management and development division. On 2014-18-09, Cave Co., Ltd. announced about subsidiarity of Declease ltd., International Co.,

Former subsidiaries[edit]

  • CAVE Online Entertainment Co., Ltd. (株式会社ケイブ・オンライン・エンターテイメント): On 2005-07-13, CAVE Co., Ltd. announced the establishment of the subsidiary specialized in online entertainment, with CAVE and Kenichi Takano owning 90% and 5% stakes, respectively. The company would be established on 2005-07-15.[12] The subsidiary was established with CAVE, Kenichi Takano owning 92.3%, and 5.1% stakes respectively, with Kenichi Takano as the subsidiary's CEO and president.[13] On 2006-07-24, CAVE Co., Ltd. announced merging the subsidiary and the online business into the parent company, effective on 2006-09-01.[14]
  • Appci Corporation (アプシィ株式会社), a video game, music, and online content development company; formerly known as Tabot, Inc. (タボット株式会社) before June 1, 2018.
  • Beads Mania: Vendor of fashion accessories. On 2005-05-31, CAVE Co., Ltd. originally announced the establishment of beads accessory division beginning on 2005-06-01.[15] On 2005-07-01, CAVE Co., Ltd. announced the complete acquisition of Craze Company (クレイズカンパニー株式会社) previously done in 2005-06-30 and became a 100 subsidiary of CAVE, which owned the Beads Mania (ビーズマニア) online shop.[16] On 2005-07-06, Craze Company was renamed to Beads Mania (ビーズマニア株式会社).[17][18] On 2008-05-07, CAVE announced the integration of Beads Mania business, effective on 2008-06-01.[19] On 2010-5-19, CAVE announced the sales of Beads Mania shop and the associated mobile phone site to Tougenkyou Inc. tentatively on 2010-05-31, and the closure of CAVE's shops within Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi in 2011-7.[20]

Marketing[edit]

  • Since 2006, CAVE has hosted CAVE Matsuri, a yearly festival in which several announcements regarding company affairs are made. Also, some titles are offered exclusively at this event such as Mushihimesama Cave Matsuri ver 1.5.[21] The most recent festival was held on April 16, 2018.
  • A character of the same name represents the company within the company-collaborative RPG Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2.

Games developed[edit]

Arcade games[edit]

CAVE's arcade titles have used various arcade boards over the years. Earlier titles used a CAVE-designed board based on a Motorola 68000 CPU,[22] with later releases moving over to the PolyGame Master hardware,[23] and then, starting with Mushihimesama, onto boards based on the Hitachi SH-3 CPU.[24][25] CAVE dabbled in PC-based hardware for Deathsmiles II,[26] but switched back to SH-3 for later titles.

Game Year Hardware Publisher(s)
DonPachi 1995 CAVE 68000 Atlus
Othello Derby 1995 Toaplan Version 2 Tsukuda Original
DoDonPachi 1997 CAVE 68000 Atlus
Steep Slope Sliders 1998 Sega ST-V Capcom
Puzzle Uo Poko 1998 CAVE 68000 Jaleco
ESP Ra.De. 1998 CAVE 68000 Atlus
Dangun Feveron / Fever S.O.S. 1998 CAVE 68000 Nihon System
Guwange 1999 CAVE 68000 Atlus
Progear: Storm of Progear 2001 CPS2 Capcom
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou 2002 PGM AMI
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi 2003 PGM AMI
Espgaluda 2003 PGM AMI
Mushihimesama 2004 CAVE CV1000B AMI
Ibara 2005 CAVE CV1000B AMI
Puzzle! Mushihimetama 2005 CAVE CV1000B AMI
Espgaluda II 2005 CAVE CV1000B AMI
Ibara Kuro: Black Label 2006 CAVE CV1000B AMI
Pink Sweets: Ibara Sorekara 2006 CAVE CV1000B AMI
Mushihimesama Futari 2006 CAVE CV1000B AMI
Muchi Muchi Pork! 2007 CAVE CV1000B AMI
Deathsmiles 2007 CAVE CV1000B AMI
Deathsmiles Mega Black Label 2008 CAVE CV1000D AMI
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu 2008 CAVE CV1000D AMI
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Ver 1.5 2008 CAVE CV1000D AMI
Omatsuri Yasan: Kingyo Sukui 2009 CAVE PC Cave
Omatsuri Yasan: Ganso Takoyaki 2009 CAVE PC Cave
Deathsmiles II: Makai no Merry Christmas 2009 CAVE PC Cave
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Black Label 2010 CAVE CV1000D Cave
Akai Katana 2010 CAVE CV1000D Cave
DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou 2012 CAVE CV1000D Cave

Console games[edit]

On March 28, 2013 Cave released a special bundle called Cave Shooting Collection [ja] which contained all Xbox 360 titles published by them to that date (Akai Katana, Deathsmiles, Deathsmiles IIX, DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Black Label, DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Ver 1.5, Espgaluda II, Muchi Muchi Pork & Pink Sweets, Mushihimesama, Mushihimesama Futari Ver 1.5, and a download voucher for Guwange on XBLA), a disc containing all DLC for the aforementioned titles, 7 "superplay" DVDs, and a 10-disc soundtrack selection with songs from all of the included games except Guwange.[27] This bundle was re-released as Cave Shooting Collection Complete on May 22, 2014 including DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou but not including the soundtrack collection.[28]

Game Year System Publisher(s) JP NA EU
Delisoba Deluxe 1995 Sega Saturn TBS Yes No No
Touge: King the Spirits 1995 Sega Saturn Atlus Yes Yes No
DonPachi 1996 Sega Saturn Atlus Yes No No
DonPachi 1996 PlayStation SPS Yes No No
Touge: King the Spirits 2 1997 Sega Saturn Atlus Yes No No
DoDonPachi 1997 Sega Saturn Atlus Yes No No
Steep Slope Sliders 1997 Sega Saturn Sega Yes Yes Yes
Peak Performance 1997 PlayStation Atlus Yes Yes Yes
Trick'N Snowboarder 1999 PlayStation Capcom Yes Yes Yes
Touge Max 2 1999 PlayStation Atlus Yes No No
Touge Max G 2000 PlayStation Atlus Yes No No
Snowboard Heaven 2000 PlayStation 2 Capcom Yes No No
Yanya Caballista: City Skater 2001 PlayStation 2 Koei Yes Yes No
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou 2003 PlayStation 2 Arika Yes No No
Espgaluda 2004 PlayStation 2 Arika Yes No No
Mushihimesama 2005 PlayStation 2 Taito Yes No No
Ibara 2006 PlayStation 2 Taito Yes No No
Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine 2007 Microsoft Windows Atlus Yes Yes Yes
Princess Debut 2008 Nintendo DS Cave (JP)
Natsume Inc. (NA)
Midway (EU)
Yes Yes Yes
Ketsui Death Label 2008 Nintendo DS Arika Yes Noa Noa
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou Black Label Extra 2009 Xbox 360 5pb. Yes No No
Deathsmiles 2009 Xbox 360 Cave (JP)
Aksys Games (NA)
Rising Star Games (EU)
Yes Yes Yes
Mushihimesama Futari Ver 1.5 2009 Xbox 360 Cave Yes Noa Noa
Espgaluda II Black Label 2010 Xbox 360 Cave Yes Nob Nob
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra 2010 Xbox 360 5pb. Yes No No
Deathsmiles IIX: Makai no Merry Christmas 2010 Xbox 360 Cave Yes Yes No
Guwange 2010 XBLA Cave Yes Yes Yes
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2010 Xbox 360 Cave (JP)
Rising Star Games (EU)
Yes Noc Yes
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Black Label 2011 Xbox 360 Cave Yes No No
Muchi Muchi Pork! & Pink Sweets: Ibara Sore Kara 2011 Xbox 360 Cave Yes Noa Noa
Nin2-Jump 2011 XBLA Cave Yes Yes Yes
Akai Katana 2011 Xbox 360 Cave (JP)
Rising Star Games (NA & EU)
Yes Yes Yes
Instant Brain 2011 Xbox 360 Cave Yes No No
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Double Pack 2012 Xbox 360 Cave Yes No No
Mushihimesama HD 2012 Xbox 360 Cave Yes No No
DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou 2013 Xbox 360 Cave Yes Noa Noa
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra 2013 PlayStation 3 5pb. Yes Noa Noa
Mushihimesama HD 2015 Microsoft Windows Degica Yes Yes Yes
Deathsmiles 2016 Microsoft Windows Degica Yes Yes Yes
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2016 Microsoft Windows Degica Yes Yes Yes
Dangun Feveron 2017 PlayStation 4, Xbox One M2 Yes Yes Yes
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi 2018 PlayStation 4 M2 Yes Yes No
ESP Ra.De. Psi 2019 PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch M2 Yes TBAa TBAa
Mushihimesama HD 2021 Nintendo Switch LiveWire Yes Yes Yes
Espgaluda II 2021 Nintendo Switch LiveWire Yes Yes Yes
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2021 Nintendo Switch LiveWire Yes Yes Yes
Deathsmiles I・II 2021 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows City Connection Yes Yes Yes
Akai Katana 2022 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows City Connection Yes Yes Yes
Notes

^a Not released outside Japan but release is region-free.
^b Not released outside Japan but regular edition release is region-free.
^c Not released outside Japan and Europe but release is region-free.

Mobile games[edit]

Game Year Platform Publisher(s)
Ninja Tower 2004 Mobile Nuvo Studios
Loveny's Picture Book 2006 Mobile Cave
Switch 2008 Mobile Cave
Espgaluda II 2010 iOS Cave
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2010 iOS Cave
Mushihimesama Bug Panic 2010 iOS Cave
Deathsmiles 2011 iOS Cave
Espgaluda II HD 2011 iOS Cave
Bug Princess 2011 iOS Cave
DoDonPachi Blissful Death 2012 iOS Cave
DoDonPachi Resurrection HD 2012 iOS Cave
Bug Princess 2 2012 iOS Cave
Bug Princess 2 Black Label 2012 iOS Cave
Espgaluda II 2012 Android G-Gee
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2012 Android G-Gee
DoDonPachi Maximum 2012 iOS, Windows Phone Cave
Mushihimesama BUG PANIC 2013 Android G-Gee
Deathsmiles 2013 Android G-Gee
Hello Kitty Puzzle Chains 2014 iOS, Android Mobage
Don Paccin 2014 iOS, Android Mobage
PSYCHO-PASS Koushiki Appli 2015 iOS, Android Cave
Gothic wa Mahou Otome [ja] 2015 iOS, Android Cave
DoDonPachi Ichimen Bancho 2015 iOS, Android Cave
Cube Drop 2016 iOS, Android Cave
Lord of Dungeon 2017 iOS, Android Cave
Sangoku Justice 2018 iOS, Android Cave
World Witches United Front 2020 iOS, Android Cave
Touhou Gensou Eclipse 2023 iOS, Android Cave

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Japanese: 株式会社ケイブ, Hepburn: Kabushiki gaisha Keibu

References[edit]

  1. ^ Company Overview
  2. ^ 英ゲームメディア「Pocketgamer.biz」にて副社長 渡邉幹雄のインタビューが掲載! Archived 2012-01-01 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ CAVE Launches New English Website Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Tsuneki Ikeda (Person)
  5. ^ Makoto Asada (Person)
  6. ^ Makoto Asada leaves Cave
  7. ^ To all CAVE WORLD supporters | CAVE WORLD Official Blog Archived 2014-01-30 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Most prolific developer of danmaku shooters". Guinness World Records.
  9. ^ ケイブとタミヤ、新会社「ミニ四駆ネットワークス」を設立「ミニ四駆オンラインレーサー」等を展開
  10. ^ ミニ四駆ネットワークス(株) 設立のお知らせ
  11. ^ a b 子会社設立のお知らせ
  12. ^ (株)ケイブ・オンライン・エンターテイメント 設立のお知らせ
  13. ^ 当社子会社 「株式会社ケイブ・オンライン・エンターテイメント」 設立登記のお知らせ
  14. ^ 子会社の吸収合併に関するお知らせ
  15. ^ 組織変更に関するお知らせ
  16. ^ クレイズカンパニー株式会社の株式譲受のお知らせ
  17. ^ 子会社の商号変更に関するお知らせ
  18. ^ "株式会社ケイブ の有価証券報告書 (2010年06月01日 – 2011年05月31日 期)". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  19. ^ ビーズマニア株式会社(当社子会社)の事業統合に関するお知らせ
  20. ^ コマース事業の一部譲渡ならびに事業の廃止に関するお知らせ
  21. ^ Arcade games | CAVE Database
  22. ^ "CAVE 68000 Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  23. ^ "PGM Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  24. ^ "CAVE CV1000B Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  25. ^ "CAVE CV1000D Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  26. ^ "CAVE PC Hardware (Other)". System16.com – The Arcade Museum. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  27. ^ Cave's Gigantic Xbox 360 Shooter Collection Has 11 Games + A Disc Just To Install DLC – Siliconera
  28. ^ Cave Shooting Collection Complete Packs 11 Games And 7 Playthrough DVDs – Siliconera

External links[edit]