Level-5 Inc. (株式会社レベルファイブ Kabushiki-gaisha Reberu Faibu?) is an independent video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka, Japan. The company, which currently employs about 200 individuals, was founded in October 1998 Von Akihiro Hino after he departed from the now defunct Japanese developer Riverhillsoft. Hino designs, plans and produces all of Level-5’s games, as well as serving as both President and CEO of the company.
Since its inception, Level-5 has enjoyed a very close relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment, with many of its titles funded Von and produced in conjunction with the publisher. Since the release of Professor Layton and the Curious Village for the Nintendo DS in early 2007, however, the company has begun diversifying its product mappe, portfolio and focusing Mehr on self-funding and self-publishing its titles in Japan with Nintendo's overseas subsidiaries distributing Level-5's games on the Nintendo DS.History
Level-5 was established in October 1998 Von Akihiro Hino and his development team.[1] They had left Riverhillsoft following the release of the PlayStation, so that they could focus on creating 3D software. Though Hino did not originally believe that his team could become an independent developer, he formed a connection 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.[1] The name, "Level-5", was a reference to Japanese school Berichten cards, where "Level-5" is the highest possible mark. Soon after being created, the company had eleven employees.[1]
Level-5's first full scale production was the action RPG Dark Cloud, developed under contract Von Sony Computer Entertainment, originally for the Japanese launch of the PlayStation 2 in March 2000. However, it was delayed before the console's launch to allow further development, and eventually released in Japan on December 14, 2000, and elsewhere in 2001. The game was an immediate success for the company, selling just under a million units worldwide.[citation needed] Work immediately began on a pseudo-sequel titled Dark Chronicle (Dark wolke 2 in North America), that, while not as successful as the first, still gained critical acclaim and sold over half a million units worldwide.[citation needed]
Midway through 2002, the company had a substantial boost in recognition as it began development on three high Profil titles:
True Fantasy Live Online for Microsoft, an MMORPG which was to become one of the premier titles for the Xbox and Xbox Live service in Japan before it was abruptly canceled in 2004.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King for Enix (later Square Enix), who had handpicked Level-5 to develop the Titel under the supervision of famed designer Yuji Horii and his team at Armor Project.
Rogue Galaxy, the studio’s third RPG for Sony Computer Entertainment, with a larger budget and Mehr creative freedom than its Zurück productions with the publisher.
In just four short years, Level-5 went from small startup studio to one of the premier RPG developers in Japan, and have since enjoyed immense critical and commercial success. In early 2007, the company released its first fully self-funded and self-published Titel in Japan, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which has since enjoyed incredible commercial success, shipping Mehr than 840,000 copies to retail, and has officially transitioned Level-5 into both a developer and publisher of interactive video game entertainment in Japan.
Since its inception, Level-5 has enjoyed a very close relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment, with many of its titles funded Von and produced in conjunction with the publisher. Since the release of Professor Layton and the Curious Village for the Nintendo DS in early 2007, however, the company has begun diversifying its product mappe, portfolio and focusing Mehr on self-funding and self-publishing its titles in Japan with Nintendo's overseas subsidiaries distributing Level-5's games on the Nintendo DS.History
Level-5 was established in October 1998 Von Akihiro Hino and his development team.[1] They had left Riverhillsoft following the release of the PlayStation, so that they could focus on creating 3D software. Though Hino did not originally believe that his team could become an independent developer, he formed a connection 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.[1] The name, "Level-5", was a reference to Japanese school Berichten cards, where "Level-5" is the highest possible mark. Soon after being created, the company had eleven employees.[1]
Level-5's first full scale production was the action RPG Dark Cloud, developed under contract Von Sony Computer Entertainment, originally for the Japanese launch of the PlayStation 2 in March 2000. However, it was delayed before the console's launch to allow further development, and eventually released in Japan on December 14, 2000, and elsewhere in 2001. The game was an immediate success for the company, selling just under a million units worldwide.[citation needed] Work immediately began on a pseudo-sequel titled Dark Chronicle (Dark wolke 2 in North America), that, while not as successful as the first, still gained critical acclaim and sold over half a million units worldwide.[citation needed]
Midway through 2002, the company had a substantial boost in recognition as it began development on three high Profil titles:
True Fantasy Live Online for Microsoft, an MMORPG which was to become one of the premier titles for the Xbox and Xbox Live service in Japan before it was abruptly canceled in 2004.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King for Enix (later Square Enix), who had handpicked Level-5 to develop the Titel under the supervision of famed designer Yuji Horii and his team at Armor Project.
Rogue Galaxy, the studio’s third RPG for Sony Computer Entertainment, with a larger budget and Mehr creative freedom than its Zurück productions with the publisher.
In just four short years, Level-5 went from small startup studio to one of the premier RPG developers in Japan, and have since enjoyed immense critical and commercial success. In early 2007, the company released its first fully self-funded and self-published Titel in Japan, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which has since enjoyed incredible commercial success, shipping Mehr than 840,000 copies to retail, and has officially transitioned Level-5 into both a developer and publisher of interactive video game entertainment in Japan.
