SPOTLIGHT ON:

VISCO DEVELOPED 15 NEOGEO GAMES AND RELEASED 12

GAME 1: ANDRO DUNOS

Visco was one of the earliest NEOGEO third party developers. The first advertisement for Andro Dunos was actually placed in December of 1991. The game was released for MVS and HOME formats in 1992. Andro Dunos holds the distinction of being the FIRST official third party title released for the NEOGEO in the United States. (Alpha and Pallas both technically began as in house developers and Monolith and Wave did not release their games outside of JAPAN). Andro Dunos wasn't a big success, and we wouldn't "officially" hear from Visco again until 1995! (technically 1994 but none of the 1994 projects were ever officially released)


1994 WAS A BAD YEAR FOR VISCO!

EXPLANATION

Despite having developed 3 more NEOGEO games by 1994, (an action game, a fighting game, and a puzzle game), and having them all displayed at arcade trade shows, Visco would ended up not releasing ANY of them. Two of them were even location tested and advertised, but they were all sadly canceled.

GAME 2: PUZZLE DE PON

Finally in 1995, Visco officially releases their second NEOGEO game. Originally called Puzzle Buster and then later changed to Puzzle de Pon, this title was a puzzle game that used the Taito Puzzle Bobble game engine (with permission and under licence). And although heavily critisized by some NEOGEO fans, the game actually improves upon the Puzzle Bobble (Bust A Move) formula. I actually call it "Bust A Move with a purpose". Reason being, there is now a CLEAR goal to each stage and an actual REASON for WHY you are clearing the bubbles.

GAMES 3 AND 4

Later in 1995, Visco released their first sports game.

And in 1996, Visco obtained a licence from Universal for an updated and enhanced version of the 1982 classic arcade game Mr. Do!.

GAMES 5 AND 6

Later in 1996, Visco released another sequel to their series of driving games known as Drift Out. The original was released in 1991, then a sequel followed in 1994. Super Drift Out came out in 1995 for the Super Famicom (SNES), and then finally Neo Drift Out here in 1996.

Also in 1996, Visco would finally release the 2 year old Crystal Legacy fighting game. It was reworked and retitled Breakers.

And then came Visco's sequels to their NEOGEO hits. Puzzle de Pon was a big success at the arcades and Breakers did well enough that an updated "champion edition" was warranted.

GAMES 7 AND 8

Visco's only release in 1997 was an updated version of Puzzle de Pon. and in 1998 they also updated their Breakers fighting game.

GAMES 9 AND 10

Flip Shot was a Tennis/Hockey action sports game similar to Data East's 1993 Windjammer's and Captain Tomaday was a "cute" themed vertical shooter similar to ADK's Twinkle Star Sprites.

GAMES 11 AND 12

Ganryu was a very special and unique action/adventure game for the NEOGEO. A genre which was grossly under utilized and especially craved by the HOME user base. And Bang Bead was a sequel to Flip Shot with much better graphics and faster game play.

VISCO then stopped developing NEOGEO games and focussed back to the JAMMA standard.

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