Level 5

Name: Level 5
Company Type: Kabushiki gaisha (Japanese Corporation)
Industry: Video Games

Year Founded: October 1998
Founder: Akihiro Hino
Headquarters: Fukuoka, Japan
Parent Company: Independent / Public Corporation
Subsidiaries: None
Website: www.level5ia.com

Company History & Bio

[wptab name=’Level-5 Company History’]

As a child, I was always playing games. Even after I grew up, I never forgot how fun and elating those experiences were. The Game & Watchseries were games that stood out most in my memory. They were low-tech by today’s standards, but I remember being in awe at the fact that I could hold a “world” in the palm of my hand. Perhaps it was then that I saw a true future and potential in games.

When establishing LEVEL-5, I was set on creating games that would bring the children of today the same excitement I felt as a child. This single desire is what inspired us to start this company.

With a corporate stance that left no room for compromise, we have grown today to set even more ambitious goals. During phase 1, our entire team succeeded in working together to gain trust in an industry where we were still considered a start-up developer. In phase 2, we were recognized by players through the success of prominent titles such as DRAGON QUEST VIII. In 2007, our company entered phase 3 with the release of Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Professor Layton was the first game we handled from development through to its release. With this game, LEVEL-5 transitioned from a developer to a publisher in Japan. This transformation exponentially increased our interest in all facets of the game industry. Once we pass phase 3, we will most likely be competing with the top brands of the industry in phase 4.

Making Fukuoka the “Hollywood of the gaming industry” through the Game Factory Friendship, as well as expanding our efforts into movie and anime production are just a few of the challenges we are pursuing. However, LEVEL-5′s main arena will remain games. That is why my fellow staff and I are going to continue the path my heart has followed since day one: the journey to becoming the “number one game brand”. I want us to be known as “the world’s best,” not for the company’s capital or scale, but for the entertainment value of our products.

President and CEO,

Akihiro Hino

Source : http://level5ia.com/company/
Level-5 Company History

Level-5 was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino and his development team at Riverhillsoft, following the release of OverBlood 2 in 1998. 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. 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.

Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level-5_(company)#History

Level 5’s first large game was the RPG Dark Cloud, developed 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. Work immediately began on a sequel titled Dark Chronicle (Dark Cloud 2 in North America).

Midway through 2002, the company had a substantial boost in recognition as it began development on three high-profile 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 Square Enix, who had handpicked Level-5 to develop the title under the supervision of series 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 more creative freedom than its previous productions with the publisher.
In 4 years, Level-5 went from a 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 title in Japan, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which has since enjoyed incredible commercial success, shipping more 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.

Yasumi Matsuno, director of Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the Ogre Battle series, briefly joined Level-5 in June 2011, who left the company after completing work on Crimson Shroud for the Nintendo 3DS.

In October 2015, Level-5 founded a spin-off company in Santa Monica, California, in cooperation with Dentsu, called Level-5 abby. Its purpose is to develop multimedia entertainment for the western demographic.

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[wptab name=’Level-5 Company Timeline’]

October 1998

Limited company level Five establishment

December 2000

PlayStation game software “dark cloud” is released for the 2
: (Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)
becomes a hit to ship home and abroad total more than one million

October 2001

Organizational changes to the Corporation from the limited company

November 2002

PlayStation 2 game software “Dark Chronicle” for sale
: (Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)
won many awards at home and abroad, get a worldwide reputation

August 2003

Fukuoka of game production company three companies first event organized by the
“GAME FACTORY FUKUOKA 2003 (GFF 2003)” held

April 2004

By Kyushu, Fukuoka of game production company eight companies, of Kyushu and Fukuoka of the game industry
as an organization which aims to further development
“GFF (GAME FACTORY’S FRIENDSHIP)” the establishment
GFF and Kyushu University is “industry, academia,” joint information exchange and excellence by It signed a cooperation agreement in order to carry out such human resource development and research and development

November 2004

PlayStation 2 video game software
“Shi cursed Dragon Quest VIII sky and the sea and the earth princess” is released
(Publisher: Square Enix)

December 2005

PlayStation game software “Rogue Galaxy” is released for the 2
(Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)

May 2006

“Fukuoka the world is in the game industry city that aims” to the slogan
“Fukuoka Game Industry Promotion Organization” the GFF, Kyushu University, Fukuoka City
established by the three parties

October 2006

Publisher business entry assertions
become the first publisher work Nintendo DS video game software
announced the “Professor Layton and the Curious Village”

November 2006

PlayStation Portable video game software
“Joan of Arc” is released
(Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)

February 2007

Game software for Nintendo DS will be the first of the publisher work
“Professor Layton and the Curious Village” is released

March 2007

PlayStation 2 video game software
“Rogue Galaxy Director’s Cut” is released
(Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)

April 2007

Building transfer (Fukuoka Chuo-ku, Fukuoka platinum 1-chome, 20-3 paper given Yakuin Building)

August 2007

New software recital “LEVEL5 VISION 2007” held
publisher work 2nd “Inazuma Eleven” announcement

September 2007

“Tokyo Game Show 2007,” the first exhibition

November 2007

“Professor Layton” series second series,
the Nintendo DS for the software, “Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box” is released

January 2008

Naming rights acquisition “Hakata forest ball game field” → to “Level Five Stadium”

January 2008

First exhibition “Next Generation World Hobby Fair”

June 2008

With the launch of the mobile version of “Professor Layton and the Curious Village”, the start of mobile business

August 2008

Nintendo DS software “Inazuma Eleven” is released

September 2008

New software recital “LEVEL5 VISION 2008” held

October 2008

TV Anime “Inazuma Eleven” broadcast start

October 2008

Mobile “House of Professor Layton and the Shikyo” delivery start

October 2008

Greet the level five founding 10 anniversary

November 2008

“Professor Layton” third series,
the Nintendo DS for the software, “Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel” is released

December 2008

PlayStation 3 video game software “White Knight Story – full of beating -” is released
(Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)

May 2009

Nintendo DS software “Sloan and Makuheru of the mystery of the story” is released

June 2009

Mobile game portal site “ROID” business start, “cabaret club Joppi”, ROID version of “Sloan and Makuheru of the mystery of the story” delivery start

June 2009

Nintendo DS “trip around the world to solve Akira Tago of the head of the gymnastics first current riddle” software for, “adventure solving gymnastics second current galaxy crossing the mystery of Akira Tago of the head” is released

July 2009

Nintendo DS software “Dragon Quest Ⅸ Protectors of the Sky” is released (Publisher: Square Enix)

August 2009

New software recital “LEVEL5 VISION 2009” held

September 2009

Nintendo DS software “Sloan and Makuheru of the mystery of the story 2” release, ROID version of “Sloan and Makuheru of the mystery of the story 2” delivery start

October 2009

Nintendo DS software “Inazuma Eleven 2 Fire / Blizzard” launched

October 2009

Nintendo DS software “Akira Tago of the head of the gymnastics third Vol wonderland of mystery solving fairy tale”, “mystery solving large adventure of Akira Tago of the head of the gymnastics the first Vol. 4 Time Machine” is released, game software for the PlayStation 3 “white Knight story – full of beating – EX Edition” is released (Publisher: Sony computer Entertainment Inc.)

November 2009

Software for the Nintendo DS, “Professor Layton and the Devil of the whistle” is released

December 2009

“Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva” public

January 2010

Co., Ltd. level Five Tokyo office established

March 2010

Fukuoka headquarters relocation
(Fukuoka Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City Yakuin 1-1-1 Yakuin Business Garden)

July 2010

“Inazuma Eleven mobile” delivery start

July 2010

Released “Challenge !! Spark / Bomber to Inazuma Eleven 3 world” Nintendo DS software, game software for the PlayStation 3, “White Knight Story – awakening of light and darkness -” is released (Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)

September 2010

LEVEL-5 established International America Inc.

October 2010

New software recital “LEVEL5 VISION 2010” held

December 2010

Nintendo DS software “Ni no Kuni jet-black Mashirubeshi” sale,
mobile “Nino countries hot Roy To Stories” delivery start

December 2010

Software for the Nintendo DS, “Inazuma Eleven 3 challenge to the world !! Di auger” sale

December 2010

“Theater version Inazuma Eleven strongest corps auger invasion” public,
mobile “Inazuma Eleven Dash” delivery start

February 2011

Nintendo 3DS for the software “Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask” is released

March 2011

TV animation “The Little Battlers” broadcast start

5 May 2011

TV Anime “Inazuma Eleven GO” broadcast start

June 2011

PSP for software “Little Battlers” sale, mobile “The Little Battlers” delivery start

July 2011

For Wii software “Inazuma Eleven Strikers” is released

10 May 2011

TV anime “Gundam AGE” broadcast start

10 May 2011

Level Five’s first single private show “LEVEL5 WORLD 2011” held

11 May 2011

Delivery in the “Professor Layton Royale” mobage

11 May 2011

PlayStation 3 for software “Ni no Kuni White Queen of the Holy ash” is released

11 May 2011

Software for PSP “The Little Battlers boost” released

December 2011

Nintendo 3DS for the software “Inazuma Eleven GO Shine / Dark” is released

December 2011

For Wii software “Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 Extreme” is released

December 2011

“Theater version Inazuma Eleven GO ultimate Kizuna Griffon” published

January 2012

TV animation “The Little Battlers W” broadcast start

March 2012

Nintendo 3DS for the software “Girls RPG Cinderella IF” is released

April 2012

TV Anime “Inazuma Eleven GO Chrono Stone” broadcast start

May 2012

Delivery at GREE a “two-Roh national university adventure Monsters”

May 2012

Nintendo 3DS for the software “GUILD01” released

July 2012

Nintendo 3DS for the software “The Little Battlers explosion boost” released

July 2012

Nintendo 3DS, PS Vita, software “Time Travelers” for the PSP released

July 2012

PlayStation 3 for software “Ni no Kuni White of St. ash Queen all-in-one Edition” is released

August 2012

PSP for software “Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Universe accelerator / Cosmic drive” is released (Publisher: NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.)

September 2012

First iOS terminal corresponding work “Layton Brothers Mystery Room” is released

October 2012

PS Vita, PSP for software “The Little Battlers W” is released

November 2012

Delivered in mobage “seven Thief of Professor Layton and the Century”

November 2012

Nintendo 3DS for the software “Professor Layton VS Ace Attorney” launched

December 2012

Theater version of “Inazuma Eleven GO vs Little Battlers W” published

December 2012

Nintendo 3DS for the software
“Inazuma Eleven GO2 Chrono Stone hot air / thunder” is released

December 2012

For Wii software “Inazuma Eleven GO Strikers 2013” released

December 2012

Not for sale limited Nintendo 3DS for download software
“Inazuma Eleven Everyday !!” delivery start

December 2012

Nintendo 3DS for the software “Fantasy Life” is released

December 2012

Nintendo 3DS for the software “Inazuma Eleven 1, 2, 3 !! hexagonal building Mamoru legend” released

February 2013

Nintendo 3DS for downloading software
, “Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask Plus” is released

February 2013

Nintendo 3DS for the software “Professor Layton and the heritage of the super-civilization A” is released

March 2013

iOS terminal corresponding “release girl” the world the same day delivery start

March 2013

Nintendo 3DS for download software “GUILD02,” “Friday the monster comes out”, “worms tank”, “Spaceship No. Damurei” released

May 2013

Level five founding 15 anniversary download version half Campaign

May 2013

Smartphones new brand “UNIPLAY” announcement

June 2013

iOS terminal corresponding “Earth devastating B-grade girlfriend” distribution start
(Android version distribution starting in July 2013)

July 2013

Nintendo 3DS for the software “specter Watch” released

July 2013

iOS / Android terminal corresponding “dissolution gymnastics first puzzle’s Nyan” delivery start

July 2013

Nintendo 3DS for the software “The Little Battlers W ultra-custom” is released

July 2013

Nintendo 3DS for the software “fantasy life LINK!” Is released

July 2013

iOS / Android terminal corresponding Layton Professor of Navi role “Fukuoka history Navi” distribution start (Fukuoka)

August 2013

New software recital “LEVEL5 VISION 2013” held

October 2013

Nintendo 3DS for the software “The Little Battlers Wars” is released

December 2013

Nintendo 3DS for the software “Inazuma Eleven GO Galaxy Big Bang / Supernova” is released

December 2013

“LINE puzzle de Inazuma Eleven” delivery start

January 2014

TV anime “Yokai Watch” broadcast start

January 2014

Android the “Wonder flick” distribution start
(iOS version distribution starting in February 2014)

January 2014

“Yokai Watch” related toys launched

March 2014

Fukuoka Game Industry Promotion Organization events “GFF2014” held

June 2014

PC for online game “Inazuma Eleven online” service start

July 2014

Nintendo 3DS for the software “specter watch 2 Ganso / Honke” released

August 2014

iOS / Android terminal corresponding “Wonder flick R” delivery start

December 2014

Nintendo 3DS for the software “specter Watch 2 star performer” sale

December 2014

“The secret’s Nyan of movie monsters watch the birth!” Published

December 2014

65th NHK Red and White Singing Contest “Yokai Watch” (King cream soda / Dream5) Cast

March 2015

Fukuoka Game Industry Promotion Organization events “GFF AWARD 2015” held

April 2015

New software recital “LEVEL5 VISION 2015” held

June 2015

Tokyo office building relocation (Tokyo, Minato-ku, Konan 1-2-70 Shinagawa season terrace 6F)

July 2015

Nintendo 3DS for the software “specter Watch Busters Akanekodan / white dog Corps” is released

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List of Video Games by Level 5

List of Games Developed by Level-5 Games

 

More Coming Soon!