Jaleco

Japan · Founded 1974 · Closed 2014 · 1974 – 2014

Japan Leisure Company — shortened to Jaleco in 1983 — made Exerion, City Connection and Rod Land, and gave the NES its Bases Loaded baseball series.

Yoshiaki Kanazawa founded Japan Leisure Co., Ltd. on 3 October 1974. In March 1983 it took a new name built from the first two letters of each word — Jaleco — and the same year released Exerion, a shooter notable for its sense of momentum. City Connection (1985), in which a car hops between highway levels painting the road, and Momoko 120% (1986) followed in the arcades. On home consoles Jaleco's signature series was Moero!! Pro Yakyuu, released in North America as Bases Loaded, whose broadcast-style batting view became familiar to NES owners. The company also brought Western games to Japanese players and Japanese games to the West, publishing the Famicom and NES versions of Lucasfilm's Maniac Mansion and, in North America, games such as R-Type III and Pinball Quest. Its later arcade releases included the cute puzzle-platformer Rod Land (1990) and Tetris Plus (1995). Jaleco's fortunes declined in the 2000s as it passed through several owners. Its final parent company, Game Yarou, was declared bankrupt by the Tokyo District Court on 21 May 2014, ending Jaleco's presence in the industry.