Rumour: Kuju to make the new Jet set Radio game?
Posted by Graham. Filed under G, News, Nintendo Wii. Tagged with Dreamcast, Headstrong Games, Jet Set Radio, Kuju, Rumour.
It has come to our attention that in 2006 Kuju tried to pitch an idea for a new Jet Set Radio title. Unfortunately it seems that the idea was rejected at the time. But perhaps Sega has had a change of hearts, what with rumours that a new Jet Set Radio could be on it’s way, possibly for the Wii.
The ‘evidence’ (let’s call it that) came to light, when we were tipped off about some artwork, drawn by Cory “The Rey” Lewis, which was used in the original pitch back in 2006. The artwork shows off a few of the main characters, plus some rival gangs - including a brand new gang, designed by Cory.
Artwork and more info after the break.
 
 
There could be a strong chance that Cory’s concept pieces are never used for a new Jet Set Radio game (if one even exists), but the interesting thing is that Cory was doing the designs for Kuju/Sega.
And with the announcement that the Wii development specialists, Headstrong Games (formerly Kuju London), will be partnering with Sega on a new title, one can’t help but wonder…
[Source: Ninjarage]
[Images from Ninjarage]
[Special Thanks Neal]
Comments on this article
There have been 33 responses to this article.
I don’t like Sega games made by non Sega programmers… Jet Set Radio is Smilebit and Smilebit SHOULD make any next Jet Set Radio…
landman
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 5:14 am.
Exactely, Smilebit is the only one that can make a good jet set radio
natsume
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 5:45 am.
Those drawings are horrible. Just have Smilebit, or what’s left of it, do the game.
Orta
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 5:47 am.
I can smell it, I believe in this one, Jet Set Radio
is coming back…however not sure about the console…probably on more than one system…
Wii and DS or PS3 and 360, should wait.
Regards, Alimn
alimn
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 6:43 am.
it will be called Jet GRIND Radio.
And here’s the reason for these rumors:
http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=77530801
crackdude
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 6:54 am.
“Video game software; computer game software; computer game programs; downloadable game programs; game programs for use with mobile phones; game programs for use with hand-held game machines; computer game cartridges, discs and cassettes; video game cartridges, discs and cassettes”
hmmm… downloadable game programs, XBLA and PSN?
hand-held machines and mobilephones? Smells like iPhone dreamcast-quality gmae!
crackdude
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 6:56 am.
Add me to the list of people who say Smilebit should handle a new JSR.
SirXmas
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 7:17 am.
I’ve said it a good five times this month, on this blog alone… but here it is again.
Sega will die if it keeps outsourcing. Smilebit needs to be able to handle a game like this.
Christopher Price
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 8:10 am.
Orta,
For starters, those images aren’t meant to reflect in-game art. They were done as a product pitch.
Second of all, they are far from horrible. Corey Lewis is a professional in the industry, having done work for a number of big name companies, including Capcom, Sega, Konami, Hasbro (specifically Transformers toys), UDON, and sometime in the future Marvel Comics. His creator-owned comics PENG! and Sharknife are excellent and very popular.
His style is perfectly suited to the world of Jet Grind Radio - bright and colorful, dynamic with a lot of movement, and greatly inspired by graffiti, video games and japanese manga.
Now that I’ve said my piece, I’d like to put my name on the “smilebit” list. They created the series, and they are the only ones I’d trust to continue it on. To me it would be like Shenmue 3 not being written and directed by Yu Suzuki.
Neal
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 8:36 am.
if it comes out, wish it was on all consoles, wouldnt want it to do so-so like nights
farmer pancho
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 9:23 am.
Smilebit doesn’t exist anymore. They moved to Amusement Vision to work on he Yakuza titles, and to a sports studio to work on the “Let’s Make a Pro/J-League Baseball/Football” games.
Jon
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 10:37 am.
That’s too bad that Smilebit is no longer around, it could very well be the reason why we haven’t had a new Jet Set Radio until now.
Personally, I just want this game to happen, so as long as the developers get it right, I’m behind their back on everything they can do to bring back this series.
youcantcatchtheblue
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 11:36 am.
Whats most interesting about all this, is that this post was made back in March, way before the partnership was announced.
This is beggining to sound true.
nuckles87
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 11:43 am.
I like how Sega and other companies always (almost) outsource their artist. Stop whining. We haven’t seen anything. This is why Sega games always do bad, you guys whine.
George
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 11:55 am.
I agree, George.
crackdude
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 1:06 pm.
Since house of the dead 2 & 3 was a dreamcast and xobx game port. Well, we should get a Jet Set Radio Origonal and Future port for the Wii to go with any 3rd installment that might be on its way.
I’d definitly buy that.
Though the online feature for downloading images online to spray paint them on things would probly have to be cut unless they made their own browser.
I kinda liked that feature, though I always ran out of space.
shadow1w2
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 1:28 pm.
I think Gearbox’s results on making the Samba De Amigo remake shows that studios outside of Sega themselves can handle Sega franchises pretty well, and Kuju proved themselves with Crush and Geometry Wars Galaxies.
The Gagaman
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pm.
Samba de Amigo is a port, they can’t screw a port of a musical game.
And United Game Artists doesn’t exist technically, but this didn’t stop them to make games in Sonic Team, the same could happen with Smilebit, just like Overworks has made Valkyria (even if their name is not in it).
landman
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 6:01 pm.
WE HAVEN’T SEEN ANYTHING YET, JESUS. If they screw it up, we’ll sit and whine and do nothing about it.
George
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 7:56 pm.
It could be a port - like the recent port of Soul Calibur to Xbox Live.
Isn’t JSRF supposed to be downloadable?
One reason I’d like to see jet set radio on the Wii is that I think the wiimote would be great for designing custom graffiti. I wouldn’t want to use it for spraying during actual gameplay, but using it to create designs in the graffiti editor could simulate the actual maneuvering of a spray can pretty well.
Neal
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 10:43 pm.
Gagaman, I don’t question the ability for third-parties to handle Sega’s IP.
What I do question is the business sense in taking such a tactic. It puts Sega at a greater risk of a takeover, with little benefit. If Sega has a strong internal set of development teams, handling their own IP, their net asset value naturally rises.
When Sega starts farming out all of its first-party titles, the net asset value falls, as Sega has to share a piece of the pie with third-parties.
Christopher Price
Posted August 2nd, 2008 at 12:23 am.
What I’d like to know is what are Sega’s internal teams working on while all this out sourcing is being done. Or is it possible that their output has just decreased?
Omegalon
Posted August 2nd, 2008 at 1:25 am.
Your second guess is right. Sega, under Sammy’s leadership, has dramatically cut back the capacity of Sega’s internal R&D. It’s a shame really, they’re cutting costs in all the wrong places.
Christopher Price
Posted August 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 am.
Chris: ah, gotcha. I can see what you mean there, it is a shame their in-house development has dropped so much, but then again Nintendo outsources a hell of a lot too. Of course, Nintendo can get away with anything with their money. Sega on the other hand have struggled for yonks. I don’t think they’ve been very smart with money..
Oh, and Samba De Amigo isn’t a simple port with some extras, it’s a ground up remake. Compare some screenshots from the Wii and Dreamcast versions.
The Gagaman
Posted August 2nd, 2008 at 5:27 am.
Yes but I don’t really care for the graphics in samba de amigo, you do? They only had to adapt the controls to the wii controllers, and add new musics, It’s not like they can change the spirit of the game, while with JSR could perfectly happen (a story of Tokyo gangs made by british people??…)
landman
Posted August 2nd, 2008 at 5:58 am.
When are we gonna find out if this new jet set radio game is a rumor or not? Shouldn’t have someone asked sega by now? >_< I wish this was true! JSR fans would like a new JSR no matter whos developing it, their just bluffing when they say otherwise. WE’VE BEEN CRAVING A NEW JSR FOR YEARS! Please notify us if any new coverage on this has been found ^^ theres hundreds of JSR fans waiting for the answer on this!
mosama
Posted August 8th, 2008 at 11:40 am.
If the game id on the wii it will suck. I bet wii could not even run the old jet set radio future.
what would be tight is if they made it for xbox360 and or playstation3 and the game was more complex with like 50 moves and a ton of different good songs with the same style as the ones from jet set radio future. If there were online play and you could create your own character that would make the game a huge hit
moose guy
Posted August 11th, 2008 at 1:55 pm.
If the game id on the wii it will suck. I bet wii could not even run the old jet set radio future.
what would be tight is if they made it for xbox360 and or playstation3 and the game was more complex with like 50 moves and a ton of different good songs with the same style as the ones from jet set radio future. If there were online play and you could create your own character that would make the game a huge hit.
moose guy
Posted August 11th, 2008 at 1:56 pm.
sorry about two posts and when i said id i ment is
moose guy
Posted August 11th, 2008 at 2:00 pm.
It should be done, but not for the Wii, considering that most the people that had the game, owned an xbox… So it should be remade for the xbox360. I mean cmon, just because the game contains spray paint and cel shaded graphics doesnt mean it automatically suites the wii..
It would be cool to own this game for the Xbox360 with Xbox Live, now that would kick the shit out of everything.
JSRJGR4lyfe
Posted August 27th, 2008 at 2:54 pm.
Look bro’s i want a new jsr game as much as any of u., Y dont we GET in contact with sega and see whats up.. hopefully it’s not a wii game either. x360 ps3 plzzz..
Jrst0kEd
Posted September 1st, 2008 at 1:03 pm.
I played Jet set radio and it was fun as HELL! IM Still playing it today…ONe of my favorite games no doubt..It would be nice to have it on a 360 to play against others around the world…I really hope they make another one…PLEASSSSSSSEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
STIFFKILLA0
Posted October 1st, 2008 at 9:30 pm.
Wow… that’s awesome. I’ve been waiting a long time for a new JGR/JSRF to be announced and this just makes me slightly happier to know its not dead… especially since last year we had a new Nights game.
Shawn
Posted December 16th, 2008 at 7:42 pm.