Akihiro Hino
Encyclopedia
is president and CEO of Japan
ese video game developer Level-5
.
in October 1998, Hino began his career in the video game industry in the early 90's at the now defunct Japan
ese developer Riverhillsoft, specifically on the Overblood
series for the original PlayStation
. Hino acted as the lead programmer on the first Overblood
, and was subsequently promoted to lead designer and director for the sequel, Overblood 2
.
Since the creation of Level-5, Hino has designed, planned and produced all five of the studio's released titles, Dark Cloud
, Dark Chronicle
and Rogue Galaxy
for the PlayStation 2
, Jeanne d'Arc
for the PlayStation Portable
, and Professor Layton and the Curious Village
for the Nintendo DS
. He also directed Square Enix's
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King for the PlayStation 2.
Recently, Hino once again assumed designing and producing duties for Level-5's titles, White Knight Chronicles for the PlayStation 3
, and the next two Professor Layton games – Pandora's Box
(Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box in North America) and the Unwound Future, both for the Nintendo DS
, and Inazuma Eleven
for the Nintendo DS, and Sentinels of the Starry Skies, also for the DS, which is his studio's second collaboration with RPG powerhouse Square Enix
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese video game developer Level-5
Level-5
is an independent video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka, Japan. The company, which currently employs about 200 individuals, was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino after he departed from the now defunct Japanese developer Riverhillsoft...
.
Biography
Prior to founding Level-5Level-5
is an independent video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka, Japan. The company, which currently employs about 200 individuals, was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino after he departed from the now defunct Japanese developer Riverhillsoft...
in October 1998, Hino began his career in the video game industry in the early 90's at the now defunct Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese developer Riverhillsoft, specifically on the Overblood
Overblood
Overblood is a science fiction video game developed by Riverhillsoft and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation. It is considered one of the first survival horror games to make use of a fully three-dimensional virtual environment, second only to Riverhillsoft's own Doctor Hauzer, a fully...
series for the original PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
. Hino acted as the lead programmer on the first Overblood
Overblood
Overblood is a science fiction video game developed by Riverhillsoft and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation. It is considered one of the first survival horror games to make use of a fully three-dimensional virtual environment, second only to Riverhillsoft's own Doctor Hauzer, a fully...
, and was subsequently promoted to lead designer and director for the sequel, Overblood 2
Overblood
Overblood is a science fiction video game developed by Riverhillsoft and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation. It is considered one of the first survival horror games to make use of a fully three-dimensional virtual environment, second only to Riverhillsoft's own Doctor Hauzer, a fully...
.
Since the creation of Level-5, Hino has designed, planned and produced all five of the studio's released titles, Dark Cloud
Dark Cloud
is a role-playing video game for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2000 and 2001 in Japan and American/PAL regions respectively. The gameplay of Dark Cloud combines action role-playing with elements of city-building...
, Dark Chronicle
Dark Chronicle
Dark Chronicle , released as Dark Cloud 2 in North America, is a role-playing video game for the PlayStation 2 video game console...
and Rogue Galaxy
Rogue Galaxy
is a science fiction role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was first released in Japan on December 8, 2005, and later in North America on January 30, 2007...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Jeanne d'Arc
Jeanne d'Arc (video game)
is a tactical role-playing game developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable . The game was first released in Japan on November 22, 2006 and was then localized in North America on August 21, 2007. It was never released in PAL regions...
for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
, and Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village, released in Japan as , is a puzzle adventure video game for the Nintendo DS system. It was developed by Level-5, and published by Level-5 within Japan and Nintendo internationally. It was released in Japan during 2007, and in PAL regions and North America a...
for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. He also directed Square Enix's
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King for the PlayStation 2.
Recently, Hino once again assumed designing and producing duties for Level-5's titles, White Knight Chronicles for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, and the next two Professor Layton games – Pandora's Box
Professor Layton and Pandora's Box
, known in Australia and Europe as Professor Layton and Pandora's Box, is the second game in the Professor Layton series by Level-5. It was followed by a third game, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future...
(Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box in North America) and the Unwound Future, both for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, and Inazuma Eleven
Inazuma Eleven
is a role-playing and sports video game for the Nintendo DS developed and published by Level-5. It was released on August 22, 2008 in Japan. A European release was confirmed by Nintendo and was released on January 29, 2011, three years after the Japanese release...
for the Nintendo DS, and Sentinels of the Starry Skies, also for the DS, which is his studio's second collaboration with RPG powerhouse Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
.
PlayStation
- OverbloodOverbloodOverblood is a science fiction video game developed by Riverhillsoft and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation. It is considered one of the first survival horror games to make use of a fully three-dimensional virtual environment, second only to Riverhillsoft's own Doctor Hauzer, a fully...
(1996) -- Lead Programmer - Overblood 2OverbloodOverblood is a science fiction video game developed by Riverhillsoft and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation. It is considered one of the first survival horror games to make use of a fully three-dimensional virtual environment, second only to Riverhillsoft's own Doctor Hauzer, a fully...
(1998) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Director
PlayStation 2
- Dark CloudDark Cloudis a role-playing video game for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2000 and 2001 in Japan and American/PAL regions respectively. The gameplay of Dark Cloud combines action role-playing with elements of city-building...
(2000) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer - Dark ChronicleDark ChronicleDark Chronicle , released as Dark Cloud 2 in North America, is a role-playing video game for the PlayStation 2 video game console...
(2002) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer - Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (2004) -- Director
- Rogue GalaxyRogue Galaxyis a science fiction role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was first released in Japan on December 8, 2005, and later in North America on January 30, 2007...
(2005) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer, Director - Rogue Galaxy: Director's CutRogue Galaxyis a science fiction role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was first released in Japan on December 8, 2005, and later in North America on January 30, 2007...
(2007) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer, Director
PlayStation Portable
- Jeanne d'ArcJeanne d'Arc (video game)is a tactical role-playing game developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable . The game was first released in Japan on November 22, 2006 and was then localized in North America on August 21, 2007. It was never released in PAL regions...
(2006) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer
Nintendo DS
- Professor Layton and the Curious VillageProfessor Layton and the Curious VillageProfessor Layton and the Curious Village, released in Japan as , is a puzzle adventure video game for the Nintendo DS system. It was developed by Level-5, and published by Level-5 within Japan and Nintendo internationally. It was released in Japan during 2007, and in PAL regions and North America a...
(2007) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer - Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (2007) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer
- Inazuma ElevenInazuma Elevenis a role-playing and sports video game for the Nintendo DS developed and published by Level-5. It was released on August 22, 2008 in Japan. A European release was confirmed by Nintendo and was released on January 29, 2011, three years after the Japanese release...
(2007) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer - Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (2008) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer
- Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (2009) -- Producer
PlayStation 3
- White Knight Chronicles (2008) -- Lead Designer, Scenario, Producer, Director
External links
- Akihiro Hino at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...