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Report: Level-5's other new 3DS jam is Ghost Watch
Youkai Watch, also known as Ghost Watch in North America, is coming to 3DS, according to the latest CoroCoro magazine, translated by Siliconera. The game was first announced by developer Level-5 one year ago at its Vision event.Of course, until Level-5 confirms that the game even exists anymore, we're putting it in our box of rumors. We do know that Level-5's Liberation Maiden will be heading to the North American 3DS eShop October 25, however. We've embedded the original announcement trailer for Ghost Watch for your amusement above.
Liberation Maiden liberates North American 3DSes Oct. 25
Suda 51 and Level 5's 3DS anime shooter Liberation Maiden will make its stateside debut on the North American 3DS eShop on Thursday, October 25, according to the eShop's news ticker. Previously, Liberation Maiden was featured in a Japan-exclusive 3DS multi-cart called Guild01. The other two titles in the set are set to release on the eShop later this year.Liberation Maiden puts players in the shoes of Shoko Ōzora, a young high-school student who also happens to be the President of Japan, on account of the unfortunate assassination of her father. An invading force is attempting to steal all of Japan's energy resources, so obviously the best solution is to have Shoko pilot the "Kaihoki" mech herself into battle.Animated cutscenes in the shooter come courtesy of Studio Bones, whose previous work includes the anime Wolf's Rain, Full Metal Alchemist and Soul Eater.%Gallery-167532%
Check out Level-5's 3DS-bound 'Liberation Maiden,' 'Aero Porter,' and 'Crimson Shroud'
Level-5 sent out some more media of its eShop trio: Suda51's Liberation Maiden; Aero Porter, an airport baggage-themed puzzler by Seaman creator Yoot Saito; and Crimson Shroud, a tabletop-style RPG by Final Fantasy Tactics' Yasumi Matsuno. See all three games in the above trailer; and check out more images of Liberation Maiden in our gallery.Liberation Maiden is perfect for election season, as it stars a mech pilot who is also the president. Now that's a campaign platform we can agree with: one from which giant robots are launched.%Gallery-167532%
Level-5's Guild01 games coming to 3DS eShop
Level-5 is releasing three of the four minigames from the Guild01 collection on the 3DS eShop in Europe this year, as separate apps. Suda51's "Liberation Maiden," Yoot Saito's "Aero Porter," and Yasumi Matsuno's "Crimson Shroud" will be released in October, November, and December, respectively.Liberation Maiden will be available immediately following the Nintendo Direct presentation in Europe. Like, today.Update: Nintendo of America is also bringing these three games out, by the end of 2012. Liberation Maiden, Suda51's anime-inspired shooting game, is first, coming "before this holiday season."
Level-5's Hino wants to adapt Studio Ghibli's Castle in the Sky
Ni No Kuni is the first collaboration between Level-5 and Japan's famous Studio Ghibli, and Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino hopes it won't be the last. Speaking during a group interview session at a pre-TGS event at Namco's headquarters in Tokyo, Hino noted that he'd like to work with Studio Ghibli again. "If there is a potential opportunity to work with them again," he said, through an interpreter, "yes, we'd like to work on some joint projects with them in the future – if there is, of course, a possibility."Concerning exactly what sort of project he'd like to pursue, we asked if Level 5 has had any discussions about adapting existing Studio Ghibli properties into video games. Hino said that he would love to but, naturally, Ghibli would have to approve any such projects. Corporate approvals aren't a very entertaining topic of conversation though, so we just went ahead and asked which Studio Ghibli film he would like to adapt. Given the opportunity, he said, he would adapt Castle in the Sky.That strange rustling you just heard was the sound of millions of fingers being crossed.
Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney, and more Layton trailers than you can handle
Level-5 showed off its wide variety of Professor Layton material at TGS, releasing trailers for Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney (above) along with Professor Layton and the Legacy of Super Civilization A, Layton Brothers Mystery Room, and Professor Layton and the Century of the Seven Phantom Thieves.
Level-5 International America would like to develop games
Level-5's mysterious "International America" branch is working on the localization for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, CEO Akihiro Hino tells Siliconera. That kind of thing is the office's responsibility for the time being. "Our US office mainly works to efficiently release the Japanese titles that Level-5 has created overseas and they are involved in production and distribution in the overseas territories," Hino said.However, there's more in mind than localization for Level-5 IA. "In the future, we would potentially like to develop title overseas where Level-5 International America is taking the lead on developing for the overseas market," he says. Of course, with games like the Layton series, Level-5 already seems to have a decent handle on the overseas market.
Level-5's TGS lineup includes playable Layton vs. Ace Attorney and two unannounced games
Level-5 has two mystery games in its Tokyo Game Show lineup this year. Two "coming soon" blanks show up in the list of ten games on display at this September's event, alongside news that Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney will be playable! It exists!Also playable: Layton Brothers Mystery Room, Inazuma Eleven Go 2, Fantasy Life, Danbooru Senki W, and Professor Layton and the Legacy of Advanced Civilization A. The updated 3DS versions of the first three Inazuma Eleven games, and the mobile Inazuma Eleven Atsumeyoze! will be video only.
New Layton for 3DS revealed, will be Layton's last adventure
Level-5 announced a new Nintendo 3DS Professor Layton game this morning for Japan on Nintendo's Direct video feed. CEO Akihiro Hino introduced the game and teased a bit of in-game footage – spoilers: it looks like Professor Layton! – he also noted that this will be Layton's "last adventure." That doesn't necessarily mean the end of Layton, of course, just that the game's main character is on his way out.The 3DS Layton – which Andriasang called, "Professor Layton Choubunmei to A no Isan" – arrives in 2013, and per usual Layton announcements, no word was given on a US or EU launch just yet.
Level-5 trademarks names from 3DS 'Guild01' collection in US
Guild01 is a collection of four games on one 3DS cartridge, featuring talent like Suda 51 and Seaman/SimTower creator Yoot Saito. So far, it was only released in Japan, but two new trademarks registered by publisher Level-5 indicate potential for a US release."Liberation Maiden" and "Crimson Shroud" refer to two games within the 3DS collection, one a shooter made by Suda51, and the other a dungeon RPG designed by Final Fantasy XII/Vagrant Story director Yasumi Matsuno. These are, so far, the only two Guild01-related trademarks registered in the US by Level-5. Curiously absent are the other two games from the cartridge, Saito's airport luggage puzzle game Aero Porter and comedian Yoshiyuki Hirai's weapon shop management game Omasse's Rental Weapon Shop.The title "Guild01" itself is also missing, which leads us to wonder if Level-5 plans on releasing the games individually instead of in a bundle.
Namco Bandai conjures a Ni no Kuni 'Wizard's Edition' [update: America too]
If your European copy of Ni no Kuni is bigger and more expensive than normal ... a wizard did it. Namco Bandai has announced a "Wizard's Edition" of the Level-5 RPG that includes a copy of The Wizard's Companion, the in-game spellbook. It also comes with a plus doll of "Drippy," the lamp-nosed sidekick, and some DLC familiars for use in the game.The Wizard's Edition will be out in EMEA and Australian regions concurrent with the game, on January 25. Now, with the book translated, there's nothing holding back a localization of Ni no Kuni for DS ... right?Update: The Wizard's Edition is available in North America, exclusively from Namco's online shop for $99.99. [Thanks, Sepehr!]
Level-5 making a triumphant return to Tokyo Game Show
In 2011, Level-5 sat out TGS in favor of its own "Level-5 World" event. TGS organizer CESA sent out a list of exhibitors for the 2012 edition of TGS today, revealing that the Professor Layton developer is back on board this year. Whether that means the usual giant, crowded booth remains to be seen, but Level-5 is no longer sequestering itself to the "business meeting area."The total number of exhibitors is up to 171 companies, including 63 from outside of Japan. That's more than the 146 total companies who signed on for TGS 2011, even without Microsoft. Of course, that may not necessarily lead to an increased profile or importance, as we totally haven't heard of a lot of these companies.
Inafune working with Level-5 on Guild02 [update: screens]
Guild01 is an upcoming 3DS cart by Level-5, collecting four small games by Suda 51, Seaman's Yoot Saito, Yasumi Matsuno, and comedian Yoshiyuki Hirai. Even before the (so far Japan-only) release of this game, early Famitsu info reveals the existence of a second collection called Guild02, this time involving the outspoken and suddenly very busy Keiji Inafune.Inafune's game translates to "Insect Tank," and puts the player in the role of a miniaturized WWII tank fighting giant insects. His game is joined by "Alone," a "suspense game" by Chunsoft visual novel writers Takemaru Abiko and Kazuya Asano, about someone who wakes up in a dark room with no memories, and "The Friday When Monsters Appear" by Kazu Ayabe, creator of the My Summer Vacation series. True to the title, monsters show up every Friday in a '60s-era town full of children who love the giant Ultraman-style heroes of the day.Guild02 will also have some kind of connectivity with the previous collection, allowing Guild01 owners to get passwords to unlock material in Guild02. We suppose that's one advantage over releasing these games one by one on the eShop, but seriously, Level-5, release these games one by one on the eShop. That's what it's for.Update: Famitsu has screens of all three games. Above (obviously), Insect Tank.
Good morning! Here's a bunch of gorgeous Ni no Kuni screens
It's still pretty early, and perhaps you've yet to drink that first cup of life-bringing java – believe us, we understand. Why not treat your eyes to these beautiful, vibrant screens of Level 5's Studio Ghibli RPG, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch.
Ni no Kuni delayed until Q1 2013
Good news: Namco Bandai is still planning to localize Level-5 and Studio Ghibli's beautiful PS3 RPG, Ni no Kuni. The bad news: the release date is already slipping. Originally announced for winter of 2012, Namco announced a new "Q1 2013" release date for both North America and Europe at a press event today.Namco also reportedly showed off its localization progress, in the form of a trailer with English dialogue. Protagonist Oliver speaks with an American accent, while everyone else is British for some reason.
Level-5 joins the ESA, meaning it's becoming a US publisher
Level-5, developer of Professor Layton, Dark Cloud, Ni no Kuni and more, is moving further toward establishing publishing operations in North America. The ESA -- the video game publishers' lobbying group -- announced today that Level-5 has joined its ranks. Ergo, Level-5 is becoming a North American video game publisher. That helps explain what the new Level-5 International America office is up to.Level-5's publishing operations, whatever they are, will likely begin after the winter release of Ni no Kuni -- as Namco Bandai is handling that.Other new ESA members include digital publisher Little Orbit, who has the license for DC's Young Justice, and digital publisher Rubicon Organization.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch launches Winter 2012
You know how back in September Level-5 said Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch would launch in early 2012? Yeah, throw that out the window -- the developer must have meant to say it'll launch in the other winter of 2012.Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, a collaboration between Level-5 and legendary animation outfit Studio Ghibli, will launch later this year in the unspecified Winter 2012 time frame. It'll be released exclusively on the PS3 with both English and Japanese voiceovers.
ESA members asked individually about SOPA, some respond
Rock, Paper, Shotgun collaborated in obtaining responses. The Entertainment Software Association's support of the "Stop Online Piracy Act" has led us to ask every member of the video game industry's lobbying and political group to publicly declare its stance on the bill. The ESA's continued support means every member, by proxy, is a supporter of the bill. Some companies have pulled their logos from supporting SOPA documentation to dodge ire, while others are hiding behind rhetoric, as you'll see below. Joystiq contacted every member of the ESA and requested a declarative statement on SOPA. After the break we've listed the responses we've received, along with others we found. We continue to seek clarity on this issue from every member of the ESA. This will become the page we update as we receive responses and clear declarative statements, so feel free to bookmark. (Joystiq does not support SOPA, nor does our parent company.)
Professor Layton 3DS to arrive in Europe next year
The Professor Layton titles traditionally take their sweet time heading across the continent from Japan to the EU, and the series' first 3DS entry, called Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle in Japan, is no exception. It arrived in the land of the Rising Sun last February, and hasn't been released in Europe or North America yet. But it looks like one of those releases is planned: The end of a trailer for Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call in Europe teases that players should "get ready for an all-new Layton next year."Presumably, that's the 3DS title (though the name usually changes on the trip over), and that tease means we'll see it out sometime in 2012. We haven't seen quite as much confirmation on a North American release, but since the last title hit Europe this week and North America last month, 2012 is a good bet for us 'mericans as well. After all, it's not like Level-5 doesn't want to release it here, it's just that translation can take time.
Ni no Kuni commercials offer a more realistic look at another world
Ever thought "Ni no Kuni looks nice, but I wonder what it would look like without all that Studio Ghibli art?" Neither have we, but you should watch these Japanese live-action ads for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch anyway. In the brief clip above, and one more after the break, voice actress Mana Ashida explores realistic CG interpretations of locations from the game. She's almost certainly looking at green screens, but she looks suitably impressed! We're also impressed, but we have the benefit of actually seeing the impressive vistas.
