Namachūkei 68

Namachūkei 68[lower-alpha 1] is a 1991 sports video game developed and published by Konami for the X68000. In the game, players have the choice to compete in matches against computer-controlled opponents or other human players in either a single game or a full season. The players selects between 12 teams that come with the game, but can also create their own team as well as manage the statistics of each individual player. Gameplay incorporates multiple camera angles to present a pseudo-3D perspective, in a manner resembling a sports television broadcast.

Namachūkei 68
Developer(s)Konami
Publisher(s)Konami
Director(s)Akihiro Minakata
Designer(s)Koji Toyohara
Programmer(s)Isao Akada
Composer(s)Yuji Takenouchi
Platform(s)X68000
Release
  • JP: July 30, 1991
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Namachūkei 68 served as the fourth stand-alone title developed Konami for the X68000, following their conversion of Parodius Da! Shinwa kara Owarai e on the platform. The game was directed by Akihiro Minakata, who later worked on the Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū series. It was designed by Koji Toyohara, who had previously worked on Gekitotsu Pennant Race 2 for the MSX2/MSX2+ home computers. The soundtrack was scored by Konami Kukeiha Club member Yuji Takenouchi. It was met with generally favorable reception from reviewers.

Gameplay
Gameplay screenshot

Namachūkei 68 is a sports game. The players have the choice to compete in matches against computer-controlled opponents or other human players in either a single game or a full season. The players selects between 12 teams that come with the game, but can also create their own team and manage the statistics of each individual player. Multiple camera angles are incorporated during gameplay to present a pseudo-3D perspective, in a manner resembling a sports television broadcast.[1][2][3]

Development and release

Namachūkei 68 served as the fourth stand-alone title developed Konami for the X68000, following their conversion of Parodius Da! Shinwa kara Owarai e on the platform.[3][4] The game was directed by Akihiro "A.S." Minakata (who later worked on the Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū series) and designed by Koji "Toy" Toyohara, who had previously worked on Gekitotsu Pennant Race 2 for the MSX2/MSX2+ home computers.[5][6][7][8] Isao Akada served as the game's sole programmer, while the soundtrack was scored by Konami Kukeiha Club member Yuji Takenouchi, with Masahiro Ikariko, Hideto "Imo" Inoue, Kaori Kinouchi, and Yuichi "Mine" Takamine assisting in the sound department.[8][9][10] The game was first announced in 1990, planning for a January 1991 release date, but was ultimately published by Konami on July 30, 1991 (although July 19, 1991 is also listed as release date).[3][4][11][12] In 2006, select music tracks from the game were included as part of a compilation album titled Legend Of Game Music Consumer Box, distributed in Japan by Scitron.[9]

Reception

Namachūkei 68 was met with generally favorable reception from reviewers. Micom BASIC Magazine noted the game's sense of realism and "splendid" graphical direction, but commented that it may prove initially difficult because of the pseudo-3D point of view.[3] Micom BASIC also ranked Namachūkei 68 at the number nine spot in popularity on their October 1991 issue.[14] Oh!X's Ogikubo Kei commended the game's audiovisual presentation, but felt that it was slower but difficult compared to fast-paced action titles on the X68000. Nevertheless, Kei recommended it for fans of professional baseball.[15] Technopolis gave the game a positive outlook.[13]

Notes
  1. Japanese: 生中継６８, Hepburn: Namachuukei 68, lit. "Live Broadcast 68"

References
  1. 生中継 (ユーザーズマニュアル) (Japanese ed.). Konami. July 1991.
  2. Kei, Ogikubo (July 1991). "The Softouch - Software Information: 生中継68". Oh!X (in Japanese). No. 112. SoftBank Creative. p. 30.
  3. Itabashi; Yamashita, Akira; Kōryū (August 1991). "今月の注目ソフト: 「本格的」上! X68K ューザー 待望の野球ゲーム - 生中継68; Super Soft Hot Information - Personal Computer (パソコン): 生中継68". Micom BASIC Magazine (in Japanese). No. 110. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation. pp. 244, 249.
  4. "Other Hard's Soft: X-68000シリーズ" (in Japanese). Konami. 1996. Archived from the original on 1996-11-08. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  5. Maeda, Hiroyuki (October 27, 2020). "2". X68000 Game Software All Catalogue. pp. 44–189. ISBN 978-4867171011. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. "［ＴＯＹのパワフルレポート］ - 特別寄稿「パワプロへの道、そして・・・」 - 第１回 : 激突ペナントレース２". Diamond Head (in Japanese). Konami. July 8, 1999. Archived from the original on 2017-05-18. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  7. "［ＴＯＹのパワフルレポート］ - 特別寄稿「パワプロへの道、そして・・・」 - 第２回 : 生中継６８". Diamond Head (in Japanese). Konami. July 15, 1999. Archived from the original on 2017-05-18. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  8. Konami (July 30, 1991). Namachūkei 68 (X68000) (in Japanese). Konami. Level/area: 補足説明６８. (Transcription by Gyusyabu 2001. Archived 2023-08-19 at the Wayback Machine).
  9. "LEGEND OF GAME MUSIC CONSUMER BOX | SCDC-00497~506". VGMdb. Archived from the original on 2021-11-28. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  10. Greening, Chris (December 30, 2012). "Yuji Takenouchi Profile". Video Game Music Online. Archived from the original on 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  11. "New Soft: 生中継68". LOGiN (in Japanese). Vol. 9, no. 23. ASCII Corporation. November 16, 1990.
  12. "Gaming World - Soft Flash: 生中継68". Technopolis (in Japanese). Vol. 9, no. 100. Tokuma Shoten. December 1990. p. 32.
  13. "Gaming World: 生中継68". Technopolis (in Japanese). Vol. 10, no. 110. Tokuma Shoten. October 1991. pp. 26–27.
  14. Itabashi; Yamashita, Akira; Kōryū (October 1991). "Super Soft Hot Information - Personal Computer (パソコン): Hot 30". Micom BASIC Magazine (in Japanese). No. 112. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation. pp. 251–253.
  15. Kei, Ogikubo (September 1991). "The Softouch - Game Review: 生中継68 - ブロ野球，欠かせないのは中井美穂". Oh!X (in Japanese). No. 114. SoftBank Creative. pp. 34–35.
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