also known simply as French-Bread, is a Japanese video game developer founded in 1995 as , based in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan. Originally a doujin circle, French-Bread became well known for their work in fighting games, particularly the Melty Blood series. In recent years, they worked on other licensed-based fighting games, such as Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax and the company's original game, Under Night In-Birth. Most of its developed video games are commonly released for Microsoft Windows, Sega arcade systems, and PlayStation consoles.
History
The studio was named after a friend of Nobuya Narita, with whom he often played video games after school. They initially developed desk accessories for Windows. Narita discovered dojin Windows action games and fighting games such as the and Moon Lights 2 that were ported from the X68000 home computer. He subsequently decided to develop his own project for Windows. It was initially conceived as an original work, but creating unique character designs and graphics proved difficult. Narita was later introduced to the visual novel To Heart and decided to develop his game as a derivative work. Characters for his project were sourced from To Heart, while the system mechanics were based on Asuka 120%, a game that served as an influence for Narita and his team. The Queen of Heart '98 was released on 30 December 1998 to positive critical reception from dojin gamers. The Queen of Heart series sold about 100,000 copies, and Watanabe Seisakujo became one of the most popular dōjin game developers. This surfaced significant copyright concern. Some hobbyists also uploaded M.U.G.E.N characters with data extracted from the game. Watanabe Seisakujo and Leaf received many inquiries about permission, although they had no relation to uploaders. Narita didn't hope a derivative work disturbed its original work and developer. He decided to stop creating unlicensed games, and start fresh with . The circle name came from the dōjin circle to which Narita belonged to before Watanabe Seisakujo. As for the French Bread part in their name, this was due to being so broke at the time that they could only afford tap water and convenience store french bread to fill the staff's stomachs.
Since Melty Blood, French-Bread heavily uses a sprite drawing software known as EDGE2 to create character sprites for their future games.
Narita is also a close friend of Hiiragiboshi Takumi, the author of the Absolute Duo light novel series. They met over 15 years ago while both were still amateurs making doujins. Narita and the game developer's sprite artist Seichi Yoshihara has helped in designing battle suits for said novel series.
The founder of freelance video game developer group Subtle Style and the creator of Akatsuki EN-Eins series, Subtle becomes reoccurring freelance sprite artist for later modern French-Bread games since Under Night In-Birth and exchange to allow French Bread to include the titular Akatsuki Blitzkampf protagonist guest appearing in French Bread's said first original game series.
Games developed As Watanabe Seisakujo Title Year Platform(s) Notes The Queen of Heart '98 1998 Microsoft Windows Features characters from To Heart. Its game system was influenced by Asuka 120%. The Queen of Heart '99 1999 Microsoft Windows Features characters from Leaf games Features additional gameplay gimmicks from existing fighting games in the time period. The Queen of Heart '99 Second Edition 2000 Microsoft Windows 2000 Microsoft Windows 2000 Microsoft Windows Features characters from Kanon and is inspired by Capcom's Strider series. The Queen of Heart '99 with Second Edition 2001 Microsoft Windows Party's Breaker: The Queen of Heart 2001 2001 Microsoft Windows Features characters from Comic Party 2001 Microsoft Windows Features characters from Air 2002 Microsoft Windows Features characters from various dating sims, anime, and dōjin games. Melty Blood 2002 Microsoft Windows Features characters from the visual novel Tsukihime and is jointly produced with Type Moon prior to incorporating as a company.
As Soft Circle French-Bread Arcade Games Title Year Publisher(s) Hardware Notes Melty Blood: Act Cadenza 2005 Ecole Software Sega NAOMI Updated to Version A in 2005, Version B in 2006, and Version B2 in 2007. Melty Blood: Actress Again 2008 Ecole Software Sega NAOMI The first French Bread game to be featured at the international Evolution Championship Series tournament in 2010. Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code 2010 Ecole Software Sega RingWide Updated to Ver.1.05 and Ver.1.07 in 2011. Under Night In-Birth 2012 Ecole Software Sega RingEdge 2 Updated to EXE:Late in 2013. Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax 2014 Sega and Dengeki Bunko Sega RingEdge 2 Under Night In-Birth Exe:Latest 2015 Arc System Works Sega RingEdge 2 Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition 2015 Sega and Dengeki Bunko Sega RingEdge 2 Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late cl-r 2021 Arc System Works Sega ALLS HX
Console & Computer Games Title Year Platform(s) Notes Drill Milky Punch 2003 Microsoft Windows Features characters from Âge games Bike Banditz 2003 Microsoft Windows Horizontally scrolling shooter, succeeding Wizards Star 2nd developed by the defunct dōjin circle NEXT. Melty Blood Re-ACT 2004 Microsoft Windows Melty Blood Re-ACT Final Tuned 2005 Microsoft Windows Melty Blood: Act Cadenza 2006 PlayStation 2 Melty Blood: Act Cadenza Ver. B 2007 Microsoft Windows Ragnarok Battle Offline 2004 Microsoft Windows Published outside Japan by Gravity, this was one of French Bread’s earliest works released for the English-speaking market. 2008 Microsoft Windows Lilian Fourhand 2009 Microsoft Windows Features characters from Maria-sama ga Miteru Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code 2011 Microsoft Windows Published on Steam by Arc System Works in 2016. French Bread's first official foray into the English-speaking market. Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late 2013 PlayStation 3 Microsoft Windows Balancing update to Under Night In-Birth. Ported by Arc System Works. Updated to Exe:Late [st], then Exe:Late [cl-r] Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax 2014 PlayStation 3PlayStation Vita Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late [st] 2015 PlayStation 3PlayStation 4PlayStation VitaMicrosoft Windows Balancing update to a console version of Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late. Ported by Arc System Works. Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition 2015 PlayStation 3PlayStation 4PlayStation Vita Balancing update to Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax. The first game to release downloadable characters. Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late [cl-r] 2020 PlayStation 4Nintendo SwitchMicrosoft Windows Balancing update to Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st]. Previous owners of PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows versions of Exe:Late[st] upgraded to this version automatically, although this version's new content remains as paid downloadable content. Ported by Arc System Works. Melty Blood: Type Lumina 2021 PlayStation 4Nintendo SwitchXbox OneMicrosoft Windows The first Melty Blood game depicts in remake timeline of Tsukihime series, and Melty Blood Act sub-series. Published by Aniplex subsidiary, Lasengle (formerly a game division of Delightworks in 2021). Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes] 2024 PlayStation 4PlayStation 5Nintendo SwitchMicrosoft Windows A sequel to Exe:Late sub-series. Published by Arc System Works. Melty Blood: Twi-Lumina 2027 PlayStation 4PlayStation 5Xbox OneNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2Microsoft Windows A sequel to Melty Blood: Type Lumina set to release in 2027
References
External links (Old) (New, under the name "Unknown Co., Ltd.")