# Tengen

> American video game publisher and developer

**Wikidata**: [Q2536056](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2536056)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tengen_(company))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tengen

## Summary
Tengen was an American video game publisher and developer that operated from 1987 to 1994 as a subsidiary of Atari Games. Based in Milpitas, California, the company was known for producing and publishing video games during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1987 and dissolved in 1994
- Headquartered in Milpitas, California, United States
- Owned by Atari Games (parent organization)
- Operated as both a video game developer and publisher
- Part of the video game industry
- Had 12 Wikipedia articles across multiple languages
- Also known as Tengen Inc. and タイムワーナーインタラクティブ (Time Warner Interactive in Japanese)

## FAQs
### Q: What was Tengen's relationship to Atari Games?
A: Tengen was a subsidiary of Atari Games, operating as both a developer and publisher of video games under the parent company's ownership.

### Q: When did Tengen operate?
A: Tengen was active from its founding in 1987 until its dissolution in 1994, giving it a 7-year operational history.

### Q: Where was Tengen located?
A: Tengen was headquartered in Milpitas, California, United States.

## Why It Matters
Tengen represents an important chapter in American video game history as a dedicated game publisher and developer during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As a subsidiary of Atari Games, Tengen played a role in the evolving landscape of video game publishing during a formative period for the industry. The company's relatively short but active period from 1987 to 1994 coincided with significant technological and market developments in gaming. While specific titles and achievements aren't detailed in the available source material, Tengen's existence as a specialized publisher-developer entity under the Atari Games umbrella reflects the industry's maturation during this era, when companies began to distinguish between arcade game production and home console game publishing.

## Notable For
- Operating as a dual-purpose video game developer and publisher
- Being a subsidiary of the historic Atari Games company
- Maintaining a multilingual presence with Wikipedia articles in 9 languages
- Having multiple database entries across gaming platforms and archives
- Using both English and Japanese names for international operations

## Body
Tengen emerged in 1987 as a video game publisher and developer under the ownership of Atari Games. The company established its headquarters in Milpitas, California, positioning itself within the growing Silicon Valley tech ecosystem.

As a subsidiary of Atari Games, Tengen operated during a crucial period in video game history. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw significant transitions in gaming technology and market dynamics. Tengen's dual role as both developer and publisher allowed it to control multiple aspects of game production and distribution.

The company's operational lifespan of seven years (1987-1994) placed it squarely within the third generation and early fourth generation of video game consoles. During this period, the industry was expanding beyond its arcade roots into home entertainment systems.

Tengen's branding included both its English name and the Japanese moniker "タイムワーナーインタラクティブ" (Time Warner Interactive), suggesting international market ambitions. This multilingual approach is reflected in the company's presence across 9 language editions of Wikipedia.

The company's dissolution in 1994 marked the end of its independent operations, though its games and legacy continue to be cataloged across numerous gaming databases and archives.

## References

1. LastDodo
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. VideoGameGeek