HAL Laboratory

**HAL Laboratory, Inc.** (株式会社ハル研究所, *Kabushikigaisha Haru Kenkyūjo*) is a Japanese multi media company primarily focused on video game development. originally founded on February 21, 1980 as a group of friends who shared a desire to create video games, and started off making games for the MSX system and the Commodore 64. When Nintendo released the Famicom in 1983, HAL shifted focus and started making more games for Nintendo. Their working relationship was cemented with the release of *Kirby's Dream Land* for the Game Boy. Both HAL and Nintendo own equal share in the joint venture *Warpstar, Inc.*, which was made to autonomously handle the *Kirby* franchise license, similar to The Pokémon Company. In 2017, HAL created the subsidiary HAL Egg, which was made to self publish new properties for mobile devices like *Part Time UFO*. In many of its games during the early to mid-'90s, it used the name *HALKEN* (derived from their literal Japanese name "HAL KENkyūjo"), as well as HAL Laboratory. Some of its early titles were also released as HAL America, a North American subsidiary of the company.

Satoru Iwata became president of HAL Laboratory in 1993 before he become president of Nintendo. His presidency was spurred on by Nintendo offering to save the company from bankruptcy after the financial failure of the 1991 adventure game *Metal Slader Glory* on the condition that he would step up. Masahiro Sakurai, who created the character Kirby and the *Super Smash Bros.* series, also worked at HAL, and now leads his own company, Sora Ltd. The company is a second-party developer for Nintendo and is best known for creating the *Kirby* series and the *Super Smash Bros.* series, and has also worked on the *EarthBound* and *SimCity* franchises, as well as several *Pokémon* spinoff titles.

## In *Super Smash Bros.*

Under the direction of Masahiro Sakurai, HAL Laboratory was the primarily developer of the game. Kirby, along with Dream Land, Maxim Tomato, Star Rod and 2 *Kirby* music tracks debut in this game. Also, Ness from Earthbound, which Hal codeveloped with Ape Inc. debuts along with one music track. Additionally, Pikachu and Jigglypuff have alternated costumes based on their appearances in the *Pokémon Staduim*, which HAL developed.

## In *Super Smash Bros. Melee*

Sakurai and HAL return as primary developers. Kirby and Dream Land, now called "Dream Land 64", return, along with the introduction of Green Greens and Fountain of Dreams. Maxim Tomato and Star Rod return along with Parasol and Warp Star, followed by 5 music tracks and numerous trophies.

Lucas was intended to debut in this game, but was left out due to his game being delayed and was replaced by the returning Ness. 2 stages named Onett and Fourside debut, along with Mr. Saturn, 4 music tracks, and several trophies. Pokémon Stadium, based on the series of the same name, debuts as a stage and a trophy in this game. The models for all Pokémon summoned from Poké Balls, as well as the models found in Poké Floats are ripped directly from these games too. Alternate costumes for Mewtwo are also based on costumes from this series. The ZERO-ONE from Pokémon Snap, which HAL developed, appears as a trophy. Dr. Wright from the Nintendo console version of *Sim City*, which HAL developed, appears as a trophy.

## In *Super Smash Bros. Brawl*

Sakurai returns as developer, but HAL takes a minor role in development, acting as support for Sora Ltd., Game Arts, and Monolith Soft. Kirby and Green Greens return, along with newcomers Meta Knight and King Dedede and Halberd debut. Maxim Tomato, Star Rod and Warp Star return, along with the debut of Superspicy Curry and Dragoon. Knuckle Joe appears as an assist trophy. 16 new and old music tracks, along with numerous trophies and sticker appear. *Kirby's Adventure* also appears as a Masterpiece.

Ness returns along with Lucas finally debuting. Onett returns along with the debut of New Pork City. Porky Minch appears as a boss. Mr. Saturn returns along with the debut of the Franklin Badge. Jeff appears as an assist trophy. 9 new and old music tracks appear, along with numerous trophies and stickers. *Mother 2* appears as a Masterpiece, but only in the japanese version.

Pokémon Stadium returns along with the debut of Pokémon Stadium 2. Jigglypuff gets a new deflating taunt that is based on the defeat animation from the *Pokémon Stadium* series. Dr. Wright returns as a trophy as well as an assist trophy.

## In *Super Smash Bros. 4*

HAL officially steps down as developer for this game and hands control over to Bandai Namco. Sakurai remains as director. Kirby, Meta Knight and King Dedede, along with the return of Dream Land, now called Dream Land (64) returns as DLC. All items from *Brawl* return, along with Knuckle Joe, and the debuting Nightmare. Tac appears in Smash Run and Smash Tour. A Meta Knight mask also appears as a Mii Costume. 31 new and old music tracks appear, along with several trophies.

Ness and Lucas return as well as the items from *Brawl*. Jeff returns along with the debut of Starman as an assist trophy and an enemy in Smash Run. Flying Man appears as a stage hazard, an enemy in Smash Tour, and as a Mii Costume. 9 new and old music tracks appear alongside several tropies. Dr. Wright returns as a trophy and an assist trophy.

### *Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS*

Dream Land and Magicant debut as stages. Several *Kirby* enemies and Devil Car appear exclusively in Smash Run. Several trophies appear exclusively on 3DS.

### *Super Smash Bros. for Wii U*

Halberd returns, along with the debut of The Great Cave Offensive. Several trophies and their corresponding Trophy Boxes appear exclusively on Wii U. *Kirby's Adventure* returns as a Masterpiece along with *Kirby's Dreamland* and *Kirby's Super Star*. *Earthbound* also appears as a Masterpiece, this time available in all regions.

Onett and Pokémon Stadium 2 return only on Wii U. Porky and Ultimate Chimera appear as items exclusively in Smash Tour. Several trophies and the corresponding trophy box appear exclusively on Wii U. *Earthbound* appears as a Masterpiece, this time available in all regions.

## In *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*

Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, and all previous *Kirby* stages return. All items from *Smash 4* return along with the debut of the Bomber. All assist trophies return along with the debut of Chef Kawasaki. Marx debuts as a boss and his hat becomes a Mii Costume. Meta Knight mask also returns as a Mii Costume. 38 new and old music tracks appear, along with numerous spirits.

Ness, Lucas, and all previous *Earthbound* stages return. All assist trophies and items from *Smash 4* return, along with the debut of the Ramblin' Evil Mushroom. The flying Man Mii costume returns, along with the debut of the Mr. Saturn hat. 14 new and old music tracks appear along with numerous spirits. Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2 return, along with Dr. Wright returning as an assist trophy and as a spirit.

## Trivia

* Often believed to be derived from the HAL 9000 computer in the novel and film *2001: A Space Odyssey*, an interview with Iwata reveals that its name is a pun of the IBM company: each letter puts them a step ahead of IBM (the letters H, A and L come *before* the letters I, B and M, respectively).

## External links

* HAL Laboratory, Inc (Japanese)
* HAL Laboratory, Inc company profile (Japanese)
* N-Sider page (HAL Laboratory company profile)

## References

1. ↑ HAL Laboratory, Inc. Company. Retrieved on September 17, 2007.
2. ↑ http://www.commodore.ca/history/people/michael\_tomczyk.htm
3. ↑ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/11/iwata\_explains\_where\_the\_name\_hal\_laboratory\_came\_from

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