(

doing business as A trade name, trading name, or business name, is a pseudonym used by companies that do not operate under their registered company name. The term for this type of alternative name is a "fictitious" business name. Registering the fictitious name w ...

Camelot Software Planning) is a Japanese video game developer established in 1990 under the name Sega CD4, but quickly renamed to Sonic! Software Planning. Named after Sonic the Hedgehog, they were closely involved with Sega and responsible for initial development of the ''Shining'' series. In 1995, there was a brief period where they worked for

Sony Computer Entertainment Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), formerly known as Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), is a multinational video game and digital entertainment company wholly owned by multinational conglomerate Sony. The SIE Group is made up of two legal co ...

in addition to creating ''Shining'' products. By 2001, now known as Camelot, they had partnered with Nintendo to create the ''

Mario Tennis ''Mario Tennis'' is a 2000 sports video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Following ''Mario's Tennis'', it is the second game in the ''Mario Tennis'' series. The game is known for being ...

'' and ''

Mario Golf There have been numerous sports games in the ''Mario'' franchise. Although originally a branch of the Mario sports games, the ''Mario Kart'' series is not included in this list, as it has since become a stand-alone series in the Mario franchise. ...

'' series of

sports game A sports video game is a video game that simulates the practice of sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, track and field, extreme sports, and combat sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport ( ...

s, as well as the role-playing video game series ''Golden Sun''.

History

Camelot was founded in 1990 as a division of Sega known as Sega CD4 (Consumer Development Studio #4), soon changing their name to Sonic! Software Planning, which was formed to create, alongside

Climax Entertainment was a Japanese video game development company. It was a small company, with just 20 staff in 1996. Climax got its start during the 16-bit era, primarily developing games for the Sega Genesis console. During the 32-bit era, some members of the t ...

, ''

Shining in the Darkness ''Shining in the Darkness'', released as in Japan, is a 1991 role-playing video game for the Sega Genesis, Mega Drive/Genesis video game console. It was one of the first role-playing games released for the system, and was the first in the Shining ...

'' for the Sega

Mega Drive/Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Syst ...

. The studio also developed other successful games in the franchise, including ''

Shining Force is a 1992 turn-based tactical role-playing game for the Mega Drive/Genesis console. While primarily a traditional fantasy-themed game, it contains some science fiction elements. The game has been repeatedly re-released: in Sega Smash Pack Vol ...

'' and ''

Shining Force II is a tactical role-playing game for the Mega Drive/Genesis console developed by Sonic! Software Planning in 1993. Its storyline is not directly connected to the original '' Shining Force'', although a Game Gear title '' Shining Force Gaiden: Fin ...

''. In 1995, Sonic! officially separated from Sega, but agreed to continue developing games for the ''Shining'' series and to not release any games for rival systems that would threaten the success of the '' Shining'' franchise By ''

Shining Force III is a trilogy of fantasy turn-based tactics role-playing video games designed for the Sega Saturn. These games served as sequels to Shining the Holy Ark and were the final entries in the Shining (series), Shining series to be developed by Camelo ...

'', the studio had begun operating under its current name, Camelot Software Planning. In late 1998, Sega began focusing their resources on the

Dreamcast The is a home video game console released by Sega on November 27, 1998, in Japan; September 9, 1999, in North America; and October 14, 1999, in Europe. It was the first sixth-generation video game console, preceding Sony's PlayStation 2, Nint ...

, leaving Camelot with their final ''Shining Force III'' scenario, for the Sega Saturn, in jeopardy. Though the scenario was released, Camelot decided to move away from Sega completely and have since worked mostly for Nintendo. The company developed many ''Mario'' sports games, including ''

'', and ''

'', as well as the ''Golden Sun'' series of

role-playing games A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal ac ...

. The creation of the ''Mario'' character,

Waluigi is a fictional character in the ''Mario'' franchise. He plays the role of Luigi's arch-rival and accompanies Wario in spin-offs from the main ''Mario'' series, often for the sake of causing mischief and problems. He was created by Camelot em ...

, can be attributed to Camelot Software, after ''Mario'' creator Shigeru Miyamoto consulted with them to create a "Wario-like" counterpart for Luigi during the development of ''

''.

Developed games

Cancelled

* ''I Love Golf'' – (PC)

Notes

References

External links

* {{Authority control Video game companies of Japan Video game development companies Software companies based in Tokyo Nintendo divisions and subsidiaries Video game companies established in 1990 Japanese companies established in 1990