Tradewest
Encyclopedia
Tradewest is a now-defunct American
video game company based in Corsicana, Texas
that produced numerous games in the 1980s and early 1990s. The company is best known as the publisher of the Battletoads
and Double Dragon series in North America and the PAL region
.
The Tradewest name was revived in August 2009 by Midway Games
's former Europe
an subsidiaries which rebranded themselves as Tradewest Games. They inherited the name from the American company parent which owned the Tradewest trademark.
's Ikari Warriors
arcade game
in the United States
, along with Victory Road, Alpha Mission and developed their own Redline Racer, John Elway's Quarterback and Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off-Road, as the company would shift away from the coin-op arcade game business to concentrate on the home console
market.
In 1987, Tradewest purchased Cinematronics
(video game developer and manufacturer) of El Cajon, California whose previous games included Dragon's Lair and Space Ace and renamed it The Leland Corporation
. John Rowe was chosen to run the El Cajon office as he already had a successful history in video games as executive vice-president of SNK's U.S division.
Tradewest was acquired by WMS Industries (the owners of the Williams
and Midway
brands) in 1994, and renamed Williams Entertainment, Inc., thus signaling the end of Tradewest as a company. Williams Entertainment became WMS's official division and entrance to the video game console
market. In 1996, WMS was losing interest in video games and, as such, Williams Entertainment was transferred to Midway who renamed the division Midway Home Entertainment, Inc.. Like it was the case with WMS, the division served as Midway's foothold to the home console market, who could now develop and publish video games in-house without having to rely on other publishers. Both the Corsicana, Texas and a new R&D facility in San Diego remained opened within Midway and continued to employ Byron Cook (who became president of Midway Home Entertainment) and John Rowe (who became Vice-Chairman and Director of Product Development) developing and publishing games for Nintendo Game Cube, Microsoft X Box, Sony Playstation and the PC
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
video game company based in Corsicana, Texas
Corsicana, Texas
Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45 some fifty-five miles south of downtown Dallas. The population was 24,485 at the 2000 census...
that produced numerous games in the 1980s and early 1990s. The company is best known as the publisher of the Battletoads
Battletoads
Battletoads is a platformer video game created by Tim and Chris Stamper and developed by Rare. Starring three anthropomorphic toads named after skin conditions , the game was created to rival the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games....
and Double Dragon series in North America and the PAL region
PAL region
The PAL region is a television publication territory which covers most of Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe...
.
The Tradewest name was revived in August 2009 by Midway Games
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
's former Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an subsidiaries which rebranded themselves as Tradewest Games. They inherited the name from the American company parent which owned the Tradewest trademark.
History
Tradewest was founded in 1986 by John Rowe (former Executive Vice President, SNK Corp, Japan's U.S. subsidiary), Leland Cook (banker and rancher) and his son Byron Cook. Tradewest started out by manufacturing SNKSNK Playmore
SNK Playmore Corporation is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. SNK is an acronym of , which was SNK's original name. The company's legal and trading name became SNK in 1986....
's Ikari Warriors
Ikari Warriors
Ikari Warriors is a 1986 arcade game by SNK, published in the United States and Europe by Tradewest. Known simply as in Japan, this was SNK's first major breakthrough US release and became something of a classic. The game was released at the time when there were many Commando clones on the market...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along with Victory Road, Alpha Mission and developed their own Redline Racer, John Elway's Quarterback and Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off-Road, as the company would shift away from the coin-op arcade game business to concentrate on the home console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
market.
In 1987, Tradewest purchased Cinematronics
Cinematronics
Cinematronics Incorporated was a pioneering arcade game developer that had its heyday in the era of vector display games. While other companies released games based on raster displays, early in their history, Cinematronics and Atari released vector-display games, which offered a distinctive look...
(video game developer and manufacturer) of El Cajon, California whose previous games included Dragon's Lair and Space Ace and renamed it The Leland Corporation
Leland corporation
The Leland Corporation was a manufacturer of several arcade video games in the 1980s and early 1990s. Notable among these were Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp in 1991, the long-anticipated follow up to the hugely successful Dragon's Lair from 1983 and Super Off Road, which spawned an expansion and two...
. John Rowe was chosen to run the El Cajon office as he already had a successful history in video games as executive vice-president of SNK's U.S division.
Tradewest was acquired by WMS Industries (the owners of the Williams
Williams (gaming company)
WMS Industries, Inc. is an American electronic gaming and amusement company based in Waukegan, Illinois. The company's main operating subsidiaries are WMS Gaming and Orion Gaming. WMS traces its roots as far back as 1943, the Williams Manufacturing Company, founded by Harry E. Williams...
and Midway
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
brands) in 1994, and renamed Williams Entertainment, Inc., thus signaling the end of Tradewest as a company. Williams Entertainment became WMS's official division and entrance to the video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
market. In 1996, WMS was losing interest in video games and, as such, Williams Entertainment was transferred to Midway who renamed the division Midway Home Entertainment, Inc.. Like it was the case with WMS, the division served as Midway's foothold to the home console market, who could now develop and publish video games in-house without having to rely on other publishers. Both the Corsicana, Texas and a new R&D facility in San Diego remained opened within Midway and continued to employ Byron Cook (who became president of Midway Home Entertainment) and John Rowe (who became Vice-Chairman and Director of Product Development) developing and publishing games for Nintendo Game Cube, Microsoft X Box, Sony Playstation and the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
.
Aftermath
- Midway's head officeHead OfficeHead Office is a 1985 American comedy film, produced by HBO Pictures in association with Silver Screen Partners. It stars Judge Reinhold, Eddie Albert, Lori-Nan Engler, Jane Seymour, Richard Masur, Michael O'Donoghue, Ron Frazier, Merritt Butrick and was directed and written by Ken...
in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
shut down the Corsicana location and terminated its staff in late 2002.
- The El Cajon location moved to nearby San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and is now the only office for Midway Home Entertainment.
- Byron Cook has left video games for politicsPoliticsPolitics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
at the end of the year 2000. He is a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
State Representative in TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
for the Corsicana districtDistrictDistricts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
.
- John Rowe was the founder, president and CEO of High Moon StudiosHigh Moon StudiosHigh Moon Studios is an American video game developer, that used to be a part of Sierra Entertainment. After a period as independent studio, the developer was acquired by Vivendi Games in January 2006 and retained the current name...
(formerly Sammy Studios) until 2001. John Rowe continues to be an award winning photographer who spends much of his time in AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
photographing disappearing indigenous people and cultures.http://www.johnrowephoto.com/
- The Tradewest name was revived in 2009 by the former Midway UK and France publishing divisions following a management buyout.
Arcade
- Alpha MissionAlpha MissionAlpha Mission is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game created by SNK in 1985. It was later ported to the NES/Famicom in 1986...
(1985) - Ikari WarriorsIkari WarriorsIkari Warriors is a 1986 arcade game by SNK, published in the United States and Europe by Tradewest. Known simply as in Japan, this was SNK's first major breakthrough US release and became something of a classic. The game was released at the time when there were many Commando clones on the market...
(1986) - Victory Road (1987)
Nintendo Entertainment System
- Double DragonDouble Dragon (arcade game)is a 1987 beat 'em up developed by Technos Japan and distributed in North America and Europe by Taito Corporation. The game is a spiritual and technological successor to Technos' earlier beat 'em up, Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun , but introduced several additions such as two-player cooperative gameplay...
(June 1988) - John Elway's Quarterback Challenge (March 1989)
- Taboo: The Sixth SenseTaboo: The Sixth SenseTaboo: The Sixth Sense is a video game developed by Rare and published by Tradewest for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989 that gives users a tarot reading where the "dealer" automatically shuffles the cards...
(April 1989) - Magic Johnson's Fast Break (March 1990)
- Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off RoadSuper Off RoadIvan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road is an arcade video game released in 1989 by Leland Corporation. Virgin Games produced several home versions in 1990...
(April 1990) - Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden WarpshipSolar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden WarpshipSolar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship is the third video game in the Jetman series. It was designed and developed by Zippo Games for Rare and released in the US by Tradewest in 1990, and in Europe by Nintendo, for the NES...
(September 1990) - BattletoadsBattletoadsBattletoads is a platformer video game created by Tim and Chris Stamper and developed by Rare. Starring three anthropomorphic toads named after skin conditions , the game was created to rival the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games....
(June 1991) - High Speed (July 1991)
- Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat (August 1992)
- R.C. Pro-Am IIR.C. Pro-Am IIR.C. Pro-Am II is a racing video game developed by Rare and released by Tradewest for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in December 1992 and in Europe on September 23, 1993. The game is the sequel to the 1988 title R.C...
(December 1992) - Battletoads & Double DragonBattletoads & Double DragonBattletoads & Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team is a 1993 beat 'em up developed by Rare and published by Tradewest. It was originally released for the NES and later ported to the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy....
(June 1993)
Game Boy
- Double DragonDouble Dragon (arcade game)is a 1987 beat 'em up developed by Technos Japan and distributed in North America and Europe by Taito Corporation. The game is a spiritual and technological successor to Technos' earlier beat 'em up, Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun , but introduced several additions such as two-player cooperative gameplay...
(August 1990) - Sneaky Snakes (June 1991)
- Battletoads (November 1991)
- Jack Nicklaus Golf (May 1992)
- Super Off RoadSuper Off RoadIvan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road is an arcade video game released in 1989 by Leland Corporation. Virgin Games produced several home versions in 1990...
(November 1992) - Battletoads in Raganarok's WorldBattletoadsBattletoads is a platformer video game created by Tim and Chris Stamper and developed by Rare. Starring three anthropomorphic toads named after skin conditions , the game was created to rival the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games....
(June 1993) - Battletoads & Double DragonBattletoads & Double DragonBattletoads & Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team is a 1993 beat 'em up developed by Rare and published by Tradewest. It was originally released for the NES and later ported to the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy....
(December 1993)
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- Super Off RoadSuper Off RoadIvan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road is an arcade video game released in 1989 by Leland Corporation. Virgin Games produced several home versions in 1990...
(December 1991) - Jack Nicklaus Golf (May 1992)
- Pro Quarterback (September 1992)
- Super Double DragonSuper Double DragonSuper Double Dragon, known in Japan as , is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in . It was published by Technos Japan Corp. in Japan and by Tradewest in North America and the PAL region...
(October 15, 1992) - Battletoads in BattlemaniacsBattletoads in BattlemaniacsBattletoads in Battlemaniacs is a game released by Tradewest in 1993 for the Super NES. It is a sequel to Battletoads.-Story:The story opens with the 'Toads visiting the Gyachung-La fortress in northern Tibet, where the Psicone Corporation is demoing their new virtual reality game system, TRIPS...
(June 1993) - Super Baseball 2020Super Baseball 2020is a futuristic baseball video game. It was first released in Japan for the Neo Geo in 1991, and then it was later released in North America for the Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993.The game follows the basic rules of baseball, but there are several upgrades...
(July 1993) - PlokPlokPlok is a Super Nintendo game developed by Software Creations and published by Tradewest Games in 1993 in North America, and later by Nintendo in Europe and Activision in Japan...
(September 1993) - Super Off Road: The Baja (September 1993)
- Battletoads & Double DragonBattletoads & Double DragonBattletoads & Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team is a 1993 beat 'em up developed by Rare and published by Tradewest. It was originally released for the NES and later ported to the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy....
(December 1993) - Fun 'N' Games (August 1994)
- Troy Aikman NFL FootballTroy Aikman NFL FootballTroy Aikman NFL Football is a multiplatform American football video game that was released for the Atari Jaguar, Super NES and the Mega Drive/Genesis.Aikman is the first member of the 1993 Dallas Cowboys to have his namesake in a game...
(August 1994) - Double Dragon V: The Shadow FallsDouble Dragon V: The Shadow FallsDouble Dragon V: The Shadow Falls is a 1994 American-produced sequel to Technos Japan's Double Dragon series. Unlike the previously produced Double Dragon games, Technos had little or no credited involvement in the development of the game outside of licensing the series' name to publisher Tradewest...
(August 5, 1994)
Sega Genesis
- Championship Pro-Am (May 12, 1992)
- BattletoadsBattletoadsBattletoads is a platformer video game created by Tim and Chris Stamper and developed by Rare. Starring three anthropomorphic toads named after skin conditions , the game was created to rival the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games....
(July 13, 1992) - Pro Quarterback (September 1992)
- Fun 'N' Games (August 2, 1993)
- Battletoads & Double DragonBattletoads & Double DragonBattletoads & Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team is a 1993 beat 'em up developed by Rare and published by Tradewest. It was originally released for the NES and later ported to the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy....
(December 1993) - Double Dragon V: The Shadow FallsDouble Dragon V: The Shadow FallsDouble Dragon V: The Shadow Falls is a 1994 American-produced sequel to Technos Japan's Double Dragon series. Unlike the previously produced Double Dragon games, Technos had little or no credited involvement in the development of the game outside of licensing the series' name to publisher Tradewest...
(August 5, 1994) - Troy Aikman NFL FootballTroy Aikman NFL FootballTroy Aikman NFL Football is a multiplatform American football video game that was released for the Atari Jaguar, Super NES and the Mega Drive/Genesis.Aikman is the first member of the 1993 Dallas Cowboys to have his namesake in a game...
(August 1994)