Taito Corporation is a video game and toy company that has been in business since 1953. Founded by Michael Kogan, the company initially made its mark by creating some of the earliest arcade and console video games such as Space Invaders and Bubble Bobble. Although Taito is known more for their classic video games, they have made other products over the years such as educational toys, mobile phone applications, and even pachinko machines.
The company was originally called Taito Trading Company when it was founded over sixty years ago in Tokyo. The initial goal of the company was to create amusement machines that could be used in restaurants and other public places. It wasn’t until 1978 that Taito produced its first coin-operated arcade game – a shooting game called Space Invaders. This proved to be an instant hit with players around the world and it soon became an iconic part of the industry. The success of this game allowed Taito to expand its range of products into other areas such as sports games, puzzle games, racing games, and fighting games.
In 1985, Taito released one of its most successful titles – Bubble Bobble – which soon became a classic among gamers. This title spawned several sequels and spin-offs throughout the years, making it one of the most well-known franchises in gaming history. Also the spinoff, Rainbow Island, received great reviews for soundtrack, gameplay and charm.
In 1992, Taito changed its name to Taito Corporation due to its growth and expansion into international markets outside Japan. Afterward, they continued to develop innovative titles such as Puzzle Bobble (also known as Bust-a-Move) which remained hugely popular among gamers worldwide up until today.
In recent years, Taito has diversified its operations to include more than just video games; they now produce pachinko machines (gambling machines), educational toys for children, mobile apps for smartphones and tablets, virtual reality experiences for arcades, trading card/board/casino games, music CDs for karaoke bars/arcades called “Karaoke no Tetsujin”. In addition to this range of products, they also own several theme parks throughout Japan named Taitopia which feature attractions based on their properties from both past and present.
Under new management since 2016 (CEO Yoshimi Ota), Taito has seen marked growth in both revenue and profit levels as well as increased focus on digital media platforms including VR technology integration with some of their more recent titles; “Arkanoid vs Space Invaders” being a prime example released this year being very well received amongst critics alike.
Today’s modern incarnation continues to build upon previous successes while still pushing forward into new areas inspired by current trends such as eSports competitions featuring skilled players competing against each other in various titles developed by or licensed through the company itself granted additional visibility in an ever evolving market place where consumer tastes change rapidly between generations leaving many companies struggling due to misjudging these changes or failing to plan accordingly if any at all resulting in missed opportunities or worse yet losses incurred not only monetarily but also culturally where brand loyalty is gained or lost depending on how consumers perceive value associated with a product or service provider . As such ,Taito remains poised on the cutting edge ready to deliver quality entertainment experiences across all platforms be it physical , digital or virtual based while paying homage to its roots via timeless classics like Space Invaders while providing next generation experiences designed specifically for modern audiences seeking innovative interactive entertainment on demand regardless worldwide .