Ben-DutkaSquare-Enix has a new office in Los Angeles and another Japanese developer is following suit in an endeavor to expand Westward.
It's Level-5, best known for the Dragon Quest , Professor Layton and White Knight Chronicles franchises. According to Siliconera , the developer plans to open an office in Santa Monica, California in September. It will be known as Level-5 International America and their expansion won't end there; they also intend to move into Europe some time next year. CEO Akihiro Hino has said these expansions are designed around the concept of releasing games overseas, which of course translates to more localization staff and (presumably) lesser delays is that area of production. White Knight Chronicles took over a year for it to go from Japan to North America, and let's not forget that White Knight Chronicles 2 is scheduled to release in Japan next month. With this new studio, US gamers should definitely look to the future with an expectant eye; Level-5 creations should indeed hit store shelves a bit earlier than usual in this neck of the woods.
We're also very interested to see how WKC2 comes out…we're one of the few who really liked the original, and the team has plenty of enhancements featured in the sequel.
Glad to see Level-5 is at a point where they are expanding! Hope to see lots more good titles! (Like a Console Dragon Quest?)
great.hopefully they will be able to localize professor layton games much faster now.just don't want to see them go the SE way.
Wonder whether Level5's new studio in Santa Monica will be close to Sony's own Santa Monica studio? Possible links, could Level5 be moving towards the kind of almost 1st party relationship with Sony?
Either way faster releases in NA and Europe is a fantastic idea.
I asked myself the same question. We can hope right?
i doubt since they probably make more profit from their nintendo ds titles.
but i do like their close relationship to sony. if they really bring some closure to white knight chronicles with the second release i hope they work on more rpgs for the ps3.
Could be.
Nice, this can only be a good thing.
Cool!
Now Sony just needs to make them an offer they can't refuse.
Is your PSN name BikerSaint? I've been trying to add you (if you don't mind), but there's no reply.
BikerSaint doesn't do online gaming, so most likely, he hasn't checked his messages/invitations.
Ok, I can stay silent no longer. I have seen this image probably 6 times in WKC related articles? Each and every time I feel I need a larger view of that picture so I can tell what the heck is going on in it.
Ben, I'm dieing here. PAN OUT PAN OUT!!! If for no other reason, so that I can put my mind at ease to know what the heck is going on in that picture. You cropped it or chopped it, and now can you help a brotha out?
WKC is one of PS3's only few genuine JRPGs.
Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 6/2/2010 2:04:12 PM
this is good news.
off topic, where's the modnation review?
Brilliant news. L5 are one of my all time favourite developers.
Let's just hope this isn't SquareEnix all over again.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 6/2/2010 2:38:11 PM
Level 5 branching out for faster releases, is welcome news. I played Dark Cloud a long time ago and found it hard to put down. WKC was a great rpg, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. L5 are higher on my priority list than SE now that I've seen what to expect from them this gen.
Always good to hear new studios, which means new different games 🙂
I'll quote an andriasang article for those interested in WKC
"Famitsu confirms that the latest version of the original White Knight will be included in full. In White Knight 2, the original White Knight, Inishie no Kodou, is referred to as "1st part" while the sequel, Hikari to Yami no Kakusei, is referred to as "2nd part."
1st part will include the 130+ pieces of content that were distributed as online download content. Additionally, the graphics and gameplay systems have been updated to 2nd Part standard, giving you access to some of the new gameplay features."
Oh and also apparently your avatar gets a knight of a different sort as well. Good times.
Last edited by piratedrunk on 6/2/2010 6:11:35 PM
Good news. Now, when will we get it in North America? I don't understand the long delay, but I suppose I can wait. Got enough to keep me busy.
Yes, we told you all about that when Andriasang reported it. 😉
yeah but that was when it was still just a rumor this is the confirmation
Sounds good
Hopefully it's for making more games
They currently only make one game at a time (I think)
Would be nice if they'd make 2 great games at any given time.
Sony Santa Monica better help them (and keep them exclusive 8) )
As long as the studio doesn't start developing games heavilý catered to the west (like other developers we know >_>) I'm all for it
Nothing says "It's a great game" like Level-5 on the cover. Doesn't matter to me where they have their peeps.
Hmm, I'm sensing 'westward expansion' like most other devs these days. Look how that has turned out so far. If it is to sort of expand into a new take on the JRPGs then more power to them, and if it helps speed up localisation then most power to them, but if it's a new focus, I swear bad things will happen.
Peace.
Hmm, I'm sensing 'westward expansion' like most other devs these days. Look how that has turned out so far. If it is to sort of expand into a new take on the JRPGs then more power to them, and if it helps speed up localisation then most power to them, but if it's a new focus, I swear bad things will happen.
Peace.
Sorry for the double post. Didn't think it had registered the first time. :/
Peace.
ahh nice to see, hopefully this will mean no more waiting months to get games.
im still waiting for rock band 2 for fu*ks sake that was released almost 2 fu*king years ago!!!!!!!
AU = the WORST! country to live in for games.
its not enough we have to pay double what the US pays.
its STILL not enough we miss out on half the stuff.
we also have to wait months sometimes year for the stuff that is releasing.
why is it every single time a game is made in the US its released in the US first and the reason is well its made there.
but when a game is made in EU 99% of the time the US sees it first. cough joe danger.
5 hundred billion dollars says LA Noire a game thats being made in AU not even 20 minutes away from my house, will be released in the US before here.
Lad, it might mean no more waiting for the US, but we'll still get screwed, no fear. As for L.A. Noire, I get the feeling that EU will get it first and that may well include us. But I agree that the prices are ridiculous, thankfully they fall quickly. And the waiting, meh, I can live with it. You've just got to learn to be more patient, or honestly, you'll get nowhere in life.
Peace.
eh, put up with all the sh** and abuse ive had too in the last few years and you would of lost all your Patience too.
I heart Level 5