Nagoshi hopes his Yakuza studio is the next AM2

[Logo for  Ryu ga Gotoku Studio]

We grew up as SEGA fans, so when we hear AM2 a rush of games pop into our head, most of them damn amazing. Its hard not to love AM2 when they release such quality software like Virtua Fighter series, Outrun, Shenmue, and many more classics.

Nagoshi was asked in the panel if he wanted his team,  Ryu ga Gotoku Studio, to be a landmark team the same way AM2 was for SEGA. Nagoshi says he hopes it happens and he also wants people to see them as a studio that brings out quality games.

As for Nagoshi leaving SEGA, it isn’t true.  Ryu ga Gotoku Studio actually works in the SEGA building. So false.
[Source: AndriaSang]

Yakuza 5 engine is going to get a major overhaul


Hey, I love Yakuza games. They are great, but they seem to be getting too “samey” with their (usually) early releases. Seems that Nagoshi knows this, so he is proposing major changes coming to Yakuza 5. Nagoshi says play style and technology will get a overhaul in the next version of the game, the way the drama and story plays out, not so much.

The other thing he said that was changing was the game’s “setting”. Now this does not mean the location, but how the game is design. They will take a different approach. They said they could have kept the same design from past Yakuza titles and get it out there fast, but they are not doing that. Means we will have to wait longer for the title.

Nothing much was said about Yakuza 5, seems that we will have to wait for Tokyo Game Show to get more information.

[Source: AndriaSang]

First Black Panther 2 screens and artwork hits the web

SEGA and Nagoshi held their press event today, confirming everything that Famitsu spoiled was true. That means that SEGA now has a studio just for Yakuza games called Ryu ga Gotoku Studio (Like a Dragon Studio).

The new team has all the main players from the Yakuza franchise. This includes Toshihiro Nagoshi, Masayoshi Kikuchi, Daisuke Sato, Yojiro Ogawa, and Masayoshi Yokoyama.

The new Black Panther game is a direct sequel to the first game, you will play as the same young lead. Not only that, you will have 3 new characters to play as, much like Yakuza 4’s set up. The game is also looking impressive for a PSP title.

Famitsu leaks Black Panther sequel and Yakuza 5 early


[Artwork for the first PSP game, Black Panther]

Nagoshi teased that he had some big announcements coming up in the end of the month, but thanks to Famisu we already know what they are. SEGA is going to have a pretty nice TGS line-up.

First of all Nagoshi has his own studio to make Yakuza titles called “Ryu ga Gotoku Studio.” Ryu Ga Gotoku is the name of the Yakuza series in Japan, it means Like a Dragon.

The first game that the Yakuza team will work on is Black Panther 2, a sequel to the handheld Yakuza spin-off. It will be called in Japan “Kurohyou 2 Ryu ga Gotoku.” This title will be playable at TGS and is set to be released in Japan in Spring 2012. Also its for the PSP. Odd, wonder if this has to do with the ‘rumored’ Yakuza title for Vita.

In the end the magazine says that they are also working on Yakuza 5. I guess we might get more details about this come the press conference.

We will post scans when we get them.

[Source: AndriaSang]

SEGA Sequel Saturdays: Yakuza 5

Hey guys, hope everyone in Internetland enjoyed their April Fools day! Welcome to Episode 11 of SEGA Sequel Saturdays. This week I’ll be expressing my thoughts on the (inevitable) sequel to a game that just released, Yakuza 4. SEGAbits’ official review will be up soon, but you can read my own opinion on Yakuza 4 at my blog, here. I feel that Yakuza 4’s a fun game with lots and lots to do and some great storytelling, but at the same time, its formula is really beginning to show its age. I don’t think Yakuza 5 is even worth announcing if we’re not going to be getting some big changes and updates, and here’s what I think they should be.

Upcoming Yakuza PS3 game gets a name [update]


SEGA has been teasing the new Yakuza game for awhile, now they have added a subtitle to the name. It is going to be called “Ryu ga Gotoku Of the End” or for us “Yakuza of the End“.

The name was let out of the bag by Famitsu, who had it written in their new Express Section of their magazine. The magazine only had the new logo, looking like a typical Yakuza logo should. Shocking part is that there is no numbers, we here have been saying it would be called Yakuza 5. SEGA should release the final logo today, since their site is set to update. It will be posted here. (UPDATE: Logo below)

[Source: AndriaSang]

LOGO!

SEGA teases Yakuza announcement


If you are going to tease something on the launch of the Dreamcast, it best be Dreamcast related. SEGA has updated their site and said there is follow up information on September 9th. Hopefully its a title for the game or maybe that its really Shenmue 3. That would work.

Whatever it is, we will get back to you on the 9th with some Dreamcast articles and Yakuza news.

[Source: AndriaSang]

Is Yakuza coming to an end?

This was in the newest issue of Famitsu, teasing ‘The End’ to the Yakuza franchise? Maybe its just teasing what the upcoming title will revolve around. Maybe it will have destructible environments?

It could be anything, I just hope that SEGA does not pull a Hideo Kojima with this series and start teasing the same promises with every title (wasn’t his last MGS title like 3 titles ago?).

We shall see at TGS next month. How exciting.

[Thanks: Suzuki Yu]

Ryuji Goda joining cast in next Yakuza game

The main villain from Yakuza 2 will now be the fourth playable character in the upcoming Yakuza game. The game has not received a name as of yet, but its safe to assume it will be titled Yakuza 5.

“The fourth main character for the next Yakuza game is Ryuji Goda, in his first appearance since Yakuza 2. There has been much demand for his reappearance. This character, who was born as a rival character who gives off a powerful aura, is at last appearing as a main character. Of course, the manly, brawny appeal of Ryuji will be in place. We’ll also be telling a after story for Yakuza 2.” – Toshihiro Nagoshi

I assume you play him in a flash back or the character has flash backs during the game? Makes sense I guess. The other 3 characters that have been announced are Goro Majima, Kiryu Kazuma and Shun Akiyama. More information should come to light at TGS next month.

[Source: AndriaSang]

Yakuza hostess voting – First Week Results!

It’s the moment no ones everyone’s been waiting for! Week one results of the Yakuza 5 hostess results.

The results are as follows,

1. Satomi Tateishi – She could get revenge!

2. Haru – She took second place with her enigmatic charms.

3. Ai Sakura – The Agejo maid is in in third place.

4. Yuka Ohnishi – She was apparently cheered on by soccer players. Yuka is a soccer coach.

5. Saaya Kawai – A nail stylist who loves the Yakuza series.

So there you go… One step closer to knowing who we’ll all be fapping over in Yakuza 5.

-Stolen from SegaShiro

Next Yakuza to have multiple playable characters?


Yakuza 4, that was released earlier this year in Japan, had 4 playable characters and it seems that Nagoshi might do the same for the next Yakuza game. There was a event held in front of Don Quijote in Shinjuku to announce the new game, Nagoshi spoke a bit about what we should expect. When a reporter asked him if it was true that Majima would be the lead, not Kazuma, Nagoshi answered:

“It’s correct to say that when we were deciding who to show first, the first person to come out was Majima and not Kazuma. The visual of Majima that we’re showing is not the main visual. The main visual will show everything about the game. You can use Majima as main character, but Majima is just the first visual that we released.” Toshihiro Nagoshi, Series Producer

So this means that Kazuma might still have a place in this game, as a playable character. Kind of disappointed, I think if anyone deserved his own Yakuza title, it is Goro Majima. Nagoshi also said the drama will remain intact, but the way that it is told will be changed. As for the game focusing on ‘destroying’, it seems that he was referring to the development of the game and not what we will actually do in the game world.

Another Yakuza game in the works


Yakuza 4 has not even been released in Japan and they are already teasing the next installment, titled “Project K” for right now. The video has the following phrases flashing on the screen:

  • The boy knew it
  • The graveness of the crimes he continued to commit
  • But the boy still doesn’t know
  • The cruel fate that awaits
  • Also, the boy knows
  • That fighting is his destiny

The trailer shown to the press in Japan shows a boy, who seems to be the main character in the game. Might have to do with a younger Kazuma? Ends with:

“A new challenge for Ryu ga Gotoku starts”

[Source: AndriaSang via Forums]