TOSE

TOSE, also referred to as Tose, commonly appearing as 'TOSE' in games that it has developed^[1] (Japanese: 株式会社トーセ) is a Japanese game development company that co-develops games in The Legendary Starfy series with Nintendo. It is also referred to as TOSE SOFTWARE on its website and in logos, but not every logo. It is based in Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto. It shares the copyright to the series with Nintendo and owns part of the copyright to the tankōbon for The Legendary Starfy series manga as well as the games.

TOSE branched out from its parent company Toa Seiko in 1979 to specialize in the development and sale of arcade video game machines ^[2] and have since moved on to developing many games for different consoles. Since its inception in 1979, TOSE is believed to have contributed in the development of over 1000 games, but the company suggested they couldn't reveal projects they worked on due to confidentiality agreements. ^[3]

Nintendo and TOSE have co-developed titles in The Legendary Starfy series. The inspiration for The Legendary Starfy series came from an instruction from Hitoshi Yamagami's boss in November 1995 to come up with some kind of 'floaty platformer'. Later in this game's development Hitoshi Yamagami and TOSE producer Yasuhiro Minamimoto worked together to produce it. The game was originally balloon-lifting game until plans were changed and the main character was decided as a starfish in an early version of Densetsu no Starfy for the Game Boy. This character eventually became Starfy, who was decided to be neither a star or a starfish.

As well as The Legendary Starfy series, TOSE is well known for developing Super Princess Peach (with Nintendo), where a "Starfish"; resembling Starfy wearing sunglasses, cameos as an enemy. TOSE are also known for developing titles in the Game & Watch Gallery series of video games. TOSE are often known for never directly accrediting themselves in the games which they developed, with the exception of titles in The Legendary Starfy and Game & Watch Gallery series because both Nintendo and TOSE share the copyright to the series. Another popular game where TOSE are disclosed as developers is Dragon Quest VIII, where developers from TOSE are indicated in the credits. According to an interview in the Nintendo Power magazine, even though TOSE have apparently developed or co-developed over 1000 games since their inception in 1979, they are always 'behind the scenes' and like it that way.

Gallery of logos

Alternative TOSE Software logo, originating from 1998 or earlier, which may be used next to the 'tree' logo.
"TOSE Software Global" logo, currently used on the language selection page.
TOSE logo circa 2000, featuring brighter colors for the tree than 1998 and the present.
Alternative TOSE logo circa 2003.
Alternative TOSE logo from April 26th 2003 or some date earlier, featuring an area of grass and a rainbow. It was used on a welcome page.
Alternative TOSE logo from April 16th 2005 or some date earlier. It was used on a welcome page.
Alternative TOSE logo from May 1st 2006 or some date earlier, used on the main page.