Culture Brain
"The Magic of Scheherazade" was released in Japan on September 3, 1987. Tokuma Shoten published an official strategy guide for "The Magic of Scheherazade" in Japan in November 1987. A short manga based on the game titled "Magical Book" was published in Japan and features all the game's party members. Culture Brain's North American division chose to release the game as it fit the company's business model for international releases. Culture Brain USA announced the game in mid-1988 with a tentative release set for January 1989. It was delayed but was showcased that month at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with other Culture Brain USA games for the NES, including "Kung Fu Heroes" and "Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll"; it was showcased once again at 1990's Winter CES, this time alongside "Baseball Simulator 1.000". The game was released in North America on January 15, 1990. Culture Brain made numerous changes for the English-language localization, including the alternation of character and monster sprites, changes of the facial features in the characters to look more nondescript, simplification of the overworld map, the usage of character text during gameplay, and the inclusion of new music.