Data East was a Japanese video game company founded in 1976, known for developing arcade games and home console titles. The company gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s with hit games like BurgerTime, Bad Dudes, and Dragon Ninja. In addition to arcade games, Data East also produced pinball machines and was involved in the home console market. The company eventually faced financial difficulties and was acquired in 2003, leading to the discontinuation of its game development activities. Today, many of its classic games are remembered fondly by retro gaming enthusiasts.