Yakuza 4: US gets no special edition, DLC with regular version

In Europe, if you want that DLC, you will have to opt into buying the limited edition of the game. In America, we don’t have the choice of a limited edition, so if you buy a new version of Yakuza 4, you will get a one-time DLC code to use. You will get:

  • Bonus costumes for Kazuma, Akiyama, Taiga, Tanimura, and Haruka
  • Survival Mode
  • Underground car park racing
  • The much-loved underground Fighting Arena

If you pre-order the game via Gamestop you’ll receive a free dynamic Hostess theme. Not bad at all.

[Via SEGA]

SEGA Australia details Yakuza 4 limited editions

SEGA Australia have announced that they will be releasing two limited editions for Yakuza 4, along with the regular edition of the game. The limited editions will be labeled as Kuro Edition (Black Edition) and the Shiro Edition (White Edition).  Kuro Edition comes in black steel book and is packed with four pieces of bonus content to unlock. Same thing for the Shiro Edition, only it comes in white steel book. You can see each edition above.
Pre-order deals are rather sweet:

  • EBGames: Pre-order the Kuro Edition and receive the awesome Ichiban Box (Number 1 Box) with your game. It has a hostess calendar, chopsticks, rice bowl, and all comes packaged in a rice box (see picture below!).
  • JB Hi Fi: Pre-order the Shiro Edition and receive a free copy of Yakuza 3.
  • GAME Stores: Pre-order Yakuza 4 and receive a free Yakuza 4 t-shirt. (see picture below!)

All  versions of the game are now available to pre-order in Australia. The game hits store shelves on March 24th. No limited editions announced for America or Europe. Sucks for us.

[Source: HookedGamers]

    Yakuza 4 gets hostess trailer & demo date


    Those people that missed chatting up the hostess girls in Yakuza 3 will be glad to know that they are back for the fourth installment. Don’t believe us? Check out the trailer!

    As for the demo, it will hit PSN on February 15th… if you are a Playstation Plus subscriber. For some reason, they thought it was a good thing to make this demo timed exclusive. Rest of us have to wait till February 22nd, a week later.

    [Source: SEGA]

    Yakuza of The End Shown on Next Sony Portable, NGP


    Sony’s NGP has been revealed tonight, and among the developers talking about the device was none other then SEGA’s Toshiro Nagoshi, famed – and tanned – creator of Yakuza and Monkey Ball. Yes, the video above is Yakuza of the End running on PSP2. Yes, this device is friggin awesome.

    This was shown at the “Playstation Conference” to demonstrate how easy it is to port existing PS3 games to PSp2 and still keep the same quality. Nagoshi says its just a tech demo for now, not an announcement of a port.

    SEGA games in Famitsu Top 100 2010

    On a yearly basis, Famitsu publishes the top 100 best selling games and as always, SEGA manages to make a few on the list. Although in terms of total, it’s not overly impressive, SEGA still maintains a strong position and suffers from far fewer financial failures than recent years, they managed to get 7 games in total and no prizes guessing which was the biggest seller for SEGA.

    17. [PS3] Yakuza 4 (Sega) – 557,771
    32. [PSP] Hatsune Miku: Project Diva 2nd (Sega) – 341,663
    40. [PSP] Kurohyou! Yakuza New Chapter (Sega) – 264,766
    49. [PSP] Keion! Afterschool Live (Sega) – 231,976
    61. [PS3] End of Eternity (Sega) – 184,662
    74. [PSP] Valkyria Chronicles 2 (Sega) – 153,487
    89. [PSP] Shining Hearts (Sega) – 130,258

    Another entry in the Yakuza series and again continues to slightly push up from sales of Yakuza 3 (Which did around 509,000 with the original release, not accounting THE BEST release which did a further 80,000) and Project Diva 2 improves on the sales of the original in a big way (Which managed 186,000) and becomes the 22nd most successful game on the PSP in Japan. The PSP Yakuza title does a modest amount, matching that of the sales of the original release of Yakuza Kenzan, indicator of the userbase in terms of sales for the next spinoff title perhaps?

    K-On does very well for SEGA although I would imagine that would be it’s final total outside of a re-release in Japan, I can’t quite see it coming out in America or Europe. Valkyria Chronicles 2 does ever so slightly better than the original (8,000) but this does not include the re-release of the original title which nothced up a further 82,000 unit and the sales of End of Eternity certainly suggests a sequel maybe forthcoming.

    Finally Shining Hearts, despite doing 100,000 in it’s first week, ends up with a modest extra 30,000 and it does seem that perhaps despite the impressive first week opening, it may not go down as the most successful and I can probably imagine a sigh of relief from dissatisfied fans of the franchise.

    [Source: NeoGAF]

    Yakuza 4 Character Trailer – Masayoshi Tanimura

    Here is another Yakuza 4 character trailer. This trailer tells the back story of ‘good cop gone bad’ Masayoshi Tanimura who is on the hunt for his fathers killer… But not before he does some gambling.

    Anyone reminded of Shenmue?

    This could be the final character trailer for the game as all main characters have had their story told now. Unless they plan on doing trailers for the sub-characters or bad guys. That could be cool.

    Yakuza 4 character trailer – Taiga Saejima


    Taiga Saejima is basically Kazuma Kiryu times 2, he is twice as big and spent almost twice the amount of time in prison for something he didn’t do. Now he is released, will we be seeing bodies drop?

    Another excellent trailer, a bit short, but good. Check it out.

    [Via: SEGAblog]

    SEGA Europe confirms 2011 titles


    SEGA of Europe has confirmed some of their 2011 line up, yet missed to mention some titles that we all know are coming. Namely the PSN/XBLA games,  Sonic 3DS game, Sonic 20th anniversary game, Binary Domain, and a few unannounced projects hinted. Here is what they gave up though.

    • Conduit 2 – Wii February 2011
    • Shogun 2: Total War – PC 15th March 2011
    • Super Monkey Ball 3DS (Working title) – 2011
    • Virtua Tennis 4 – PS3 2011
    • Rise of Nightmares (Kinect) – Xbox 360 2011
    • Yakuza 4 – PS3 Spring 2011
    • Thor – Spring 2011 Xbox 360/Wii/PSP/PS3/DS
    • Captain America: Super Soldier – PS3/Xbox 360/Wii/DS – Summer 2011

    Some AAA titles mixed with license titles that we will most likely hit ignore on. Seems like a confirmation of the first half of the year, hopefully fall is better.  Well,  what titles are you guys looking forward to?

    [Source: NowGamer]

    Yakuza 4 trailer – Kazuma Kiryu

    Here is the story trailer for everyone’s favorite Kazuma, the Dragon of Dojima. I’m really liking the narration job on the trailers, its a real 180 turn in quality compared to the third game.

    The game is set to hit PS3 owners on March 15, 2011, you guys ready?

    PlayStation Awards show honors Yakuza 4


    Sony always holds a ‘Playstation Awards’ ceremony to give high selling Japanese games a pat on the back. Yakuza 4 was amongs the best selling titles for 2009-2010. Actually November 1, 2009, through October 31, 2010 to be more specific.

    Yakuza 4 & Phantasy Star Portable 2 where honored the Gold Award, which means they sold 500,000+ units. Yakuza 4 also nabbed a user vote award. That is two prizes! The Platinum Award went to only one game, Final Fantasy XIII (for selling a million plus).  That isn’t all though, Sony also awards highest selling PSN purchased content. SEGA nabbed three spots, one with After Burner Climax, Hatsune Miku Project Diva Add-On Song Collection Deluxe Pack 1 and Hatsune Miku Project Diva Dreamy Theater . Talking about Hatsune Miku, SEGA’s 2nd PSP game also got a user choice award.

    What do they get for winning? A trophy (here is Hideo with his) and a cash prize (Platinum 1 Million yen, Gold 500k yen).

    [Source: AndriaSang]

    Yakuza 4 character trailer – Shun Akiyama


    WATCH IT!!

    Nagoshi’s latest game, Binary Domain might have had a “not so great” debut trailer, but it seems his Yakuza 4 game is starting off its American marketing rather well. Now we are starting character trailers with Shun Akiyama.

    I like the English voice trailer, even if they are trying to hide the fact that the game will be all Japanese voiced. Game will be hitting a Playstation 3 near you this upcoming Spring. You ready?

    Yakuza 4 Story Trailer – Must Watch!

    What ever you do today, don’t miss this trailer!

    Why? Because it is easily the best English trailer for a Yakuza game, ever! It’s even better than the original Yakuza games trailers, back when they were really trying to break into the western market!

    The trailers shows basically everything the Yakuza series is about, has a great narrator, script and manages to be funny too. It really delivers!

    If you still haven’t jumped into the Yakuza series Yakuza 4 is the perfect place to jump in. Considered the best game in the series yet by many it is also not necessary to have played the previous games to get into the story.

    Yakuza 4 box art wallpaper – now this is box art

    [Right click + save link as + ???? = Profit]

    You heard us rave and rant about how SEGA is doing it right with their new Yakuza 4 box art design. Even SEGA of Europe are talking about how they disliked the Yakuza 3 cover, no idea why they simply didn’t just make another one, but I guess its just a cover and I will forgive.

    Now you can have the background wallpaper on all your computers and even your consoles like the PS3 while you wait for the game. No worries, SEGA will be releasing other wallpapers throughout the months as we wait for the release of the game.

    Yakuza, Producer & Director Interview

    Here is an interview conducted by Game Trailers at Tokyo Game Show with Yakuza producer Masayoshi Kikuchi and director Jun Orihara.

    The two discuss the story and characters of Yakuza 4 and go onto talk about the direction of the series as a whole. They also confirm that like Yakuza: Kenzan, Yakuza: Of the End is indeed a spin off and not cannon. They mention wanting to continue both the main ‘numbered’ series and the spin-offs.

    Yakuza Sci-fi anyone? Punch Aliens in the face? Or a Yakuza Fantasy with Japanese mythology maybe? Punch real dragons in the face?!

    Yakuza 4 Box Art Revealed!

    Pretty damn good right? While Yakuza 1 and 2 had pretty good box art, Sega got a lot of flack for the rather cheap looking Yakuza 3 cover art.

    However rejoice, Yakuza 4 has one a very striking and suitable box art, in fact I would go as far as to say it is the best Western cover art for the series so far.

    Note the subliminal messages all over the cover promoting ‘sexy girls’ and sex in general, nice!