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Sol Press

Sol Press was an American publishing company that focused on localizing Japanese visual novels, light novels, and manga. Located in Orange County, California, it was formed in 2017. In October 2021, it was prohibited from doing business in the state of California for non-payment of taxes.

The company had licensed nine visual novels, nine light novels, and six manga for release on the Steam and Kadokawa's BookWalker platforms.

History

Sol Press was founded in February 2017 by Michael Valdez, who was unhappy with the slow translation processes and products of other video game localization companies.[2] For the company's titles, Valdez emphasized the importance of not charging players for patches as he believed it was unnecessary and an unpopular business tactic. Although Sol Press-licensed visual novels are censored when released on Steam, free patches to receive adult content in the original games are downloadable on external websites.[2][3]

In September 2017, Sol Press created a Kickstarter fundraiser to support the localization of the Haikuo Soft visual novel/eroge Sakura Sakura.[4] Despite Sakura Sakura's age and obscurity, Sol Press elected to pick up the game following positive feedback from the staff.[2] Funding for the Kickstarter was completed a month later.[5] It was released on Steam on November 19, 2018.[citation needed] A second Haikuo Soft visual novel, Yotsunoha, saw a Western release on July 13, 2019, on Sol Press' website after it was denied publishing by Steam.[6]

Joined by MiKandi Japan, another campaign was launched on December 1, 2017, to fund the Laplacian VN Newton and the Apple Tree.[7] After just three days, it had already reached its goal of $31,200.[8] It was released on August 15.[9] Later in the year, DareSora: Tears for an Unknown Sky was localized and released on September 14.[10]

In April 2018, it began expansion into licensing light novels with the books Strongest Gamer – Let's Play in Another World and Battle Divas – The Incorruptible Battle Blossom Princess. The two were digitally released on April 30.[11] At Kumoricon 2018 in Oregon, Sol Press announced the creation of Project Hyourin, a digital distribution client for works licensed by the company. It also formed an alliance with Japanese game publisher Entergram to release visual novels on consoles in North America.[12]

On May 24, 2019, Sol Press announced a partnership with Kadokawa Corporation to release light novels and manga on Kadokawa's BookWalker platform.[13]

The company was forfeited by the California FTB for failure to pay taxes in late October 2021.[14][1] Citing requests from the original Japanese publishers, BookWalker removed series licensed by Sol Press on February 21, 2022.[15]

Licensed works

Visual novels

Light novels

Manga

Notes

  1. ^ Under California law, a business that is suspended/forfeited can not legally close or dissolve, until the matter that lead to suspension/forfeit is resolved. The business is also legally prohibited from engaging in business operations, such as selling goods.[53]

References

  1. ^ a b "Change of status from 'Franchise Tax Board (Ftb) Suspended/Forfeited' to 'Ftb Forfeited'". OpenCorporates. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Baltimore, Steve (September 5, 2017). "INTERVIEW with Sol-Press Featuring Sakura Sakura". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  3. ^ Baltimore, Steve (September 7, 2018). "(18+) REVIEW: Newton and the Apple Tree". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved October 9, 2018. The game is heavily edited on Steam, but you can go to PantyPress.com and download a free patch to uncensor the game. There is of course the 18+ patch which restores all of the cut content or you can go for the 17+ patch which leaves out the CG for the H scenes but restores all the dialogue.
  4. ^ Ressler, Karen (September 4, 2017). "Sol Press Launches Kickstarter to Localize Sakura Sakura Visual Novel". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "Sakura Sakura Localization Funded Via Kickstarter". Siliconera. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  6. ^ Baltimore, Steve (July 13, 2019). "Sol-Press Opens Their Store Yotsunoha is now Available". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  7. ^ Ressler, Karen (December 1, 2017). "MiKandi Japan, Sol Press Launch Kickstarter to Localize Newton and the Apple Tree Visual Novel (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  8. ^ Estrada, Marcus (December 4, 2017). "Visual Novel Newton and the Apple Tree Already Fully Funded". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  9. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 13, 2018). "Newton and the Apple Tree Visual Novel Debuts on Wednesday". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Baltimore, Steve (August 29, 2018). "Sol Press is Bringing Visual Novel Series DareSora to the West". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  11. ^ Ressler, Karen (April 11, 2018). "Sol Press Licenses Yotsunoha Visual Novel, 2 Light Novels". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  12. ^ Ressler, Karen (October 29, 2018). "Sol Press to Launch Digital Light Novel, Manga, Visual Novel Platform". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  13. ^ "Sol Press Titles Now Available on Book☆Walker Global". Anime News Network. May 24, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  14. ^ "California Business Search". Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  15. ^ Mateo, Alex (February 19, 2022). "BookWalker Global to Remove Series from Sol Press/Panty Press on February 21". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  16. ^ "Sol Press - Newton and the Apple Tree". Sol Press. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  17. ^ "Sol Press - Sakura Sakura". Sol Press. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  18. ^ "Sol Press - Under One Wing". Sol Press. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  19. ^ "Sol Press - Yotsunoha". Sol Press. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  20. ^ "Sol Press - Onii Kiss: Onii-chan, Where's My Kiss?". Sol Press. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "Sol Press - My Fair Princess". Sol Press. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "Sol Press - Choose Your Mistress". Sol Press. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  23. ^ "Sol Press - Love Among the Sunflowers". Sol Press. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  24. ^ "Sol Press - Irotoridori no Sekai". Sol Press. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  25. ^ Sol Press - Battle Divas Vol. 1: The Incorruptible Battle Blossom Princess. April 30, 2018.
  26. ^ Sol Press - Strongest Gamer: Let's Play in Another World Vol. 1. April 30, 2018. ISBN 978-1-56619-909-4.
  27. ^ Kishine, Kouka (April 12, 2019). Sol Press - Battle Divas Vol. 2: The Unshakable Winter Blossom Princess. ISBN 978-1-948838-12-2.
  28. ^ Yuuki, Shinobu; Katou, Itsuwa (April 12, 2019). Sol Press - Strongest Gamer: Let's Play in Another World Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1-948838-10-8.
  29. ^ Sol Press - Redefining the META at VRMMO Academy Vol. 1. April 26, 2019.
  30. ^ Sol Press - Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement Vol. 1 (light novel). April 26, 2019.
  31. ^ Sol Press - Battle Divas Vol. 3: The Unyielding Twin Blossom Princess. May 17, 2019.
  32. ^ Sol Press - Why Shouldn't a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Vol. 1. September 20, 2019.
  33. ^ Sol Press - Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 1. November 16, 2019.
  34. ^ Sol Press - Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 2. November 16, 2019.
  35. ^ Sol Press - Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 3. November 16, 2019.
  36. ^ Sol Press - Why Shouldn't a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Vol. 2. May 1, 2020.
  37. ^ Sol Press - Redefining the META at VRMMO Academy Vol. 2. June 15, 2020.
  38. ^ Sol Press - Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 4. July 6, 2020.
  39. ^ Sol Press - Why Shouldn't a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Vol. 3. July 20, 2020.
  40. ^ Sol Press - Redefining the META at VRMMO Academy Vol. 3. August 17, 2020.
  41. ^ Sol Press - Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement Vol. 2 (light novel). December 14, 2020.
  42. ^ Sol Press - Chivalry of a Failed Knight Vol. 5. December 28, 2020.
  43. ^ Sol Press - I Surrendered My Sword for a New Life as a Mage Vol. 1. December 28, 2020.
  44. ^ Let This Grieving Soul Retire! Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party Vol. 1. Sol Press. December 28, 2020. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  45. ^ Sol Press - The Game Master has Logged In to Another World Vol. 1. December 28, 2020.
  46. ^ Sol Press - Harem Royale ~When the Game Ends~ Vol. 1. January 7, 2019.
  47. ^ Sol Press - Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement Vol. 1 (manga). January 7, 2019.
  48. ^ Matsumoto, Kengo (July 6, 2019). Sol Press - How to Treat a Lady Knight Right Vol. 1. ISBN 978-1-948838-28-3.
  49. ^ The Ride-On King Vol. 1. Sol Press. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  50. ^ Sol Press - Harem Royale ~When the Game Ends~ Vol. 2. December 16, 2020.
  51. ^ Sol Press - Is the order a rabbit? Vol. 1. December 16, 2020. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
  52. ^ BLEND･S Vol. 1. Sol Press. December 23, 2020. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  53. ^ California Franchise Tax Board. "My business is suspended". ftb.ca.gov. State of California. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2022.

External links