Toshihiro Nagoshi
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‘Judgment’ is a sublime detective game for everyone
Grizzly murders. A ridiculously smart hero haunted by his past. A shady group of individuals who will do anything, it seems, to cover up their terrible deeds. These are the hallmarks of a great detective story, and Judgment, the latest video game from Japanese developer Ryu ga Gotoku (RGG) Studio, has all of them.
Sega considering more free-to-play games for 3DS beyond Initial D
Sega's first free-to-play title for the 3DS, Initial D: Perfect Drift Online, is scheduled for release in Japan this winter. Players will be able to purchase points to speed up the unlocking process, but the game's content can be earned for free with enough success in its on and offline gameplay. The project is led by Yakuza series lead Toshihiro Nagoshi, and a recent Famitsu interview translated by Siliconera explored Sega's possible future with F2P games. "We don't intend to stop with this title, and after looking over its results, we'll think about what to do next," Nagoshi said. While Nagoshi acknowledges smartphones would provide a wider install base, he's "very interested in seeing what happens" with Initial D on the 3DS. Aside from the 3DS' popularity with grade school students, Nagoshi believes there's also a chance on the platform with the older market. Should Initial D's performance please Sega, Nagoshi also teased that the team has been thinking about what would work best for additional F2P titles on the 3DS.
Sega CCO: No current plans for Yakuza 5 in the West
Sega Sammy CCO Toshihiro Nagoshi recently told Edge that the Yakuza development team is focusing on their Japan-exclusive PS3 and PS4 launch title, Yakuza Ishin, rather than localizing 2012's Yakuza 5 for Western audiences. Ishin is a spin-off set in the late Edo period in Japan and will feature some form of Vita Cross-Play. Nagoshi explained that due to the Yakuza team's size, they decided to pass up working on a port of Y5 to focus solely on Ishin. Nagoshi feels that he and his team "owe it to PlayStation fans" for Ishin to be a PS4 launch title, "even if it means a bit of pressure." Nagoshi expressed interest in localizing Ishin for other territories, provided the Yakuza team finds the manpower and money to do so. Yazuka: Dead Souls was the last game in the series to be launched outside of Japan.
Sega promotes Yakuza creator Nagoshi to Chief Creative Officer
Prompted by the retirement of Sega Sammy COO Okitane Usui, several executives at the company are moving up -- most notably Yakuza, Binary Domain, and Super Monkey Ball producer Toshihiro Nagoshi, who will be the company's Chief Creative Officer starting April 1. That seems like a good move, as Nagoshi's Yakuza franchise is a rare success among Sega's products.Taking over as President and COO is Naoya Tsurumi, who has previously served as CEO of Sega Europe and Sega of America, and has been General Manager of Sega International since 2010.
Lost Planet 2, Yakuza demonstrated on NGP
Capcom's Jun Takeuchi took to the stage at today's PlayStation Meeting to show off Lost Planet 2 running on the NGP handheld -- as a demonstration only, as he said Capcom was not announcing new titles at tonight's event -- "but before long we will be able to announce new titles for NGP." According to Takeuchi, LP2 was running on MT Framework Mobile (which also powers Capcom's 3DS games) and this demo was put together in just two weeks. "I'm sure you've seen the PS3 version," he told the audience, "and the quality is just as good" on NGP. Takeuchi said the NGP could handle the "full specification." Next up, Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi demonstrated assets from Yakuza: Of The End, to show that "everything can be transcribed [from PS3] onto NGP."
Yakuza creator's squad-based sci-fi shooter Binary Domain revealed
Toshihiro Nagoshi's latest game is a rumor no more. Sega has announced that the Yakuza creator is heading up development on the previously teased Binary Domain, a squad-based action game for Xbox 360 and PS3. Set in Tokyo circa 2080, the game will pit humans versus Terminators robots in what Nagoshi is billing as "a dramatic and energetic sci-fi shooter." "When you hear sci-fi you may think of cold, clinical environments," Toshihiro remarked in the game's announcement, explaining, "with Binary Domain I wanted to combine this with a deep human drama." Despite all of the robo-murder the game will likely depict, he said, "The keyword we have in mind for this project is 'Life'. I wanted to make something that will be accepted by both the Japanese and Western markets, and this fundamental theme is something everyone knows but which the full extent of can be difficult to grasp." Sega claims this theme will extend into gameplay, affecting the title's "highly advanced AI." No release date has been announced, so for now you can simply take a look -- with your human eyes -- at the first screens from Binary Domain in the gallery below and the announcement trailer after the break.%Gallery-108566%
Rumor: Yakuza team developing sci-fi shooter 'Binary Domain'
A rumor inside a rumor has Yakuza and Super Monkey Ball creator Toshihiro Nagoshi working on a game called Binary Domain, which will allegedly be developed by the Yakuza team alongside western developers. Andriasang reports game development will be done in Japan, with voice work produced overseas. The title will apparently be announced officially in Famitsu this week, but so far scans of the Japanese magazine haven't surfaced. Siliconera reports the details about the game come via a Japanese message board that wrote out the specifics. Binary Domain is reportedly a third-person shooter ... featuring robots. The game is reportedly intended to launch globally, but there's no mention of a release window. We should find out if the rumor holds up, later this week.
Developers celebrate Super Mario Bros.' 25th anniversary
In case the red consoles didn't sufficiently alert you, 2010 is the 25th anniversary of the release of Super Mario Bros. for Famicom and NES. To commemorate the occasion, Famitsu spoke to a group of prominent developers about the impact Shigeru Miyamoto's masterpiece had on them and the industry. "The reason I entered the industry," Capcom's Keiji Inafune said, "was because I encountered Mario and learned how interesting games can be. Thank you, Mr. Shigeru Miyamoto." Super Monkey Ball and Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi expressed a similar sentiment, saying "It's the game that made me enter the game industry." Bethesda's Todd Howard said that Super Mario Bros. was the beginning of "the genre where the hero always follows the correct path." Our favorite quote is from Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii. "Also, I can't say much," he said, "but there was also 'Kintamario.'" Yes, yes there was.
Yakuza: Of the End brings the zombie invasion to Japan
Japan's Self Defense Force is being overrun by hordes of the undead. Kamurocho (Yakuza's fictional district) is in shambles. Sure, most gangsters would run for their lives, but not returning Yakuza characters Kazuma, Goro, Ryuji and Shun. That's right -- Sega's next entry in the series is actually a shooter and features a zombie outbreak ravaging Japan, according to the latest issue of Famitsu (via Siliconera). The publisher hasn't confirmed whether the game will be released in North America; nor has Sega verified if Yakuza: Of the End is a spinoff or a main entry in the franchise (i.e., "Yakuza 5"). Regardless, producer Toshihiro Nagoshi did tell Famitsu that he doesn't believe this will be the last entry in the Yakuza series.
Yakuza PSP limited edition is for Toshihiro Nagoshi fans
Sega is planning a special edition of Black Leopard: Yakuza New Chapter, its PSP Yakuza spinoff. Actually, perhaps it's more accurate to say that Toshihiro Nagoshi is planning the special edition. The "Toshihiro Nagoshi Produce Premium Box" bears the producer's signature in gold on the front of the package, suggesting who the real star of the Yakuza games is. Inside the Nagoshi-approved packaging is a crocodile skin (patterned) PSP case, a cleaning cloth, and a UMD of the theme song, "Muppet" by Rize. It'll be out in Japan, along with the normal disc and PSN releases, on September 22.
Sega already at work on another PS3 Yakuza
At some point, even die-hard Yakuza fans are going to grow weary of the series, and Sega is doing its best to determine exactly when that will happen. The latest Famitsu brings word from Toshihiro Nagoshi that, as development on Black Leopard: New Yakuza Chapter for PSP continues, the team is simultaneously working on another Yakuza game for PS3. This will be the seventh game in the series. Even among those suffering from Yakuza fatigue, Nagoshi's announcement that this game would feature the eyepatch-clad Goro Majima as a playable character is likely to ignite some frothing demand. Majima, the "Madman of the Shimano Family" is notable mostly for being kind of crazy, and obsessed with fighting Kazuma Kiryu. Inhabiting his life will be pretty different from following the comparatively virtuous Kazuma. "While I can't give a release time frame yet," Nagoshi said, "we're working to deliver it at a time Yakuza series fans will want." Whether he means the fans clamoring for an uninterrupted supply of Yakuza, or regular sensible people who think there should be some time between sequels, is unknown.
Yakuza PSP spinoff 'Project K' named, dated for Japan
When Toshihiro Nagoshi revealed the PSP Yakuza spinoff "Project K," he suggested that it was so different from the main console series that it may not even bear the "Ryu ga Gotoku" name (the Japanese title of the series). Nagoshi, apparently remembering how nice it is to make money, has revealed that the PSP game will feature the series name after all. The spinoff has been named Kurohyou: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinshou ("Black Leopard: New Yakuza Chapter"). A Famitsu article about the game (summarized by 1UP) also announces a September 22 Japanese release date for Kurohyou, which stars a new, younger character who isn't a gangster.
'Project K' is a Yakuza spinoff for PSP
The mysterious Yakuza-related "Project K" isn't just another sequel after all. In an article in the latest Famitsu, summarized by Andriasang, director Toshihiro Nagoshi revealed it to be spinoff for PSP, taking place in the game's customary "Kamurocho" location but not starring series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. In fact, the hero of this spinoff isn't a gangster at all, but an 18-year-old "delinquent" named Tatsuya Ukyou. The new perspective is indicative of Nagoshi's interest in reaching younger audiences with this game, to deliver a message encouraging kids to be more aggressive (which, we're sure, is more about being assertive than being violent). The gameplay will also be presented differently, with a "more in-your-face feel" to the combat and gameplay elements that Nagoshi thinks are expected of handheld games. Does that mean it's going to be Yakuza Monster Hunter, with groups of four teenagers taking down giant loan sharks?
Yakuza 3 trailer looks back
The latest trailer for Yakuza 3 (embedded after the break) is all about Kazuma Kiryu's memories of his life before the events of the current game. In other words, you'll see clips from Yakuza 1 and 2 interspersed with footage of Kazuma kicking people. A one-minute trailer is hardly enough to bring you up to speed on the story if you haven't played either of the PS2 games, but it does help demonstrate the visual upgrade the franchise has received as it makes the jump to PS3. (Just imagine how good Yakuza 4 will look!) Speaking of memories, Sega is right to release a bunch of trailers for this game -- the publisher needs to do everything it possibly can to remind people that Yakuza 3 is coming out, in the hope that a few people might pick it up when they go to buy Final Fantasy XIII or God of War III this month.
Yakuza 3 trailer takes you on a trip
One of the best things about the Yakuza series is its detailed reconstruction of Tokyo. The exact details might be fictionalized, but Yakuza's Kabukicho still feels like taking a walk in the genuine article. Yakuza 3 is an even more convincing replica of Tokyo (and also Okinawa!) thanks to the increased detail capable in the PlayStation 3. Soak in the atmosphere in this new trailer, set to a stirring karaoke performance by protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Yakuza 3 will be available March 9, at which point you'll be able to explore virtual Tokyo for yourself -- except for the hostess clubs. %Gallery-86552%
Yakuza 3's Toshihiro Nagoshi discusses Japanese cinematic inspiration
Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi isn't just known for his bright orange tan. He's produced a number of titles for Sega, including Shenmue and, most recently, the Yakuza franchise. Although Nagoshi is already working on Yakuza 4 for Japan, the producer talked about some of his influences for the game's first English-language dev diary. Yakuza 3 is unabashedly Japanese, so much so that mainstream Western audiences may be unlikely to relate. Nagoshi explains in the video that as a fan of Japanese cinema, he intended on "using a Japanese style to express [human drama]" in the game. "It might feel new to the Western market, but to the Japanese market it's something we grew up on, so we're used to it." No wonder the Yakuza franchise has earned its cult status in the West. While its use of Japanese camp may be confusing to many, that's precisely what English-speaking fans love about the franchise. Thankfully, it won't be too much longer until everyone will be able to play Yakuza 3 ... and understand what's going on.
TGS 2009: Xbox 360 Creator Panel Discussion recap
Dubbed a "public brainstorming session" in a sorry-I-couldn't-make-it introductory video from Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business VP, Don Mattrick, the Xbox 360 Creator Discussion Panel saw three esteemed Japanese game developers share their dreams and designs for Project Natal.It was immediately noted that no ideas or concepts -- erupting from Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid), Keiji Inafune (Mega Man, Dead Rising) and Toshihiro Nagoshi (Monkey Ball, Yakuza) -- should be considered actual, in-development concepts. Which is just as well, because it didn't take long for the trio to joke about a motion-enabled female feel-'em-up (see above gesture for context).Keiji Inafune was the one to bring it up, noting that the evolution of controllers was "way behind the evolution of graphics." According to Inafune, "Body language is part of this important evolution. With Natal we can involve ourselves. I'm getting really excited and show it in my body or action. Instead of pressing the button, it can be truly immersive experience."%Gallery-73915%
TGS 2009: Every major publisher 'actively working on games for Project Natal'
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/tgs-2009-every-major-publisher-actively-working-on-games-for-p/'; Kicking off Tokyo Game Show 2009 with a kick digitally translated into a game, Microsoft has announced massive industry support for upcoming motion device Project Natal. Trumpeting a laundry list of gaming industry all-stars from Activision to Ubisoft, it appears that every major publisher is in some way "actively working on games for Project Natal" (full list after the break). Microsoft says publishers received development kits in early June and have been hard at work ever since. EA's Peter Moore thinks Natal "could fundamentally change the way people play sports games" while Capcom's Keiji Inafune says it "will expand the possibilities of gaming." In fact, Microsoft is so intent on proving that developers love it, the company is hosting a panel at TGS featuring the aforementioned Inafune, Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi and Konami's Hideo Kojima. Wait a minute, Kojima is working with Project Natal? But we can't do any of that crazy Raiden ninja stuff!
Sega launches Yakuza 3 in Japan with a bang
Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 (Yakuza 3) may lack an exclamation point in its title -- unlike predecessor Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan! -- but that doesn't mean the excitement over it is any less. In fact, Sega made sure that Yakuza 3's February 26 launch would go off with a bang (figuratively, not literally! No gangster shootings here) with signing sessions and free swag give-aways. IGN was in Japan to capture the festivities, snapping pictures of the crowd and checking out the signing sessions with Producer Toshihiro Nagoshi. Surprisingly, Toshihiro went around to three different retail stores in the Tokyo area for launch day signing events. That's some love for the hardcore gamer right there. Some stores were raffling off prizes such as post cards, clear files and limited edition Yakuza t-shirts. Check out IGN for more pics.
Sega cross-promotes Yakuza 3 with ... a tanning salon chain
Sega is promoting the upcoming Yakuza 3 (Ryu ga Gotoku 3 in Japan) with tie-ins to various businesses, in which real-life businesses offer Yakuza-themed goods, and digital versions of those same operations appear in the game. The latest company to promote the RPG/brawler is Tanning Studio Sole, a chain of tanning salons. From February 13 to March 15, Sole stores will offer Yakuza 3-themed prepaid cards, and will display Yakuza 3 posters in-store. In turn, Sole billboards will add authenticity to the game's environment (while providing money to Sega). We're guessing that this promotion came about when producer Toshihiro Nagoshi discovered that he had pumped so much money into Sole that he now owns it. Okay, we know the Nagoshi tan joke is obvious, but seriously, the man is flame-broiled. You can't ignore a "coincidence" like that. [Via IGN; screen via Inside-Games]
