New Yakuza spin-off in development
Posted by George. Filed under George, Japan. Tagged with Famitsu, interview, Nagoshi, Yakuza Spin Off.
^^Scans^^
Nagoshi has confirmed with Famitsu that a new Yakuza spin-off title is in the works. He said that the title isn’t Kenzan! 2. He also said that this title will be more 3 dimensional compared to the other titles, I’m assuming this will mean more control over the camera, like inside buildings.
Nagoshi says the he doesn’t think fans could wait 2 years in between Yakuza titles, I’m assuming this is why he has the spin offs. He confirmed that the game hasn’t had voices recorded for it and that they will hold a open audition for voice actors. He said they will prefer them to be girls (or attractive transsexuals) and love the Yakuza series.
He also thinks that the audience would accept the new game, even if it has Kiryu in space fighting zombies. Wait, that sounds kind of cool. Before you guys ask, yes, the game is a Playstation 3 exclusive.
More information at TGS, can’t wait!
[Source Famitsu via The Forums]
[Thanks NiGHTS and Pao]
Bizarre Creations says Sega wanted a sequel to The Club
Posted by George. Filed under Europe, George, Microsoft Xbox 360, PC, Sony PlayStation 3. Tagged with Bizarre Creations, Gossip, interview, The Club.
In a recent interview, Bizarre’s Martyn Chudley gave some insight about Sega and the development of The Club. Apparently Sega wanted a sequel to the title, before the first game was even released. The reason Bizarre Creations didn’t tackle the sequel was because they where in talks with Activison about a buy out.
“They wanted us to get a lot closer, but it obviously wasn’t going to work because we were going to Activision. Obviously, they didn’t have anybody to do a sequel, so therefore they weren’t going to put all their efforts into marketing the first one. At that point we’d already stated we weren’t going to go on with it. It was a bit of a shame, but we have to think what will do the company good, and the stability of what Activision could give us was going to be good.”
Something else in the interview that was interesting is how they talk about how Sega told them to give the game a story line, like the character’s back stories. I guess it was their ‘marketing’ tactic and we saw them use it when they did advertise the game.
[Source EDGE]
You might see more Werehog in the future
Posted by George. Filed under George, Worldwide. Tagged with Drama, interview, Sonic Unleashed, Werehog.
The boys over at Videogamer website got an exclusive interview with Tetsu Katano, director of the upcoming Sonic and the Black Knight. For some reason they asked him if we would be seeing Werehog in a new game, his answer was:
“….unless we’re going to make Sonic Unleashed 2 you might not see him again. But if we are going to make it, you might see him again. It’s a possibility.”
Wait, what?! Why would they make a new Sonic Unleashed? I hope not, I would like to see Sonic in a all new adventure. What do you guys think?
[Source Go Nintendo]
Mike Hayes talks a bit about the modern Sega
Posted by Graham. Filed under Europe, G, Interviews, News. Tagged with interview, Mike Hayes.
Mike Hayes, president and COO of Sega Europe, has recently spoken to Edge about Sega as a third party developer and how Sega has seen a fair share of success since leaving the console wars (depsite what some people say);
“Since 2003, our turnover has grown ten-fold. We have now opened direct offices in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Australia and Benelux, and are trading in 50 countries within EMEA.”
“Most importantly,” he adds, “we are making a profit.”
But, what with the whole credit crunch, global warming and cats marrying dogs, Hayes admits that Sega won’t be immune to the economic downturn.
Marc Cellucci discusses canceled RPG for the Dreamcast’s VMU
Posted by George. Filed under George, Retro, iPhone/iPod. Tagged with Canceled, Dreamcast, interview, RPG, VMU.
You remember the VMU, visual memory unit, for the Sega Dreamcast? It hasn’t been that long has it? It might not be as amazing as it was back in 1999, but it was mind blowing to me back then. It was like a little game inside a bigger game! What if someone told you that you could play a full RPG on that thing? Marc Cellucci has left Sega, but in a recent interview with Siliconera he talks about his canceled RPG:
“The one I think I can mention is one I was working on in the Sega.com days — it was an RPG for the VMU. It was a side project being done by about three of us, and we had a full world map, scrolling engine, and game design all fleshed out, when the plug got pulled from on high. In retrospect, they were probably right… I don’t see a VMU RPG changing the fate of the Dreamcast! We still wanted to make it, though.”
Marc Cellucci started his job at Sega doing web work for Dreamcast Network, then started writing for Segasports.com, Sega.com and SegaNet. After this he went to Japan to study Japanese for a couple of years, got a job at marketing. But he went back to Sega, got a Job with AM3 arcade division and worked on the successful Dinosaur King franchise.
What does he do now? He has his own company called Mission One and they’re bringing a Pachinko game to the iPhone. The game is called Sho Chiku Bai and the music is composed by Norihiko Hibino. (worked on Metal Gear Solid series and upcoming Ninja Blade)
[Source Siliconera]
House of the Dead: Overkill interview just got me excited
Posted by George. Filed under Arcade, Europe, George, Nintendo Wii. Tagged with House of the Dead Overkill, interview.
Light gun games made with consoles in mind don’t have that feel that arcade light gun shooters have. Its possibly due to the fact that in a arcade, you have to grab the persons attention within the first 5 minutes, if you don’t you can forget about your game doing well.
In a new interview with Head Strong games, it reveals that the developer does have arcade fans in mind:
“However, we have done our utmost to ensure that it feels like playing an arcade machine — albeit an arcade machine that is out to entertain a paying customer, instead of one that is trying to lever money out of players.”
Don’t fret, apparently there is going to be two unlockable modes that will make you tear your eyes out due to the intensity. One is called Hardcore mode and the other directors cut, that is suppose to have more brutal enemies, extra content in levels and a brutal credit system.
[Source Wii Fanboy]
Yakuza 2 to be on one disc
Posted by George. Filed under George, North America, Sony PlayStation 2. Tagged with interview, Yakuza 2.
For those of you not in the know, Yakuza 2 in Japan was released on 2 single layered DVD discs, but for the USA and Europe release of the game it will come in a single dual layer disc. Sega’s Kevin Frane tells Siliconera:
The Japanese version was originally released on two DVDs, while the U.S. version will be released on a single, dual-layer DVD. In terms of actual content, however, nothing has been cut from the original Japanese version.
This is good news for lazy people (me) and people who have a faulty PS2 that gives them disc read errors everytime they insert a game (also me). Other things in the Silconera interview include why they left the original Japanese track. The game will also have all the license brands and Japanese products that where in the Japanese release, unlike Shenmue that had Coca-Cola replaced in the west with Jet Cola.
Yakuza 2 will be released on September 9th in the United States and on September 28th in Europe. Make sure to pick up your copy.
[Edit: According to the great knowledge database that is Wikipedia, it states that the game is out in Europe on September 28th. However Sega Europe has told us that it is actually out on September 19th in Europe. Not sure who you guys believe - but I'd be looking in shops on the 19th ;o) ]
[Source Siliconera]
[Image Sega Edited George]
Sega expects big things from the Hulk
Posted by Graham. Filed under Europe, G, Multi-platform, News. Tagged with interview, The Incredible Hulk.
After the somewhat average attempt at recreating the Iron Man experience, a few months ago, Sega is getting ready for the next Marvel-movie tie-in, The Incredible Hulk.
As Ben Payne, Sega UK’s Product Manager, explains in a recent interview:
“The Incredible Hulk is Marvel’s second biggest property, so awareness of the character is high. As usual, the success of any film tie-in video game is linked to the film itself,” Payne told UK trade magazine MCV. “Thankfully this film is going to be massive, and is well timed, in that it gives Indy IV its deserved moment in the spotlight, and is released two weeks before Prince Caspian.”
Sega is also going to be doing some aggressive marketing for the game (at least in the UK), and will be releasing adverts alongside the movie release in theatres.
“We are replicating our Iron Man cinema activity for the The Incredible Hulk. Over the opening two weeks of the film which is released on June 12, we will hit 1.5 million admissions across Carlton Screen and Pearl and Dean advertising,” said Payne.
The Incredible Hulk will be released (in Europe) for Xbox 360 and DS on June 13, June 20 for PS2 and PS3, PC on June 20 and Wii on July 11.
[Source: Videogamer]
[Image from Hulkblogspot]
Full press release after the break.
Sega learning from mistakes?
Posted by Graham. Filed under Europe, G, Microsoft Xbox 360, News, Sony PSP, Sony PlayStation 3. Tagged with interview, Sega Rally.
Sega has admitted to making some mistakes when it came to releasing Sega Rally for the Xbox 360 and PS3 (oh and PSP) last year, according to a recent interview with MCV and Managing Director of Sega UK, Alan Pritchard.
While the game won the critical acclaim of many reviewers, and won awards, it failed to hit home with the general consumers. However releasing a game around the same time as Halo 3 and FIFA, is pretty stupid for any game company. Quite frankly, I don’t think Sega has much of an excuse there, and they should have realised it was a bad time to revive one of their greatest franchises.
But hopefully Sega has been learning, as Alan adds;
Simon Jeffery talks about Platinum Games with Gamespot
Posted by George. Filed under George, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, North America, Sony PlayStation 3. Tagged with interview, Platinum Games, Simon Jeffery.
Have some questions about the Platinum Games deal? Simon Jeffery has got you covered. Here are the important highlights of the interview:
- The Sega contract gives Platinum Games total freedom. They get to make the game how they want it, the trailers, and all that stuff. While Sega tries to give them advice on how best to market the games.
- Platinum Games is exclusive to Sega for the time being. Meaning they can’t go make games with other publishers.
- The new games are owned by Sega.
- Deal is long term. This is just the first step.
- These games are meant to become franchises.
Click here for the full interview.
