iQue

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iQue
iQue's logo
Founded December 6, 2002[1]
First Super Mario game Super Mario 64 and Dr. Mario 64 localization (2003)
Latest Super Mario game Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 localization (2012) (last iQue published)
Princess Peach: Showtime! localization (2024) (last iQue localized)

iQue Ltd. is a Chinese video game company founded in 2002 as a joint venture between Nintendo and Chinese–American scientist and entrepreneur Wei Yen.[2] It became a 100% Nintendo-owned subsidiary after Wei Yen left the company.[3] It localizes and distributes Nintendo consoles and games for the mainland Chinese market, under the iQue brand. The English name "iQue" means "beyond intelligence."[4]

History[edit]

iQue Ltd. was founded with a registered capital of $30m in December 2002 and established its headquarters in Suzhou, China, in May 2003. Investment from both parties (Nintendo and Wei Yen) include capital, technology, patents, software copyright, and other intellectual properties.[2] According to some former employees, iQue stayed independent in its financial and marketing in the first few years,[5] and it was a cooperation partner of Nintendo instead of a subordinate agency.[6] Prior to iQue, Nintendo had introduced the Game Boy Advance to China via a Hong Kongese sales agent named Mani (まんしん),[7] but faced several challenges such as the rampant piracy among Chinese game retailers and the government's ban on video game consoles, which led to the partnership with Wei Yen to solve these issues via localization.[8]

On November 17, 2003, iQue released the iQue Player (かみゆうつくえ), based on the Nintendo 64 but with anti-piracy mechanisms. The iQue Player was unique in that all the components were inside the controller and that it loaded games from a single 64MB flash memory card with digital signatures instead of tradable cartridges. Games for the console must be digitally purchased and written to the flash memory cards, at first through "iQue Depots" (かみゆう)—interactive kiosks in big cities where the player could bring their flash memory cards and iQue Tickets (かみゆうひょう) to download, buy, store, and retrieve games—and since October 2004 through an online service called iQue@Home (かみゆうざい线), which provided the same services to players at home via client software and the Internet. There were also multiplayer accessories (きょうゆう and きょうゆうつくえ) for family gaming. According to Shigeru Miyamoto, the design has to do with the low income, undeveloped logistics, and rampant piracy in mainland China.[9] 14 games were released.[10] iQue Players came with five games pre-installed, although four of them are time-limited demos, after which the full version had to be bought to continue playing. Of these five games, Dr. Mario 64 was the only full game included. On the iQue Player menu, Dr. Mario 64 and purchased games are indicated with a red square whilst timed demo games are indicated by a yellow square.[citation needed] The iQue Player was a commercial failure, having sold only 8,000 to 12,000 units instead of 1,000,000 units as Wei Yen had anticipated.[11]

On June 8, 2004, the iQue Game Boy Advance (しょうかみゆう)[12] was released. Unlike the iQue Player, it had no regional lockout or anti-piracy mechanism, featuring interoperability with Nintendo's version of the Game Boy Advance. Four months later, the similar iQue GBA SP was released, followed by several new designs and official contests.[13] The iQue GBA series sold well, reaching 200,000 units in 2005. At the same time, there were efforts to develop edutainment software, but none had ever been released. A total of eight games was released during the console's lifespan.[10]

On July 23, 2005, the iQue DS was released. It can load iQue DS, Nintendo DS, and GBA games, but iQue DS games could not be played on the Nintendo DS, which was otherwise region free. The deluxe version sold via large markets had Polarium and WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! The iQue DS Lite released in June 2006 followed by supporting flash cartridges, and the Nintendo DS series sold well, reaching 300,000+ units. Only six games were ever released.[10]

In 2007, iQue's version of the Wii was approved and planned for sale in 2008, but it was later canceled. The iQue DSi was released in 2009.

Even since it became a full Nintendo subsidiary, iQue released the iQue 3DS XL in 2012, with two games pre-installed, Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. No other titles have been released by iQue since. However, titles from Nintendo Hong Kong and Nintendo Taiwan that featured a Simplified Chinese interface could be played on the iQue 3DS XL, including Mario Tennis Open, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, and Paper Mario: Sticker Star. iQue discontinued all services in mainland China in 2016, but it remained doing Simplified Chinese localization for Nintendo Hong Kong.

Localized consoles[edit]

Super Mario games published under the "iQue" brand[edit]

It has been requested that more images be uploaded for this section. Remove this notice only after the additional images have been added. Specific(s): Super Mario Advance 4

Boxart Console Game Simplified Chinese title Release date Official website
Official Chinese boxart render of Dr. Mario 64 iQue Player Dr. Mario 64 马力おうせい Mǎlìōu Yīshēng
Literally "Dr. Mario"
November 17, 2003 in Chinese
Super Mario 64 Chinese boxart for iQue iQue Player Super Mario 64 かみゆう马力おう Shényóu Mǎlìōu
Literally "iQue Mario"
November 17, 2003 in Chinese
Boxart render of Mario Kart 64 for the iQue Player iQue Player Mario Kart 64 马力おう卡丁车 Mǎlìōu Kǎdīngchē
Literally "Mario Kart"
December 25, 2003 in Chinese
Packaging of Yoshi's Story for the iQue Player iQue Player Yoshi's Story 耀西故事こじ Yàoxī Gùshì
Literally "Yoshi Story"
March 25, 2004 in Chinese
Official Chinese boxart render of Paper Mario iQue Player Paper Mario 纸片马力おう Zhǐpiàn Mǎlìōu
Literally "Paper Mario"
June 8, 2004 in Chinese
Official Chinese boxart render of Super Smash Bros iQue Player Super Smash Bros. 任天堂にんてんどう明星みょうじょう大乱たいらん Rèntiāntáng Míngxīng Dàluàndòu
Literally "Nintendo' Stars: Great Melee"
November 15, 2005 in Chinese
Wario Land 4 iQue Boxart Thumbnail iQue GBA Wario Land 4 かわらりょくおう寻宝记 Wǎlìōu Xúnbǎo Jì
Literally "Wario's Treasure-seeking Journey"
June 30, 2004[15] in Chinese
Super Mario Advance iQue Boxart Thumbnail iQue GBA Super Mario Advance ちょう级马りょくおうChāojí Mǎlìōu 2
Literally "Super Mario 2"
June 30, 2004[16] in Chinese
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! Chinese cover iQue GBA WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! かわらりょくおうせいづくり Wǎlìōu Zhìzào
Literally "Made by Wario"
July 4, 2005 in Chinese
iQue GBA cover of Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 for the Game Boy Advance. iQue GBA Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 耀西岛 Yàoxī Dǎo
Literally "Yoshi Island"
March 2, 2006 in Chinese
Chinese box art for Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 iQue GBA Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 ちょう级马りょくおう世界せかい Chāojí Mǎlìōu Shìjiè
Literally "Super Mario World"
March 15, 2006 in Chinese
Mario Kart Super Circuit iQue Prototype Title Screen iQue GBA Mario Kart: Super Circuit 马力おう卡丁车--ちょう级赛どう Mǎlìōu Kǎdīngchē--Chāojí Sàidào
Literally "Mario Kart: Super Circuit"
Canceled[17]
Title screen for Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga's unreleased iQue version iQue GBA Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga 马力おう与路よろえきよしRPG Mǎlìōu yǔ Lùyìjī RPG
Literally "Mario & Luigi RPG"
Canceled[17]
Used in case of images missing from a section gallery, table, bestiary box, or certain infoboxes. iQue GBA Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 ちょう级马りょくおう3 Chāojí Mǎlìōu 3
Literally "Super Mario 3"
Canceled[17]
DK: King of Swing iQue Prototype Title Screen iQue GBA DK: King of Swing 摇摆もりYáobǎi Sēnxǐgāng
Literally "Swing Donkey Kong"
Canceled[17]
Chinese box art iQue DS WarioWare: Touched! 摸摸かわらりょくおうせいづくり Mōmō Wǎlìōu Zhìzào
Literally "Touch Wario Made"
July 23, 2005 in Chinese
Cover art of Yoshi Touch & Go for the iQue DS. iQue DS Yoshi Touch & Go 摸摸耀西-うんちゅう漫步まんぽ Mōmō Yàoxī: Yúnzhōng Mànbù
Literally "Touch Yoshi: Strolling in Clouds"
February 14, 2006 in Chinese
iQue (Chinese) boxart for Super Mario DS. iQue DS Super Mario 64 DS かみゆう马力おうDS Shényóu Mǎlìōu DS
Literally "iQue Mario DS"
June 21, 2007 in Chinese
Front box art for the Chinese (iQue) release of New Super Mario Bros. iQue DS New Super Mario Bros. New ちょう级马りょくおう兄弟きょうだい New Chāojí Mǎlìōu Xiōngdì
Literally "New Super Mario Bros."
July 2, 2009 in Chinese
MenuLogoPyoro.png iQue DSi Bird & Beans 鸟和まめ Niǎo hé Dòu
Literally "Bird and Beans"
December 15, 2009 in Chinese
MenuLogoPaperPlane.png iQue DSi Paper Airplane Chase 纸飞つくえ挑战 Zhǐfēijī Tiǎozhàn
Literally "Paper Plane Challenge"
December 15, 2009 in Chinese
DSiMenuLogoMarioClock.png iQue DSi Mario Clock iQue DSi时钟 红白つくえ马力おうiQue DSi Shízhōng Hóngbáijī Mǎlìōu Kuǎn
Literally "iQue DSi Clock Famicom Mario Edition"
January 21, 2010 in Chinese
MenuLogoMarioCalculator.png iQue DSi Mario Calculator iQue DSi计算 红白つくえ马力おうiQue DSi Jǐsuànqì Hóngbáijī Mǎlìōu Kuǎn
Literally "iQue DSi Calculator Famicom Mario Edition"
February 11, 2010 in Chinese
DSi Menu Logo of WarioWare Snapped (iQue) iQue DSi WarioWare: Snapped! あきらあきらかわらりょくおうせいづくり Zhàozhào Wǎlìōu Zhìzào
Literally "Picture-taking Wario Made"
March 11, 2010 in Chinese
MenuLogoDrMario.png iQue DSi Dr. Mario Express 一下下马力欧医生 Yíxìaxìa Mǎlìōu Yīshēng
Literally "A little bit of Dr.Mario"
April 8, 2010 in Chinese
MCF DSiWare.png iQue DSi Game & Watch: Mario's Cement Factory GAME & WATCH 马力おうてき水泥みどろこうGAME & WATCH Mǎlìōu de Shuǐní Gōngchǎng
Literally "GAME & WATCH Mario's Cement Factory"
February 17, 2011 in Chinese
DKJr DSiWare.png iQue DSi Game & Watch: Donkey Kong Jr. GAME & WATCH もり乐刚 GAME & WATCH Sēnlègāng
Literally "GAME & WATCH Donkey Kong Jr."
August 12, 2010 in Chinese
Super Mario 3D Land Home Menu large icon iQue 3DS XL Super Mario 3D Land ちょう级马りょくおう 3D乐园 Chāojí Mǎlìōu 3D Lèyuán
Literally "Super Mario 3D Wonderland"
December 7, 2012 in Chinese
Mario Kart 7, large Home Menu icon. iQue 3DS XL Mario Kart 7 马力おう卡丁车7 Mǎlìōu Kǎdīngchē 7
Literally "Mario Kart 7"
December 7, 2012 in Chinese

Other localized Super Mario games[edit]

These games are localized by iQue but not distributed by it. iQue can be seen credited in these games' credits. The company was not credited for the localization of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe until the release of the final wave in the Booster Course Pass DLC.

Console Game Simplified Chinese title Simplified Chinese avaliability Game published by
Wii/Nvidia Shield Super Mario Galaxy ちょう级马りょくおう银河 Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Yínhé
Literally "Super Mario Galaxy"
March 22, 2018 Nvidia Lightspeed Studios/iQiyi
Wii/Nvidia Shield New Super Mario Bros. Wii New ちょう级马りょくおう兄弟きょうだい Wii New Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Xiōngdì Wii
Literally "New Super Mario Brothers Wii"
December 5, 2017 Nvidia Lightspeed Studios/iQiyi (China)
Nintendo (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
Wii Super Mario Galaxy 2 N/A N/A Nintendo (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
Nintendo 3DS Mario Tennis Open 马力おう网球 こう开赛 Mǎlì'ōu Wǎngqiú Gōngkāisài
Literally "Mario Tennis Open"
April 12, 2013 Nintendo (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
Nintendo 3DS New Super Mario Bros. 2 New ちょう级马りょくおう兄弟きょうだい 2 New Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Xiōngdì 2
Literally "New Super Mario Brothers 2"
June 21, 2013 Nintendo (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
Nintendo 3DS Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon みちえきよしひろし馆2 Lùyìjí Yángguǎn 2
Literally "Luigi Mansion 2"
July 26, 2013 Nintendo (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
Nintendo 3DS Paper Mario: Sticker Star 纸片马力おう ちょう级贴纸 Zhǐpiàn Mǎlì'ōu Chāojí Tiēzhǐ
Literally "Paper Mario: Super Sticker"
December 6, 2013 Nintendo (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
Nintendo Switch Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle 马力おう+疯狂うさぎおう国之くにゆきMǎlì'ōu + Fēngkuángtùzi: Wángguó Zhīzhàn
Literally "Mario + Rabbids: Battle of the Kingdom"
August 29, 2017 Ubisoft (North America, Europe, Oceania)
Nintendo (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan)
Nintendo Switch Super Mario Odyssey ちょう级马りょくおう おくとくChāojí Mǎlì'ōu Àodésài
Literally "Super Mario Odyssey"
October 27, 2017 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Tencent (China)
Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 马力おう卡丁车8ごう华版 Mǎlì'ōu Kǎdīngchē 8 Háohuábǎn
Literally "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Edition"
December 13, 2017 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Tencent (China)
Nintendo Switch Mario Tennis Aces 马力おう网球Ace Mǎlì'ōu Wǎngqiú Ace
Literally "Mario Tennis Ace"
June 22, 2018 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Tencent (China)
Nintendo Switch Super Mario Party ちょう级 马力おうChāojí Mǎlì'ōu Pàiduì
Literally "Super Mario Party"
October 5, 2018 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Tencent (China)
Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 任天堂にんてんどう明星みょうじょう大乱たいらん とく别版 Rèntiāntáng Míngxīng Dàluàndòu Tèbiébǎn
Literally "Nintendo Stars Great Melee: Special Edition"
December 7, 2018 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Nintendo Switch New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe New ちょう级马りょくおう兄弟きょうだいU ごう华版 New Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Xiōngdì U Háohuábǎn
Literally "New Super Mario Brothers U Deluxe Edition"
January 11, 2019 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Tencent (China)
Nintendo Switch Yoshi's Crafted World 耀西てき手工しゅこう世界せかい Yàoxī de Shǒugōng Shìjiè
Literally "Yoshi's Handicraft World"
March 29, 2019 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Tencent (China)
Nintendo Switch Super Mario Maker 2 ちょう级马りょくおう创作2 Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Chuàngzuòjiā 2
Literally "Super Mario Creator 2"
June 28, 2019 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Nintendo Switch Luigi's Mansion 3 みちえきよしひろし馆3 Lùyìjí Yángguǎn 3
Literally "Luigi Mansion 3"
October 31, 2019 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Nintendo Switch Paper Mario: The Origami King 纸片马力おうおり纸国おう Zhǐpiàn Mǎlì'ōu: Zhézhǐ Guówáng
Literally "Paper Mario: Origami King"
July 17, 2020 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Nintendo Switch Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit 马力おう卡丁车实况:家庭かてい赛车场 Mǎlì'ōu Kǎdīngchē Shíkuàng: Jiātíng Sàichē Chǎng
Literally "Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit"
October 16, 2020 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Nintendo Switch Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury ちょう级马りょくおう 3D世界せかいきょういか世界せかい Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu 3D Shìjiè + Kuángnù Shìjiè
Literally "Super Mario 3D World + Fury World"
February 12, 2021 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Nintendo Switch Mario Golf: Super Rush 马力おうだか尔夫 ちょう级冲冲冲 Mǎlì'ōu Gāo'ěrfū Chāojí Chōngchōngchōng
Literally "Mario Golf Super Rush Rush Rush"
June 25, 2021 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Nintendo Switch WarioWare: Get It Together! ぶんとおるどう乐!かわらりょくおうせいづくり Fēnxiǎng Tónglè! Wǎlì'ōu Zhìzào
Literally "Share the Joy! Made in Wario"
September 10, 2021 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Nintendo Switch Mario Party Superstars 马力おうちょう级巨ぼし Mǎlì'ōu Pàiduì Chāojíjùxīng
Literally "Mario Party Superstars"
October 29, 2021 Nintendo (Worldwide)
Nintendo Switch Mario Strikers: Battle League 马力おうげき战前锋 战斗联赛 Mǎlì'ōu Jīzhàn Qiánfēng Zhàndòu Liánsài
Literally "Mario Fierce Battle Strikers: Battle League Match"
June 10, 2022 Nintendo (Worldwide)

Other works[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese かみゆう[18]
Shin'yū
From the Chinese name

Chinese (simplified) かみゆう
Shényóu
かみゆう科技かぎ
Shényóu Kējì
"Mental journey" or "wonderful gaming"

iQue Technology

Chinese (traditional) かみゆう
Shényóu
Same as S. Chinese, "ゆう" is the Traditional Chinese equivalent of "ゆう" under the definition "to play" or "to travel".

Trivia[edit]

  • In the late 2010s, many iQue-related assets were leaked from a server hack of BroadOn, another electronics company led by Wei Yen. This included source code and prototype versions for games such as Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Super Mario Kart, alongside dozens of other Nintendo titles.

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://www.tianyancha.com/company/2349872081
  2. ^ a b iQue. 关于 iQue. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  3. ^ Nintendo (June 28, 2013). 関係かんけい会社かいしゃ状況じょうきょう] (PDF). Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "“‘iQue’てき意思いし超越ちょうえつ智慧ちえ。还有,たい现了じんざい创造てき过程ちゅうてきいち种欢愉感。”" – Wei Yen (June 23, 2016). 《记录》だい17かみゆう中国ちゅうごくした. さわ. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  5. ^ "“‘颜老ばんざいてき时候,かみゆうてき财务、销售独立どくりつてき自己じこさくぬし不用ふようかん任天堂にんてんどうてき规定。’かみゆうぜん员工说。とう时的かみゆうあずか任天堂にんてんどうただしょう合作がっさく伙伴てき关系,そん在任ざいにんなん行政ぎょうせいじょうてき从属关系。”" – だいいぬ (June 22, 2016). 《记录》だい17かみゆう中国ちゅうごくうえ. さわ (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  6. ^ From the opening of an interview conducted on the now-defunct Chinese forum levelup.cn between iQue staff and players on August 1, 2007. Text of the interview has been researched by わが金属きんぞく狂人きょうじん (April 15, 2013). "iQueかみゆうにんなん一家いっか公司こうしてき代理だいりしょう,iQue拥有かく个软かたけんてき自主じしゅ产权……" – 考古こうこ汇总】iQueかいきゃくかみゆう访谈录问こたえせい. Baidu Tieba (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  7. ^ Aquariuslegend (January 23, 2017). まんしんこくぎょう初代しょだいGB 任天堂にんてんどう GAME BOY 开箱. Chiphell. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  8. ^ わが金属きんぞく狂人きょうじん (June 24, 2013). 任天堂にんてんどうざい中国ちゅうごく摸爬滚打20ねんてきひかり辉岁がつ]. Baidu Tieba (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  9. ^ "“为何在中ざいちゅう国大こくだい陆推这样いちだい特殊とくしゅてきしゅつくえさいよう如此特殊とくしゅてきゆう戏销售方しき任天堂にんてんどうしゃ岩田いわた聪给りょうさん个理ゆかり收入しゅうにゅう水平すいへいひく物流ぶつりゅう发达,とうばん泛滥。”" – だいいぬ (June 22, 2016). 《记录》だい17かみゆう中国ちゅうごくうえ. さわ (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c iQue. iQue Games. iQue (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  11. ^ だいいぬ (June 23, 2016). 《记录》だい17かみゆう中国ちゅうごくした. さわ (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  12. ^ a b May 26, 2004. くだり货GBA“しょうかみゆう上市かみいち. Sina Games (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  13. ^ Aaron Kaluszka (January 14, 2007). New GBA SP Designs Released in China. Nintendo World Report (English). Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  14. ^ June 23, 2016. Record: iQue China. iQue Historia. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  15. ^ Sina Games. かわらりょくおう寻宝记_电视ゆう戏_しんなみゆう戏_しんなみ. Sina Corp (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  16. ^ Sina Games. ちょう级马りょくおう2_电视ゆう戏_しんなみゆう戏_しんなみ. Sina Corp (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d http://www.kaimaile.com/search?keywords=马力おう[dead link]
  18. ^ September 26, 2003. 【TGS】任天堂にんてんどう中国ちゅうごくけにしんハード「かみゆう」を発売はつばい。ソフトはダウンロード方式ほうしき. Dengeki Online (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved January 28, 2017.

External links[edit]