Sure, itâs on PC now, but the Yakuza series is synonymous with three generations of PlayStation consoles. And for good reason: Nintendo and Microsoft had their chance, but simply werenât interested in the Japanese gangster saga.
Segaâs Yakuza games are terrific. You really need to play them. Yet, theyâre not always localized, and if they are, they arrive late. According to series mastermind Toshihiro Nagoshi, Sega is still trying to figure out how to appeal to Western gamers.
Is there a new Yakuza game incoming? Its official site reads â2015.09.15,â which is the date of Sonyâs upcoming press conference. Series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi tells Famitsu that work has begun on a new project related to Yakuza.
The death of the Dreamcast was a sad event and the end of an era. But every cloud has a silver lining. The console's demise led to the eventual birth of a game series that would probably never have been released on it: the Yakuza games.
As previously reported, the new Yakuza game, Yakuza 0, has been announced. As you can probably guess from the number, it's a prequel.
The next Yakuza game won't be a spin-off like Yakuza Ishin! or Yakuza: Dead Souls, but the creators won't commit to it being a numbered game. So, what the hell is it? Apparently, it's for men.
Yakuza series producer Toshihiro Nagoshi has previously stated that he hates Grand Theft Auto. You wouldn't think so when he was asked which one of last year's games impressed him the most.
As 2013 draws to an end, we look forward to 2014. And with a new year, comes new resolutions â even for game developers.
Hold on. Don't start sending hate mail to Sega just yet. Let's hear the man out.
I got a chance to handle the PS4 at this year's Tokyo Game Show. The graphics definitely look prettier than I've seen on the PS3, but otherwise, it handles pretty much like it should. But I'm looking at it from the player's side. That's the output. What about the input? That's where you have to ask the developers.
The latest chapter of the Yakuza series, Yakuza: Ishin!, is a trip back in time. Much like in Yakuza: Kenzan!, the game will feature series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as a famous historical character. However, this time, Kiryu will be two historical figures instead of one.
As seen from the photograph, the well-tanned Yakuza series developer, Toshihiro Nagoshi was walking among the crowds at E3 this year. Hopefully basking in the saturated spectacle of upcoming consoles and games.
Can you spot the prolific Japanes egame designer in this photo? Our own Tina Amini captured the soul of Yakuza developer Toshihiro Nagoshi in her nine-photo tour of Microsoft's E3 2013 booth.
Continuing with their series on the PS4, this week, Japanese gaming magazine Weekly Famitsu published the second half of their two-part developer interview, with several more Japanese developers sharing their thoughts on Sony's new console.
Yakuza 5 is scheduled for release in Japan next week and the developers at Sega are in full PR mode. Executive producer Toshihiro Nagoshi and producer Masayoshi Yokoyama spoke to Weekly Famitsu in a pre-release interview to talk about the latest in the Yakuza franchise.
In this week's Weekly Famitsu, 12 game creators were asked what their 3 greatest influences were, from movies to books to other video games. Here's what some their answers were:
Toshihiro Nagoshi has undergone many changes while at Sega. His latest? He's now slated to become Sega's Chief Creative Officer. Good news, because he said he'd never leave the company. [Famitsu]
You might not know Toshihiro Nagoshi. But once you see his face, you'll never forget it.
SEGA's new trailer for the zombie-ridden Yakuza: Dead Souls skips the foreplay of human connection and solidarity. The shambling hordes come first, picking their way through Tokyo's red light district with a hunger for human flesh⌠and bone marrow, and organs, and brains.
Today's Shigeru Miyamoto news shows that not even the biggest names in development are around forever. One man, though, plans on sticking around forever. One very brown man.
