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ABA Games is a Japanese video game developer, composed solely of game designer Kenta Cho. ABA Games' works, available as open source freeware, are predominantly shoot 'em up games often inspired by classic games in the genre. Its games feature stylised retro graphics, innovative gameplay features and modes and are set in random rather than scripted events. These creations have been acclaimed as some of the best and well-known independent 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 with Toshiba 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 been ported from the original Windows versions to Mac OS X and Linux, and various handheld devices. One of its games, ''Tumiki Fighters'', was remade, built upon and released for the Wii console as ''Blast Works''. According to Cho, he occasionally receives interest in further console ports. In addition to ''Tumiki Fighters'', acclaimed ABA Games titles include ''Gunroar'', ''rRootage'' and ''Torus Trooper''. == Overview == ABA Games' sole developer, Kenta Cho, began writing games as a child during the 1980s using the NEC PC-6001 microcomputer, as there were few commercially available games. After leaving university, Cho contemplated professional games development but ultimately instead joined Toshiba 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.〔Ashcraft, Brian, (2008) ''Arcade Mania! The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game Centers'', Kodansha International, p. 71〕〔Sheffield, Brandon, (The Indie Shooter Roundtable: Mak, Cho, And Omega Fire At Will ), ''GamaSutra'', July 28, 2008, Accessed Mar 15, 2009〕 Cho is the sole contributor to ABA Games.〔Ashcraft, p. 70〕 Lacking musical training, he creates the soundtracks to his games using commercially available, pre-made samples.〔 ABA Games releases a game approximately every six months,〔 with the first three months spent creating prototypes and the latter three spent refining a finished version.〔 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.〔Honkie, Joe, (Kenta Cho (ABA Games) Interview ), ''Giant Robeast'', Accessed Mar 17, 2009〕 ABA Games' creations are "avant-garde"〔 re-imaginings of classic arcade shoot 'em ups,〔〔 using modern 3D graphics techniques to emulate older vector graphics and employing "imaginative, fresh"〔 gameplay ideas.〔〔 According to Cho, his graphical style was inspired by the game ''Rez'' as well as street billboards, and his attempts at innovative gameplay features have been inspired by games such as ''Radiant Silvergun'', ''Ikaruga'' and ''Gradius V''.〔 ABA Games' works also tend to be set in random rather than scripted events.〔 Its games are developed for Windows, but some have been ported to other systems including Mac OS X, iPhone, iPod touch,〔 and PSP,〔 with its game ''Tumiki Fighters'' forming the basis of Wii game ''Blast Works'' (which included a selection of his games as bonus content).〔 Cho has also created BulletML, an open source program which can replicate bullet patterns from other shoot 'em up games.〔 Cho has stated he occasionally receives interest in ports for game consoles, but although he would otherwise be interested in such ports, he feels his games are too simple for commercial release.〔(Kenta Cho MTV Interview ), ''Indy Gamer'', Dec 18, 2006, Accessed Mar 17, 2009. Transcript of: Totilo, Stephen, (Kenta Cho Speaks ), ''MTV'', Dec 18, 2006 (U.S. only)〕 He has also stated his use of the D programming language proved problematic when porting ''Tumiki Fighters'' to the Wii.〔 ABA Games' works are open source and free to download;〔 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.〔 ''Macworld'' acclaimed Cho as "spectacularly talented" and "one of today’s best independent game programmers",〔 while ''GamesRadar'' noted him for "creating some of the best freeware shoot ‘em ups out there".〔 Ashcraft states that in the West, Cho is "hailed as the most famous 'doujin software' shmup maker",〔 while ''The Guardian'' claimed Cho's works are among "the best-known examples" of Japan's independent gaming scene.〔Stuart, Keith, (Japan can rise again to be the land of the videogame ), ''The Guardian'', Oct 16, 2008, Accessed Mar 17, 2009〕 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 they fan-created games; however, Cho is affable to the term being applied to his work.〔〔 Jonathan Mak, creator of award-winning game ''Everyday Shooter'' (published by Sony on PlayStation Network) has cited ABA Games' ''Parsec 47'' as the inspiration behind his game's aesthetic.〔Bergfield, Carlos, (Interview: Everyday Shooter Creator Jonathan Mak ), ''Shacknews'', Aug 9, 2007, Accessed Mar 17, 2009〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「ABA Games」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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