Difference between revisions of "HAL Laboratory"
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On the [[Gameboy Advance]], HAL released two Kirby games. They also tried to create two other games, but neither of them made. On the hardware side of things, HAL is responsible for the GBA's [[eReader]] accessory. | On the [[Gameboy Advance]], HAL released two Kirby games. They also tried to create two other games, but neither of them made. On the hardware side of things, HAL is responsible for the GBA's [[eReader]] accessory. | ||
| − | About this time, [[Kirby]] creator, Masahiro Sakurai left HAL to form his own company, Sora Ltd. | + | About this time, [[Kirby]] creator, Masahiro Sakurai left HAL to form his own company, Sora Ltd. They most recently made ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' |
For the DS, HAL has made two new Kirby games as well as ''[[Pokemon Ranger]]''. | For the DS, HAL has made two new Kirby games as well as ''[[Pokemon Ranger]]''. | ||
| Line 141: | Line 141: | ||
*[[Kirby Canvas Curse]] | *[[Kirby Canvas Curse]] | ||
*[[Kirby Squeak Squad]] | *[[Kirby Squeak Squad]] | ||
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]] |
| + | *Picross 3D | ||
| + | *[[Pokémon Ranger]] | ||
| + | *[[Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia]] | ||
===MSX=== | ===MSX=== | ||
Revision as of 17:30, 3 October 2009
| |
| HAL Laboratory | |
| Type | Second Party |
| Founded | February 21, 1980 |
| Status | Active |
| Base | Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
| Bestseller | Super Smash Bros. Melee |
| Homepage | Japanese Site |
| Notable Members | Satoru Iwata Masahiro Sakurai |
| Key Franchises | Kirby Super Smash Bros. |
HAL Laboratory is one of Nintendo's first party developers. They are named after HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. The company is known for Kirby and, more lately, Super Smash Bros. In the past, they have used the name HAL America and HALKEN (derived from the Japanese "HAL KENkyujo").
History
The Beginning
HAL Laboratory was formed by a group of people that meet each other at Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store. It was the first store to have a department devoted to computers. Among those people were Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, and current HAL president, Masahito Tanimura.
The group rented an apartment in the Akihabara district of Tokyo. There, they stayed up until midnight or later every night developing games. Their first projects were software and various peripherals for the MSX.
One of the first series they created was the Eggerland series. The original game was the MSX. The sequel was released on the Famicom Disk System as well as the MSX. They continued the series, which eventually became The Adventures of Lolo. Eggerland, running from 1985 to 1994, is currently HAL's longest running series.
Working with Nintendo
HAL's first job from Nintendo wasn't one of their own jobs. They were told to fix NES Pinball. The game was released in 1984. Their next collaboration came in the form of Kirby's Dreamland in 1992. The game sold well enough that HAL was allowed to develop an NES version, Kirby's Adventure.
Since they had come into some money, HAL decided to expand into a bigger building. Unfortunately, they had overestimated how well their games would sell and soon found themselves with a debt of 5 million yen. With all other choices exhausted, they turned to Nintendo. Nintendo agreed to fund them, on the condition that they develop only for Nintendo. Nintendo also appointed Satoru Iwata president of HAL. His success with HAL would later be a factor in him becoming president of Nintendo.
Second Party
After releasing Kirby's Dreamland 2 in 1993, HAL began working on a new project. They worked with the famed Shigesato Itoi of Ape, Inc. on Earthbound.
During the Nintendo 64 era, one of the first games HAL worked on was Jack and the Bean, loosely based on Jack and the Bean Stalk. Though the game was never finished, elements of it were found int other games they developed, including Pokemon Snap.
Another early game they worked on was a 3D version of Kirby's Dream Course. The game had a playable demo at Space World 1995. The game eventually became Kirby's AirRide, which didn't see release until the Gamecube.
Another long delayed project is Earthbound 64 The game in this form was cancelled. In 2000, HAL stopped production on the game, but elements of Earthbound 64 can be found in Mother 3 for the Gameboy Advance.
Though HAL didn't develop a lot of games for the Nintendo 64, they did create Super Smash Bros.. It is one of the most popular games for the system. They also made the only Kirby game for the Nintendo 64: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.
Around this time, Warpstar, Inc. was founded. The company is jointly owned by Nintendo and HAL. It handles copyright and merchandising for the Kirby series.
During the Gamecube era, HAL released Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is currently their bestselling game. Less popular was Kirby's AirRide. Also in development was Kirby's Adventure, but it's doubtful that it will ever be released on the Gamecube.
On the Gameboy Advance, HAL released two Kirby games. They also tried to create two other games, but neither of them made. On the hardware side of things, HAL is responsible for the GBA's eReader accessory.
About this time, Kirby creator, Masahiro Sakurai left HAL to form his own company, Sora Ltd. They most recently made Super Smash Bros. Brawl
For the DS, HAL has made two new Kirby games as well as Pokemon Ranger.
Games
Nintendo Entertainment System
- Adventures of Lolo
- Adventures of Lolo 2
- Adventures of Lolo 3
- Air Fortress
- Day Dreamin' Davey
- Defender II
- Eggerland
- Eggerland 2
- Fire Bam
- Ghostbusters II
- Girl Force
- Joust
- Kabuki Quantum Fighter
- Metal Slader: Glory
- Millipede
- Rollerball
- Skyscraper
- Stargate
- Vegas Dream
- World Rally Championship
Super Nintendo
- Alcahest
- Arcana
- BS Kirby no Omotya Bako Baseball
- BS Special Tee Shot
- Card Master
- EarthBound
- Hal's Hole in One
- Hole in One
- HyperZone
- Kirby Super Star
- Kirby's Dream Course
- Kirby's Dream Land 3
- NCAA Basketball
- Shigesato Itoi's No. 1 Bass Fishing
- SimCity 2000
- Super Dunkshot
- Vegas Stakes
Nintendo 64
- Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
- Kirby's Air Ride
- Pokemon Snap
- Pokemon Stadium
- Pokemon Stadium 2
- Shigesato Itoi's No. 1 Bass Fishing
- Super Smash Bros.
Gamecube
Gameboy
- Adventures of Lolo
- Ghostbusters II
- Kirby's Dream Land
- Kirby's Dream Land 2
- Kirby's Pinball Land
- Kirby's Star Stacker
- Pinball: Revenge of the Gator
- Shanghai
- Trax
Gameboy Color
Gameboy Advance
Nintendo DS
- Kirby Canvas Curse
- Kirby Squeak Squad
- Kirby Super Star Ultra
- Picross 3D
- Pokémon Ranger
- Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
MSX
- Animation editor EDDY
- Balance
- Butamaru Pants / Pig Mock
- Cue star
- Dragon Attack
- Dunk Shot
- Eddy II
- Eggerland Mystery
- Eggerland Mystery 2
- Fruit Search
- Heavy Boxing
- Hole In One
- Hole In One Extension Course
- Hole in one Professional
- Inside of the Karamaru
- Kick It
- Mobile Planet Stils
- Mr.Chin
- Music Editor MUE
- Pachipro Densetsu
- Picture Puzzle
- Pyroman
- Roller Ball
- Snake It
- Space Maze Attack
- Space Trouble
- Step Up
- Super Billiard
- Super Snake
- Swimming Tango
- Tetsuman
- The Bull and Mighty's Slim Chance
- Zukkoke Yajikita Onmitsudoutyuu
MSX2
- Gcalc
- Gcard
- Gterm
- HAL Game Collection Vol.1
- HAL Game Collection Vol.2
- Halnote
- Handy Scanner MSX 2
- Hole In One Special
- Lab Letter
- Lab Letter 2
- Lab Letter 3
- Mr. Ninja - Ashura's Chapter
- Naoko's Writing
- What Many Princess