Studio BentStuff (スタジオベントスタッフ, Sutajio BentoSutaffu?) is a Japanese book editor that has planned, written, and edited many of the Ultimania series books by Square Enix. Studio BentStuff wrote the first Ultimania book for Final Fantasy VIII in 1999, though the company had been contracted to write various Kaitai Shinsho guides for Square games published by Famitsu including the Final Fantasy VII Kaitai Shinsho The Complete. Since then, Ultimania books have been published for every major Final Fantasy title.
Studio BentStuff formed in 1989 from people who worked at MyCom Basic Magazine (マイコンＢＡＳＩＣマガジン, MaiKon Bēshikku Magajin?).[1] The CEO is Akira Yamashita (山下 章, Yamashita Akira?).
Aside from compiling game data into game books, members of Studio BentStuff have had a bigger impact on Final Fantasy. Within guides titled Ultimania Omega are novellas written by Benny Matsuyama (ベニー 松山, Benī Matsuyama?). Ichiro Tezuka (手塚 一郎, Tezuka Ichirō?) joined the staff for Final Fantasy IV: The After Years as the story writer, and during its initial release also wrote the two-part novelization of Final Fantasy IV, followed by the novelization of Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. He was the story writer for Final Fantasy Dimensions.
In February 2018, Digital Hearts Co., Ltd. (株式会社デジタルハーツ, Kabushiki Gaisha Dejitaru Hātsu?) acquired Studio BentStuff[2], and are credited on guides as "Studio BentStuff/DIGITAL HEARTS".
Books[]
| Published Works | Year |
|---|---|
| Final Fantasy VII Kaitai Shinsho The Complete | 1997 |
| Final Fantasy VII Kaitai Shinsho The Complete (Revised Edition) | 1997 |
| Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon Kaitai Shinsho | 1998 |
| Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania | 1999 |
| Vagrant Story Ultimania | 2000 |
| Final Fantasy IX Online Ultimania | 2000 |
| Final Fantasy X Scenario Ultimania | 2001 |
| Final Fantasy X Battle Ultimania | 2001 |
| Final Fantasy X Ultimania Omega | 2002 |
| Final Fantasy IX Ultimania | 2002 |
| Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania | 2003 |
| Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Omega | 2004 |
| Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles World Ultimania | 2004 |
| Final Fantasy X-2 International+Last Mission Ultimania | 2004 |
| Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega | 2005 |
| Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania | 2006 |
| Final Fantasy XII Battle Ultimania | 2006 |
| Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Omega | 2006 |
| Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Ultimania | 2007 |
| Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System Ultimania | 2007 |
| Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania | 2007 |
| Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Ultimania | 2007 |
| Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 1: Character | 2008 |
| Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario | 2008 |
| Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 3: Battle | 2008 |
| Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania α | 2008 |
| Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania | 2009 |
| Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania Revised Edition | 2009 |
| Final Fantasy XI Story Ultimania Ver.090409 | 2009 |
| Final Fantasy XIII Scenario Ultimania | 2010 |
| Final Fantasy XIII Battle Ultimania | 2010 |
| Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania Omega | 2010 |
| Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ultimania Action Side | 2011 |
| Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ultimania RPG Side | 2011 |
| Final Fantasy Type-0 Ultimania | 2011 |
| Final Fantasy XIII-2 Scenario Ultimania | 2012 |
| Final Fantasy XIII-2 Battle Ultimania | 2012 |
| Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania Omega | 2012 |
| Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania Vol. 1 | 2012 |
| Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania Vol. 2 | 2012 |
| Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania Vol. 3 | 2012 |
| Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania | 2013 |
| Final Fantasy X HD Remaster Ultimania | 2013 |
| Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster Ultimania | 2014 |
| Final Fantasy XV Ultimania Scenario Side | 2016 |
| Final Fantasy XV Ultimania Battle+Map Side | 2016 |
| Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Ultimania | 2017 |
| Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Ultimania | 2018 |
| Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Digital Ultimania | 2019 |
| Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania | 2020[3] |
Benny Matsuyama novellas[]
- Kimi o Yobu Yubibue (キミを呼ぶ指笛?) (Final Fantasy X Ultimania Omega, January 23, 2002)
- Kimi ga Yobu Yubibue (キミが呼ぶ指笛?) (Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Omega, February 13, 2004)
- Memories Like the Sunshine (Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles World Ultimania, March 19, 2004)
- Hoshi o Meguru Otome (星を巡る乙女?) (Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega, September 9, 2005)
- Mari Harenu Haito, Tōboe wa Mi Mazu (霧晴れぬ廃都、遠吠えは巳まず?) (Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Omega, November 24, 2006)
- Yumemiru Mayu, Akatsuki ni Otsu (夢見る繭、暁に墜つ?) (Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania Omega, September 30, 2010)[1]
Ichiro Tezuka credits[]
There are Tezuka's credits outside of involvement in game companion books.
| Work | Year | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy IV: The After Years | February 18, 2008 (first chapter) | Story writer |
| Final Fantasy IV (novelization, first book (上巻, jōkan?)) | December 25, 2008 | Author |
| Final Fantasy IV (novelization, last book (下巻, gekan?)) | December 25, 2008 | Author |
| Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (novelization) | March 26, 2009 | Author |
| Final Fantasy Dimensions | September 6, 2010 (first chapter) | Story writer |