Intelligent Systems

Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer closely affiliated with Nintendo and best known for developing the Fire Emblem series.

History
Intelligent Systems started out in the video game industry when developer Tohru Narihiro was hired by Nintendo to port Famicom Disk System software to the standard ROM-cartridge format that was being used outside Japan on the NES. The team soon became an auxiliary program unit for Nintendo that provided system tools and hired people to program, fix, or port Nintendo-developed software. Much of the team's original work consists of minor contributions to larger titles developed by Nintendo R&D1 and Nintendo EAD.

Chief programmer Tohru Narihiro programmed one of his first video games, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, towards the end of the Famicom 's life cycle, although the game design, graphic design, and music was provided by the Nintendo R&D1 team. Because of Narihiro's success, Intelligent Systems began to hire graphic designers, programmers, and musicians to extend the company from an auxiliary–tool developer to a game development group. The company has since continued to develop new entries in the Fire Emblem franchise.