^{Da DVG - Il Dizionario dei Videogiochi}

Namco Ltd (株式会社ナムコ, Kabushiki Gaisha Namuko?) è una software house giapponese produttrice di videogiochi fondata nel 1955 da Masaya Nakamura.

È famosa per aver lanciato sul mercato titoli storici come Galaxian, Pac-Man, Galaga, Bosconian, Pole Position, Xevious, Mappy e Rolling Thunder.

Nel corso degli anni '90 ha prodotto le serie di Tekken, Soul Calibur (Soul Blade), Ridge Racer (fra l'altro il primo gioco di guida a usare una grafica 3D complessa) Ace Combat, Xenosaga e Klonoa.

Nel 2005 la Namco viene acquisita dalla Bandai dando vita alla Namco Bandai Holding Inc.

Nel 1955 Masaya Nakamura fonda a Tokyo la Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd., iniziando a produrre cavalli meccanici da installare in alcuni grandi magazzini di Yokohama e Nihonbashi. La società prenderà definitivamente il nome Namco nel 1971.

Nel 1974 la Namco compra la divisione giapponese della Atari entrando nel mercato degli arcade. Comincia così una rapida espansione che porterà, nel giro di pochi anni, alla fondazione di Namco Enterprises Asia Ltd. ad Hong Kong e di Namco America Inc., in California.

Il primo gioco targato Namco prende vita nel 1978 per opera di Toru Iwatani. Si tratta di Gee Bee, una sorta di incrocio tra Breakout e un Flipper. Il primo successo arriva già l'anno successivo con Galaxian ma a consacrare la Namco ci penserà il famosissimo Pac-Man del 1980. Pac-Man diverrà in breve tempo un vero e proprio cult tanto da essere ancora oggi la mascotte della software house nipponica.

Dopo l'enorme successo di Pac-Man, la Namco sforna altri famosi arcade e colleziona qualche primato: Bosconian nel 1981 è il primo gioco che dà la possibilità di continuare, Pac-Land nel 1984 è il primo platform game a scorrimento, Dragon Buster è il primo ad averre una barra d'energia mentreFinal Lap dell'87 è il primo videogioco multi-player multi-cabinet.

Con Ridge Racer (1993) casa Namco apre le porte al 3D e solo due anni più tardi inizia la produzione della nota serie Tekken.

Arcade

1978:

• Gee Bee

1979:

• Bomb Bee
• Galaxian
• Cutie Q

1980:

• Navalone
• Kaitei Takara Sagashi
• SOS
• Pac-Man
• King & Balloon
• Tank Battalion
• Rally-X

1981:

• New Rally-X
• Warp & Warp
• Galaga
• Ms. Pac-Man
• Bosconian

1982:

• Dig Dug
• Pole Position
• Super Pac-Man
• Pac-Man Plus
• Xevious

1983:

• Mappy
• Jr. Pac-Man
• Pac & Pal
• Phozon
• Libble Rabble
• Pole Position II

1984:

• Gaplus
• Tower of Druaga
• Pac-Land
• Grobda
• Super Xevious
• Dragon Buster

1985:

• Dig Dug II
• Metro-Cross
• Baraduke
• Motos
• Sky Kid

1986:

• Sky Kid Deluxe
• Hopping Mappy
• Toy Pop
• The Return of Ishtar
• Thunder Ceptor
• Genpei Tōma Den
• Rolling Thunder
• Thunder Ceptor II

1987:

• Wonder Momo
• Yokai Douchuuki
• Dragon Spirit
• Blazer
• Quester
• Pac-Mania
• Galaga '88
• Final Lap

1988:

• World Stadium
• Assault
• Assault Plus
• Beraboh Man
• Marchen Maze
• Bakutotsu Kijuutei - Baraduke II
• Ordyne
• Metal Hawk
• World Court
• Splatterhouse
• Mirai Ninja
• Face Off
• Phelios

1989:

• Winning Run
• Rompers
• Blast Off
• Valkyrie No Densetsu
• Dirt Fox
• World Stadium '89
• Finest Hour
• Burning Force
• Winning Run Suzuka GP
• Four Trax
• Dangerous Seed
• Marvel Land

1990:

• Kyuukai Douchuuki
• World Stadium '90
• Final Lap 2
• Pistol Daimyo no Bouken
• Souko Ban Deluxe
• Dragon Saber
• Puzzle Club
• Rolling Thunder 2
• Steel Gunner
• Golly! Ghost!

1991:

• Star Blade
• Super World Stadium
• Solvalou
• Tank Force
• Steel Gunner 2
• Cosmo Gang the Video
• Winning Run '91
• Golly! Ghost! 2

1992:

• Suzuka 8 Hours
• Bakuretsu Quiz Ma-Q Dai Bōken
• Super World Stadium '92
• Super World Stadium '92 Gekitouban
• Final Lap 3
• F/A
• Cosmo Gang the Puzzle
• Exvania
• Super World Court
• Knuckle Heads
• Lucky and Wild
• Air Combat

1993:

• Super World Stadium '93
• Emeraldia
• Nettou! Gekitou! Quiztou!!
• Numan Athletics
• Ridge Racer
• Great Sluggers '93
• Final Lap R
• Tinkle Pit
• Cyber Sled
• Suzuka 8 Hours 2

1994:

• Nebulas Ray
• J-League Soccer V-Shoot
• Point Blank
• Tekken
• Great Sluggers '94
• Ridge Racer 2
• Ace Driver
• Alpine Racer
• The Outfoxies

1995:

• Mach Breakers - Numan Athletics 2
• Air Combat 22
• Xevious 3D/G
• Super World Stadium '95
• Rave Racer
• Namco Classic Collection Vol. 1
• Soul Edge
• Dunk Mania
• Tekken 2
• Cyber Commando
• Cyber Cycles
• Dirt Dash
• X-Day 2
• Time Crisis

1996:

• Prime Goal EX
• Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2
• Super World Stadium '96
• Tekken 3
• Abnormal Check
• Ace Driver: Victory Lap
• Alpine Racer 2
• Alpine Surfer
• Aqua Jet
• Dancing Eyes
• Kosodate Quiz My Angel
• Pocket Racer
• Prop Cycle
• Soul Edge: Ver. II
• Tokyo Wars

1997:

• Armadillo Racing
• Final Furlong
• Kosodate Quiz My Angel 2
• Libero Grande
• Motocross Go!
• Rapid River
• Super World Stadium '97
• Time Crisis II

1998:

• Derby Quiz My Dream Horse
• Gunmen Wars
• Kosodate Quiz My Angel 3
• Panic Park
• Race On!
• Soul Calibur
• Super World Stadium '98
• Tenkomori Shooting

1999:

• Aqua Rush
• Balance Try
• Final Furlong 2
• GP 500
• Guitar Jam
• Mr. Driller
• Point Blank 2
• Quick & Crash
• Super World Stadium '99
• Taiko no Tatsujin
• Tekken Tag Tournament

2000:

• Crisis Zone
• Mr. Driller 2
• Super World Stadium 2000
• Truck Kyosokyoku

2001:

• Mr. Driller G
• Ninja Assault
• Point Blank 3
• Ridge Racer V
• Super World Stadium 2001
• Taiko no Tatsujin 2
• Tekken 4
• Wangan Midnight
• World Kicks
• Vampire Night

2002:

• Alpine Racer 3
• Dragon Chronicles
• Mazan: Flash of the Blade
• Mojipittan
• Professional Baseball 2002
• Seishun Quiz Colorful High School
• Starblade
• Star Trigon
• Taiko no Tatsujin 3
• Taiko no Tatsujin 4
• Time Crisis 3
• Wangan Midnnight R

2003:

• Dragon Chronicles II
• Soul Calibur II
• Taiko no Tatsujin 5

2004:

• The Idol Master
• Taiko no Tatsujin 6
• Tekken 5
• Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune

2005:

• Atomic Betty
• Cobra: The Arcade
• Druaga Online: The Story of Aon
• Mario Kart Arcade GP
• Taiko no Tatsujin 7
• Tekken 5.1
• Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection
• Wangan Midnight: Maximum Tune 2

2006:

• Soul Calibur III
• Taiko no Tatsujin 8
• Time Crisis 4
• Atomic Betty 2

2007:

• Tekken 6
• Bomberman Stadium
• Tales of the Abyss

Console Games:

Atari 2600/5200:

• Dig Dug
• Galaxian
• Pole Position
• Pac-man

Atari 7800:

• Dig Dug
• Galaga
• Pole Position II
• Xevious

Nintendo Entertainment System/Nintendo Family Computer:

• Wagyan Land
• Wagyan Land 2
• Wagyan Land 3
• Dig Dug
• Dig Dug II
• Pro Yakyuu Famista (Pro Baseball Family Stadium)
• Famista '87
• Famista '88
• Famista '89
• Famista '90
• Famista '91
• Famista '92
• Famista '93
• Famista '94

Super Nintendo Entertainment System:

• Super Wagyan Land
• Super Wagyan Land 2
• Wagyan Paradise
• Tales of Phantasia
• Super Famista
• Super Famista 2
• Super Famista 3
• Super Famista 4
• Super Famista 5

Nintendo:

• Famista 64
• Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
• Namco Museum 64
• Ridge Racer 64

Nintendo DS:

• Dig Dug: Digging Strike
• Mr. Driller Drill Spirits
• Pac 'n Roll
• Pac-Pix
• Ridge Racer DS
• Tales of the Tempest
• Xenosaga I & II
• Point Blank DS

Nintendo GameCube:

• Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
• Baten Kaitos Origins
• Dead to Rights
• Donkey Konga
• Donkey Konga 2
• Mario Superstar Baseball
• Namco Museum
• Namco Museum 50th Anniversary
• Pac-Man Fever
• Pac-Man World 2
• R:Racing Evolution
• Soul Calibur II
• Star Fox Assault
• Tales of Symphonia
• Famista 2003

Wii:

• Tamagotchi Party On!
• Sailor Moon

Game Boy Advance:

• Atomic Betty
• Atomic Betty 2
• Klonoa: Empire of Dreams
• Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament
• Klonoa Heroes: Legend of the Star Medal
• Namco Museum
• Namco Museum 50th Anniversary
• Pac-Man Collection
• Tales of Phantasia
• Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2
• Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3
• Tales of the World: Summoner's Lineage
• Tekken Advance
• Famista Stadium Advance

Game Boy Color:

• Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon

Sega Dreamcast:

• Mr. Driller
• Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
• Namco Museum
• Soul Calibur

PlayStation:

• Ace Combat 2
• Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere
• Air Combat
• Anna Kournikova's Smash Court Tennis
• Cyber Sled
• Dragon Valor
• Ghoul Panic
• J-League Prime Goal EX
• Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
• Klonoa Beach Volleyball
• Libero Grande
• Libero Grande International
• Mr. Driller
• Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
• Namco Museum Encore
• Namco Museum Vol. 1
• Namco Museum Vol. 2
• Namco Museum Vol. 3
• Namco Museum Vol. 4
• Namco Museum Vol. 5
• Pac-Man World
• Point Blank
• Point Blank 2
• Point Blank 3
• R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
• Rage Racer
• Rescue Shot
• Ridge Racer
• Ridge Racer Revolution
• Soul Edge
• Tales of Destiny
• Tales of Eternia
• Tekken
• Tekken 2
• Tekken 3
• Time Crisis
• Time Crisis: Project Titan
• Xevious 3D/G+

PlayStation 2:

• Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
• Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
• Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
• Crisis Zone (released as Time Crisis: Crisis Zone)
• Dead to Rights
• Katamari Damacy
• Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
• MotoGP 4
• Namco Museum
• Namco Museum 50th Anniversary
• Ninja Assault
• Pac-Man Fever
• Pac-Man World 2
• Pac-Man World 3
• R:Racing Evolution
• Ridge Racer V
• Seven: Molmorth no Kiheitai
• Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament
• Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
• Soul Calibur II
• Soul Calibur III
• Tales of Destiny
• Tales of Destiny 2
• Tales of Legendia
• Tales of Symphonia
• Tales of Rebirth
• Tales of the Abyss
• The Fast and the Furious
• Tekken 4
• Tekken 5
• Tekken Tag Tournament
• Time Crisis II
• Time Crisis 3
• Vampire Night
• Venus & Braves: Majo to Megami to Horobi no Yogen
• We Love Katamari
• Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
• Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse
• Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra

PlayStation Portable:

• Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
• Me and My Katamari
• Namco Museum Battle Collection
• Pac-Man World 3
• Ridge Racers
• Ridge Racers 2
• Tales of Destiny 2
• Tales of Eternia
• Tales of Phantasia: Full Voice Edition
• Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology
• Tekken: Dark Resurrection

Xbox:

• Breakdown)
• Dead to Rights
• Namco Museum
• Namco Museum 50th Anniversary
• Pac-Man World 2
• Pac-Man World 3
• Soul Calibur II
• R:Racing Evolution

Xbox 360:

• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
• Dig Dug
• Galaga
• Eternal Sonata
• Ridge Racer 6
• Ms. Pac-Man
• New Rally X
• Pac-Man

PlayStation 3:

• Ridge Racer 7
• Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection
• Tekken 6
• Time Crisis 4