True Fantasy Live Online
Encyclopedia
True Fantasy Live Online was an MMORPG
in development by Level-5
for Microsoft's
Xbox
video game console
. After a long and troubled development cycle that lasted close to two years, the game was cancelled on June 2, 2004. The game was to take place in a massive fantasy setting where up to 3,000 users, each with their own fully customizable character, could adventure around with each other fighting monsters and collecting various items.
and its Xbox Live
online service in Japan. Yet despite being "fully playable" and near completion according to Microsoft
around the time of its cancellation, the title's development was littered with complications from the very beginning. One such problem was Level-5's
inexperience with online network coding and their inability to properly implement voice chat compatibility into the game. It was a feature never before implemented on such a large scale in an MMORPG
; however, Microsoft was very adamant on its inclusion, as it was a key feature to their Xbox Live service.
Relations between the two companies soon began to spiral out of control as Level-5 struggled to meet the demands required by Microsoft
, who in turn grew frustrated at the lack of progress being made on the game. After an extremely short and rather underwhelming showing at the Tokyo Game Show
in 2003, True Fantasy Live Online was quietly delayed from its initial Fall 2003 release into 2004. From then, little was seen or heard about from the title, and after a surprising absence during the year's E3 convention, it was officially cancelled by Microsoft on June 2.
In the months following, Level-5 President and CEO Akihiro Hino
stated in a Japanese interview that the poor relations between his company and Microsoft, partially due to the latter's inexperience in dealing with Japanese developers, was one of the major reasons behind True Fantasy Live Online's cancellation. He also heavily implied that the two companies did not part amicably.
In an interview in 2008, the CEO Akihiro Hino stated he still has many ideas for True Fantasy Live Online, and would personally like to work on the game. Whether or not the game does come back into development has yet to be seen.
In a July 2008 interview with Edge
, Shane Kim, former general manager of Microsoft Game Studios
spoke in regard to failed Microsoft MMORPG
projects (including Marvel Universe Online
, and True Fantasy Live Online). While acknowledging that the cancellations were the right thing to do at the time, Shane Kim also felt that such games could be successful on the Xbox 360
platform.
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
in development by 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...
for Microsoft's
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. After a long and troubled development cycle that lasted close to two years, the game was cancelled on June 2, 2004. The game was to take place in a massive fantasy setting where up to 3,000 users, each with their own fully customizable character, could adventure around with each other fighting monsters and collecting various items.
Cancellation
Often cited as one of the most disappointing project cancellations of recent years, True Fantasy Live Online was highly anticipated almost right from the moment it was announced in 2002, and was touted as one of the premier titles for the XboxXbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
and its Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
online service in Japan. Yet despite being "fully playable" and near completion according to Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
around the time of its cancellation, the title's development was littered with complications from the very beginning. One such problem was Level-5's
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...
inexperience with online network coding and their inability to properly implement voice chat compatibility into the game. It was a feature never before implemented on such a large scale in an MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
; however, Microsoft was very adamant on its inclusion, as it was a key feature to their Xbox Live service.
Relations between the two companies soon began to spiral out of control as Level-5 struggled to meet the demands required by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, who in turn grew frustrated at the lack of progress being made on the game. After an extremely short and rather underwhelming showing at the Tokyo Game Show
Tokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
in 2003, True Fantasy Live Online was quietly delayed from its initial Fall 2003 release into 2004. From then, little was seen or heard about from the title, and after a surprising absence during the year's E3 convention, it was officially cancelled by Microsoft on June 2.
In the months following, Level-5 President and CEO Akihiro Hino
Akihiro Hino
is president and CEO of Japanese video game developer Level-5.- Biography :Prior to founding Level-5 in October 1998, Hino began his career in the video game industry in the early 90's at the now defunct Japanese developer Riverhillsoft, specifically on the Overblood series for the original...
stated in a Japanese interview that the poor relations between his company and Microsoft, partially due to the latter's inexperience in dealing with Japanese developers, was one of the major reasons behind True Fantasy Live Online's cancellation. He also heavily implied that the two companies did not part amicably.
In an interview in 2008, the CEO Akihiro Hino stated he still has many ideas for True Fantasy Live Online, and would personally like to work on the game. Whether or not the game does come back into development has yet to be seen.
In a July 2008 interview with Edge
Edge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
, Shane Kim, former general manager of Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
spoke in regard to failed Microsoft MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
projects (including Marvel Universe Online
Marvel Universe Online
Marvel Universe is a browser-based Massively multiplayer online game currently under developement by Gazillion Entertainment in San Mateo California. The MMOG is designed by Secret Identity Studios and will be similar to, sister game, Marvel Super Hero Squad Online...
, and True Fantasy Live Online). While acknowledging that the cancellations were the right thing to do at the time, Shane Kim also felt that such games could be successful on the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
platform.