IR
Glossary
A
AAA Titles
Pronounced "triple-A titles." In the gaming industry, these are blockbuster titles or major titles that have had substantial production costs invested in them in an effort to achieve success.
Achieving Continuous Growth and Profitability
One of our four basic management policies. We aim to stabilize our revenue base and achieve further growth.
Action Games
A genre of games where players control a character like an avatar and the game is progressed based on the real-time actions.
AI
The abbreviation for "artificial Intelligence."
Alpha Version
In our company, it is a prototype version that is produced to confirm that the game concept is adequately represented. Once internal approval is obtained, we proceed to the beta version.
Amusement
In the context of the gaming industry, refers to video game arcades and other entertainment venues.
Amusement Business
One of our group's business divisions that handles the outsourced development of pachinko and pachislot machines, as well as the operation of facilities such as gaming centers.
Annual Report
A report that summarizes financial information for each fiscal year. Our company used publish our financial information in English as an annual report, but have incorporated it into our integrated report since FY2022.
Atelier Series
A series of role-playing games featuring alchemists, with the first installment released in 1997.
Audit Committee
A body of corporate auditors that supervises the board of directors. Our corporation is a company with a board of auditors.
B
Battle Royale
A game where players compete against each other to survive.
Becoming the Worldʼs No.1 Digital Entertainment Company
The vision of our group. Our goal is to become the top digital entertainment company in the world in terms of operating income.
Beta Version
In our company, it is a prototype version of a game that is created to ensure that the game specifications are acceptable. Once we have internal approval, we move on to the final version.
Brand System
A system of development studios established within KOEI TECMO GAMES. As of January 2024, there are six brands: KOU SHIBASAWA , ω-Force, Team NINJA, Gust, Ruby Party, and midas.
Bugs
A specification or program defect.
C
CERO
The abbreviation for the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization, a nonprofit organization that evaluates the expression and content of game software and provides ratings for releases in Japan.
Challenging New Areas
One of our four basic management policies. We aim to continue to take on the challenge of realizing new ideas that will benefit society.
Character Creation
The menu where players set various parameters to create their own original characters.
Closed Beta Test (CBT)
A testing method in which a limited number of users are invited to play a prototype version of the game for online and mobile games.
Cloud
An IT term for a service provided via the Internet. Programs and data processing for providing services are not executed on the user's device, but are performed on a server or other device connected via the Internet.
Collaborative Expansion
One of the elements that support our group's management policy "Creation and Development of Global IP". It is a strategy to collaborate with other companies' influential IPs by utilizing our group's development capabilities.
Compliance Committee
One of the bodies responsible for strengthening our corporate governance. It promotes compliance and responds to consultations and reports from employees and other parties concerning violations of laws and regulations.
Consoles
In the gaming industry, it often refers to dedicated gaming consoles. Originally, it meant a device or system for computer input and output.
Content Creation Strategy
One of our group's three long-term strategies. We aim to expand KOEI TECMO's fan base among people of all ages by providing highly original entertainment content in a variety of fields.
Content Expansion Strategy
One of our group's three long-term strategies: to develop its IP in multiple directions, to enhance the overall IP product, and to attract new fans.
Contracted Development
Refers to the development process of creating games on behalf of publishers or other entities. In many cases, the developer is only responsible for development, while distribution and sales are handled by others.
Convertible Bonds with Stock Acquisition Rights
Bonds that, under certain conditions, can be converted into shares of the issuing company instead of being redeemed for cash. In 2021, our company issued euro-yen convertible bonds with warrants attached.
Copyright Licensing
It refers to lending out the use of characters or the world setting of a work to external parties.
Corporate Governance
A system for ensuring that a company is managed in a fair and transparent manner for its stakeholders, including shareholders, customers, employees and society. We place great importance on the ideas expressed in the Corporate Governance Code and strive to achieve and maintain high standards of corporate governance.
Corporate Governance Code
Corporate governance guidelines with which listed companies are required to comply. As a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, we are committed to strengthening our corporate governance.
Corporate Slogan
Our group has adopted "Level Up Your Happiness" as our corporate slogan.
Creativity & Contribution
The spirit of KOEI TECMO, which our group upholds. Our goal is to contribute to society through the creation of new value.
CSuO
The abbreviation for "chief sustainability officer." In our company, we have appointed officers in charge of promoting sustainability.
D
Debugging
Refers to the revision of specifications or program bugs.
Derivative Titles
A separate work created by adapting the characters and worldview of the original work.
Development Deadline
The completion of the final version program of a game in terms of development. This version serves as the basis for the final product that will be sold to customers.
DL
The abbreviation for "download."
DLC
The abbreviation for "downloadable content."
Downloadable Content
Downloadable Content (DLC)
Refers to items and scenarios that are provided for games that have already been released and can be downloaded from the Internet.
DYNASTY WARRIORS
Launched in 2000, it's a tactical action game series based on the concept of exhilarating 1 vs. 1000 combat that has many derivative titles. Players assume the role of heroes from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, defeating hordes of enemies and leading the battlefield to victory.
E
Effects
In the gaming industry, often associated with the visual presentation.
Engines
Entertainment Business
One of the business segments of our group. It deals with games and businesses derived from games.
ESRB
The abbreviation for the Entertainment Software Rating Board, which evaluates the content and expression of video games and provides ratings for releases in the United States and Canada.
F
Fighting Games
Games in which characters fight each other in the style of a fighting match.
Final Version
The final version of a game that is checked to ensure the quality is appropriate for the product in our company. Once internal approval is obtained, it becomes the master version of the product.
FUTURE TECH BASE
A department specializing in research and development within our group. It is responsible for developing our Group's original game engine, the Katana Engine.
G
Game Engines
A program that consolidates the functions commonly required in any game. Using it allows for efficient development.
GAMECITY
The name of the website that introduces our group's product information and the portal site that delivers various social games, among other things.
Genre Expansion
One of the elements that support our group's management policy, "Creation and Development of Global IP". We expand the same IP into various genres such as simulation and action games.
Global IP Creation and Development
Our group management policy as set forth in our 3rd Medium-Term Management Plan. We aim to create and develop IP that will be endorsed around the world.
Global Logistics Strategy
One of our group's three long-term strategies. We aim to promote globalization of development and sales, strengthen profitability through cost reductions, and cultivate new fans overseas.
Gust
One of our development brands. Formerly Gust Co., Ltd., joined our group in 2011. Representative works include the "Atelier" series.
H
Hack and Slash
Refers to a game design that focuses primarily on advancing by cutting down the enemies.
Harassment Prevention Committee
One of the bodies responsible for strengthening our corporate governance. It handles the prevention of all forms of harassment and provides consultation and support in the event of their occurrence.
High-end PC
A personal computer with high computing and graphics processing power.
Historical Simulation Games
A genre established by KOEI TECMO GAMES. Games in this genre allow players to enjoy "what if" scenarios based on historical events.
Hunting Action
A genre of action games based on hunting or slaying enemies.
I
ICT
The abbreviation for "information and communications technology." It refers to the application of technology for communication purposes.
Improving Employee Welfare
One of the four basic management policies of our company. We strive to be a vibrant and attractive company by improving our performance and welfare.
In-house Published Titles
Refers to titles for which our group is in charge of sales. There are also cooperative titles in which we are in charge of development and other companies are in charge of sales.
Instant-death Games
Action games where the difficulty level is high and the player character dies quickly and often. The real appeal of these games lies in discovering strategies and progressing through repeated challenges.
Intellectual Property Rights
Intellectual property rights, which represent the value of creative works similar to copyrights, are considered assets. Games, as works of art, include various forms of intellectual property. We are committed to protecting our intellectual property while respecting the rights of others and ensuring that no infringement occurs.
Interface
Refers to the part responsible for input and output of information, and in games it usually refers to the design of the input and output methods of information between the player and the game.
Internal Control Committee
One of the bodies responsible for strengthening our corporate governance. It mainly focuses on establishing and managing mechanisms to ensure governance throughout our group from a financial perspective.
IP
The abbreviation for "intellectual property." In the entertainment industry, it often refers to the world and characters within a work.
IP Business
A business segment within our Group's Entertainment Division that involves utilizing our company's IP through licensing and other means.
J
Joint Development
A development method in which roles and tasks are shared among multiple companies.
K
Katana Engine
The original game engine developed by our group's research and development division, Future Tech Base. Developed in an environment closely aligned with the development scene, it provides an efficient integrated development environment for games.
KOEI
One of the predecessor companies of our group. The KOEI TECMO Group was formed through a merger in 2009.
KOEI TECMO SPOT
The shop that sells merchandise based on our Group's IP. There is a physical location in Shibuya, Tokyo.
KOU SHIBUSAWA
The producer name of our representative director, Yoichi Erikawa. He serves as the general producer for many titles, and his name is also used as the brand name for the studios that develop historical simulation games and other titles. Representative works of the brand include the "NOBUNAGAʼS AMBITION" series.
KT Building
The headquarters of KOEI TECMO GAMES, located in the Minato Mirai 21 district of Yokohama. It's construction was completed in 2020. It houses the music hall KT Zepp Yokohama and contributes to the vibrant music scene of the area. It also serves as a hub for content broadcasted globally from Minato Mirai.
KT Zepp Yokohama
A music hall located in the headquarters of KOEI TECMO GAMES, the KT Building in Minato Mirai, Yokohama. It accommodates up to 2,000 people and contributes to the vibrant music scene of Minato Mirai.
L
Launch Titles
Games that are released simultaneously with the launch of a new gaming console.
LCD Software Development
Our Group receives orders from pachinko and pachislot manufacturers to develop programs to be operated on the LCD screens on their pachinko and pachislot machines.
Level up your happiness
Since 2023, our slogan embodies our Group's ethos of "Creativity & Contribution," which expresses our commitment to enriching our customers' lives through the creation of new excitement, just like how game characters level up.
Licensing Expansion
One of the elements supporting our Group's management policy of "Creation and Development of Global IP". It involves licensing out our IPs to other companies.
Licensing-Out
Liquid crystal Software
Programs that are executed on the LCD screens on pachinko/pachislot machines.
Location-based Games
A genre of games in which information about the player's location is reflected using the GPS function of mobile devices.
M
Machi no Sensei
The name given to vocational classes taught by working adults at elementary and junior high schools. Our company contributes by dispatching instructors to local elementary and junior high schools.
Materiality
The important issues to be addressed by each company. Our company has also established a materiality matrix and implemented various initiatives accordingly.
Medium-Term Management Plan
We have established a three-year medium-term management plan; the third medium-term management plan is being implemented for fiscal years 2022 through 2024.
Metacritic
A content evaluation site based in North America. It collects evaluations from various sources and scores the content based on its own criteria. This evaluation site is widely supported by the general public.
Metascore
The scores of the content displayed on the North American evaluation site Metacritic. Evaluations collected by the site are used to assign scores through the site's proprietary system.
midas
One of our development brands. Representative works include "NOBUNAGAʼS AMBITION: Shutsujin" and others.
MMORPG
The acronym for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, in which multiple players participate and play in the same game world set up on a server over the Internet.
Mobile Games
This refers to an application-type games that are played on mobile devices.
Multi-Layered Revenue Cycle
One of KOEI TECMO's strengths. Our growth is achieved through a virtuous cycle of a multi-layered revenue structure of new global IP creation and serialization, collaborations, and IP licensing.
N
Neo Romance Games
The industry's first female-oriented romance game genre developed by the Ruby Party brand.
Nioh
A Dark Feudal Action RPG, the first of which was released in 2017. Players battle against yokai in the backdrop of Japan's Warring States period. It was born from the synergy effect of the merger between KOEI and Tecmo.
NOBUNAGAʼS AMBITION
A historical simulation game series first released in 1983. Players take on the role of a feudal lord in Japan's Warring States period and aim to unify the country. Using the intellectual property (IP), many derivative and licensed titles have been developed.
Nomination & Remuneration Committee
One of the bodies responsible for strengthening our corporate governance. It deliberates and makes proposals in consultation with the board of directors regarding the nomination and compensation of directors and executive officers.
O
Online Games
Refers to games played over the Internet.
Open Field Games
Online Mobile Sector
Refers to network-based games and smartphone games.
Open World Games
Games designed to allow players to move and act freely in a virtual world established within the game.
Outstanding Development, Technical, and Management Skills
One of KOEI TECMO's strengths. Our group has strong development capabilities backed by technical expertise, as well as management skills to oversee project quality, budgets, and deadlines.
P
Packaged Games (Physical Release Games）
Refers to games designed specifically for game consoles or PCs, with the game's media sold in a case or box.
Patches
Refers to programs that make partial changes to programs or games.
PEGI
The acronym for Pan-European Game Information, which evaluates and provides ratings for video game content primarily for European countries, including EU member states.
Photorealistic
CG representation that aims for a more realistic quality, similar to that of a photograph.
Platform Expansion
One of the elements supporting our Group's management policy of "Creation and Development of Global IP". It involves providing games for various devices and operating systems.
Platforms
The hardware and operating system on which game programs are executed. It also refers to websites where game programs are sold.
Playable Characters
The characters that players can control in games.
Prototypes
A trial product created for various testing purposes.
Providers
In the IT industry, it mainly refers to network service providers. In the gaming industry, it typically refers to publishers, distributors, and other entities responsible for delivering games to users.
Providing the Best Entertainment Content
One of the four core management principles of our company. Our goal is to provide our customers with the most satisfaction through outstanding content.
Q
Quality & Satisfaction
The product concept of our group. We provide great satisfaction to our customers through high quality.
R
Rating
A set of guidelines that outline the considerations necessary for playing a game. It is primarily represented by the player's age.
Real Estate Business
One of our group's business divisions. It manages real estate owned by our group.
Remake
The process of recreating a previously released game using the latest technologies and advancements.
Repeat Sales
Post-release sales made in response to additional orders of a game.
Risk Management Committee
One of the bodies responsible for strengthening our corporate governance. It deliberates on policies regarding risks and appropriate responses.
Role-Playing Games (RPGs)
Games in which players control their assigned characters to progress through the game.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
A historical simulation game series first released in 1985. Players take on the role of heroes from the Three Kingdoms period of China, aiming to become conquerors. Many derivative and licensed titles have been created using this IP.
Romance Simulation Games
Games in which players engage in romantic interactions and courtships with characters. Our company was the first in the gaming industry to release romance games targeted at women.
RPG
The abbreviation for role-playing game.
Role-Playing Games
Ruby Party
One of our company's development brands. It develops Neo Romance games. Its representative work includes the "La Corda d'Oro" series.
S
Securities Code
A four-digit number assigned by Securities Identification Code Committee to companies listed on stock exchanges. Our securities code is "3635".
Sequelization
It is a strategy of developing sequels such as the second and third installments of popular titles. We aim to create IPs that will be supported by customers for a long time.
Serialization
The development of the IP into a series of works that will be supported by our fans for a long time to come.
Simulation
Experiments that are simulated using computational models. When utilized in a game, players can enjoy realistic experiences that vary depending on their gameplay.
Skill Matrix
A document that lists the skills and roles of leaders in a tabular format. In our company, it describes the roles we expect our executives to fulfill.
Social Games
It's a genre of games where players interact with each other within the game.
SP Bussiness
Part of our group's amusement business, developing pachislot and pachinko machines on behalf of our clients.
Special Committee
One of the bodies responsible for strengthening our corporate governance. In addition to related-party transactions by directors and officers, it deliberates and makes proposals on important matters concerning governance in consultation with the board of directors.
Sustainability
A system designed to ensure that society and the environment will continue to thrive in the future. As part of our sustainability promotion system, we have elected a CSuO from the board of directors to be in charge, established the Sustainability Committee as an advisory body to the president, and established the Sustainability Promotion Office as a department.
Sustainability Committee
One of the bodies responsible for strengthening our corporate governance. It examines and promotes sustainability issues to be addressed by the company.
T
Tactical Action Games
Refers to action games with tactical elements. In addition to skillful execution, strategic decisions such as when and where to attack are required.
Team NINJA
One of our company's development brands. Representative works include the "Nioh" series.
TECMO
One of the predecessor companies of our group. The KOEI TECMO Group was formed through a merger in 2009.
TECMOPIA
The name of the amusement facility operated by our group.
Tie-in Development
One of the elements that support our group's management policy "Creation and Development of Global IP". We engage in various products and media mixes using our IP, as well as cooperation with government agencies.
Toon Shading
One of the methods of CG expression. It allows for graphic effects similar to those found in comic books and animation.
Transcendent Human Power
One of KOEI TECMO's strengths. In order to achieve growth, we implement a system focused on developing human resources and promoting innovation.
U
User Score
Game evaluation scores submitted by players.
V
Vision
Our group's vision is "To Become the World's No.1 Digital Entertainment Company".
VR
The acronym for Virtual Reality. It refers to the mechanism that makes players feel like they are actually in a virtual space created by a program.
W
Walking Games
Games in which the player actually walks around with the gaming device to play the game.
WARRIORS Action
A system enabling players to enjoy the exhilaration of battles of 1 vs. 1,000 without the need for complex controls.
Whistleblower System
A system designed to make it easier for employees to report corporate misconduct by providing mechanisms such as reporting hotlines and whistleblower protection. Our company has also established internal and external reporting channels and strives to eliminate and prevent misconduct.
ω
ω-Force
One of our company's development brands, pronounced as "Omega Force". Representative works include the "DYNASTY WARRIORS".
123
1 vs. 1000
A term used to describe the way a single person can fight against a large number of enemies. It is the concept behind the Warriors series.