Level-5 (company) explained

Level-5 Inc.
Native Name:株式会社レベルファイブ
Native Name Lang:ja
Romanized Name:Kabushiki gaisha reberu faibu
Type:Private
Location:Fukuoka, Japan
Industry:Video games
Num Employees:300
Num Employees Year:2024[1]

is a Japanese video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka. The company was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino after he departed from Riverhillsoft. Early in its history, the company enjoyed a close relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment, with many of its games then funded by and produced in conjunction with them. Level-5 began self-publishing its games in Japan by the late 2000s, with other companies such as Nintendo handling publishing worldwide. The company is best known for their Dark Cloud, Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, Ni no Kuni, Yo-kai Watch, and Snack World franchises.

History

Level-5 was established in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino and his development team at Riverhillsoft, following the release of OverBlood 2.[2] Since Hino did not originally believe that his team could become an independent developer, he formed a partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment, who would allow him to develop for their upcoming PlayStation 2 under the condition that he set up his own company.[2] The name, "Level-5", was a reference to Japanese school report cards, where "Level-5" is the highest possible mark. Soon after being created, the company had eleven employees.[2]

Level-5's first full-scale production was the action role-playing game Dark Cloud, developed under contract by Sony Computer Entertainment. Intended to be a launch game for the Japanese release of the PlayStation 2, it was delayed before the console's launch in March 2000 to allow further development, eventually being released in Japan in December 2000, and worldwide in 2001. Work immediately began on a sequel titled Dark Chronicle, released as Dark Cloud 2 in North America. The company was working with Microsoft Game Studios on an MMORPG for the Xbox, True Fantasy Live Online, before it was cancelled in 2004.[3]

Yasumi Matsuno, director of Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the Ogre Battle series, briefly joined Level-5 in June 2011,[4] and left the company after completing work on Crimson Shroud for the Nintendo 3DS.[5] By the early 2010s, Level-5 was one of the ten largest video game companies in Japan, holding a market share of 3.2%.[6] In October 2015, Level-5 founded a spin-off company in Santa Monica, in cooperation with Dentsu, called Level-5 Abby.[7] In October 2020, it was reported that the company's North American operations, including Level-5 Abby, were shutting down due to low sales.[8] The same month, Level 5 launched a manga publishing platform called "Manga 5".[9]

Roid service

In 2009, Level-5 launched its Roid (Revolutionary Original Ideas Discovery) service, a mobile phone application that serves as a content delivery platform for mobile games.[10] It is only compatible with NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile internet service in Japan. Users pay a monthly fee for access to exclusive games and social game functions. The platform debuted with six games: Sloan and McHale's Mystery Story, Professor Layton and the Mansion of the Mirror of Death Remix, Chara Jo P, Yuuenchi wo Tsukurō Revolution, Treasure Island, and Elf the Dragon. The first three were developed by Level-5, while the last three were developed by outside companies.[10]

List of games

All games were developed and/or published by Level-5 unless otherwise noted

YearGameOriginal platform(s)
2000Dark CloudPlayStation 2
2002Dark ChroniclePlayStation 2
2004Dragon Quest VIIIPlayStation 2
2005Rogue GalaxyPlayStation 2
2006Jeanne d'ArcPlayStation Portable
2007Professor Layton and the Curious VillageNintendo DS
2007Professor Layton and the Diabolical BoxNintendo DS
2008Inazuma ElevenNintendo DS
Professor Layton and the Unwound FutureNintendo DS
White Knight ChroniclesPlayStation 3
2009Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing TalesNintendo DS
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #1 and #2Nintendo DS
Dragon Quest IXNintendo DS
Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales 2Nintendo DS
Inazuma Eleven 2[11] Nintendo DS
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #3 and #4Nintendo DS
Professor Layton and the Last Specter[12] Nintendo DS
2010Inazuma Eleven 3[13] Nintendo DS
White Knight Chronicles II[14] PlayStation 3
Nintendo DS
Mobile phone
2011Professor Layton and the Miracle MaskNintendo 3DS
Danball SenkiPlayStation Portable
Inazuma Eleven Strikers[15] Wii
PlayStation 3
Little Battlers eXperience BoostPlayStation Portable
Inazuma Eleven GO[16] Nintendo 3DS
Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 XtremeWii
2012Girls RPG: Cinderellife[17] [18] Nintendo 3DS
Mobile phone
Guild01Nintendo 3DS
Little Battlers eXperienceNintendo 3DS
Time TravelersNintendo 3DS, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Android, iOS
Little Battlers eXperience WPlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Professor Layton and the Phantom ThievesAndroid, iOS
[19] Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
Inazuma Eleven GO Strikers 2013Wii
Fantasy LifeNintendo 3DS
2013Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy[20] Nintendo 3DS
Liberation MaideniOS
Guild02Nintendo 3DS
Earth Devastating B-Grade Girlfriend Z: Space WarAndroid, iOS
Yo-kai WatchNintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
Fantasy Life Link!Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
2014Weapon Shop de OmasseNintendo 3DS
Yo-kai Watch 2Nintendo 3DS
2015Yo-kai Watch BlastersNintendo 3DS
[21] Android, iOS
Wii U
2016Yo-kai SangokushiNintendo 3DS
Yo-kai Watch 3Nintendo 3DS
2017Android, iOS
Layton's Mystery JourneyAndroid, iOS, Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
Otome YushaAndroid, iOS
Yo-kai Watch Busters 2Nintendo 3DS
2018[22] Android, iOS
Windows, PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch
Android, iOS
Yo-kai Watch World[23] Android, iOS
Fantasy Life Online[24] Android, iOS
2019Yo-kai Watch 4[25] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
2020[26] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
2021Android, iOS
Megaton Musashi[27] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
2022Megaton Musashi Cross[28] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
2024Megaton Musashi WiredNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows
Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
DecaPolice[29] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
2025Professor Layton and The New World of Steam[30] Nintendo Switch
TBA[31] Nintendo Switch

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 会社概要｜株式会社レベルファイブ. August 19, 2024. Japanese.
  2. Web site: Iwata Asks: Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles, page 2. December 8, 2011. Nintendo of America Inc.. 2010. Hino, Akihiro . Iwata, Satoru. Iwata Asks.
  3. Web site: Cook. Chris. True Fantasy Live Online Cancelled. Game Informer. GameStop. June 3, 2004. January 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20040604154840/http://gameinformer.com/News/Story/200406/N04.0603.1020.10544.htm. June 4, 2004.
  4. Web site: How Yasumi Matsuno Ended Up at Level-5 . June 30, 2011 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20110630171649/http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/06/29/yasumi_matsuno_interview . June 30, 2011 .
  5. Web site: Yasumi Matsuno leaves Level 5. November 8, 2012.
  6. Web site: Market Data. Capcom. August 28, 2014. September 30, 2013.
  7. Web site: LEVEL-5 abby Inc..
  8. Web site: Ni No Kuni Developer Level-5 Is Shutting Down In North America-Report. GameSpot. Ty. Galiz-Rowe. October 12, 2020. October 13, 2020.
  9. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Level-5 Opens 'Manga 5' Website with 9 New Manga on October 15. Anime News Network. October 15, 2020. August 6, 2023.
  10. Web site: Level-5's ROID Service Kicks Off Today -- Andriasang.com . December 24, 2012 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20121224215651/http://andriasang.com/com84u/roid_service_preview . December 24, 2012 .
  11. Web site: In shops now: Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm and Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard. May 10, 2012. 2012.
  12. Web site: Level-5 International America History & Products 2009. July 27, 2011. 2011. March 28, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120328044811/http://level5ia.com/history-products/?y=2009&start=6. dead.
  13. Web site: Level-5 International America History & Products 2010. July 27, 2011. 2011. March 28, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120328044822/http://level5ia.com/history-products/?y=2010&start=6. dead.
  14. Web site: TGS 2009: White Knight Chronicles 2 Revealed . September 24, 2009 . Kotaku.
  15. Web site: 今度の敵は未来から!? 『イナズマイレブン』感謝祭で映画版・Wii版・第4弾を発表 - 電撃オンライン . News.dengeki.com . June 27, 2010. August 1, 2013. ja.
  16. Web site: 3DS Inazuma Eleven Due This Winter . June 19, 2011 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20110619055139/http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/06/15/3ds_inazuma_eleven_winter . June 19, 2011 .
  17. Web site: Level-5 Bringing Mobile Hostess Sim to 3DS (andriasang.com, 10.20.2010) . October 22, 2010 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20101022214818/http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/10/20/level_5_3ds_hostess_sim . October 22, 2010 .
  18. Web site: Girl's RPG Cinderelife - In Development . July 27, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328044804/http://level5ia.com/product/girls-rpg-cinderelife-in-development/?page=2 . March 28, 2012 .
  19. Web site: GUEST . Level-5 Vision 2010 Live Blog (andriasang.com, 10.19.2010) . February 5, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101021062657/http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/10/19/l5vision_2010_live_blog . October 21, 2010 .
  20. Web site: First Professor Layton Crosses One Million. July 27, 2011. Adriasang. 2011. Gantayat, Anoop. https://web.archive.org/web/20110408130556/http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/04/05/layton_curious_village_million/. April 8, 2011.
  21. Web site: Yo-kai Watch: Wibble Wobble. yo-kai-wibblewobble.com. June 25, 2017. May 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510005951/http://yo-kai-wibblewobble.com/. dead.
  22. Web site: Romano. Sal. Yo-kai Sangokushi: Kunitori Wars now available in Japan. Gematsu. 23 January 2018. January 11, 2018.
  23. Web site: Sato . Yo-kai Watch World For Smartphones Is The Series' Take On Pokémon GO . Siliconera . 11 July 2018. June 27, 2018 .
  24. Web site: Sato . Fantasy Life Online Goes Live In Japan On July 23 . Siliconera . 20 September 2018. July 18, 2018 .
  25. Web site: Sato . Yo-kai Watch 4++ Released Today In Japan, Here's Its Opening Movie . Siliconera . December 5, 2019 . 1 March 2020.
  26. Web site: Romano . Sal . Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu announced for PS4, Switch . Gematsu . March 11, 2020 . 11 March 2020.
  27. Web site: Romano . Sal . Megaton Musashi launches November 11 in Japan. Gematsu . August 5, 2021 . August 5, 2021.
  28. Web site: Stenbuck . Kite . Megaton Musashi Cross launches as a F2P title for PS4 & Switch on December 1 in Japan . RPGSite . 17 September 2022.
  29. Web site: 2023-11-30 . Level-5's DecaPolice Pushed to 2024 Release . 2023-11-30 . rpgfan.com . en-US.
  30. Web site: Professor Layton and The New World of Steam announced for Switch. Romano. Sal. Gematsu. February 8, 2023. February 8, 2023.
  31. Web site: FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time delayed to unannounced date. Romano. Sal. Gematsu. 2024-08-19. 2024-08-19.

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