I'Max (Japan)

Logo descriptions and captures by SnowflakesOmega

Note: This company is not related to IMAX Corporation.

Background: I'Max is a Japanese video game company that published SNES, Game Boy, PS1 and Saturn games. Currently the company is distributing the Tetsudou Mokei Simulator games for the PC.

1st Logo (1990, 1998) I'MAX (1990)I'MAX (1998) Logo: On a white background the I'MAX wordmark fades in. "PRESENTS" then scrolls below the logo and stops.

Variant: The logo appeared again on the Game Boy in 1998, as a still logomark.

FX/SFX: "PRESENTS" scrolling.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: "PRESENTS" version was seen on Dragon Tail, and the later version was spotted on Nikkan Berutomo Club. Both games are for the Japanese Game Boy.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1992-1994)

I'MAX (1992) Logo: There's a tango pink background with hundreds of words that say "I'MAX" squeezing and moving around, a la Taft Video. In front of the background there's the metallic word "I'MAX". The yellow letters of "PRESENTS", with square shapes behind their bottoms, move up one-by-one.

FX/SFX: The words squeezing and moving, the letters moving up.

Music/Sounds: A 15-note brass fanfare that changes on each game.

Availability: Ultra rare. Seen only on the Super Famicom games Super Shogi, Super Mahjong, Super Keiba, Super Mahjong 2: Honkaku 4jin Uchi, and Super Shogi 2.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (1993)

I'MAX (1993) Logo: On a blue background, we see 4 characters of the game hold the letters of the metallic logo "I'MAX" run to the left. Near the center, the words move up a bit to place themselves. The characters disappear, and then appear again, moving the golden word "PRESENTS". After they place the word, they go away.

FX/SFX: The characters forming the logo.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Only seen on Dual Orb for the Super Famicom.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (1993)

I'MAX (1993) Logo: On a blue background, we see the orange/blue I'MAX logo and the brown/white/red "PRESENTS" below.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Only seen on Death Brade for the Super Famicom.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (1994-1995)

I'MAX (1994) Logo: On a black background, the I'MAX logo, outlined with a blue glow, slides in from both parts. The glow gets more bigger for a second. The screen fades to white, as we then fade into the red I'MAX logo and "PRESENTS" below.

FX/SFX: The logo sliding in, the glow, the fade to white.

Music/Sounds: Mostly an ascending arpeggio in C which changed on each game.

Music/Sounds Variants:

On Super Pachinko and Super Koukou Yakyuu, the arpeggio was played on a ukulele. On Super Hanafuda, Super Mahjong 3: Karakuchi and Dossun! Ganseki Battle, the arpeggio was played on a bell instrument. On Dual Orb II, the arpeggio was played on another bell instrument, with a backing choir. On Super Keirin and Super Shougi 3: Kitaihei, the theme was played on a koto, this time it's low-pitched. On Super Hanafuda 2, the 2nd theme variant plays, but the arpeggio is slightly different.

Availability: Ultra rare, but it's a little more common than the 2nd logo. Seen on all of the games mentioned on the Music/Sounds Variants section.

Editor's Note: None.

6th Logo (1996-1998)

I'MAX (1996) Logo: On a black background with a white spotlight on the center, the I'MAX logo spins in, from 90 degrees vertically. The logo rotates to it's normal position. The screen flashes and the logo turns from 3D to 2D.

FX/SFX: The logo rotating, the flash.

Music/Sounds: A dark synth pad, then another synth note.

Availability: Ultra rare. Seen on their PSX and Saturn releases. This was spotted on Irem Arcade Classics and it should appear on other titles of the time.

Editor's Note: None.

A logo history can be seen here:

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