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Ushiro Ni Tatsu Shōjo
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. Level-5 is known for their ''Professor Layton'', ''Inazuma Eleven'', ''Ni no Kuni'', ''Yo-kai Watch'', ''Snack World'', and ''Megaton Musashi'' franchises. History Level-5 was established in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino and his development team at Riverhillsoft, following the release of ''OverBlood 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. 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. Level-5's first full-scale production was the action role-playing game ''Dark Cloud'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kabushiki Gaisha
A or ''kabushiki kaisha'', commonly abbreviated K.K. or KK, is a type of defined under the Companies Act of Japan. The term is often translated as "stock company", "joint-stock company" or "stock corporation". The term ''kabushiki gaisha'' in Japan refers to any joint-stock company regardless of country of origin or incorporation; however, outside Japan the term refers specifically to joint-stock companies incorporated in Japan. Usage in language In Latin script, ''kabushiki kaisha'', with a , is often used, but the original Japanese pronunciation is ''kabushiki gaisha'', with a , owing to ''rendaku''. A ''kabushiki gaisha'' must include "" in its name (Article 6, paragraph 2 of the Companies Act). In a company name, "" can be used as a prefix (e.g. , ''Dentsu, kabushiki gaisha Dentsū'', a style called , ''mae-kabu'') or as a suffix (e.g. , ''Toyota, Toyota Jidōsha kabushiki gaisha'', a style called , ''ato-kabu''). Many Japanese companies translate the phrase "" in their ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Megaton Musashi
is a Japanese multimedia franchise by Level-5. An action role-playing video game was released in Japan for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, in November 2021. A Free-to-play version, was released on December 1, 2022, and the third version of the game, , was released for the Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Windows on April 25, 2024. An anime adaptation produced by OLM, Inc. aired from October 2021 to March 2023. Synopsis In the year 2118, the Earth has been invaded by an hostile alien called , killing 99.9% of humanity during what would later be referred to as , as the surviving 1% of humanity are placed in fortified and have their memories of the invasion repressed via its memory manipulation technology, allowing them to live in peace while the unified world government and its forces fight back against the Draktors. The Dractors has since drilling a hole through Earth and replaces its core with an artificial one to terraform it into a more sui ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vagrant Story
is a 2000 action role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation. The game has been re-released by Square Enix through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita consoles. ''Vagrant Story'' was primarily developed by the team responsible for ''Final Fantasy Tactics'', with Yasumi Matsuno serving as director, producer, designer, and writer. The game takes place in the kingdom of Valendia and the ruined city of Leá Monde. The story centers on Ashley Riot, an elite agent known as a Riskbreaker, who must travel to Leá Monde to investigate the link between a cult leader and a senior Valendian Parliament member, Duke Bardorba. In the prologue, Ashley is blamed for murdering the duke and the game discloses the events that happen one week before the murder. ''Vagrant Story'' is unique as a console action role-playing game in that it features no shops and no player interaction with other characters; instead, the gam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yasumi Matsuno
is a Japanese video game designer and writer. Matsuno was first introduced to video games in arcade game, arcades while waiting for the train, and first played ''Space Invaders'' and ''Xevious'' there. He attended Hosei University for foreign policy but dropped out, and after working for a time as an economic reporter, he joined Quest Corporation. As an employee at video game companies Quest in 1989 and later Square (video game company), Square in 1995, Matsuno became well known for his work in the tactical role-playing game genre, specifically the ''Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen, Ogre Battle'' (1993) and ''Final Fantasy Tactics'' (1997) series, in addition to ''Vagrant Story'' (2000) and ''Final Fantasy XII'' (2006). After disruptions from staff leaving his development team, he resigned from Square Enix due to prolonged illness. During a freelance period, he worked on games for Nintendo's Wii such as ''MadWorld'' (2009). He joined Level-5 (company), Level-5 in 2011 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
GameStop
GameStop Corp. is an American video game, consumer electronics, and gaming merchandise retailer, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas (a suburb of Dallas). The brand is the largest video game retailer worldwide. , the company operated 3,203 stores including 2,325 both in the United States, 193 in Canada (the Canadian operations were sold in May 2025), 374 in Australia and 311 in Europe under the GameStop, EB Games, EB Games Australia, Micromania-Zing, ThinkGeek and Zing Pop Culture brands. The company was founded in Dallas in 1984 as Babbage's and took on its current name in 1999. The company's performance declined during the mid-to-late 2010s due to the shift of video game sales to online shopping and failed investments by GameStop in smartphone retail. In 2021, after retail investors on Reddit noticed that the short interest ratio, short interest exceeded 100%, the company's stock price skyrocketed from $17.25 to over US$500 per share. According to the SEC report, this volatili ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Game Informer
''Game Informer'' (''GI'' is an American monthly Video game journalism, video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and video game console, game consoles. It debuted in August 1991, when the video game retailer FuncoLand started publishing an in-house newsletter."10 Years of ''Game Informer''" (August 2001). ''Game Informer'', p. 42. "In August 1991, FuncoLand began publishing a six-page circular to be handed out free in all of its retail locations." It was acquired by the retailer GameStop, which bought FuncoLand in 2000. Due to this, a large amount of promotion was done in-store, which contributed to the success of the magazine. As of June 2017, it was the fifth-most popular magazine by copies circulated. In August 2024, GameStop discontinued ''Game Informer'' after 33 years of publication and 368 issues. The associated website was also shut down with its digital archive removed. In March 2025, ''Game Informer'' announced that it had been ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
True Fantasy Live Online
''True Fantasy Live Online'' was an MMORPG in development by Level-5 and Microsoft Game Studios Japan and set to be published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox. Initially proposed as a standard RPG, it was re-imagined as an MMO, reflecting Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino's interest in online games. If released, it would have been one of the first console-exclusive MMORPGs, following the Square-developed ''Final Fantasy XI'' for the PlayStation 2. It was planned to be set in a large fantasy world, where users could choose a character from one of five races and almost thirty unique classes, including many non-combat roles. ''True Fantasy Live Online'' would have attempted to appeal to both hardcore and casual players at the same time, with proficiency-based skills rather than an overall player level. While it was well-received and anticipated by critics as the Xbox's "great hope" for the MMO genre, Microsoft ultimately cancelled the game on June 2, 2004 following development delays, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Xbox (console)
The Xbox is a home video game console manufactured by Microsoft that is the first installment in the Xbox series of video game consoles. It was released as Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console market on November 15, 2001, in North America, followed by Australia, Europe and Japan in 2002. It is classified as a sixth-generation console, competing with Sony's PlayStation 2, Sega's Dreamcast and Nintendo's GameCube. It was also the first major console produced by an American company since the release of the Atari Jaguar in 1993. The console was announced in March 2000. With the release of the PlayStation 2, which featured the ability to playback CD-ROMs and DVDs in addition to playing games, Microsoft became concerned that game consoles would threaten the personal computer as an entertainment device for living rooms. Whereas most games consoles to that point were built from custom hardware components, the Xbox was built around standard personal computer components, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
MMORPG
A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a video game that combines aspects of a role-playing video game and a massively multiplayer online game. As in role-playing games (RPGs), the player assumes the role of a Player character, character (often in a fantasy world or science-fiction world) and takes control over many of that character's actions. MMORPGs are distinguished from Online game, single-player or small Multiplayer online game, multi-player online RPGs by the number of players able to interact together, and by the game's persistent world (usually hosted by the game's video game publisher, publisher), which continues to exist and evolve while the player is offline and away from the game. MMORPGs are played throughout the world. Global revenues for MMORPGs exceeded half a billion dollars in 2005, and the western world's revenues exceeded a billion dollars in 2006. In 2008, the spending on subscription MMORPGs by consumers in North America and Europe gre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Microsoft Game Studios
Xbox Game Studios (previously known as Microsoft Studios, Microsoft Game Studios, and Microsoft Games) is an American video game publisher based in Redmond, Washington. It was established in March 2000, spun out from an internal Games Group, for the development and publishing of video games for Microsoft Windows. It has since expanded to include games and other interactive entertainment for the namesake Xbox platforms, other desktop operating systems, Windows Mobile and other mobile platforms, web-based portals, and other game consoles. Xbox Game Studios, alongside ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard, are part of the Microsoft Gaming division led by Phil Spencer, who is chief executive officer of the division. History As Microsoft Games and Microsoft Game Studios (2000–2011) In the early 1990s, Microsoft published a few video games. It published subLOGIC's ''Microsoft Flight Simulator'' and several Microsoft Entertainment Pack compilations of minigames, but was bes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dark Chronicle
released as ''Dark Cloud 2'' in North America, is a 2002 action role-playing game developed by Level-5 (company), Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 (PS2). It was released in Japan before releasing in English in 2003. An Software emulation, emulated version of the game was released for the PlayStation 4 through the PlayStation Network in 2016. The game is a successor to 2000's ''Dark Cloud'', with which it shares the same basic game mechanics but features new characters and plot. Players control two main protagonists, Max and Monica, who must work together to stop the game's main antagonist, Emperor Griffon, from destroying the world. The game features themes of time traveling, with Max and Monica trying to prevent Griffon's destruction by altering the past to change the future. The game was met with positive reviews from critics, who praised the improvements over ''Dark Cloud'', in particular the graphics and variety of gameplay styles. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Action Role-playing Game
An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a video game genre that combines core elements from both the action game and Role-playing video game, role-playing game genres. Definition Action role-playing games emphasize Real-time game, real-time combat where the player has direct control over the characters as opposed to turn-based, turn or Menu (computing), menu-based combat while still having a focus on character's Statistic (role-playing games), stats in order to determine relative strength and abilities. These games often use action game combat systems similar to hack and slash or shooter games. The term "action role-playing game" may also describe action-adventure games, which include a mission system and role-playing game mechanics, as well as MMORPGs with real-time combat systems. History Several games prior to 1984 are considered precursors to the action RPG genre. Allgame cited ''Temple of Apshai'' (1979) and its sequel ''Gateway to Apshai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
