Romstar

Romstar Inc. was a video game distribution company based in Torrance, California that started operations in 1984. They originally started as the first American distribution arm for SNK (before SNK of America was founded in 1987). They were known for licensing arcade games from major makers for distribution. Among Romstar's clients include Taito, Capcom, SNK, Toaplan, and Seta. They also made games for the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Game Boy. The ultimate fate of the company is not known. Games continued to be released using the Romstar name until at least 1994 (Goofy Hoops). It is also partnered with Capcom in 1993 to form Game Star (a.k.a. GameStar Inc.), an electromechanical factory in Arlington Heights, Illinois that Romstar had a 30% stake in.[1] In 1995, Capcom would later fully take over Game Star to form Capcom Coin-Op, a pinball manufacturer.[2]

The key personnel of Romstar, Takahito Yasuki, Ron Czerny, and Darryl Williams, later founded Atrativa Games and Playphone, both cellular phone entertainment companies. Playphone was acquired by GungHo Online Entertainment in October 2014.[3]

List of Games distributed by Romstar

Licensed from Taito

Licensed from Capcom

Licensed from SNK

Licensed from Seta

originally published by SETA Corporation

Licensed from Toaplan

Others
  • Double Dragon II: The Revenge (developed by Technos)
  • Bloody Wolf (developed by Data East)
  • Flashgal (developed by Kyugo)
  • Skeet Shot (developed by Dynamo)
  • Popshot (prototype, developed by Dynamo)
  • World Bowling (developed by Athena, Game Boy)
  • Championship Bowling (Arcade/NES)
  • Cowboy Kid (developed by Visco Games, NES)
  • Magic Darts (NES)
  • Mr. Chin's Gourmet Paradise (Game Boy)
  • Torpedo Range (developed by Seta, Game Boy)
  • Goofy Hoops (redemption, partially based on same hardware as Capcom pinballs)

References
  1. "Game Machine 1993/10/15, p. 30. Game Star Est'd" (PDF). 1993-10-15. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  2. "When pigs flew: The strange history of Capcom's Big Bang Bar". 2017-03-21. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  3. "GungHo acquires PlayPhone". 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
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