Research · Preservation · Community

Resources

Essential links for researching Data East games - databases, emulation, archive scans, and the communities keeping these games alive.

Resource Directory

Data East Corporation logo
Data East corporate logo

Game Databases

  • MobyGames The most comprehensive publicly accessible credit database for Data East titles. Essential for developer attribution research.
  • LaunchBox GamesDB Box art, screenshots, banners, and metadata for Data East titles across all platforms. Primary asset source for this site.
  • GameFAQs FAQs, walkthroughs, and community discussion for Data East NES and arcade titles.

Archive & Preservation

  • Archive.org Arcade flyers, box art scans, manual scans, and longplay video mirrors. Primary image and video source for this site.
  • Arcade Flyer Archive Comprehensive collection of arcade promotional flyers including additional Data East titles not covered here.
  • MAME Multi Arcade Machine Emulator - the primary tool for preserving and playing Data East arcade titles.
  • FightCade Online emulation platform. Windjammers and Fighter’s History have active FightCade communities.

Modern Releases

  • Windjammers (DotEmu) DotEmu’s faithful 2017 remaster for PC, PS4, and PS Vita. Windjammers on modern hardware.
  • Windjammers 2 DotEmu’s 2022 sequel with new characters and modes, preserving the original’s feel.
  • G-Mode Archives G-Mode acquired a significant portion of Data East’s IP and has released titles on mobile platforms.

Video & Documentary

  • Data East Retrospective (2024) The Rise and Fall of Data East - full company history documentary covering the arcade era, Karate Champ, Bad Dudes, the Fighter’s History lawsuit, and dissolution.
  • Bad Dudes NES Longplay Archive.org mirror of the World of Longplays Bad Dudes NES complete run.
  • Bad Dudes Arcade Longplay Dragon Ninja / Bad Dudes PAL arcade complete game longplay on Archive.org.
  • World of Longplays YouTube channel with longplay recordings of Data East NES and arcade titles.

Legal & Historical

  • Capcom v. Data East (1994) Capcom Co., Ltd. v. Data East Corp., 1994 WL 1751455 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 16, 1994). The Fighter’s History lawsuit - Data East won on summary judgment. Establishing precedent that fighting game character archetypes are not protected expression.
  • Play Meter Archive Trade magazine covering the arcade industry; Data East’s 1984 Karate Champ IP notice was published in vol. 10, no. 23.