ABA Games is a Japanesevideo game developer, composed solely ofgame designerKenta Cho. ABA Games' works, available asopen source, are predominantlyshoot 'em up games often inspired by classic games in the genre. Its games feature stylisedretro graphics, innovativegameplay features and modes and feature random rather than scripted events. These creations have been acclaimed as some of the bestindependent games available, though some commentators, including Cho himself, feel they are too simple for commercial release.
Cho began creating computer games as a hobby during his childhood in the 1980s. After leaving university, he pursued a career withToshiba in multimedia research and development while continuing to develop games in his spare time. The positive reaction to ABA Games' first shoot 'em up,Noiz2sa (2002), encouraged him to concentrate on that genre. The developer's games have beenported from the originalWindows versions tomacOS andLinux, and varioushandheld devices. One of its games,Tumiki Fighters, wasremade, built upon and released for theWii console asBlast Works. According to Cho, he occasionally receives interest in further console ports. In addition toTumiki Fighters, acclaimed ABA Games titles includeGunroar,rRootage andTorus Trooper.
Noiz2sa, ABA Games' first shoot 'em up for Windows
ABA Games' sole developer, Kenta Cho, began writing games as a child during the 1980s using theNEC PC-6001microcomputer, as there were few commercially available games. After leaving university, Cho contemplated professional games development but ultimately instead joinedToshiba to work in multimedia research and development. He continues to work full-time for Toshiba while running ABA Games as a hobby, working mainly on weekends.[1][2] Cho is the sole contributor to ABA Games.[3] Lacking musical training, he creates the soundtracks to his games using commercially available, pre-madesamples.[2] ABA Games releases a game approximately every six months,[1] with the first three months spent creating prototypes and the latter three spent refining a finished version.[2]
ABA Games released its first shoot 'em up game for Windows PCs—Noiz2sa—in 2002, and the positive feedback Cho received encouraged him to concentrate on the genre.[4] ABA Games' creations are "avant-garde"[3] re-imaginings of classicarcade shoot 'em ups,[3][5] using modern 3D graphics techniques to emulate oldervector graphics and employing "imaginative, fresh"[6] gameplay ideas.[5][6] According to Cho, his graphical style was inspired by the gameRez as well as street billboards, and his attempts at innovative gameplay features have been inspired by games such asRadiant Silvergun,Ikaruga andGradius V.[4] ABA Games' works also tend to be set in random rather than scripted events.[2] Its games are developed forWindows, but some have beenported to other systems including macOS,iPhone,iPod Touch,[7] andPSP,[6] with its gameTumiki Fighters forming the basis ofWii gameBlast Works (which included a selection of his games as bonus content).[8] Cho has also created BulletML, an open source program which can replicate bullet patterns from other shoot 'em up games.[1]
Cho has stated he occasionally receives interest in ports forgame consoles, but although he would otherwise be interested in such ports, he feels his games are too simple for commercial release.[9] He has also stated his use of theD programming language proved problematic when portingTumiki Fighters to the Wii.[2] ABA Games' works are open source and free to download;[1] Cho has stated he creates games of the kind which he desires to play and distributes them (along with the source code) for the enjoyment of others without the intent of monetary profit.[9]Macworld acclaimed Cho as "spectacularly talented" and "one of today’s best independent game programmers",[10] whileGamesRadar noted him for "creating some of the best freeware shoot ‘em ups out there".[11] Ashcraft states that in the West, Cho is "hailed as the most famous 'doujin software' shmup maker",[1] whileThe Guardian claimed Cho's works are among "the best-known examples" of Japan's independent gaming scene.[12] While out with Japan ABA Games is known as a "doujin" developer, unlike doujin developers Cho does not seek to sell his works, nor are theyfan-created games; however, Cho is affable to the term being applied to his work.[1][2]Jessica Mak, creator of award-winning gameEveryday Shooter (published bySony onPlayStation Network) has cited ABA Games'Parsec 47 as the inspiration behind her game's aesthetic.[13]
Gunroar is an abstract, naval themed shoot 'em up game.
Gunroar is a naval themed shoot 'em up likened to a verticallyscrolling version ofGeometry Wars (or a cross betweenAsteroids andSpace Invaders).[11][14] The player controls a small, abstract gunboat which can be rotated through 360 degrees as in games such asGeometry Wars andRobotron. The game also features vertical scrolling; however, unlike the standard shoot 'em up in which the propulsion of the craft dictates the pace, players can control the speed at which they proceed through the level. The faster players move through a level, the morepoints they will score. The game features multiple modes dependent on how the game is controlled: the player can choose to control a single boat by means of the keyboard or mouse or a more complicated "dual" mode allowing the use of two boats using both hands on the keyboard.[5] Gunroar was praised for its minimalist design,[11] impressivepolygonal graphics,[6] and frenetic action.[15]
Tumiki Fighters is a side-scrolling shooter in which the protagonist is a toy aeroplane flying through a cartoon setting. The game employs a device inspired byKatamari Damacy, allowing the player to attach debris from destroyed enemies to the aircraft, which in turn act as armour andpower-ups.[11][14] Praised for its addictive gameplay,[11]Tumiki Fighters formed the base ofBlast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy, a game published byMajesco Entertainment in 2008 for theWii.[8] DeveloperBudcat Creations remade ABA Games' creation for the console and further added an editor function allowing extensive user-created content. Critics acclaimedBlast Works for its innovative and entertaining gameplay and has been described by critics variously as an upgraded version or remake—[8][16][17] or simply a port or re-release—[1][6] ofTumiki Fighters.Blast Works featuredTumiki Fighters, as well as three other ABA Games titles, as bonus content.UGO felt that these games' minimalist graphics, while not outstanding, did retain some charm.[8] According to Cho, he did not receive money for the port, allowing his game to be used for free.[1]
rRootage is a shoot 'em up viewed from a top-down perspective, composed solely ofboss battles against large abstract spacecraft attacking the player with intricate barrages of projectiles. The game featured multiple modes: "normal", "Psy", "Ika" and "GW"; the latter three inspired byPsyvariar,Ikaruga andGiga Wing, respectively. The game was ported to theiPhone andiPod Touch by developer Lahzrog Games and released as a free download oniTunes.[7][18]GamesRadar described the game as "great" and "full of win".[11]Macworld acknowledged the game was esoteric but praised its "classic fast paced action", awarding it a maximum five stars. However, the reviewer noted the iPhone version sometimes ran more slowly than intended.[7]
Torus Trooper, a reimagining of the gameTempest, features a spacecraft flying through an abstract tunnel, the walls of which twist and change shape. The player competes against the clock, gaining more time by destroying enemies. The game was acclaimed for its stark yet highly attractive graphics, and was featured in the 2010 book1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.[10][19]
Titanion[14] is a vertical shooter acclaimed for its attractive graphics.
^tf0_2.zip"Copyright 2004 Kenta Cho. All rights reserved. Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution."
