American Sammy

The North American subsidiary of Sammy Corporation, active as a video game publisher in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Role-playing (RPG)

Sports

Simulation

Action

Founded

1988

HQ

California, United States

Parent

Sammy Corporation

Known for

Action / Platform / Sports

16

Games

1989–2006

Years

5

Platforms

$90.87

Ø CIB

+29.8%

24M change

About

American Sammy Corporation published several notable NES and Game Boy titles in North America. Their catalog includes arcade ports like Twin Cobra, Silk Worm, and Thundercade, action games such as Vice: Project Doom and Arkista's Ring, and sports titles like Michael Andretti's World GP and Ultimate Basketball.

Established in 1988 as the North American subsidiary of Japan's Sammy Industry, the publisher operated during a highly competitive era of the home console market. To establish its brand, the company licensed and localized diverse Japanese titles. For its early shoot-'em-up offerings, the company released Thundercade in 1989, followed by the helicopter shooter Twin Cobra and the cooperative military action game Silk Worm in 1990.

The publisher also ventured into original intellectual properties and high-profile licensing. Arkista's Ring (1990) provided a fantasy action-adventure experience starring the elf warrior Elsa, while Rolan's Curse (1991) brought portable role-playing elements to the Game Boy. In sports and racing, the company rebranded a Japanese Formula One game to feature a prominent Western driver in Michael Andretti's World GP (1990) and delivered high-energy simulation with Ultimate Basketball (1990). The cinematic action-platformer Vice: Project Doom (1991) represented a high point in their catalog, combining driving, shooting, and platforming. These releases laid the groundwork for the parent company's global expansion, which eventually culminated in the Sega Sammy merger.