The story of the video game company

Capcom is one of the most famous Japanese software house in the world.

This society derives from the Sambi Co.(1981) that was formed by the union between two former companies: I.R.M Corporation (founded on May 30, 1979) and Japan Capsule Computers Co., Ltd., that were working in the field of manufacturing and distributing electronic game machines.
Only in 1983 Capcom Co. was established in order to take over the internal sales department.

In 1989 Capcom Co. finally established its supremacy over Sambi Co. and the company took this name: Capcom, which derives from ‘CAPsule COMputers’.
The name was created to distinguish the arcade machines that were being created from the personal computers that were becoming widespread during that decade.
The idea of ‘Capsule’ derives from the idea of Capcom to link its game software to a “capsule packed to the brim with gaming fun”; the figure of the capsule could also be associated with the idea of creating a shell in order to protect both their customers and their products from being hacked or copied.

The most famous games

Although Capcom began producing coin-operated games, the real first video game was published in 1984 and named Vulgus, in 1985 was the moment of 1942. Since then Capcom decided to develop itself in the market of home console video games, too: the absolute masterpieces were Street Fighter, which started a series of fighting games, and Mega Man.

Vulgus

Released in 1984, is a vertically scrolling shooter video game. The name derives from Latin and it means ‘common people’.
The gameplay is very simple: there is a spaceship that has to destroy all the incoming enemies. The player has two weapons at his disposal: a primary weapon with infinite ammunition and a supply of bombs that are collectible during the game in the form of “pow” icons.
The game is, in theory, infinite but it becomes harder as the time passes and it will not stop until the player loses his three lives.

1942

Released in 1984, is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up video game. It was the first of a long series of 19xx games.
The goal is to reach Tokyo and destroy the entire Japanese air fleet, so the player has to plough through enemy planes, avoiding their fire, performing a roll or “loop-the-loop". As in Vulgus, the player may collect a series of power-ups.
1942 eclipsed the company's preceding titles and became one of Capcom's hallmark games throughout the arcade era.

Commando

Released in 1985, is a run and gun, vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game. The main character is a soldier named Super Joe who is dropped off in a jungle by a helicopter, and he has to defeat numerous enemies.
Super Joe is armed with sub machine (with unlimited ammunitions) and a limited number of grenades.
At the end of each level, the player must fight several soldiers in order to have access to the gate or fortress.

Ghosts 'n Goblins

Released in 1985, is a horizontal scrolling platform video game in which the player assumes the role of Arthur, a medieval chevalier (without the horse) whose purpose is to save his lady, through 5 different worlds.
The player can be hit only two times before losing a life (the first hit takes away Arthur's armor).
This game is commonly regarded as one of the most difficult games ever released.

Mega Man

Released in 1987, is a platform video game in which Mega Man is an android called Rock, created as a lab assistant by the scientist Dr. Light.
Following treachery by Dr. Wily, Rock was converted into a battle robot to defend the world from Wily's violent robotic threats, so he became Mega Man.
The game is divided into six levels and it has four different endings (that can be played arbitrary), the player has also two indicators provided in order to check the energy of Mega-Man and the level of his weapons that can be improved by taking power-ups around the levels.

Street Fighter

Released in 1987, is a fighting game in which the player takes control of martial artist Ryu, who competes in a worldwide martial arts tournament, spanning five countries and ten opponents.
Three types of punch and kick attacks can be performed and, with special combination of keys, is possible to make special attacks.
This game provides multiplayer, in fact, a second player can join in at any time and take control of Ryu's rival, Ken. This game was the inaugural game in the Street Fighter series and it introduced some of the conventions that became common in later games: the six button controls and the use of command based special techniques.