Team Arcana (チームアルカナ) is a Japanese video game developer and a successor of Examu, which mostly produce fighting games for arcades and home consoles. It is known for developing the Arcana Heart series, the company's namesake. Team Arcana's existence as a re-branded successor of Examu had been dated back to the crossover inclusion the Arcana Heart series in BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle.[1]
At the end of February 2020, its predecessor, Examu suspended its business operations. Any ongoing development works and product supports (most particularly ongoing supported fighting games (including licensed fighting games)) have migrated to Team Arcana.
Team Arcana has also worked on three licensed fighting games and one another original IP fighting game: Daemon Bride, Aquapazza: Aquaplus Dream Match, Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel and Million Arthur: Arcana Blood.
Staffs[]
- Koji Takaya (高屋 校長)[1]
Also known as Coucho Takaya, he is one of the founding members of the series and has lent his talent to all works involved, primarily as its producer. He is a true veteran nearing 20 years of work in the fighting game industry. He previously work for SNK, most notably the Samurai Shodown series (from II until VI), and also serve as the test player for 2019 reboot, the second chronological game. In 2024, he is credited as a designer for the events on the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for the Bandai Namco video game, Elden Ring.
Link: YouTube, X (Twitter), Facebook
- Kazuma Hayashi[1]
Production head of the series since 2008. He has also directed development for Aquapazza and Nitroplus Blasterz. Passionate about fighting games, Kazuma has an elite level of experience stemming from his long history as a developer of the genre.
- Hiroyuki Mano (まの ひろゆき)[1]
The series' main designer. Mano has been working together with Takaya to create many titles since they first met during the development of Samurai Shodown. First in charge of Konoha and Yoriko Yasuzumi, he has been working as the main designer of the series since Arcana Heart 2.
Link: X (Twitter), Pixiv
- Motoharu Yoshihira[1]
The series' sound designer. There is never a request too arduous, nor an idea too outlandish that Motoharu will refuse; he always comes back with a song of the highest quality. And maybe most importantly, he is a pervert. He was also involved in collectible card arcade game Hello Kitty and the Apron of Magic.
- Eriko Takahashi[1]
Not only does Eriko design the Arcanas, she also does most of the background stage work. Without her design sense, the spectacular and fantastical world of Arcana Heart series may never have come to be.
- Tohru Sakurai[1]
Story and Script Writer of the series. He died on May 16, 2017 after the release of Love Max Six Stars update of Arcana Heart 3, and the kickstarter crowdfunding for the newer contents of Xtend update.[2]
X (formerly Twitter) Suspension[]
Team Arcana had been suffering unnoticed temporary suspension from Twitter account for no reason two in a half-months, second times in April 18, 2020, and November 12, 2024.