The new trailer for the game released in Japan earlier this year both pans across and zooms in on sweet Yakuza tattoos, features explosions, promises helicopter mounted mini-guns, sees dudes getting stabbed in the hand and literally shows one man grabbing a bull by the horns. With the exception of turtle racing, it's everything you could want from a Yakuza game.

In a recent forum, the game designer referred to GTA as a game in which you can "kill people or do whatever". It's not that Nagoshi used this forum to trash talk GTA — far from it. Instead, he touched on the larger issues at hand, such as what does it mean to make a game that can let players do whatever they want. Is this dangerous?

"This game," the SEGA R&D head said about GTA, "I thought one day someone is going to have to make something like this. Personally, because I think you must think about the influence games have on people, I would never think about wanting to make a game like this. However, because of this moral issues in this game, I think we should have a healthy debate.

In gaming, if you make a decision, there is a reaction, and it's the most stimulating form of media, I think. And thus, it can asked if it's the most dangerous media... Depending on what you make, perhaps."

Besides developing Yakuza, Nagoshi works on Super Monkey Ball games and his tan.

セガ名越氏が語る『龍が如く』とゲーム倫理の問題 [Famitsu via jin] [Pic]

SEGA is offering a "customer for a day ticket" with Toshihiro Nagoshi, designer of the Yakuza franchise and Super Monkey Ball. We imagine that Nagoshi will visit the winner's hostess bar, spend loads of money on booze and smoke an endless stream of cigarettes. Nice pointer finger ring!

If Nagoshi were our customer for a day, we'd make him bring the last Yakuza game to the West. Oh, we'd probably ask him for eyebrown, sorry, eyebrow trimming advice, too.

At a Tokyo Game Show panel, the respected game designer talked about working on new titles and new genres. When pressed about this, Nagoshi replied, "I'm working on a new title other than Yakuza."

According to Japanese site Game Watch Impress, Nagoshi is working on several new projects. Also at TGS, Nagoshi expressed interested in working on a title for Microsoft's Natal. So that means we'll be able to see more of Nagoshi and his various jumpsuits in the future. Oh, and the games, the games!

「東京ゲームショウ2009」レポート− [GAME Watch]

There were 1,500 applicants, and semi-finalists appeared in an online poll, including curvy pin-up model Chiri Arikawa and porn star Rio, star of blue movies like the incest themed Sister's Secret and the self-descriptive Non-stop Fucking!.

Out of that, sixteen ladies appeared in a "final" audition, judged by Ryu Ga Gotoku creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, members of the Ryu Ga Gotoku team, rocker George Takahashi who lent his voice to the game and hostess-slash-magazine-modelSayaka Araki.

This final audition seems to be an excuse to march all the girls out in evening wear. As selected by the judges and SEGA, the girls appearing in Ryu Ga Gotoku 4 are Kyoto's Erena Aihara, ballerina Noa Mizutani, Osaka bar hostess Himeka Kawasaki, Shizuoka college student Chihiro Ikki, 28-year-old Suzuka Saitou, magazine model Maya Mori, and porn star Rio.

Chiba native Eri Arimura was awarded a special prize won't be appearing in game, it seems, but rather, will be doing Ryu Ga Gotoku 4 promotional work as the game's "cheerleader".

セガ、PS3「龍が如く4 伝説を継ぐもの」キャバクラ嬢役最終オーディションで7名+1名が選出 [GAME Watch]

There have been over 30,000 votes cast.

The front runner has been adult video actress Rio. The 22 year-old thespian is known for her work in blue movies like Rio is a Squirting Young Wife and Let's Have Sex at School.

Tomorrow in Aoyama, there will be a final audition. Judging the audition will be Ryu Ga Gotoku Toshihiro Nagoshi, members of the Ryu Ga Gotoku team, rocker George Takahashi who lent his voice to the game and hostess-slash-magazine-model Sayaka Araki.

Oh the suspense!

A porn star [NSFW] is even auditioning to be in the game.

Today, SEGA has provided more information about the title, dubbed Ryu Ga Gotoku 4: Heir to the Legend. The game will be like previous titles in the series, bringing in top name actors to voice the actors and famous musicians to create tunes for the game.

Inherit the Legend will use the latest motion capture technology so that not only the actor's voice will appear in the game, but 3D models of them as them in character. Actors Hiroki Narimiya and Kenta Kiritani have signed on to appear in the game.

SEGA lists PS3 as the game's platform.

龍が如く 特報！ [セガ　龍が如く.com]

Nagoshi purchased Dragon Quest IX. What does he think? He says it's easy to get into and the interface is good. "It's a much better match for handhelds than home consoles," he blogs.

In short, he adds, it's a "feel good" title, and a game he can learn from. How could you not believe a man that glows golden brown?

ドラクエ9 [名越稔洋オフィシャルブログ「とりあえず乾杯デショ。」]

Finalist Rio is one of the 16 to be in the running for a slot in the game. According to her personal blog, which is linked on the SEGA site, Rio works in the adult industry, starring in titles like Rio is a Squirting Young Wife and Let's Have Sex at School.

The 22 year-old was known as Tina Yuzuki prior to 2007.

While the blog SEGA links is certainly NSFW, the safe-for-work video features Rio talking to the camera in hopes that she is selected. "I can become friendly with anyone," says Rio.

Well, yeah.

Good luck to her and the other finalists!

「龍が如く」次回作 キャバクラ嬢役オーディションWeb一般投票開始！ [SEGA via はちま起稿]

Between May 8 and June 19, there were over 1,500 applicants. Those screened from that pool auditioned at SEGA's headquarters. Groups of 2~3 applicants were interviewed by the game's creators, including Ryu Ga Gotoku designer Toshihiro Nagoshi, in a 30 minute audition.

Besides getting a screen test, the applicants were quizzed by Nagoshi. The girls also had to do line readings of bar girl game dialogue like: "Wooow!", "So mean...", "You're already going home?" and "Hey sweetie, let's sing a duet".

Questions included their current profession, whether or not they have worked as a hostess and for how long, and if they liked karaoke. The ladies were also asked if they played video games and if they were familiar with the Ryu Ga Gotoku franchise. Many of the female applicants were familiar with Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 because fashion models from Koakuma Ageha appeared in the game as hostesses.

"The motivation for these auditions," says Nagoshi, "was to create an opportunity to participate in this title."

セガ、PS3「龍が如く」次回作キャバ嬢役オーディションを公開 名越総合監督「予想以上の内容で採用者を増やしたいと思っている」 [Game Watch]

Starting today, SEGA is accepting nonfiction and fiction hostess club stories from pro and amateur writers via a special website Ryu-Story.com. Stories must be under a thousand Japanese characters.

The best three will be selected with the best, or even all three, appearing in the game with the writer's name appearing in the game's credits. The last day to submit is July 20.

Odd that SEGA has to ask others for hostess bar stories — you'd think Yakuza designer Toshihiro Nagoshi would already have plenty.

In an interview in the upcoming Famitsu, the very tanned Toshihiro Nagoshi reveals the development on another Yakuza title. Nagoshi says that it doesn't mean this is Ryu Ga Gotoku 4, but he wants the game to have the essence of Ryu Ga Gotoku. "For example," the designer says, "If main character Kiryu Kazuma went to outer space or fought zombies, I think fans would accept that and say, 'I get it.'"

He wants to have players wonder what is going to happen in the next Ryu Ga Gotoku. "It's not KENZAN 2," Nagoshi assures. "I want to create a new style of game set in contemporary surroundings." Ryu Ga Gotoku KENZAN! was set in Edo-era Kyoto, but the other titles have been set in modern day Japan. All of the ideas that have been saved up until this point will apparently find their way into this new, more immersive title.

Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 and the previous Yakuza titles had elaborate promotional campaigns. Nagoshi is thinking about how to promote the new title, and one concept he has is called "Everyone Can Participate" to fill out the game's cast. Starting on May 8, SEGA will begin accepting applications for 18 years-old-and-up female night club hostess-type characters. SEGA is also planning to accept applications from males; however, age is not important.

"This title will be a PLAYSTATION 3 game," says Nagoshi. All Yakuza titles have been PlayStation exclusives.

The game's success also meant a huge PS3 spike. During the Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 debut week, sales of the PLAYSTATION 3 jumped 225 percent to 35,000 units. (Note: This sales data is early.)

This means that Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 falls second to the numbers MGS4 posted in its first week.

In its second week, MGS4 sales dropped 86 percent. If Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 dropped by the same percent, that would mean the game could break the 400,000 copies sold barrier in its second week.

How does Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 stack up against the first week sales of the prequels?

Ryu Ga Gotoku: 130,000 copies
Ryu Ga Gotoku 2: 282,000 copies
Ryu Ga Gotoku KENZAN!: 178,000 copies
Ryu Ga Gotoku 3: 372,000 copies

Remember, Ryu Ga Gotoku KENZAN! is not Yakuza 3. Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 is Yakuza 3.

PS3「龍が如く3」初週で約35万本を販売、他 [忍之閻魔帳]

First and foremost, it sold 300,000 copies.
Thank you very much.

Nagoshi's post is quite terse, and he doesn't explicitly say Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 sold 300,000 copies, and hints at more to come next week.

If this figure is correct, it would mean that Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 has already debuted in the top ten PS3 game life-to-date sales. As impressive as 300,000 copies sold, it falls short of PS3 first week Japanese big boss Metal Gear Solid 4. The stealth action game shifted 465,000 units.

ありがとうございます。 [とりあえず乾杯デショ via シロイブログ]

The game's ridiculously tanned Toshihiro Nagoshi skips stones with the game's hero Kazuma Kiryu and talks about the PS3's "power of expression." Kazuma Kiryu says how importance belief is.

The first part of the ad offers a sample of song "Loser," and original composition by singer songwriter Eikichi Yazawa.

That's Nagoshi sitting in a tanning bed in Japan's Tanning Studio SOLE — which appears in-game. He's not only promoting his game, but tanning and promoting.

The brown game designer was introduced to SOLE by a friend-in-the-know. (Probably a golden brown friend.) So what's the appeal for Nagoshi? "I feel refreshed when my sweaty skin is tanned."

Apparently the idea of including SOLE in a game came about during a conversation with, wait for it, a SOLE staffer. Nagoshi confirms that going to the in-game salon does affect Ryu Ga Gotoku hero Kazuma Kiryu. No word whether overuse causes skin cancer later in the inevitable Ryu Ga Gotoku sequels.

For those in the dark about Nagoshi's browning, read this.

『龍が如く3』コラボ：日焼けサロンSOLE、カラオケ館に名越氏が来店！ [Gpara]

A TANNING SALON.

That's right, Japan's Tanning Studio Sole appears in game and is also selling special Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 gift cards (priced at ¥10,000 and ¥20,000). Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 banners will be placed in front of Tanning Studio Soles across Japan.

Does Tanning Studio Sole work? If Nagoshi's leathery hide is anything to go on, yes, yes it does.

『龍が如く3』で新たなコラボ！ 今度は日焼けサロン [Famitsu]

Nagoshi and his leather skin are doing a nationwide autographing event to promote Ryu Ga Gotoku 3. If you live in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka or Ibaraki Prefecture, click the link below for the dates and locations. If you don't, don't!

名越稔洋総合監督が全国に！ 『龍が如く3』サイン&握手会が実施 [Famitsu]

A third, proper Yakuza game? For the PS3? Exciting stuff. So let's go over a few of the game's finer details. While we already know the game will be an immediate sequel to the second, featuring the same characters and the same storyline, what we didn't know was that the game's going to be taking a pleasant break from the streets of faux-Tokyo. While the game will still be based around Kamurocho, it'll be adding a "second city": island getaway Okinawa (or, at least, a fictional take on Okinawa). Toshihiro "Brown Man" Nagoshi talks up the addition, saying the addition of the island's resort lifestyle and touristy atmosphere - coupled with its "darker side" - will stand in stark contrast to the gritty, urban atmosphere of Kamurocho, and as far as the story goes "fits the bill perfectly". No doubt the location testing will also fit Nagoshi's sun-bathing bill perfectly, so it's a win-win situation for all involved.