Simple (video game series)


The Simple series is a number of budget-priced console games, published by Japanese company D3 Publisher and developed by a variety of companies, covering many systems. The price of the games in yen is included in the title of the series: for example Simple 2000 is about 2000¥.
The games are usually characterised by their distinctive package design featuring artwork surrounded by a black border, with the game's title in a plain white font. The series name and volume are also displayed prominently.
The early games in the PlayStation Simple 1500 series were generic interpretations of common video game themes, such as mahjong, tennis or racing. However the various series now cover many more original and unusual titles in addition to those based on concepts. Since the games are almost universally created on a low budget with a short development time, developers are able to experiment to some extent with titles such as Demolition Girl, which has attracted attention largely due to its central premise of a giant bikini-clad woman attacking a city, rather than any gameplay or graphical merits.
Since April 2016, and after the release of the two games of Simple Series for Nintendo 3DS, the Simple label has been simply abolished, although the games which were released commonly under this label, are still being published for Nintendo Switch.

Developers

employs a number of external developers for the series, some of the most prolific being Tamsoft and HuneX - most are smaller or little-known companies, although several games have been licensed from Taito for a re-release.

Notable games

Certain Simple series titles have attracted considerable interest outside Japan for various reasons, either gameplay quality or a particularly unique idea - these include The OneeChanbara and its sequels, as well as Sandlot's Monster Attack and Global Defence Force, which were based on their Gigantic Drive engine and were of considerably higher quality than most games in the series. Both of these series have had sequels for the Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console, although they were originally labelled under an "X" moniker rather than a "Simple" one.

International releases

Many of the PlayStation 2 Simple 2000 games have been released in PAL regions as budget titles by Midas Interactive Entertainment, Agetec or 505 GameStreet, usually under different titles and with new cover art; recently D3 Publisher of Europe has released several titles itself under the "Essential Games" brand. Additionally, several of the PlayStation Simple 1500 games were released in the US and Europe. Despite the recent establishment of D3 Publisher of America, the only games in the Simple series to gain a North American release are The Bass Fishing, The Genshijin and OneChanbara for the Xbox 360 and Wii.
Simple Series for Wii U Vol.1: The Family Party was released internationally as .

List of Simple series games