is a Japanese
visual novel
A , often abbreviated as VN, is a form of digital semi-interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with and used in the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with sta ...
studio known for the production of
adult ''
bishōjo game
A or , is "a type of Japanese video game centered on interactions with attractive girls".
''Bishōjo'' games are similar to ''Choose Your Own Adventure'' books in the way of narrative, in which the game tells a story but the player may make ...
s''. Its main office is located in
Taitō
is a special ward located in Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. In English, it is known as Taitō City.
As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 186,276, and a population density of 18,420 persons per km2. The total area is . Thi ...
,
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...
. The representative producer and president is Ryūichirō Yamakawa. “Frontwing” is the company's main brand, but it has also released games under affiliated brands “Survive” (サヴァイブ), “Hotchkiss” (ホチキス), and “b-wing.” These brands have all since merged to become “Frontwing.”
Frontwing's games cover a diverse range of genres, from school love life stories to hardcore adult games, and also games that utilize 3D computer graphics. The 3D content production team, ''Polygon Mura'' (ポリゴン村), is closely involved in the games’ production by seeking ways to incorporate 3D graphics into essentially 2D projects. Several of their games, originally produced for PC, have been ported to consoles. The development of the ported versions is generally done in-house. The company is also active in many other fields, including the development of the dance 3D software ''Dance X Mixer'', taking part in the bi-annual Comic Market, and Niconico live broadcasts.
Since the company's founding in 1999 as a ''bishōjo'' games developer and the release of Frontwing's first title, ''Canary (Canaria: Kono Omoi o Uta ni Nosete)'' in August 2000, it has published over 20 titles in the visual novel genre. The studio's flagship games include the ''Netherworld Angel Djibril'' series, and the ''
Grisaia'' trilogy which spawned an animated series in 2015. In regards to the ''
Djibril'' series, writer Naoki Miyamoto, author of the book ''"Adult Games: Introduction to Cultural Studies”'', has pointed out why there is a big demand for such works: “If the one to fight is a beautiful heroine, the risks she takes stimulate people's erotic imagination.”
In 2011, the first installment of the ''Grisaia'' series, ''
The Fruit of Grisaia
is a Japanese adult visual novel, the first in a series of visual novels by Frontwing, with character designs by Akio Watanabe and Fumio. It was released in February 2011 for Windows, and it was later ported to the PlayStation Portab ...
'', won first place in the Moe Game Award. The second installment, ''The Labyrinth of Grisaia'', won second place in 2012.
Frontwing marked its first venture into the overseas market May 29, 2015, with the English release of ''The Fruit of Grisaia'' on
Steam. The company has since established its own in-house translation team, which made its debut with the English release of ''The Leisure of Grisaia'' on May 18, 2016.
On March 16, 2021, Frontwing announced that
Bushiroad
is a Japanese entertainment company, producer of collectible card games and trading cards, publisher of mobile apps and games, promotional items and many other venues, which was founded in 2007 by Takaaki Kidani and is headquartered in Tokyo. ...
had acquired a 50.625% controlling stake of the company, with Frontwing becoming a subsidiary of Bushiroad.
List of visual novels
Listed by brand, in chronological order.
Frontwing
Survive
Hotchkiss
b-wing
Incidents
*
Green Green Case
References
External links
*
* (English)
*
Frontwing Official English Facebook page
{{Bushiroad
Amusement companies of Japan
Bushiroad
Hentai companies
Video game companies of Japan
Video game development companies
Video game companies established in 2000
Japanese companies established in 2000