Cave (company)

CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd.[lower-alpha 1] 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.

This article is about the Japanese video game company. For the virtual reality environment, see Cave automatic virtual environment.
CAVE Interactive Co., Ltd.
Native name
株式会社ケイブ
TypePublic
TYO: 3760
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJune 15, 1994
Headquarters
Meguro, Tokyo
,
Japan
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" is an acronym for "Computer Art Visual Entertainment".

History

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

Arcade games

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.

GameYearHardwarePublisher(s)
DonPachi1995CAVE 68000Atlus
Othello Derby1995Toaplan Version 2Tsukuda Original
DoDonPachi1997CAVE 68000Atlus
Steep Slope Sliders1998Sega ST-VCapcom
Puzzle Uo Poko1998CAVE 68000Jaleco
ESP Ra.De.1998CAVE 68000Atlus
Dangun Feveron / Fever S.O.S.1998CAVE 68000Nihon System
Guwange1999CAVE 68000Atlus
Progear: Storm of Progear2001CPS2Capcom
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou2002PGMAMI
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi2003PGMAMI
Espgaluda2003PGMAMI
Mushihimesama2004CAVE CV1000BAMI
Ibara2005CAVE CV1000BAMI
Puzzle! Mushihimetama2005CAVE CV1000BAMI
Espgaluda II2005CAVE CV1000BAMI
Ibara Kuro: Black Label2006CAVE CV1000BAMI
Pink Sweets: Ibara Sorekara2006CAVE CV1000BAMI
Mushihimesama Futari2006CAVE CV1000BAMI
Muchi Muchi Pork!2007CAVE CV1000BAMI
Deathsmiles2007CAVE CV1000BAMI
Deathsmiles Mega Black Label2008CAVE CV1000DAMI
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu2008CAVE CV1000DAMI
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Ver 1.52008CAVE CV1000DAMI
Omatsuri Yasan: Kingyo Sukui2009CAVE PCCave
Omatsuri Yasan: Ganso Takoyaki2009CAVE PCCave
Deathsmiles II: Makai no Merry Christmas2009CAVE PCCave
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Black Label2010CAVE CV1000DCave
Akai Katana2010CAVE CV1000DCave
DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou2012CAVE CV1000DCave

Console games

On March 28, 2013 Cave released a special bundle called Cave Shooting Collection 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]

GameYearSystemPublisher(s)JPNAEU
Delisoba Deluxe1995Sega SaturnTBSYesNoNo
Touge: King the Spirits1995Sega SaturnAtlusYesYesNo
DonPachi1996Sega SaturnAtlusYesNoNo
DonPachi1996PlayStationSPSYesNoNo
Touge: King the Spirits 21997Sega SaturnAtlusYesNoNo
DoDonPachi1997Sega SaturnAtlusYesNoNo
Steep Slope Sliders1997Sega SaturnSegaYesYesYes
Peak Performance1997PlayStationAtlusYesYesYes
Trick'N Snowboarder1999PlayStationCapcomYesYesYes
Touge Max 21999PlayStationAtlusYesNoNo
Touge Max G2000PlayStationAtlusYesNoNo
Snowboard Heaven2000PlayStation 2CapcomYesNoNo
Yanya Caballista: City Skater2001PlayStation 2KoeiYesYesNo
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou2003PlayStation 2ArikaYesNoNo
Espgaluda2004PlayStation 2ArikaYesNoNo
Mushihimesama2005PlayStation 2TaitoYesNoNo
Ibara2006PlayStation 2TaitoYesNoNo
Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine2007Microsoft WindowsAtlusYesYesYes
Princess Debut2008Nintendo DSCave (JP)
Natsume (NA)
Midway (EU)		YesYesYes
Ketsui Death Label2008Nintendo DSArikaYesNoaNoa
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou Black Label Extra2009Xbox 3605pb.YesNoNo
Deathsmiles2009Xbox 360Cave (JP)
Aksys Games (NA)
Rising Star Games (EU)		YesYesYes
Mushihimesama Futari Ver 1.52009Xbox 360CaveYesNoaNoa
Espgaluda II Black Label2010Xbox 360CaveYesNobNob
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra2010Xbox 3605pb.YesNoNo
Deathsmiles IIX: Makai no Merry Christmas2010Xbox 360CaveYesYesNo
Guwange2010XBLACaveYesYesYes
DoDonPachi Resurrection2010Xbox 360Cave (JP)
Rising Star Games (EU)		YesNocYes
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Black Label2011Xbox 360CaveYesNoNo
Muchi Muchi Pork! & Pink Sweets: Ibara Sore Kara2011Xbox 360CaveYesNoaNoa
Nin2-Jump2011XBLACaveYesYesYes
Akai Katana2011Xbox 360Cave (JP)
Rising Star Games (NA & EU)		YesYesYes
Instant Brain2011Xbox 360CaveYesNoNo
DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu Double Pack2012Xbox 360CaveYesNoNo
Mushihimesama HD2012Xbox 360CaveYesNoNo
DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou2013Xbox 360CaveYesNoaNoa
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra2013PlayStation 35pb.YesNoaNoa
Mushihimesama HD2015Microsoft WindowsDegicaYesYesYes
Deathsmiles2016Microsoft WindowsDegicaYesYesYes
DoDonPachi Resurrection2016Microsoft WindowsDegicaYesYesYes
Dangun Feveron2017PlayStation 4, Xbox OneM2YesYesYes
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi2018PlayStation 4M2YesYesNo
ESP Ra.De. Psi2019PlayStation 4, Nintendo SwitchM2YesTBAaTBAa
Mushihimesama HD2021Nintendo SwitchLiveWireYesYesYes
Espgaluda II2021Nintendo SwitchLiveWireYesYesYes
DoDonPachi Resurrection2021Nintendo SwitchLiveWireYesYesYes
Deathsmiles I･II2021Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft WindowsCity ConnectionYesYesYes
Akai Katana2022Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft WindowsCity ConnectionYesYesYes
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
GameYearPlatformPublisher(s)
Ninja Tower2004MobileNuvo Studios
Loveny's Picture Book2006MobileCave
Switch2008MobileCave
Espgaluda II2010iOSCave
DoDonPachi Resurrection2010iOSCave
Mushihimesama Bug Panic2010iOSCave
Deathsmiles2011iOSCave
Espgaluda II HD2011iOSCave
Bug Princess2011iOSCave
DoDonPachi Blissful Death2012iOSCave
DoDonPachi Resurrection HD2012iOSCave
Bug Princess 22012iOSCave
Bug Princess 2 Black Label2012iOSCave
Espgaluda II2012AndroidG-Gee
DoDonPachi Resurrection2012AndroidG-Gee
DoDonPachi Maximum2012iOS, Windows PhoneCave
Mushihimesama BUG PANIC2013AndroidG-Gee
Deathsmiles2013AndroidG-Gee
Hello Kitty Puzzle Chains2014iOS, AndroidMobage
Don Paccin2014iOS, AndroidMobage
PSYCHO-PASS Koushiki Appli2015iOS, AndroidCave
Gothic wa Mahou Otome2015iOS, AndroidCave
DoDonPachi Ichimen Bancho2015iOS, AndroidCave
Cube Drop2016iOS, AndroidCave
Lord of Dungeon2017iOS, AndroidCave
Sangoku Justice2018iOS, AndroidCave
World Witches United Front2020iOS, AndroidCave

See also

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

References
  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. 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
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