Compile

Credits

Descriptions by
PolancoMira and 2K-tan

Captures by
2K-tan

Video captures courtesy of
newjois

Background

Originally founded as Programmers-3, Inc., Compile was a Japanese video game developer founded by Masamitsu "Moo" Niitani in 1982. Initially developing games for home computers such as the MSX line and several game consoles, the company would distribute the Disc Station magazine since the late 1980s leading to the distribution of various games by the company on the MSX, PC-98 and Windows platforms, including the Madou Monogatari series of games. In the 1990s, the company would become best known for the Puyo Puyo and Madou Monogatari franchises, with Puyo Puyo becoming a huge success for the company and was a Japanese phenomenon ever since Tsuu hit the arcades, spawning CD albums, toys, plushies and televised events. Due to the amount of success of the game, as well as some poor investment choices, this lead to their partners at Sega to buy the rights to the game until August 2002. Despite their best efforts, the deadline was passed with no IP to replicate the success of Puyo Puyo. The last game developed under the Compile name was Pochi and Nyaa, in association with Taito. The company had filed bankruptcy in November 2003. The company was reincarnated as Aiky in 2003, getting the rights to Pochi and Nyaa, but it was short-lived. Former employees of Compile and Aiky formed Compile Heart later in 2006.

1st Logo (1985-November 2003)

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Visuals: Just the pink text of "COMPILE" in a futuristic font in either a black, white, or inverted through pink background. Can be often seen via a copyright in the title screen of the game along with a copyright date.

Trivia:

• Compile's tagline was "Entertain Your Brain".
• Due to the rebounding success of Puyo Puyo with the release of Tsuu, Carbuncle became the company's mascot until their bankruptcy in 2003.

Variants:

• In the early 1990's, Compile partnered with Japanese organization Act Against AIDS to help sponsor their games, most notably Puyo Puyo, as well as to spread awareness and debunk rumors and myths regarding AIDS. As a result, a special splash screen features their logo (a heart-shaped flower split between red and blue colors, and resembles a human face with closed eyes) being above the company's logo. Since the late 1990's, the Act Against AIDS logo was changed towards a different-colored, more sketchy one consisting of three A-shaped people standing on a yellow heart
  • In some games, the Compile logo is ommited and was replaced with what seems to be little tips on AIDS, translating to "Know About AIDS, Protect Against AIDS, Deal With AIDS". It can be usually seen as a separate first screen before the Compile logo. One game (Gensei Kitan - Disc Saga III) ommits these tips, leaving just the Act Against AIDS logo and nothing else.
• Korean releases of their games has the text say "Compile Korea". Compile Korea is the name of a short-lived division of Compile that distributed the company's games in the Korean language. They also have an exclusive Madou Monogatari game there (Madou Monogatari: Secret of the Esylum).
• Various custom animated variants for some games exist. These include, but not limited to:
  • Unknown

Technique: Sprite-based graphics.

Audio: Either none, the opening theme of the game for rare occasions, or the company's own jingle, consisting of an 8-note ditty played with FM synthesizer instruments.

Audio Trivia: This jingle shows up in many of their games, either as a sound for getting an item, being an unused hidden sound, or whenever players get an extra life. So far the most recent sighting of the jingle was in VS. Puyo Puyo SUN, the watered-down Genesis version of Puyo Puyo SUN focusing specifically on multiplayer.

Availability: Seen on almost all games, Disc Station entries (including the special animations) and demos from the company, including Zanac, Aleste, Puyo Puyo Love Story and many others. The Act Against AIDS variant was seen on games on that era, most notably Puyo Puyo Tsuu and It was intact in most modern releases of the game, even when Sega bought the rights to Puyo Puyo. The Korean version can be seen on the company's releases on South Korea. Most of these games are exclusively released in Japan, so good luck importing them. Never helping the fact that 90% of Puyo Puyo-related material remained completely untranslated for Western audiences.

2nd Logo (Madou Monogatari series custom variant) (June 15, 1990-May 20, 1994)

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  As seen on MSX2.

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  As seen on PC-98.

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  As seen on Game Gear.

Visuals: Carbuncle from the Madou Monogatari and Puyo Puyo games is against an MGM-like environment. He lets out his usual "Guu!" after a few seconds. Copyright information can be seen below.

Variants:

• Game Gear versions omit the copyright byline due to the system's screen size and resolution, instead being moved to the title screen.
  • An extended version can be seen on the Game Gear version of Madou Monogatari II, where Carbuncle is seen sleeping and later wakes up with a surprised expression. The animation then continues as normal.

Technique: Sprite-based graphics.

Sounds: Carbuncle's "Guu!".

Sound Variant: The Madou Monogatari II version has 8-bit sleeping sounds and a pop when Carbuncle wakes up.

Availability: Appears in the demo for Madou Monogatari 1-2-3 for the MSX2 and was also later seen on the PC-98 and Game Gear versions of the first three Madou Monogatari games (although the third Madou Monogatari for the Game Gear omits this). It can also be seen on the PC-98 version of Puyo Puyo.

3rd Logo (October 27, 1995-November 27, 1997)

Visuals: Carbuncle drops by against a darker gray background, and lends his usual "Guu!" revealing the Compile logo and tagline. Once the logo has been settled, Carbuncle hops into the logo and settles into the right side. The logo shines. The result is an animated version of the company's print logo at the time.

Technique: Computerized graphics.

Audio: A "womp" noise when Carbuncle settles and his usual "Guu". It was followed by the company's jingle performed by bells.

Audio Variant:

• On the Saturn port of Puyo Puyo Tsuu, a different "Guu" voice is heard. Carbuncle's voice in this version was provided by the company's founder, Masamitsu "Moo" Niitani.
• A few promotional material also features a different "Guu" voice. It's unknown who did Carbuncle's voice in this, however.

Availability: Seen on the Saturn and PlayStation ports of Puyo Puyo Tsuu and Puyo Puyo SUN. Also seen on promotional material from the company.

4th Logo (Madou Monogatari I custom variant) (March 22, 1996)

Visuals: Carbuncle walks through the left against a dark blue background, revealing the company name. He jumps into the right position of the logo, and the company's tagline slides behind him. The end result is a 16-bit rendition of the company's print logo at the time.

Technique: Sprite-based animation.

Sounds: A group of people saying the tagline and company name in Japanese.

Availaibilty: Seen only on the enhanced Genesis port of the first Madou Monogatari game.

5th Logo (Guru Logic Champ custom variant) (November 29, 2001)

Visuals: Over a white background, the logo starts with upside-down of incomplete logo. The logo then rotates and the champs fills the incomplete P letter. After that, the champs are doing their victory pose and saying "COMPILE".

Technique: Sprite-based animation.

Sounds: A "Guru" voice when the logo rotates, grunts when the blocks are being shot to complete the logo, and the champs saying the company name.

Availability: Seen only on Guru Logic Champ as well as at the end of TV commercials promoting said game.

Compile

Aiky ►