Namcot?

[alpha5099]

I've noticed that a lot of old Namco games seem to have "Namcot" on the title screen. Why the T?

[D]

Namco consumer departmenT

Something like that

[Herr Schatten]

I might be wrong at this, but I was always under the impression that Namcot was the name of the Namco sublabel that handled the console ports of their own games, while the name Namco was reserved for arcade releases.

[Marc]

I'm also pretty certain that was it. Every PCE game I owned was 'Namcot' anyway.

[BrianC]

I need to try and get a Namco import. I love that "Namcot" name.

[Bar81]

That was the subsidiary Namco created so that they wouldn't run afoul of the Nintendo FC/NES licensing dept when they developed games for the Mega Drive and PCE.

[OmegaFlareX]

Hmmmm... I dunno about that, Bar. I'm pretty sure the NES port of Galaga says "Namcot" on the title screen.

[Shatterhand]

Yes, I just checked and the NES port of Galaga do says "Namcot"

But afaik, that's right, Namcot was the name used in the home ports.

[BrianC]

The NES ports of Pac-Man and Mappy have "Namcot" on the title screen too.
Here's proof:
http://media.gameboy.ign.com/media/627/ ... mgs_1.html
http://media.gameboy.ign.com/media/627/ ... 66843.html

Famicom Mini screens, but since those are emulations of the original games, I think they definatly count.

Some SNES and GB games have "Namcot" on the title screen too.
http://www.vgmuseum.com/pics2/pacmanJAP.html
http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/snes01/0 ... uzzle.html
http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/snes03/40.html

The "Namcot" logo was around even before the NES. Even some MSX games use it.
http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/msx01/Galaga.html

[Bar81]

Oops, guess I was off the mark on that. That's what I had read somewhere but I guess I was misinformed. Thanks for the correction guys.

[CIT]

I recently met Masanobu Endo (the Xevious and Druaga guy) and had a chance to ask him about the meaning of "Namcot".

Apparently the name was chosen by Toru Iwatani and comes from "pet" and "mascot", giving the impression of something small you can keep at home (as opposed to the "big" arcade games).

[BIL]

Haha, cute! I'd heard of the Namco Home EntertainmenT thing, but that's a way cooler explanation.

[pcb_revival]

And for a literal twist namcot spelt backward is tocman.

tocman is the evil mecha pacman.

http://villains.wikia.com/wiki/Toc-Man

[copy-paster]

PC Engine Fan X should be here explain this.

[null1024]

I recently met Masanobu Endo (the Xevious and Druaga guy) and had a chance to ask him about the meaning of "Namcot".

Apparently the name was chosen by Toru Iwatani and comes from "pet" and "mascot", giving the impression of something small you can keep at home (as opposed to the "big" arcade games).

That's a lot cuter than I expected.

Always did wonder about the whole Namcot thing.
It looked really silly to me before, like it was an error.

[Skykid]

It ways reminded me of Ascot.

I was pretty sure it was a home publishing sub label, but it's nice to hear its naming origin from the horse's mouth - good work CIT!