Culture Brain (カルチャーブレーン) is a small Japanese video game developer and publisher founded on October 5, 1980. Nihon Game, as Culture Brain was originally called, first started as an arcade game developer. But since 1986, the company has been developing only console or handheld video games. As part of this transition, Nihon Game renamed itself Culture Brain in 1987. The company has also used the brand Micro Academy in the mid 1980s. In North America, Culture Brain is mostly known for its six video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System and its three for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Two of those games, The Magic of Scheherazade and Flying Warriors, were strongly redesigned by Culture Brain USA (the company's division in Redmond, WA) to better appeal North American consumers. Culture Brain was distinct for its innovative gameplay and its mixture of RPG elements with either action or adventure. Two of its titles, The Magic of Scheherazade and Baseball Simulator 1.000, were awarded prizes by the Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine. The former in 1989 for "The best graphic of the year" and the latter in 1990 for "The best sport game of the year". However, like many other Japanese video game companies, Culture Brain ceased its operations in the United States in the 1990s. Ever since the demise of Culture Brain USA, video games developed by the parent company have rarely made it in America. An exception of the latter situation is the Nintendo 64 version of Flying Dragon which was published by Natsume. Culture Brain is currently releasing games mainly for the Game Boy Advance, as well as being involved in various activities outside video gaming. Culture Brain is located in Tokyo, Japan. Its current president is Yukio Tanaka.
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Games
Baseball Simulator series
These Baseball titles included some form of "Super League" where pitchers and batters would have special abilities.
- Baseball Simulator 1.000 (NES), also known as Choujin Ultra Baseball
- Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 (Super NES), also known as Super Ultra Baseball
- Super Ultra Baseball 2
Hiryu No Ken series
- (NES)
- Flying Warriors (NES)
- Ultimate Fighter (Super NES)
- Flying Dragon (Nintendo 64)
- Virtual Hiryu No Ken (Sony Playstation)
Super Chinese series
In this list are series which were originally released as "Super Chinese" in Japan, but with the exception of Kung-Fu Heroes, these titles were released in North America as the "Ninja Brothers" series.
- Kung Fu Heroes (NES)
- Little Ninja Brothers (NES)
- Super Ninja Boy (Super NES)
Oshare Princess series
A Japan-only series of games for the GBA (with a recent DS version) about fashion and dressing up. The games feature a wide range of clothes, shoes, accessories and makeup to be used in different combinations. Currently there are 5 GBA games and 1 DS game.
Games not part of a series or family
- The Magic of Scheherazade (NES)
- Osu!! Karate Bu
- Ferret Monogatari: Watashi no Okini Iri (Gameboy Color)
