Bandai is a Japanese company founded in 1950 with Bandai America opening in 1978. Before video games Bandai sold toys and model kits, such as the Gundam models of the '80s. Some other notable and more recent toys from Bandai include Power Rangers action figures and Tamagotchi digital pets. Bandai got into the video game business in the late '70s and had quite an impact on the industry over the years. Aside from developing and publishing numerous games, it also created the Family Fun Fitness mat controller (and the rare Stadium Events game) for the Nintendo Entertainment System that North American audiences know as the Power Pad. It even took part in the development of the short-lived Pippin system with Apple and released its own handheld platform in Japan called WonderSwan (and later upgraded to WonderSwan Color).
Bandai still makes toys but in the video game world it is known today as Bandai Namco Entertainment. In 2005 Bandai merged with video game giant Namco, makers of such classics as Pac-Man, Galaga, and Pole Position. The company names from that merger have changed a few times and depending on the region each branch was based could be referred to as Bandai Namco Games or Namco Bandai Games before switching to the aforementioned Bandai Namco Entertainment on April 1, 2015.
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