Toshihiro Nagoshi

Yakuza 5 developer interview part 2: Hostess Clubs and more

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Just over a month later, we get the second of three developer interviews where Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and Yakuza 5 producer Masayoshi Yokoyama are asked questions by Playstation’s Gio Corsi. In this interview the people behind SEGA’s gangster brawler are asked about what inspired the hostess clubs in the game and how they came about to design the series protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu, amongst other questions. It’s been a long time coming, but it seems almost surreal we live in a world where Yakuza 5 has finally be localised and Shenmue 3 has been kickstarter, what a time to be alive.

With only one more interview left, let’s hope that we’ll hear a solid release date soon. Yakuza 5 is set to launch for the Playstation 3 this fall, get ready to crack some skulls and manage some idols.

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Playstation does a Yakuza 5 interview with Toshihiro Nagoshi and Masayoshi Yokoyama

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Its been a long journey for us Yakuza fans, I’m seriously surprised at the cult fanbase the franchise has garnered in the West. I have been pretty much into the Yakuza series since I heard about the first title, since it reminded me of a 3D Streets of Rage brawler mixed with RPG elements. After the sales failure that was Yakuza 1, I never thought we would really get a chance to play another entry in the west, guess what? We are literally in our 5th release (6th if you count Dead Souls) in the West and this one sets to conclude the journey.

The developers talk about their goals with the series, basically about how there weren’t many games that where aimed at an adult Japanese audience specifically and how that was the birth of the franchise. Check out the intereview and make sure to pick up Yakuza 5 this fall on Playstation 3.

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Yakuza Zero’s first trailer shows Kazuma being a bad ass

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Toshihiro Nagoshi went on stage at Sony’s TGS press conference to present this trailer of Yakuza Zero, which shows a younger Kazuma Kiryu in the year of 1988 as a debt collector. This is during a time when the economy in Japan was in shambles, which will have an affect on the game’s plot. He also announced that the game will have two playable characters: Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima.

The reveal of this trailer at the conference can be seen here. The game will be coming to Playstation 3 and Playstations 4 during Spring 2015 in Japan.

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Yakuza Ishin is the Number One PS4 game in Japan

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If you haven’t been keeping up with Japanese PS4 news, PlayStation Japan has been doing a PS4 countdown showing various games. They saved the best for last. Yakuza Ishin is “1 day left” of the PS4 countdown and has the longest trailer by far out of all the games on the countdown. You can see some new footage, it’s all cinematic footage, but it looks great. Also has some awesome music by a Japanese band called “ONE OK ROCK”.

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Yakuza Restoration on the PS3 will have “a little bonus” for fans

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The guys over at Siliconera recently spoke to Yakuza producer and all around tan man Toshihiro Nagoshi about the differences between Yakuza Restoration on the Playstation 3 vs the Playstation 4. He stated the the game will only differ visually since the Playstation 4 has 10x more power than the Playstation 3. He stated they have always intended for this title to be a launch game on Playstation 4 and worked hard in getting it ready.

Even though the Playstation 3 version won’t have as smooth framrate or fancy effects like the Playstation 4 version, it will have a ‘a little bonus’ for fans that have save data from previous Yakuza games. Not bad, right? Demo for Yakuza Restoration is now on the Japanese PSN store, game comes out over there on February 22nd. No Western release plans have been announced.

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Yakuza Ishin’s TGS gameplay trailer has lots of slicing and dicing

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SEGA has released two trailers for the upcoming Playstation exclusive, Yakuza Ishin. The first one and the one we embeded above is the gameplay trailer showing off the combat system, forging system and a few other tidbits.

Now the other trailer is the story trailer, this one uses the intro from the cinematic trailer shown off at the Sony conference, which was also awesome.  The game comes out in Japan on both Playstation 3 and Playstation 4 on February 22nd, 2014.

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Yakuza: Ishin to be a Playstation 4 launch title, also coming to Playstation 3

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Above is the first trailer for Yakuza: Ishin, shown off at SCEJA Press Conference 2013! If you want to see the trailer without the English voice over, click here.

The game was announced as a Playstation 4 launch title, but will also be coming out on the Playstation 3 for those not picking up a Playstation 4 at launch. The game will also feature crossplay with the Vita!

Yakuza Ishin will be out in Japan on February 22nd, 2014. As for a western release? According to NeoGAF user Verendus, who is known as a legit insider in the strict community, this one is definitely coming West. What do you guys think?

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First Yakuza: Ishin details revealed by Famitsu

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Even though Yakuza 5 only came out 8 months ago over in Japan, SEGA is already teasing the next title in the franchise, Yakuza: Ishin (Ishin apparently translates to Resurrection). So, why not just make Yakuza 6?

“In terms of volume and quality, we felt like we did everything we could with Yakuza 5. If I had to put it out there, I’d say that if we want to do another numbered title in the series, we’ll need a little time for that.” – Toshihiro Nagoshi, director of Yakuza series

Like we told you when the game was first revealed, you will take the role of a real life historical figure, Sakamoto Ryoma. The game will take place in mid 19th century Japan during the final years of the shogunate ruling.

Just like in history, Sakamoto was born into a low ranking Samurai clan known as Tosa fiefdom. Ryoma gets frustrated with the strict caste system, so him and his friend Takechi Hanpeita form a political group to reform the government and resist the rapid Westernization that is taking place in Japan at the time. The villain the the game? Saito Hajime, leader of the Shinsengumi group of samurai that are loyal to the shogunate.

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SEGA’s next Yakuza game to take place in Feudal Japan again

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SEGA Japan have just announced another Yakuza title, this one seems to be a spin-off titled Ryu Ga Gotoku (Yakuza in the West) Ishin. The only information we have is the logo and the image below, which reminds me of Yakuza: Kenzan, a spin-off on Playstation 3 that never made it over.

What platform is this being developed for? That we don’t know either, but since Nagoshi has stated before that Yakuza 5 was going to be his last Playstation 3 game, don’t be shocked that its SEGA’s first Playstation 4 title.  Guesses on Neo-GAF is that Ryu will be portraying the life of Sakamoto Ryōma.

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First Trailer for Hero Bank Released

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While SEGA had already begun advertising Nagoshi’s new RPG called Hero Bank with branded merchandise including toilet paper, they hadn’t released a trailer until today. This trailer shows off gameplay, cutscenes and the characters you’ll be fighting against and with while a Japanese narrator narrates in Japanese.

Hero Bank releases in Japan on December 19th for 3DS. And again, it isn’t known yet if the game will actually be released in Western countries.

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SEGA’s Hero Bank at the Next Generation World Hobby Fair

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We posted before about SEGA’s Hero Bank video game getting promotional items to give away at the Next Generation World Hobby Fair. Now we have some pictures from the event and it seemed it was a hit with the kids (the audience they are reaching for with this title).

Below you can see more shots of the event, the mascot and other interesting bits. Oddly enough SEGA hasn’t put out a trailer for this game or talked about if it be coming west.

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Nagoshi: New Yakuza unlikely to come to Wii U

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Now that SEGA and Nintendo have announced Yakuza 1&2 HD coming to the Wii U, everyone is asking the question if the new upcoming Yakuza game will appear on Nintendo’s console. In a new interview Nagoshi has stated that it seems unlikely. Yakuza 1&2 HD on Wii U marks the first time ever (not counting mobile phone games) that the series has appeared on a console not made by Sony. When asked if it would be coming to the 3DS, he stated simply no.

But what about the Vita? He said that it seems something natural for people to expect. So it seems if you want your Yakuza fix, it is guaranteed on Sony platforms. I say, the more platforms the better.

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SEGA holding a ‘illustrate a mascot’ competition

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Have you ever sat around the house saying that you could make a better mascot character than Sonic the Hedgehog? Well, now is your chance to put SEGA in their place. SEGA Raw (hosted by Nagoshi) will air live on NicoNico Douga and they want fans to submit designs for a mascot character that will promote the show.

They are looking for something that incorporates the spirit of SEGA. What will you win? All the products SEGA makes of your character and Nagoshi’s autograph. Want to know the rules? Hit the jump.

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