Novotrade

A Hungarian video game developer known for creating Ecco the Dolphin and porting major franchises to various platforms.

Action

Sports

Adventure

Educational



Website

Founded

1982

HQ

Mountain View, United States

Known for

Action-Adventure / Platform / Puzzle

34

Games

1990–1996

Years

12

Platforms

$51.19

Ø CIB

+28.2%

24M change

About

Novotrade was a prominent development studio responsible for creating the Ecco the Dolphin series for Sega. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, they developed Impossible Mission II and produced ports for major franchises including California Games, Qix, and Castlevania. The company was later renamed Appaloosa Interactive.

Originating in Hungary, the studio leveraged highly skilled Eastern European programmers and mathematicians to deliver technically impressive software during the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.

Their work on the Impossible Mission franchise yielded multiple distinct versions of Impossible Mission II in 1990, tailored for different publishers and platforms, including releases associated with American Video Entertainment (AVE) and SEI. That same year, they adapted Konami's gothic action platformer Castlevania for home computers.

In 1991, the developer expanded its portfolio with high-profile conversions of Epyx's California Games and Taito's arcade classic Qix. However, their most enduring legacy began with the 1991 release of Ecco the Dolphin. This innovative action-adventure title featured advanced underwater physics, ecological themes, and a distinctively atmospheric soundtrack. The success of Ecco the Dolphin established a major franchise, showcasing the developer's ability to push hardware limitations and create unique gameplay mechanics that defined their industry presence.