MangaGamer
Encyclopedia
MangaGamer is a Netherlands-based company primary specializing in the English localization and distribution of Japanese visual novel
s.
development company Overdrive. Due to the cost involved, he convinced several other Japanese eroge companies (Tarte, Nexton
and Circus
) to take part in a joint venture.
Due to this setup, the initial lineup of titles consisted of titles produced by companies involved in MangaGamer's creation, with Navel
soon joining with their first title, Shuffle!
. These early titles were translated by native Japanese speakers involved with parent companies, resulting in a subpar quality. After complaints from fans, it was announced that a complete re-translation of Edelweiss
was in progress. Starting with Soul Link
, translation and editing is handled by international team of native English speakers, resulting in an increase of quality. The company itself is headed by a relative of Takeuchi, and a core Japanese staff is spread across involved Japanese companies. In addition to their primary domain, mangagamer.com, MangaGamer also own an alternative domain, manga-corp.com, that redirects to the all-ages version of their website on the primary domain.
At their panel at Otakon 2011
, MangaGamer announced they are expanding their business into digital distribution of erotic
manga
(by Japanese publisher Akane Shinsha) and anime
(by Discovery).
by Innocent Grey and Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two.
by Minori
.
2010 and Otakon 2010 conventions, physical disks were sold with the first four games in the Higurashi When They Cry series and Kira Kira All-Ages. Those games were later sold by HimeyaShop and Hendane!.com. In January 2011, a collaboration was announced between Hendane!.com and MangaGamer resulting in the sale of physical copies of Da Capo Limited Edition through Hendane!.com. In July 2011, J-List
became the primary North American distributor of physical copies for all current MangaGamer titles, except Da Capo LE. Around the same time, MangaGamer opened their own webshop for physical copies aimed at European customers.
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
s.
History
MangaGamer was originally envisioned as a company that would sell Japanese visual novels overseas by Hiroshi Takeuchi, also known under his alias Bamboo, president of Japanese erogeEroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
development company Overdrive. Due to the cost involved, he convinced several other Japanese eroge companies (Tarte, Nexton
Nexton
is a Japanese software company specializing in the publishing and distribution of visual novel video games for a nine game developers that Nexton is partners with. The company is located in Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Japan...
and Circus
Circus (company)
Circus is a Japanese visual novel studio known for creating adult-oriented bishōjo games. In addition to the normal Circus brand name, there are other brand divisions including Circus Northern, Circus Fetish, Circus Metal, and Sanctuary...
) to take part in a joint venture.
Due to this setup, the initial lineup of titles consisted of titles produced by companies involved in MangaGamer's creation, with Navel
Navel (company)
is a Japanese label of Omega Vision Inc. a publisher of bishōjo eroge visual novel video games. Its name is a reference to the navel orange.-Games produced:By Navel*Shuffle! *Soul Link...
soon joining with their first title, Shuffle!
Shuffle!
is a Japanese visual novel developed by Navel. It was originally released as an adult game for Microsoft Windows on January 30, 2004. It was subsequently followed by an all-ages release for the PlayStation 2 and an expanded adult release for Windows...
. These early titles were translated by native Japanese speakers involved with parent companies, resulting in a subpar quality. After complaints from fans, it was announced that a complete re-translation of Edelweiss
Edelweiss
Edelweiss , Leontopodium alpinum, is a well-known European mountain flower, belonging to the sunflower family.-Names:The common name comes from German edel, meaning "noble", and weiß "white", thus signifying "noble whiteness".The scientific name Leontopodium is a Latin adaptation of Greek...
was in progress. Starting with Soul Link
Soul Link
Soul Link is a visual novel eroge developed by Navel, centering around a group of military cadets' adventure aboard a space hotel called Aries.A PlayStation 2 port of the original game Soul Link Extension was released in Japan on June 29, 2006...
, translation and editing is handled by international team of native English speakers, resulting in an increase of quality. The company itself is headed by a relative of Takeuchi, and a core Japanese staff is spread across involved Japanese companies. In addition to their primary domain, mangagamer.com, MangaGamer also own an alternative domain, manga-corp.com, that redirects to the all-ages version of their website on the primary domain.
At their panel at Otakon 2011
Otakon
Otakon is a fan convention in the United States focusing on East Asian popular culture and its fandom. The name is a portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku...
, MangaGamer announced they are expanding their business into digital distribution of erotic
Hentai
is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
(by Japanese publisher Akane Shinsha) and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
(by Discovery).
Relations with fan translators
MangaGamer has served as a mediator in talks between several fan translation groups and Japanese game companies that ended in deals made to officially release said translations through MangaGamer. Their games include Kara no ShōjoKara no Shojo
is an adult visual novel by Innocent Grey for the PC. It was released on July 4, 2008.-Plot:Kara no Shōjos story revolves around , a private investigator who is investigating a series of grotesque murders on the request of his former colleague, of the Tokyo metropolitan police force...
by Innocent Grey and Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two.
Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two.
Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two is the overall title of a two-part Japanese adult visual novel series by Minori for the PC as a DVD. The first game in the series, Ef: The First Tale, was released on December 22, 2006, and the second game, Ef: The Latter Tale, was released on May 30, 2008...
by Minori
Minori
is a Japanese visual novel company which created the games Bittersweet Fools, Wind: A Breath of Heart, Haru no Ashioto and Angel Type. Their latest game as of 2009 is Eden*...
.
Distribution
Originally, MangaGamer sold their titles exclusively via digital distribution, and it remains their primary release channel. During the Anime ExpoAnime Expo
Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...
2010 and Otakon 2010 conventions, physical disks were sold with the first four games in the Higurashi When They Cry series and Kira Kira All-Ages. Those games were later sold by HimeyaShop and Hendane!.com. In January 2011, a collaboration was announced between Hendane!.com and MangaGamer resulting in the sale of physical copies of Da Capo Limited Edition through Hendane!.com. In July 2011, J-List
J-List
J-List is an online seller of Japanese goods to consumers outside of Japan, with a concentration on otaku goods and Japanese pornography, including live action, anime, and manga...
became the primary North American distributor of physical copies for all current MangaGamer titles, except Da Capo LE. Around the same time, MangaGamer opened their own webshop for physical copies aimed at European customers.
Lineup
| Marketed title | Japanese title | Japanese developer | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edelweiss Edelweiss (visual novel) is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Overdrive and released for the Microsoft Windows PC on July 10, 2008. An official English translation by MangaGamer was released and only available via downloading on MangaGamer's website... |
Overdrive | Re-released on September 2, 2011 with a new and improved translation | ||
| Which girl should I choose? | Tarte | |||
| My sex slave is a classmate | Liquid Nexton is a Japanese software company specializing in the publishing and distribution of visual novel video games for a nine game developers that Nexton is partners with. The company is located in Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Japan... |
Removed from MangaGamer website on , restored on | ||
| Tasty Shafts | Psycho | |||
| Shera, My Witch | Score Nexton is a Japanese software company specializing in the publishing and distribution of visual novel video games for a nine game developers that Nexton is partners with. The company is located in Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Japan... |
|||
| Da Capo | Circus Circus (company) Circus is a Japanese visual novel studio known for creating adult-oriented bishōjo games. In addition to the normal Circus brand name, there are other brand divisions including Circus Northern, Circus Fetish, Circus Metal, and Sanctuary... |
Limited edition hard copy published on | ||
| Suika A.S+ Suika (visual novel) is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Circus and was first released on July 27, 2001 for the PC as a CD-ROM, followed by a DVD-ROM release on August 31, 2001... |
Circus Circus (company) Circus is a Japanese visual novel studio known for creating adult-oriented bishōjo games. In addition to the normal Circus brand name, there are other brand divisions including Circus Northern, Circus Fetish, Circus Metal, and Sanctuary... & Moonstone Moonstone (company) Moonstone is a Japanese visual novel studio known for creating adult-oriented bishōjo games. The founding members of Moonstone had once been members of Circus, a similar visual novel studio... |
|||
| Kira Kira | Overdrive | |||
| Shuffle! Shuffle! is a Japanese visual novel developed by Navel. It was originally released as an adult game for Microsoft Windows on January 30, 2004. It was subsequently followed by an all-ages release for the PlayStation 2 and an expanded adult release for Windows... |
Shuffle! | Navel Navel (company) is a Japanese label of Omega Vision Inc. a publisher of bishōjo eroge visual novel video games. Its name is a reference to the navel orange.-Games produced:By Navel*Shuffle! *Soul Link... |
||
| Suck my dick or die! | Liquid Nexton is a Japanese software company specializing in the publishing and distribution of visual novel video games for a nine game developers that Nexton is partners with. The company is located in Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Japan... |
Removed from MangaGamer website on , restored and released on | ||
| Higurashi When They Cry | 07th Expansion 07th Expansion 07th Expansion is a Japanese dōjin group that specializes in the creation of visual novels known as sound novels. They started out drawing for the trading card game Leaf Fight, but they are most famous for creating the dōjin game series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni... |
Contains the first four games in the series | ||
| Soul Link Soul Link Soul Link is a visual novel eroge developed by Navel, centering around a group of military cadets' adventure aboard a space hotel called Aries.A PlayStation 2 port of the original game Soul Link Extension was released in Japan on June 29, 2006... |
Navel Navel (company) is a Japanese label of Omega Vision Inc. a publisher of bishōjo eroge visual novel video games. Its name is a reference to the navel orange.-Games produced:By Navel*Shuffle! *Soul Link... |
|||
| Sandwiched by my wife and her sister | Psycho | |||
| Kira Kira All-Ages Version | Overdrive | Translation used in iOS version published by Mtrix | ||
| Cosplay Alien | Score Nexton is a Japanese software company specializing in the publishing and distribution of visual novel video games for a nine game developers that Nexton is partners with. The company is located in Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Japan... |
|||
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai "Meakashi" | 07th Expansion 07th Expansion 07th Expansion is a Japanese dōjin group that specializes in the creation of visual novels known as sound novels. They started out drawing for the trading card game Leaf Fight, but they are most famous for creating the dōjin game series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni... |
|||
| Edelweiss Edelweiss (visual novel) is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Overdrive and released for the Microsoft Windows PC on July 10, 2008. An official English translation by MangaGamer was released and only available via downloading on MangaGamer's website... Eiden Fantasia |
Overdrive | Edelweiss fandisc | ||
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai "Tsumihoroboshi" | 07th Expansion 07th Expansion 07th Expansion is a Japanese dōjin group that specializes in the creation of visual novels known as sound novels. They started out drawing for the trading card game Leaf Fight, but they are most famous for creating the dōjin game series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni... |
|||
| Kira Kira Curtain Call | Overdrive | Kira Kira sequel and fandisc | ||
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai "Minagoroshi" | 07th Expansion 07th Expansion 07th Expansion is a Japanese dōjin group that specializes in the creation of visual novels known as sound novels. They started out drawing for the trading card game Leaf Fight, but they are most famous for creating the dōjin game series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni... |
|||
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai "Matsuribayashi" | 07th Expansion 07th Expansion 07th Expansion is a Japanese dōjin group that specializes in the creation of visual novels known as sound novels. They started out drawing for the trading card game Leaf Fight, but they are most famous for creating the dōjin game series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni... |
|||
| Da Capo Innocent Finale | Circus Circus (company) Circus is a Japanese visual novel studio known for creating adult-oriented bishōjo games. In addition to the normal Circus brand name, there are other brand divisions including Circus Northern, Circus Fetish, Circus Metal, and Sanctuary... |
Da Capo "alternative version" with the focus on Kotori Shirakawa | ||
| Da Capo 2 | Circus Circus (company) Circus is a Japanese visual novel studio known for creating adult-oriented bishōjo games. In addition to the normal Circus brand name, there are other brand divisions including Circus Northern, Circus Fetish, Circus Metal, and Sanctuary... |
Limited edition hard copy published on | ||
| Higurashi When They Cry Kai Bundle Pack | 07th Expansion 07th Expansion 07th Expansion is a Japanese dōjin group that specializes in the creation of visual novels known as sound novels. They started out drawing for the trading card game Leaf Fight, but they are most famous for creating the dōjin game series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni... |
Last four games bundled | ||
| Koihime Musou: A Heart-Throbbing, Maidenly Romance of the Three Kingdoms Koihime Muso is a Japanese adult visual novel and strategy game based on the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It was developed by BaseSon, and was first released on January 26, 2007, for the PC as two DVD-ROMs, followed by a re-release on April 11, 2008, containing an extra CD-ROM... |
BaseSon Nexton is a Japanese software company specializing in the publishing and distribution of visual novel video games for a nine game developers that Nexton is partners with. The company is located in Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Japan... |
Released without voices | ||
| Guilty: The SiN | Tactics | |||
| Kotori Love Ex P | Circus Circus (company) Circus is a Japanese visual novel studio known for creating adult-oriented bishōjo games. In addition to the normal Circus brand name, there are other brand divisions including Circus Northern, Circus Fetish, Circus Metal, and Sanctuary... |
Da Capo fandisc, a bundle of various chapters from across the franchise that focuses on Kotori Shirakawa | ||
| Kara no Shoujo Kara no Shojo is an adult visual novel by Innocent Grey for the PC. It was released on July 4, 2008.-Plot:Kara no Shōjos story revolves around , a private investigator who is investigating a series of grotesque murders on the request of his former colleague, of the Tokyo metropolitan police force... |
Innocent Grey | Released without voices | ||
| We Love Master! | Score Nexton is a Japanese software company specializing in the publishing and distribution of visual novel video games for a nine game developers that Nexton is partners with. The company is located in Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Japan... |
|||
| Go! Go! Nippon! ~My First Trip to Japan~ | Overdrive | Written originally for the English market | ||
| Conquering the Queen | Liquid Nexton is a Japanese software company specializing in the publishing and distribution of visual novel video games for a nine game developers that Nexton is partners with. The company is located in Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Japan... |
|||
| Harem Party | Tactics |