Epics

Epics is a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. The company was originally established in February 1987 under the name Gen Creative House Co., Ltd. It changed its corporate name to G-Artists Inc. in March 1991 and adopted the name epics Inc. in June 2006. Publicly available material identifies the company primarily as a developer rather than as a hardware manufacturer, platform holder, retailer, or large multinational publisher. The company became particularly visible through its work on Nanashi no Game, a survival-horror title for Nintendo DS published by Square Enix in Japan. Released on July 3, 2008, the game used the distinctive dual-screen capabilities of the DS to combine first-person exploration in realistic three-dimensional environments with an embedded, deliberately primitive-looking 8-bit role-playing game. The fictional game within the game is cursed: characters who begin playing it are said to die seven days later. During exploration, players solve environmental puzzles, investigate locations, receive electronic messages, and avoid hostile zombie-like spirits known as Regrets. The contrast between contemporary 3D spaces and the low-resolution internal game formed the central creative identity of the title. Epics followed the original game with Nanashi no Game: Me, released in Japan on August 27, 2009. The sequel retained the dual-mode structure while expanding the premise around two cursed games, an RPG and a platform game. Its title refers to the protagonist’s left eye and the Nintendo DS’s two-screen arrangement, which are connected to the story’s theme of seeing elements hidden by the curse. The sequel also provided greater choice over exploration destinations during parts of the story. The Nanashi no Game property was supplemented by two DSiWare spin-offs, Noroi no Game: Chi and Noroi no Game: Oku, released in September 2009. Epics later extended the concept to mobile devices with Nanashi no Appli, released for iOS in January 2012 and Android in February 2012. These releases show the company’s movement from a distinctive handheld-console horror format toward downloadable and mobile distribution. Epics’ known portfolio is comparatively focused. Rather than being associated with a broad consumer brand architecture or a long list of internationally marketed franchises, it is chiefly recognized for software development and for the Nanashi no Game line. The available reference material does not establish a current parent company, public listing, founder, executive roster, financial profile, or detailed post-2012 release history. Those omissions should not be interpreted as evidence that the company ceased operations; its current corporate status and later catalog require additional verification.

Epics traces its corporate history to Gen Creative House Co., Ltd., established in February 1987 in Japan. The company changed its name to G-Artists Inc. in March 1991 and later became epics Inc. in June 2006. These successive names indicate a long-running Japanese software-development business, although the available reference material does not provide a detailed account of its early projects, ownership structure, management, or internal organization. The company’s best-documented period is its work on Nintendo DS software in the late 2000s. Epics developed Nanashi no Game, a survival-horror game published by Square Enix and released in Japan on July 3, 2008. The title centered on a cursed role-playing game whose players allegedly die seven days after beginning it. Its gameplay was divided between real-time 3D exploration and a simple 8-bit game displayed within the Nintendo DS interface. The outer exploration sections required navigation and puzzle solving, while the internal game supplied clues and sometimes advanced the story. E-mail messages and updates could interrupt exploration, reinforcing the fiction that the handheld device itself was participating in the horror. Nanashi no Game: Me followed on August 27, 2009. The sequel used a related structure but introduced two cursed games, an RPG and a platformer, and connected the title’s reference to the protagonist’s left eye with the DS’s dual-screen presentation. It also expanded exploration by allowing the player to select between destinations during portions of the story. The sequel was accompanied by two downloadable DSiWare works, Noroi no Game: Chi and Noroi no Game: Oku, released on September 9, 2009. Together, these releases formed a compact property spanning retail handheld software and digital distribution. In 2012, Epics extended the concept to smartphones with Nanashi no Appli. The iOS version was released in January and the Android version in February. This move represented a platform transition from Nintendo’s dedicated handheld ecosystem to mobile devices, while retaining the broader identity of the Nanashi line. The documented history presents Epics as a developer with a notable focus on original, atmosphere-driven handheld software and cross-format experimentation. The available sources do not establish a complete catalog, later corporate developments, current leadership, or confirmed present-day operations. Additional Japanese corporate and industry sources would be needed to produce a definitive account of the company after the documented mobile releases.

• 2012

  Nanashi no Appli released on mobile

  [1]Epics (company)en.wikipedia.org

  The franchise reached iOS in January and Android in February through Nanashi no Appli.

• 2009

  Nanashi no Game: Me and DSiWare spin-offs released

  [1]Epics (company)en.wikipedia.org

  The sequel Nanashi no Game: Me and the downloadable titles Noroi no Game: Chi and Noroi no Game: Oku expanded the property.

• 2008

  Nanashi no Game launched

  [1]Epics (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Epics developed the first Nanashi no Game for Nintendo DS, with Square Enix serving as publisher in Japan.

• 2006

  Adopted the Epics name

  [1]Epics (company)en.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its name to epics Inc. in June 2006.

• 1991

  Renamed G-Artists Inc.

  [1]Epics (company)en.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its name to G-Artists Inc. in March 1991.

• 1987

  Company established as Gen Creative House

  [1]Epics (company)en.wikipedia.org

  The business was originally established in February 1987 as Gen Creative House Co., Ltd. in Japan.

A Japanese game-development studio associated with original handheld and mobile horror experiences, especially games that combine narrative experimentation with platform-specific mechanics.

• Nintendo DS survival horror · 2008

  Nanashi no Game

  A first-person survival-horror game developed by Epics and published by Square Enix for Nintendo DS. The player investigates real-time 3D environments while interacting with an embedded 8-bit role-playing game that is connected to a deadly curse. Puzzles, electronic messages, game updates, and hostile spirits called Regrets structure the experience.

• Nintendo DS survival horror sequel · 2009

  Nanashi no Game: Me

  The sequel continues the series’ combination of 3D exploration and cursed retro software. Its story involves two fictional games, an RPG and a platformer, while the title’s reference to the protagonist’s left eye relates to the Nintendo DS’s two-screen format and the ability to perceive elements hidden by the curse.

• Nintendo DSiWare horror spin-off · 2009

  Noroi no Game: Chi

  A downloadable DSiWare spin-off connected to the Nanashi no Game horror property.

• Nintendo DSiWare horror spin-off · 2009

  Noroi no Game: Oku

  A second downloadable DSiWare spin-off associated with the Nanashi no Game series.

• Mobile horror game · 2012

  Nanashi no Appli

  A mobile extension of the Nanashi property released for iOS and Android. Its launch marked the series’ move from Nintendo handheld software to smartphone distribution.

• 2012

  Extended the franchise to mobile platformsStrategy

  Background

  Following its Nintendo DS and DSiWare work, Epics brought the Nanashi concept to smartphone operating systems.

  Action taken

  Nanashi no Appli was released for iOS in January 2012 and Android in February 2012.

  Aftermath

  The franchise gained a mobile distribution channel, although the available sources do not document subsequent commercial performance or later corporate strategy.

  Source

• 2009

  Expanded Nanashi no Game through a sequel and downloadable softwareProduct launch

  Background

  After the first Nintendo DS title, Epics continued the property across a full sequel and two DSiWare releases.

  Action taken

  The company developed Nanashi no Game: Me and the spin-offs Noroi no Game: Chi and Noroi no Game: Oku.

  Aftermath

  The releases broadened the property across retail-style handheld software and digital distribution.

  Source

1. 1Epics (company)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Epics official websiteepics-gogo.com