Games - Irem

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	Games - Irem

Irem (アイレム) is a Japanese video game console developer and publisher and formerly a developer and manufacturer of arcade games as well. They are probably best known for the famous scrolling shooter R-Type. They have been a popular developer in Japan with games like Photoboy for the PC Engine and In the Hunt for the Sega Saturn.

Irem was founded in 1974 under the name IPM. Its purpose was to manufacture, sell or rent arcade hardware cabinets. IPM released its first video arcade game in 1978. In 1979, IPM changed its name to Irem Corporation. Originally an abbreviation for ("International Rental Electronics Machines"), the meaning of Irem's acronym was changed to ("Innovations in Recreational Electronic Media") in the first half of the 1980s.

As Irem entered the 1990s, the corporation began to decline. Sales were so poor that in 1994, Irem ceased development of video games. The company's original wholesale division, which was in charge of manufacturing and renting/selling arcade cabinets , spun off from Irem to form its own company called Apies (アピエス); leaving Irem with only the video game division. Then a group of employees, tired of the company's inactivity, left Irem to form their own company under the name Nazca Corporation.

On April 15, 1997, Nanao (now Eizo Nanao) founded Irem Software Engineering Inc. Shorthly after on July 1997, Irem Software Engineering took over the development department of Irem Corporation. The publishing department of Irem Corporation, on the other hand, became under the direct control of Nanao who then sold it to none other than Apies in 1998.

Irem now develops and publishes games in Japan exclusively for the PlayStation 2 and will also for the upcoming PlayStation 3. Overall, the video game development department is the only remnant of the former Irem Corporation which is still associated with the brand.

Irem Software Engineering is headquartered in Hakusan. It is a a wholly-owned subsdiary of Eizo Nanao Corporation

== List of Irem's Games (M-xx=PCB Hardware system)==

The Galaxy Empire Strikes Back (19??) M-xx Hardware not known
Mahjong
/ Block Mahjong (1978)
Nyankoro (1978)
Piccolo (1978)
Power Block (1978)
Andromeda (1979) (Andromeda 55?) M-10 Hardware
Commander (1979)
IPM Invader (1979) M-10
Mahjong DX (1979)
New Block X / New Block Z (1979)
Space Beam (1979?) M-15
Space Command (1979)
Head On (1979?) M-15
Green Beret (1980) M-15?
Panther (1980)
Sky Chuter (1980) M-15?
UniWar S / Gingateikoku No Gyakushu (1980) (prob. not M-15?) Galaxian Hardware
Demoneye-X (1981) M-27 (4 PCB's)/+ M-42-S
Oli-Boo-Chu (with GDI) (1981) / Punching Kid (1982) M-47
Red Alert (with GDI) (1981) M-27
Moon Patrol (licensed to Williams) (1982) M-52
10-Yard Fight (1983) M-52
Traverse USA / Zippy Race / MotoRace USA (licensed to Williams) (1983) M-52
Tropical Angel (1983) M-52
The Battle Road (1984) M-62
Kung-Fu Master (licensed to Data East)(Spartan X in Japan) (1984)M-62
Lode Runner (licensed from Brøderbund) (1984) M-62
Load Runner II: The Bungeling Strikes Back (licensed from Brøderbund) (1984)M-62
Wily Tower (1984)M-63
Atomic Boy (licensed to Memetron) (1985) (variant of Wily Tower)M-63
Horizon (1985) M-62
Kung Fu (PlayChoice-10
) (licensed to Nintendo) (1985) playchoice
Lode Runner III: The Golden Labyrinth (licensed from Brøderbund) (1985) M-62
Lot Lot (1985) M-62
Spelunker (licensed from Brøderbund) (1985)M-62
Kid Niki: Radical Ninja / Kaiketsu Yanchamaru (1986) M-62
Lode Runner IV - Teikoku Kara no Dasshutsu (1986) M-62
Spelunker II (licensed from Brøderbund) (1986) M-62
Youjyuden (1986) M-62
Battle Chopper / Mr. HELI no Dai-Bouken (1987) M-72
R-Type (licensed to Nintendo of America) (1987) M-72
Image Fight (1988) M-72
Meikyuujima (developed by Nanao) (1988)-
Ninja Spirit / Saigo no Nindou (1988) M-72
Vigilante (licensed to Data East) (1988) M-75
Dragon Breed (1989) M-81
Legend of Hero Tonma (1989) M-72
R-Type II (1989) M-82/ 84 (jap)
X-Multiply (1989) M-72
Holy Diver (1989) M-78? NES Game, probably not an Arcade game

Air Duel (1990) M-72?

Hammerin' Harry / Daiku no Gensan (1990) M-82/72 different versions

Major Title(1990) M-84

Pound for Pound (1990)(Irem US) M-85

Kickle Cubicle (1990)(Irem US, Nintendo Famicom / Nintendo Entertainment System)

Blade Master (1991) M-92?

Cosmic Cop / Gallop - Armed Police Unit (1991) M-84/73?

Dynablaster / Bomber Man / Atomic Punk (licensed from Hudson Soft) (1991)

Gunforce - Battle Fire Engulfed Terror Island (1991) M-92 A

Hasamu (1991) M-90

Ken-Go (1991) M-72?

Lethal Thunder / Thunder Blaster (1991) M-92

Super R-Type (1991, Super NES)

Bomber Man World / New Dyna Blaster - Global Quest / New Atomic Punk - Global Quest (1992)

Hook (1992) M-99 A

Major Title 2 - Tournament Leader / The Irem Skins Game (1992) M-92 F

Mystic Riders / Gun Hohki (1992) M-92

Quiz F-1 1,2finish (1992) M-97

R-Type Leo (1992) M-92

Skins Game (Super Nintendo System) (1992)

Undercover Cops (1992) M-92

Fire Barrel (1993) M-107

In The Hunt / Kaitei Daisensou (1993) M-92 E
Ninja Baseball Bat Man / Yakyuu Kakutou League-Man (1993) M-92
Risky Challenge (1993) M-97
Perfect Soldiers / Superior Soldiers (US) (1993) M-92 G
Dream Soccer '94 (licensed to Data East)(1994) M92 G(Irem),M-107 Data East
Gunforce 2 / Geostorm (1994) M-92 G
R-Type III: The Third Lightning (1994, Nintendo Super Famicom)
R-Type Delta (1999, Sony PlayStation)
R-Type Final (2004, Sony PlayStation 2)
Sanyo Pachinko Paradise 9-12 (2003-2005, Sony PlayStation 2)
Sakurasaka Shouboutai (2004, Sony PlayStation 2)
Steambot Chronicles (2005, Sony PlayStation 2)
Blocks Club with Bumpy Trot (2005, Sony PlayStation 2)
Zettaizetsumei Toshi 2: Itetsuita Kiokutachi (2006, Sony PlayStation 2)

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