The game is a brawler starring tough guy Kiryu Kazuma and the detailed surroundings of a fictional version of Tokyo as ell as other Japanese locales.

Since the 2005 release of the first Yakuza, which came to America on the PlayStation 2 with English dubbed voices, the series has been a celebration of the seedy and the profane. It's a narrative-driven game that allows for some wandering through local sights, a mix of indulgences in the hard-boiled world of crime and the eclectic diversions of Tokyo. This is a series that let's you swing a bat in a batting cage or into a guy's face. For another diversion, you can visit an arcade or pay girls to hang out with you in true-to-life (so they say) Hostess Bars.

The new game is the second on the PlayStation 3 and one that seemed doubtful for release in the U.S. While these Sega-developed, Sega-published Yakuza games are blockbusters in Japan, the first two games sold poorly in the U.S. This new one, technically the fourth, was released in February in Japan, with no indication of a planned Western release. But Sega is bringing the game to North America and Europe after all, leaving the Japanese voice-acting intact.

The version of the game that I saw near our New York offices had English subtitles and English written on the health bar and other on screen displays. That was the only noticeable change in the part of the game I was shown, which featured Kazuma beating up dudes and hanging out in the fictional Kamurocho district, modeled off of Tokyo's Kabukicho neighborhood. The game's in-world visuals seemed as Japanese as ever (which means, actually, that some signs in faux-Tokyo are in Japanese and others in... English). Even the screen-filling alerts that appear at the start of the game's version of random battles — guys walking up to Kazuma and starting a fight — are still in the kanji alphabet.

The Sega community manager showing me the game said he was unaware of any in-game content being changed for a Western audience. It sounds like the game will retain its heritage and style with little if any of its character or characters lost in translation.

The plot of Yakuza 3 draws Kazuma out of his post-crime life, forced him to leave the orphanage he has started in Tokyo to return to the seedier side of things. I saw Kazuma beat up a few guys, using the aforementioned bat in the aforementioned Kamurocho district against the aforementioned gangs. The player can make Kazuma run away from the people who approach him for a brawl, but gamers will likely be tempted to fight, not flee, letting the camera zoom in for some bone-crunching brawling. The better Kazuma fights, the more a meter fills and a halo of fire engulfs his body, allowing him to do super-attacks that drop an enemy's health by half.

I watched some brawling. Then I watched Kazuma, a man of simple pleasures, go to an arcade to try to win a stuffed animal in a UFO-catcher crane game. The Sega rep also had Kazuma considering one of eight in-game flavors of gelato.

Gamers don't often get a chance to play the equivalent of a foreign film, a work that is intentionally left in its native tongue and tone. In March, on the PS3, with Yakuza 3, they can, trying a game that offers a distinct mix of brutality, novelty and almost-real-world grit.

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.

Sega has been teasing us. Ryū ga Gotoku 3, the third game in Sega's Yakuza series, has sold half a million copies in Japan since its release in February of last year. Despite strong sales and the clamoring of the franchises' fanbase, the developer has remind quiet about a Western release - until now. In a post on the European PlayStation Blog, Sega announces the impending U.S., European, and Australian release, with words from SOE's European Marketing Director, Gary Knight.

"Yakuza 3 was one of the most requested titles for localisation by our European SEGA community, so we are delighted to be able to fulfil their wishes with this announcement. As well as delving even further into the rich narrative of the Yakuza universe, the development team have pushed the PlayStation 3 hardware to the limits to produce a beautiful and startlingly realistic depiction of the Japanese underworld."

The localization of the game will feature full Japanese voice acting with English subtitles, as it should be. Best of all, the PlayStation 3 exclusive is due out in March. That's only three months or so of waiting. Perhaps Sega was wise to tease us until now.

Our long struggle is over. Time for a nap.

East Meets West – Yakuza 3 Coming In 2010 [PlayStation Blog Europe]

It says it'll be out in March 2010, will cost €63 (USD$94) and...says nothing else.

So far, so good! Remember, though, this is still a retail listing, Amazon Germany or not, and retail listings can often be things of pure fantasy. EB Games in Australia, for example once had Halo on PS2 available for pre-order. For years.

Another couple of things counting against it: Sega are listed as publishers, when we'd heard someone else would be distributing the game in Europe, and the game apparently earned an 18 rating from the USK, even though the USK's records say nothing of the sort.

Ah well. Like we said: dare to dream!

Of the PS3's motion controller, the alleged Sega document says (and remember, this is neither confirmed, nor from Sony):

Motion Controller
• Spring 2010 launch (March in JP)
• No bundle/pricing details yet, should come Sept 1
• Plan on selling 4-5MM units WW
• SCEA agreed to provide a list of Sega IP that would work well with the motion controller, Virtua Tennis was an example
• Motion Controller support allows easy way to differentiate PS3 SKU
• Other differentiation opportunities include PSP/PS3 interoperability – think of features that would make users want to buy both PS3 and PSP SKUs.

Spring 2010, we knew, but March 2010 in Japan is the first time a date has been attached to the peripheral. It's also the first time we've seen an actual game linked with the device (though again, it's important to remember that this document is neither confirmed, nor an official plan of attack from Sony).

Interestingly, the document also contains mention of a PlayStation Network "import store". Once again, remember, this is just Sega and Sony talking business, so this may not happen.

But enough disclaimers! The document says Sega "could put Japanese games directly on PSN for download in a special Japanese Import section (pricing $9.99 to $39.99 for full game)". Specific mention is made of the Yakuza series, and how Sega "might need to localize menus at least with subtitles".

Discussions and rumours or not, that would be an exciting prospect for a lot of people round these parts.

At time of writing, we're still yet to hear from Sega or Sony on the matter.

1Up points out that Sega announced Yakuza 2 for the American market at 2007's Tokyo Game Show, implying that more news about Yakuza 3 could be coming at this year's show.

And if not, then we'll at least hear news about Yakuza 4 at TGS.

Yakuza 3 is Coming to the West [1Up]

Popping into the comments section of a post on the PlayStation Blog, Sega of America assistant community manager Aaron Webber has said "Yakuza 3 is not cancelled – and the possibility for localizing it does, in fact, still exist."

"The original news story that went around about Yakuza 3 being declined for the US was false, and localizing the game still remains a big point of discussion for many people here at SEGA, and especially those of us on SEGA's community team."

"I know it's far from an announcement, but I just felt you should know that the chance does still exist."

Nice. For what it's worth, here's what we've heard: that Sega are looking for somebody else to localise the game, take the risk, similar to how Capcom handles the release of GTA in Japan.

Valkyria Chronicles II – Coming to PSP Next Summer [PlayStation, via 1UP]

Their excuse? A combination of things that basically boils down to the fact that this game won't sell many copies, and the first two games in the series in the West didn't sell many copies, which means translating the third one isn't worth the time/effort.

And it's an excuse that just doesn't cut it. So the first game lost money? That's because you spent AAA money on a niche import title. So the second game bombed? That's what happens when you release a PS2 game in 2008. And this one won't sell many copies? Doesn't matter. The game's been made already; we're talking the cost of putting some subtitles in and a pinch of marketing, which (relatively speaking) for a major publisher like Sega must be little more than pocket change.

This doesn't need to be localised into 7 European languages. English will do. Even if it's only released in the US, people from Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Singapore can import it, not to mention those elsewhere with the English skills to get by.

Come on, Sega. If you could be bothered releasing the game in Korea, you can do the same for the West. It's only fair.

The Examiner has since run an update, explaining those remarks were not "official SEGA statements." The Examiner adds, "SEGA still hasn't made any mention of an upcoming release or revealed plans to release it stateside."

PS3 exclusive Yakuza 3 (AKA Ryu Ga Gotoku 3) was released in Japan last February, selling over 200,000 copies in its first day.

Yakuza 3 US release date announced: Never [The Examiner Thanks, Tony!]

Sega America's Ray Almeda has told The Examiner that the game won't be released in the US. Why? Because nobody bought Yakuza 2, that's why. Sega looked at the sales of the second game - which stand at around 40,000 - and decided it wasn't worth the expense of bringing the third one over.

This does not please us, Sega. This does not please us one little bit.

Yakuza 3 US release date announced: Never [The Examiner]

On his official blog, Kameda posted that he's got Ryu Ga Gotoku 3, writing, "The game I've been waiting for. My pops bought it for me! Weeell, gonna play! Catch later!!"

Kameda is the second eldest of the three Kameda brothers, which is Japan's most famous boxing family. In 2007, the Osaka-born Daiki said he would commit seppuku if he lost to WBC flyweight champ Daisuke Naito.

During the bout, Kameda (pictured, then with dyed blonde hair) began elbowing and body slamming Naito out of frustration. Kameda lost and was banned from professional boxing for one year because of his fight conduct. He did not commit seppuku after the fight. His father, who was his trainer, had his license revoked and stepped down as his trainer.

今日からスタート [Kameda Bros.] [Pic]

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]

Perhaps to celebrate the game receiving a mighty 38/40 (9/10/9/10) in Japanese mag Famitsu, but probably just to drum up a little more interest in the title, Sega have announced that a demo will go live on the Japanese PlayStation Store tomorrow, February 19.

The PS3 being region-free and all, those of you savvy enough to create a Japanese PSN account can get your download on. Those not savvy enough? Read this handy guide, it'll get you savvy.

龍がPS Storeに舞い降りる！ 『龍が如く3 体験版』が明日配信に [Dengeki]

On March 2, Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 cup ramen will go on sale in Japan from food maker Ace Cook. It's not just ramen, but Kyushu tonkotsu ("pork bone") ramen. The ramen references fictional in-game ramen restaurant called "Kyushu First Star."

Yours to eat for ¥231 (US$2.56).

架空の名店「九州一番星」とコラボ『龍が如く3』カップ麺発売 [Gpara]

The previous Yakuza title Ryu Ga Gotoku: KENZAN! still hasn't gotten a localized Western release. And when asked about upcoming PS3 exclusive Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 (aka Yakuza 3), SEGA told site PS3Center.net: "We currently don't know what the future of the Yakuza franchise is for North America."

SEGA America did mention optimistically that it hoped the Yakuza titles would get North America releases. Unlike the tragically dubbed Yakuza, Japanese voice options for KENZAN! and Yakuza 3 pretty please!

American release of next Yakuza titles is questionable [PS3Center via Sega Nerds]

Players enter into this business — known as the "water trade" in Japanese — and try to create the numero uno cabaret club lady. Here's how it works:

After "scouting" a girl, dress her according to customer tastes. You can also select her hair, make-up and even accessories. Christen your burgeoning hostess with a new name. In the back room, players can train their hostesses in things like the art of conversation, but must be careful as the hostess's stress meter can fill up.

All of this gets the hostess ready for working in a cabaret club, pouring drinks and talking to customers. (There's even sweaty brow mopping!) Go in unprepared and end up having to apologize to the clientele. A well-reared hostess increases her rank in the cabaret club, number of customers and financial capital.

『龍が如く3』キャバ嬢を育てよう [Famitsu]

Ryu Ga Gotuku fans will remember this was actually announced last year, but without any pictures. Now, we've got pictures.

For the forgetful, it's a white, limited edition 80GB machine that's to be released on February 26, for ¥45980 (USD$490). Included within are a single DualShock and (duh) a copy of Yakuza 3.