Arc System Works

Background

Arc System Works is a Japanese developer founded in 1988, most known for their Guilty Gear and BlazBlue series of fighting games, as well as Dragon Ball Fighter Z. In 2015, they acquired Technos' assets from Million Co. Ltd. No logo debuted until 2000, though.

1st Logo (July 2000-)

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Visuals: On a white or black background, there is a red square. In it is a rough-looking white line forming the cursive word "Arc" with a Umlaut above the "A". In the bottom right corner of the square are the white words "ARC SYSTEM WORKS", all stacked and stretched to match in length. Below it is the red URL "www.arcsy.co.jp".

Variants:

• The size of the logo differs from game to game, but its usually small.
• Sometimes, "Created by" is seen above the logo.
• Later on, the URL would change to "arcsystemworks.jp"
• European versions of their games have the logo surrounded by a white border, with the red text "EUROPE" below the logo.
• Sometimes, there isn't any URL.

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: First seen on Guilty Gear X and appears on most other games from them.

2nd Logo (December 12, 2002-May 20, 2011)

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Visuals: On a black background, 25 glass cubes fly in from the right side of the screen, freely spinning and wobbling as a result. They rotate towards the screen as a light shines behind them, all before fusing together into a glass version of the logo. The screen flashes as a result of this, with the text shining out light rays and having a brief outline around it, before the logo turns red and fills in with white. The URL appears below before it and the white in the square fades out and it then zooms and blurs out.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A rising bass chord, with an heavenly choir at the end.

Availability: Seen on Guilty Gear X2 and its updated versions, Guilty Gear Isuka, Guilty Gear 2: Overture, Okiraku Sugoroku, and possibly other games from the time.

3rd Logo (July 5, 2018-)

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Visuals: On a white background, a fire engine red cube spins wildly before landing a invisible pool of water, creating a huge splash. The cube then opens up and the camera spins upwards to get a closer view from above, revealing a large ripple as several multi-colored ribbons emerge from the white light inside. They swerve all over the screen to reveal a square, in which the "Arc" script is written in white. The "ARC SYSTEM WORKS" text then slides into view and the ribbons fly off-screen, as the square fully turns red and the URL slides in below.

Variants: For the logo's debut and its first official year (2018), the 30th anniversary logo is displayed underneath the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A loud bass chord, which is followed by a crash sound. Other sound effects occur throughout with a ambient synth plays for the rest of the logo, ending with a ding.

Availability: Seen on trailers of several upcoming games and may appear on some games.