Jump to content

Tengen (company)

From Alfawiki
Tengen Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedDecember 21, 1987
DefunctJune 28, 1994
FateMerged into Time Warner Interactive
SuccessorTime Warner Interactive
HeadquartersMilpitas, California, US
ProductsVideo games
ParentAtari Games
SubsidiariesTengen Ltd.

Tengen Inc. was a U.S.-based video game publisher and developer established by arcade game producer Atari Games to distribute titles for computers and gaming consoles. The company operated a Japanese branch known as .

History

In 1984, Atari, Inc. divided into two entities: Atari Corporation, which managed computer and console hardware and software with rights to the Atari brand in these sectors, and Atari Games, originating from the arcade division, authorized to use the Atari name solely for arcade products. To penetrate the console market, Atari Games launched the Tengen brand, named after a key position in the board game Go.

During this period, Nintendo imposed restrictions on licensees, limiting them to five game releases annually, controlling cartridge production, and mandating a two-year exclusivity on NES titles. After unsuccessful attempts to negotiate more lenient terms, Atari Games agreed to Nintendo’s standard licensing agreement in December 1987 and incorporated Tengen on December 21. In 1988, Tengen published three officially licensed Nintendo games: R.B.I. Baseball, Pac-Man, and Gauntlet.

Concurrently, Tengen engineered a technique to circumvent Nintendo’s lock-out chip (10NES) that prevented unauthorized NES cartridges. Unlike others who used voltage spikes risking console damage, Tengen’s engineers endeavored to reverse-engineer the chip but were unsuccessful before their release deadline. They subsequently obtained the lock-out program legally from the United States Copyright Office under the premise of possible legal action and developed their own unlocking hardware.

In December 1988, Tengen declared plans to launch unlicensed cartridges. Nintendo promptly filed lawsuits alleging copyright and patent violations, initiating a legal battle that extended until 1994.

In 1989, Nintendo prevailed in litigation against Tengen regarding NES versions of Tetris, compelling Tengen to recall hundreds of thousands of unsold cartridges after approximately 50,000 units had been sold.

Besides NES titles, Tengen created games for systems such as the Sega Genesis, Master System, Game Gear, and TurboGrafx-16, as well as publishing localized versions for platforms like the Sega CD. The company also licensed software for home computers including the Amiga and Atari ST, frequently collaborating with UK publisher Domark. Tengen gained recognition primarily for porting popular Atari arcade games like Klax, Hard Drivin', STUN Runner, and Paperboy. Following resolution of disputes with Nintendo and Time Warner regaining control of Atari Games in 1994, Tengen was absorbed into Time Warner Interactive.

Revival

In 2024, the homebrew creator Jeff Silvers secured the rights to the "Tengen" trademark, founding Tengen Games. The company’s first release was Zed and Zee, an 8-bit arcade-style action platformer available for NES, Famicom, and Windows platforms.

NES games

Tengen developed both authorized and unauthorized editions of three NES titles: R.B.I. Baseball, Gauntlet, and Pac-Man. Their unlicensed cartridges were notable for their rounded shape and matte black finish, reminiscent of original Atari cartridges, contrasting with the typical gray color of licensed NES game cartridges.

Licensed and unlicensed
  • R.B.I. Baseball (June 1988; a reskinned adaptation of Namco's Pro Yakyū Family Stadium)
  • Gauntlet (July 1988)
  • Pac-Man (October 1988; derived from Namco's 1984 Famicom version)
Unlicensed only

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Tengen_(company)&oldid=24230"