was a Japanese

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

manufacturer in operation from 1982 to 2004. The studio focused in the 1980s developing games for Japanese home computers, in the 1990s shifted to console game development, and in the 2000s to mobile games. They also published Western games in the Japanese market.

History

The company was initially known for the successful ''

J.B. Harold Murder Club ''J.B. Harold Murder Club'', known as ''J.B. Harold no Jikenbo #1: Murder Club'' in Japan, is a 1986 murder mystery adventure game, developed by Riverhillsoft and released for the NEC PC-9801, NEC PC-98, MSX, MS-DOS, NEC TurboGrafx-CD (TurboDuo) ...

'' series of murder mystery adventure games, developed from 1986 onwards. They were initially released as computer games and later ported to the

PC Engine CD The TurboGrafx-16, known as the outside North America, is a home video game console designed by Hudson Soft and sold by NEC Home Electronics. It was the first console marketed in the fourth generation, commonly known as the 16-bit era, though ...

console Console may refer to: Computing and video games * System console, a physical device to operate a computer ** Virtual console, a user interface for multiple computer consoles on one device ** Command-line interface, a method of interacting with ...

, Nintendo Family Computer, Nintendo DS

handheld A mobile device (or handheld computer) is a computer small enough to hold and operate in the hand. Mobile devices typically have a flat LCD or OLED screen, a touchscreen interface, and digital or physical buttons. They may also have a physical ...

, and

iOS iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also include ...

mobile Mobile may refer to: Places * Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city * Mobile County, Alabama * Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S. * Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Mobile ( ...

. Riverhillsoft also published '' Prince of Persia'' in Japan. Their ports to the Japanese

NEC PC-9801 The , commonly shortened to PC-98 or , is a lineup of Japanese 16-bit and 32-bit personal computers manufactured by NEC from 1982 to 2000. The platform established NEC's dominance in the Japanese personal computer market, and, by 1999, more th ...

and

platforms featured improved graphics (introducing the

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...

's classic "

turban A turban (from Persian دولبند‌, ''dulband''; via Middle French ''turbant'') is a type of headwear based on cloth winding. Featuring many variations, it is worn as customary headwear by people of various cultures. Communities with promin ...

and vest" appearance) and a new Red Book audio soundtrack. They also ported it to other computers and

video game console A video game console is an electronic device that outputs a video signal or image to display a video game that can be played with a game controller. These may be home consoles, which are generally placed in a permanent location connected to ...

s, helping the game become a worldwide success. Riverhillsoft were later known for several early

survival horror Survival horror is a subgenre of survival of the players as the game tries to frighten them with either horror graphics or scary ambience. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel less in control than in typical ac ...

games. These include the 1994 game ''

Doctor Hauzer is a 1994 survival horror-adventure video game developed by Riverhillsoft and published in Japan by Panasonic for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. The player takes on the role of Adams Adler, a newspaper reporter investigating a mansion for clue ...

'' and the '' OverBlood'' series. Their final release was the life simulation game ''World Neverland: Waneba Island'' for the PlayStation in 2000. Following layoffs in 2000, the company turned its focus on mobile gaming, which proved unsuccessful. In June 2004, it filed for bankruptcy and the majority of its employees left to form a new company, called Althi, Inc., absorbing Riverhillsoft.

Games

References

External links

Official website
(archived)
MobyGames
Companies that have filed for bankruptcy in Japan Defunct video game companies of Japan Japanese companies established in 1982 Japanese companies disestablished in 2004 Video game companies established in 1982 Video game companies disestablished in 2004 Video game development companies Video game publishers {{japan-videogame-company-stub

History

Games

See also

References

External links