LEVEL5 VISION 2009

[JKTrix]

It's in all caps because that's how they have it.

If anyone happens to be up right now, this thing is starting in like one minute. 1up.com will be having a live blog of the press event, and then some more details will likely be made available later in the day.

Official Site (Japanese): LEVEL5 VISION 2009 | 株式会社レベルファイブ (http://www.level5.co.jp/vision2009/index.html)

1up Liveblog (not Japanese): Level-5 Press Conference Liveblog Tonight at 9:30 PST (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3175743)

This is level5's event for *their* games, not games they make for other people (i.e. Dark Cloud, Dragon Quest). Just to temper expectations.

[Wolf Kanno]

God, I hope they preview the game they are working on with Studio Ghibli... :love:

[JKTrix]

Yep, Ninokuni will be/is there for sure.

So far, all they've talked about is Layton 4, which will be a prequel. 1UP said on a different forum they'll have videos up by 'midnight PST'.

They're also teasing 'crazy announcements'. Someone said someone from Namco Bandai is there.

I also doubt this will be the place they'll spend a lot of time on White Knight Chronicles 2, because that falls into the same category as Dark Cloud and Dragon Quest. They *might* tease it.

[NeoCracker]

So far it's just about Professor Laytons new game, taking place before the start of the first one.

And a hot announcer chick.

[JKTrix]

Just mentioned 'London Life' mode in Layton 4, made by Brownie Brown. "Looks a LOT like Mother 3", but is more of a life sim a la Animal Crossing. "Expect 100 hours of playtime in this mode alone".

Now they're talking about the movie. *puts on the anime nerd hat*

The studio that's been animating all the Layton games (and also the movie) is called P.A. Works. If you're into anime, they actually have a full-blown show in production right now called CANAAN, which is an adaptation of the highly acclaimed Wii game 428. Check it out, it's a good-looking show.

[NeoCracker]

"sprsk: Now they are going into info about the Movie Professor Layton and the eternal diva ( That's just my translation btw)"

Giving him a movie, what the hell?

[JKTrix]

Movie's old news :P I could dig up a link I found that had some amazing music that was teased from its soundtrack.

Layton is a big deal!

edit: or just the movie trailer itself. YouTube - Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva: Subbed Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9qn56teC2o)

double edit: making the movie an annual thing, like Pokemon and other franchises, that is definitely new. Level5 must be rolling in cash.

[NeoCracker]

Not a puzzle game fan, so I never really followed Layton. :p

[Bunny]

I don't know why I'm even following this, I've never played a Layton game.

[NeoCracker]

Because they also do games about Soccor playing aliens?

[JKTrix]

Slightly more relevant to the general interest of this site: Level 5 also made Dragon Quests 8 and 9, both Dark Clouds, Rogue Galaxy, Jeanne D'Arc, upcoming White Knight Chronicles for the PS3. They're way more than just Layton, though Layton has been their biggest success (next to DQ).

This show is supposed to be nearly 2 hours long. More to come.

[Bunny]

I've played DQ and Dark Cloud, that's it. Though I guess I'm following it because I wanted to play all the other games on that list of yours, Trix. So yeah. Woo

[JKTrix]

Plus, it's probably one of the more interesting things 'happening' at this time of day :P

Old trailer for 'Cardboard Wars'
Viddler.com - Dambol Senki (Cardboard War Machine) - Uploaded by Joystiq (http://www.viddler.com/explore/Joystiq/videos/203/)

And that's also going to be a TV anime, as well as working with Bandai to make model kits of the robots.

Level5 is scaring with me with how business savvy they are.

[NeoCracker]

I actually am somewhat excited for this Cardboard Wars. :p

[JKTrix]

I voted for New IP :p

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/TakeOverWiFi/level53.jpg

[NeoCracker]

SO, new game with Ghibli seems to be classic turn based. Interesting.

[JKTrix]

Spring 2010 in JP, I expected it to be further out. Nice.

Trailer please!

[NeoCracker]

I'm expecting either an early 2011 release, or a late 2010 for us, if it's comign that is. :p

Edit: Oh god, Music buy the guy who usualy does Music for Miyazaki's films. <3

[JKTrix]

'Apparently Ghibli used their entire staff for Ninokuni for over 10 months'--side comment from someone else.

It's gonna be on the biggest DS ROM ever.

New game, an RPG called "Fantasy Life". Music by Uematsu!

[NeoCracker]

And now a DS RPG featuring music by Nobuo! Fantasy Life.

Edit: Alright, system not officially announced, just looks like a DS game. :p

[JKTrix]

When he said 'Fantasy Live' the first time, my heart skipped a beat.

Level 5 was developing an MMO for the original Xbox way back when called 'True Fantasy Live', was in development forever before Microsoft pulled the plug on it.

Bad time for a typo.

At TGS, they will be giving out DS demo carts to those who visit with demos of Ninokuni, Layton 4 and Inazuma 2. They've done this before as well, and from what I can remember it didn't take a lot of time for digital versions of those to hit the internet.

They're also giving out DVDs of gameplay video at TGS, but you can only choose the DVD or the Demo cart. Can't have both!


Aaaaand an anticlimactic ending :P They were supposed to show 3 new games, but they either ran out of time or they genuinely weren't ready to show the other two. The one new game was that 'Fantasy Life' thing, everything else had been announced previously.

Oh well, TGS in a few weeks.

[NeoCracker]

Alright, excited for Cardboard wars, the Ghibli title, and Fantasy Life now. :p

[Dreddz]

Isn't there another title for the PSP they are making. Some kind of horror RPG? Is that game even real at this point?

[JKTrix]

They said 'Ushiro' wasn't canceled, just not at a point where they can show it publicly yet.

Some websites:

Fantasy Life (http://www.level5.co.jp/products/fantasylife/index.html)

Cardboard Wars (a.k.a. "The Little Battlers", official English name) (http://www.danball-senki.jp/)

'nother Little Battlers site (http://www.level5.co.jp/products/dansen/index.html)
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Images:
Layton stuff, including the 'London Life' mode (http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/189/189206/)

Ninokuni (http://www.andriasang.com/e/galleries/2009/08/25/ni_no_kuni/)

The Little Battlers (http://www.andriasang.com/e/galleries/2009/08/25/danbolsenki/)

Inazuma 11 2 (http://www.andriasang.com/e/galleries/2009/08/25/inazuma_eleven_2/)

Fantasy Life (http://www.andriasang.com/e/galleries/2009/08/25/fantasy_life/)