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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/data_east_logo_1628.jpg]]
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3Data East Corporation was founded in 1976, originally as a Japanese manufacturer of parts for UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame hardware. Data East started to develop their own games in 1979, and the next year introduced the DECO Cassette System, the first scheme to distribute arcade games on interchangeable media (cassette tapes) that could be produced at less cost than circuit boards.
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5Data East USA in many years published games for more systems than its Japanese parent company, and licensed commando and martial-arts games from other Japanese companies to distribute along with Data East's own. Data East also started a {{pinball}} division in the mid-1980s, absorbing some assets and employees from the bankrupt Creator/SternElectronics. By all accounts, their pinball strategy tended towards [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames buying expensive, high-profile properties, then applying them to whatever pinball machines were in development]] at the time. However, [[GrowingTheBeard they later shook this problem off and began creating pinball tables that were just as good as the competition]]; that said, their previous modus operandi meant many of their better tables were, and to an extent still are, overlooked by many.
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7Data East ran into financial difficulties in the late 1990s, first closing Data East USA and selling Data East Pinball to Creator/{{Sega}}. Data East stopped producing games for arcades in 1997, and for consoles in late 1999. Data East hung on for a few more years, selling electronic components and licensed out some of its old games before succumbing to bankruptcy in 2003. The rights to its old games were then divided among several companies, primarily Paon and mobile game developer G-Mode. Various Data East arcade games have been made available digitally on the Platform/NintendoSwitch under the banner of "ComicBook/JohnnyTurbo's Arcade", with the company Flying Tiger Entertainment (headed by Jonathan Brandstetter, who Turbo is based on) heading their conversion efforts.
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9Various former Data East employees went on to found Technos Japan, TAD Corporation and Creator/IdeaFactory.
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11----
12!!Games created by Data East include:
13[[index]]
14* ''[[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany ABC]] Series/MondayNightFootball'' (Platform/{{SNES}})
15* ''VideoGame/ActFancerCybernetickHyperWeapon''
16* ''VideoGame/AtomicRunnerChelnov''
17* ''VideoGame/BadDudes''
18* ''B-Wings'' (Arcade, received a PolishedPort for the Famicom)
19* ''Bega's Battle'' (laserdisc game that uses footage from the anime OVA ''Genma Taisen: Harmageddon'')
20* ''VideoGame/BloodyWolf''
21* ''VideoGame/BoogieWings'' a.k.a ''The Great Ragtime Show''
22* ''VideoGame/BoulderDash'' (arcade and Platform/{{NES}} versions)
23* ''VideoGame/BumpNJump''
24* ''VideoGame/BurgerTime''
25* ''VideoGame/CaptainAmericaAndTheAvengers''
26* ''VideoGame/CaptainSilver''
27* ''VideoGame/TheCliffhangerEdwardRandy''
28* ''Cobra Command''[[note]]Two completely different games that share the same name, and involve flying a helicopter. The more familiar laserdisc game was released as ''Thunder Storm'' in Japan, although "Cobra Command" is still heard during game's atract sequence (the game is fully voiced in English, even in the Japanese release).[[/note]]
29* ''VideoGame/CongosCaper''
30* ''VideoGame/CrudeBuster''
31* ''VideoGame/CrystalQuest'' (Platform/GameBoy version)
32* ''VideoGame/DarkSeal'' (also known as ''Gate of Doom'')
33** ''Dark Seal II'' (also known as ''Wizard Fire'')
34* ''Death Brade'' (aka Mutant Fighter in the US)
35* ''VideoGame/DesertAssault''
36* ''VideoGame/DragonGun''
37* ''Express Raider''
38* ''VideoGame/FightersHistory''
39* ''VideoGame/GaryoRetsuden''
40* ''VideoGame/GloryOfHeracles''
41* ''VideoGame/HeavyBarrel''
42* ''VideoGame/HighSeasHavoc''
43* ''VisualNovel/JakeHunter''
44* ''VideoGame/JoeAndMac''
45* ''VideoGame/KarateChamp''
46* ''VideoGame/{{Karnov}}''
47* ''[[VideoGame/LockNChase Lock 'n' Chase]]''
48* ''[[VideoGame/LockedNLoaded Locked 'n' Loaded]]''
49* ''VideoGame/MagicalDrop''
50* ''VideoGame/MetalMax'' series (developed by Crea-Tech)
51** ''VideoGame/MetalMax2''
52* ''VideoGame/MidnightResistance''
53* ''VideoGame/NightSlashers''
54* ''VideoGame/NitroBall''
55* ''VideoGame/PsychoNicsOscar''
56* ''VideoGame/{{Rampage}}'' (NES version)
57* ''[[VideoGame/TheRealGhostbustersDataEast The Real Ghostbusters]]''
58* ''VideoGame/RoadBlaster''[[note]] Not to be confused with the similarly named 1987 arcade game [=RoadBlasters=] by Atari Games. This UsefulNotes/{{Laserdisc}}-based arcade game was later released for consoles under two different names: "Road Prosecutor" (for the Pioneer [=LaserActive=]), and "Road Avenger" (for the Platform/SegaCD; this version is known as "Road Blaster FX" in Japan), likely for this reason.[[/note]]
59* ''VideoGame/{{Robocop}}'' duology (arcade and NES versions)
60* ''[[Videogame/SengokuSNK Sengoku Densyo]]'' (Super Famicom version)
61* ''VideoGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' (SNES version; developed by Beam Software)
62* ''Side Pocket''
63* ''VideoGame/SilentDebuggers''
64* ''VideoGame/SkullFang''
65* ''VideoGame/SlySpy''
66* ''VideoGame/{{Spinmaster}}''
67** ''Dashin' Desperadoes'', which features the same characters, but in different roles.
68* ''VideoGame/StreetSlam''
69* ''VideoGame/SuikoEnbu''
70* ''Tag Team Wrestling'' (developed by Technos Japan)
71* ''VideoGame/TattooAssassins'' (developed by Data East Pinball, now known as Stern Pinball)
72* ''VideoGame/TrioThePunch''
73* ''VideoGame/TumblePop''
74* ''VideoFane/VaporTrail''
75* ''VideoGame/WerewolfTheLastWarrior''
76* ''VideoGame/{{Windjammers}}''
77* ''VideoGame/WolfFang''
78[[/index]]
79
80!!Non-Data East games published by Data East USA:
81[[index]]
82* ''VideoGame/CommandoCapcom''
83* ''[[VideoGame/AlphaWaves Continuum]]''
84* ''[=DefCon 5=]''
85* ''VideoGame/DragonsLair'' (SNES version)
86* ''VideoGame/{{Drakkhen}}''
87* ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'' (computer versions)
88* ''VideoGame/KidNikiRadicalNinja''
89* ''VideoGame/KungFuMaster''
90* ''[[VideoGame/{{Turrican}} Mega Turrican]]''
91* ''VideoGame/{{OutRun}}ners'' (Genesis version)
92* ''VideoGame/{{Panic}}''
93* ''Ring King''
94* ''[[VideoGame/HiryuNoKen Shanghai Kid]]''
95* ''[[VideoGame/HangOn Super Hang-On]]'' (DOS & Macintosh versions)
96* ''VideoGame/{{Vigilante}}''
97[[/index]]
98
99!!Data East pinballs include:
100[[index]]
101* ''Pinball/TheAdventuresOfRockyAndBullwinkleAndFriends''
102* ''Pinball/BackToTheFuture''
103* ''Pinball/{{Batman|DataEast}}'', based on the 1989 film
104* ''Pinball/{{Checkpoint}}''
105* ''[[Pinball/GunsNRosesDataEast Guns N' Roses]]''
106* ''Pinball/{{Hook}}''
107* ''Pinball/{{Jurassic Park|DataEast}}''
108* ''Pinball/LaserWar''
109* ''Pinball/LastActionHero''
110* ''Pinball/LethalWeapon3''
111* ''Pinball/MaverickTheMovie'', the last table by the company.
112* ''Pinball/ThePhantomOfTheOpera''
113* ''Pinball/Playboy35thAnniversary''
114* ''Pinball/RoboCop''
115* ''Pinball/SecretService''
116* ''Pinball/{{The Simpsons|DataEast}}''
117* ''Pinball/{{Star Trek|DataEast}}''
118* ''Pinball/{{Star Wars|DataEast}}''
119* ''Pinball/TalesFromTheCrypt''
120* ''Pinball/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|Data East}}''
121* ''Pinball/{{Time Machine|DataEast}}''
122* ''Pinball/TheWhosTommy''
123* ''Pinball/WWFRoyalRumble''
124[[/index]]
125
126!!Tropes associated with Data East:
127* CompilationRerelease: "Data East Arcade Classics" on the Platform/{{Wii}}, which contained ''Bad Dudes'', ''Bump n' Jump'', ''[=BurgerTime=]'', ''Caveman Ninja'', ''Express Raider'', ''Heavy Barrel'', ''Lock n' Chase'', ''Magical Drop III'', ''Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory'', ''Side Pocket'', ''Sly Spy'', ''Street Hoop'', ''Super Real Darwin'', ''Two Crude Dudes'', and ''Wizard Fire''.

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