Namco

Background
Namco is the company best known for arcade games like Galaga, Pac-Man, Mr. Driller, and Dig Dug, among others. In 2006, it merged with Bandai and became Bandai Namco Entertainment, although the Namco trademark is still in use.

1st Logo (September 15, 1979-)
Logo: Just a still version of the Namco logo.

Variants:
 * Later games would have "PRESENTED BY" over the logo.
 * On the arcade version of Galaxian, the logo is purple.
 * On SOS, the Namco logo is black.
 * Console games from the company in Japan have the logo say "NAMCOT". Namcot was Namco's console game business established in 1984 until 1995.
 * A copyright byline may appear under the logo.
 * On Mr. Driller 2, the black Namco logo appears on a pink spiral background.
 * A 50th anniversary variant existed on 2005 games.
 * On Pac-Man World, the logo is next to a picture of Pac-Man. A similar variant appears on Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness (Excluding the Dreamcast version) but with Ms. Pac-Man instead of Pac-Man.
 * On the Dreamcast versions of both Namco Museum and Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness, the logo appears by spinning into the middle.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * 1999-2006 games as well as commercials at the time had a group of Japanese kids say "NAMCO" when the logo appears.
 * For the 50th anniversary variant, a pizzicato string note would play before the uttering of the company's name.
 * On Smash Court 3 (a PS1 exclusive), a drum and bass/jungle break with an electric piano plays.
 * On Street Racing Syndicate, the Pac-Man "Ready" theme plays on the logo.

Availability: Seen on most games produced by the company starting with the arcade version of Galaxian. Don't expect this on the original Pac-Man however; it uses the 1974 Midway logo instead.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1980s)


Nicknames: "The Fox Namco Logo", "Future Creator Namco"

Logo: On a black background is a yellow 20th Century Fox-style structure complete with two searchlights with one in the back. The words "FUTURE CREATOR" and "NAMCO" in its company font are stacked. "FUTURE CREATOR" is slanted. The logo is shown in widescreen with two green bars above and below.

FX/SFX: None, it's still.

Music/Sounds: An epic-sounding 8-bit tune.

Availability: Seen on the infamous Star Wars game on the Famicom in Japan and may appear on other Japanese games from Namco. People living outside Japan can find it on ROMS for NES emulators.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (1994-1995)
Logo: On a white background, the letters from the Namco logo move towards the center of the screen and arrange themselves into the logo.

Variant: On the arcade version of Tekken, the logo plays faster and the wordmark shines once it's arranged.

Music/Sounds: None, but on the arcade version of Tekken, a synthesized arpeggio plays.

Availability: Rare. Was spotted on very early PS1 games from the company and on the arcade version of Tekken. The Arcade history version of Tekken found on Tekken 5 for PS2 keeps this logo intact.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (1995-late 90s)
Logo: On a space background, the letters from the Namco logo are seen from behind as they move toward the screen. The camera then shifts towards the front side of the logo as the letters arrange themselves. The space background is then replaced by a black background as the completed logo slowly zooms in and comes to a halt after a few seconds.

FX/SFX: CGI animation and the zoom in of the completed logo.

Music/Sounds: A synthesized, space-like tune plays throughout, along with a whooshing noise when the letters are arranging themselves.

Availability: Seen mostly on early PSX games produced by the company, like Tekken, Ridge Racer, and the Namco Museum volumes.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (1996-1998)
Logo: Just in-credit text saying "Namco Presents".

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on the PSX version of Tekken 2 and both versions of Tekken 3.

Editor's Note: None.

6th Logo (1999-2000)
Logo: On a black background, the Namco logo appears by a via "turning on" effect. The words "PRODUCED BY" then fade in above.

FX/SFX: The appearance of the logo, and the fading.

Music/Sounds: An weird sound resembling a TV turning off, then a held synth note.

Availability: Found only on Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere for the Playstation.

Editor's Note: None.

7th Logo (2000s)
Logo: On a white background, the Namco letters drop down one by one at a quick pace, and continue to bounce for a couple of seconds before coming to a halt. The registered trademark symbol then rolls in and bounces up to the side of the completed logo.

FX/SFX: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A happy synth tune playing to the bouncing letters. Rolling and beeping noises from the Registered Trademark symbol are also heard.

Availability: Seen on Curious George, Pac-Man World 2, and Pac-Man World 3, all for PS2, GameCube, and Xbox.

Editor's Note: None.

8th Logo (2004-2005)
Nickname: "Taiko Logo"

Logo: On a white screen, the word "Namco" appears in the center in a light gray.

FX/SFX: Only the fading of the logo.

Music/Sounds: Just the shout of "Namco".

Availability: Found only on Taiko: Drum Master.

Editor's Note: None.