Namco

Background
Namco is a Japanese video game company, best known for arcade games like Galaga, Pac-Man, Mr. Driller, Dig Dug and Tekken, among others. In 2006, it merged with Bandai and became Namco Bandai Holdings, although the Namco company continued as a separate entity under Namco Bandai until the following year when it was merged with Bandai's video game division to form Namco Bandai Games, spinning off the amusement and theme park operations as a separate company under the Namco name until 2018, when it was rebranded into Bandai Namco Amusement after absorbing Bandai Namco Entertainment's arcade game business. The Namco trademark was still in regular use in games until 2014, when all games released that year onwards now carried the Bandai Namco name. The name is still used on amusement centers that Bandai Namco operates in Japan as of 2024 and in London until 2023, when the Namco Funscape location shuttered after its lease was expired.

1st Logo (Still variants) (September 15, 1979-September 7, 2021)
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Visuals: Essentially just a still version of the Namco logo, which is the word "Arial".

Variants:
 * Later games would have "PRESENTED BY" or "PRODUCED 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 "Arial". Namcot was Namco's console game business division established in 1984; it ran 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 games released by the company during 2005.
 * 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.
 * At least one Taiko no Tatsujin game has the logo with a light gray color over a white background.
 * On Ace Combat 2, a white line grows in and the text "PRODUCED BY NAMCO" rises up from it as the line then disappears.
 * Starting in 2006, the Namco Bandai Games/Bandai Namco Games logo preceded this logo. However, it was phased out on console games by 2014, but remained in use in arcade games (which as of 2018, are done by Bandai Namco Amusement) until 2021.

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: None or the opening theme of the game.

Audio Variants:
 * 1999-2006 games had a group of Japanese kids saying "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 PlayStation 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.
 * On Taiko: Drum Master (the American version of Taiko no Tatsujin for PlayStation 2), multiple people shout "Namco!".

Availability:
 * Seen on most games produced by the company starting with the arcade version of Galaxian.
 * As mentioned earlier, the logo continued to appear on a few games beyond the merger with Bandai until 2018, when it last appeared on Katamari Damacy REROLL (as the original's save game menu makes use of the logo for its saves which was carried over).
 * Aside from its video game appearances, this logo is also used as a startup screen for the N2 PC-based arcade system.

2nd Logo (Star Wars (1987) custom variant) (December 4, 1987)
Visuals: 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 "Arial" in its company font are stacked. "FUTURE CREATOR" is slanted. The logo is shown in widescreen with two bars above and below.

Technique: A still, spite-based graphic.

Audio: An epic-sounding 8-bit tune.

Audio Trivia: This music would later go on to be used as a way to give emotion to the title character, The Angry Video Game Nerd when he was shocked to see Darth Vader unexpectedly transform into a scorpion-like creature during the boss battle of this game in his Star Wars Games episode.

Availability: Seen only on Star Wars for Famicom.

3rd Logo (July 20, 1990-August 4, 1992)
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Visuals: There is a small Namco logo, with the text "FOR SEGA GENESIS" and the Sega Enterprises license text below.

Variants:
 * On Japanese releases, the Namcot logo is used, the text "FOR SEGA GENESIS" is replaced by "FOR SEGA MEGA DRIVE", and lacks the Sega Enterprises license text.
 * On Marvel Land, the logo shines and turns.

Technique: A still, spite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on numerous Namco games for Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, such as Klax, Phelios and Splatterhouse 2.

4th Logo (Game Boy custom variant) (September 14-November 16, 1990)
Visuals: Over a white background is the Namcot logo in black along the word "PRESENTS" below wiping in.

Variant: On Pac-Man, the logo and text are dark gray.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on the Japanese versions of Pac-Man and Famista for Game Boy.

5th Logo (November 22, 1990)


Visuals: Over a black background, two copies of the Namcot logo, along with the text "PRESENTS" and "FOR SEGA MEGA DRIVE", slide from the left and from the right and merge into one. After a few seconds, the logo plays in reverse.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on MegaPanel for Sega Mega Drive.

6th Logo (December 1992)


Visuals: Over a black background, pieces of the Namco logo fall down in 3D. Then, it rotates to reveal the text.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Several yells and falling sounds, ending with a laugh.

Availability: Seen on Knuckle Heads for the arcades.

7th Logo (March 19-August 1993)
Visuals: On a black background, the Namco logo glows in. Then the text turns, and the text "for SEGA GENESIS" and the usual Sega licensing info is shown below.

Variant: On the original Japanese version, the Namcot logo glows instead and lacks the Sega licensing info. Plus, "for SEGA GENESIS" is replaced by "for SEGA MEGA DRIVE".

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Splatterhouse 3 for Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.

8th Logo (1993)


Visuals: On a black background, pieces of the Namco logo slide in, and merge into one. The usual Sega licensing info is shown below the logo.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Rolling Thunder 3 for Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.

9th Logo (Super Famista custom variant) (March 4, 1994-February 29, 1996)
Visuals: Over a black background is Pac-Man smiling, winking and doing a thumbs up pose, albeit in a different design. The Namcot logo, with a white outline and in a slight 3D effect, is shown below it. Below is the text "Produced by NAMCO, LTD." in serif with a white outline.

Variant: On Super Famista 5, the Pac-Man design resembles more like the previous logo, but Pac-Man is wearing a blue hat and has a baseball bat on his right hand, with a baseball seen above his left hand. The Namcot logo is also changed to the Namco logo.

Technique: A still, spite-based graphic.

Audio: Depending on the game:
 * Super Famista 3: A 5-note chime.
 * Super Famista 4: A 7-note congratulatory theme.
 * Super Famista 5: An arpeggiating synth going up and down.

Availability: Seen on Super Famista 3, 4, and 5 for Super Famicom/Super NES.

10th Logo (Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures custom variant) (August 26-October 28, 1994)
Visuals: On a black background, a sprite of Pac-Man smiles at the camera, winking and doing a thumbs up pose. Below is a rectangle that contains the Namco logo. "PRODUCED BY NAMCO LTD." is shown below the logo.

Variants:
 * The colors of the rectangle can vary depending on the game version.
 * In the Japanese release, the Namcot logo is used, Pac-Man is less shaded and the "Arial" logo shines.

Technique: A still, spite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Audio Variant: The Japanese release adds a female voice over saying "Presented by Namcot."

Availability: Seen on Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures for Sega Genesis and Super NES.

11th Logo (September 21-December 9, 1994; March 31-November 1995)
Visuals: 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.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None, but on the arcade version of Tekken, a synthesized arpeggio plays.

Availability: It was spotted on the arcade version of Tekken. The Arcade history version of Tekken found on Tekken 5 for PlayStation 2 keeps this logo intact. The normal version is unused and it was hidden inside the PlayStation version of Tekken disc under the name "NAMCO.STR". Used in tandem with 1st logo.

12th Logo (January 27, 1995-October 30, 1997)
Visuals: 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.

Technique: CGI.

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

Availability: This was primarily used on early PlayStation games from Namco, such as Air Combat, Cybersled, Tekken, Ridge Racer Revolution, and the Namco Museum series. It also appears on the Ridge Racer: Turbo Mode bonus disc included with some copies of Ridge Racer Type 4. Most Namco PlayStation games have the first logo instead.

13th Logo (Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere custom variant) (May 27, 1999-March 2, 2000)
Visuals: On a black background, the Namco logo appears by a "turning on" effect. The words "PRODUCED BY" then fade in above.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A weird sound resembling a TV turning off, then a held synth note.

Availability: Found only on Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere for PlayStation.

14th Logo (February 24, 2002-December 14, 2007)
Visuals: On a white background, the letters of the Namco logo 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.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: 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, among other games for PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox. Used in tandem with 1st logo.