Yakuza 3 dated for Japan, bundled with Ceramic White PS3

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Dec 2nd 2008 at 6:25PM }

You know, Mother always used to say that dating a Yakuza was a bad idea ... and a good way to get yourself killed. We wish Sega the best of luck then, as the company has done just that -- Yakuza 3 is set for a Japanese debut on February 26th, 2009. The Gangs of Tokyo epic (with Trophy support!) will also be included in a limited-run PlayStation 3 bundle sporting an 80GB, Ceramic White console and a ¥45,980 ($492) price tag.

And before you ask, Sega has yet to confirm a US release for Yakuza 3. We'll let you know when they do. (See? "When." We're optimistic over here.)

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Tags: Japan, Sega, Yakuza, Yakuza-3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 2nd 2008 6:33PM

I really want Shenmue 3... c'mon Sega =p

Slayer @ Dec 2nd 2008 7:02PM

Yeah same here. But I don't think it's going to happen. :(

Strike Man @ Dec 2nd 2008 7:08PM

Like Slayer pointed out, it's not likely to happen, especially since the US sales of Yakuza 1 and 2 were well, well below their domestic sales in Japan.

On the Shenmue front, feel free to participate in the capsule toybomb of Sega. But at best, don't expect a response from Sega above Lucky Hit being added to the XBLA.

http://events.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.detail&eventID=474275.31228&hashcode=B08B03C3-C7F1-4683-AF7F-516DD10BBCA9

Wiinterfang @ Dec 2nd 2008 7:23PM

I use my lack of Japanese to forced my self into thinking that Yakuza 3 is Shenmue 3.

Besides the only difference is Yakuza sells, Shenmue doesn't sell shit =(.

Leo McKelvin @ Dec 2nd 2008 8:24PM

this game is really the spirit successor of shenmue

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:05PM

What Leo said. Hell, Yakuza 3 might as well be called Shenmue 6. But no, people will bitch and rant and complain that they want another sequel to one of the largest contributing factors to Sega's death as a console maker.

sk8monroe81 @ Dec 2nd 2008 6:39PM

no love for the # 1 gaming market in the world?

give me 1 AMERICAN sony ps3 exclusive game release with the 10+ japanese only exclusives.

maybe that has to do with slumping ps3 sales and revenues??

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 2nd 2008 6:49PM

A big reason you don't see Japanese games in the states in because they would tank sales wise, and publishers would not be able to justify the cost of translating the game, etc.

I would like to see Afrika come to the US, but thats probably not going to happen.

If you want to play Japanese games, import them.

Ayrkain @ Dec 2nd 2008 7:06PM

Afrika has been picked up as National Geographic: Africa. Probably a PSN title in NA.

WiredKnight @ Dec 2nd 2008 8:11PM

Hah, no.

Several significant Japanese developers (Hideo Kojima rig a bell?) have openly admitted that eastern development has fallen behind western.

The American market is way more profitable and sees many more high-profile releases than any other country.

Leo McKelvin @ Dec 2nd 2008 8:30PM

i think that backwards. the problem with sony is they not giving enough game to japan that japan want. they keep trying to sell them american game like shooters and racers. micro soft did not have any successes there until they start release rpg's. quit trying to sell japan halo and gears. go look at nintendo releases in japan and you will see what i mean.

look
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-14-71-bn-49-en.html
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-14-71-bm-49-en.html
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-14-71-bs-49-en.html

you just need to give your playstation away to someone for christmas. all you do is complain and moan like a child but only about sony. funny when you say someone else is the troll.

sony and ms keep try to sell american game to japan. nintendo sell them what they want. simple. sure japan have yakuza and white knight chronicle for ps3 but those will be local to the usa also.

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:16PM

I think the Japanese exclusives staying exclusives have things to do more with this...

1. US publishers bullish on niche titles. Take, as an example, Battle Fantasia. In Japan and Europe, it was a 360 and PS3 release because, facing facts, a highly niche title like that needs as many outlets as possible. US publisher? 360 exclusive. WHY?!? You're taking the time to translate, why would you go console exclusive on a game that will be lucky to break 100K on a system with THE worst dpad for 2D fighters?

2. Like many Japanese only games, the licenses are a bitch to gather back up into one place. This is why the HUGE crossover RPG recently can never come out in the states (and why Super Robot Wars can only come over neutored of all the mecha that SELLS that game franchise). What Japan is seeing is largely niche even by Japanese standards. So why would a US publisher take the time and effort to translate a niche of a niche?

3. Until Sony starts acting like a Japanese console beyond their cute misunderstanding of an online experience, they won't gain ground in Japan. Even MS, despite dropping occassional RPGs is still stumbling drunkenly through Akihabara saying "hey ya midgety bastards, wanna play some world at war?"

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:25PM

@Wired Knight,

I really wish half the people who use those quotes would actually read the interviews they came from. When Hideo Kojima said that, he was remarking mainly on the integration of middleware tools into the development cycle which is something that, until UE3 infiltrated SquareEnix, was never heard of in Japan.

Japanese developers are usually 100% proprietary in their engines and integration tools. Maybe you've heard of the White Engine. I hope so since that disasterpiece theatre was the leading motivation for SE to look into middleware tools. For most Japanese developers, almost everything is in house and THAT'S the element that Western Development has a leg up on Eastern Development. For a lot of Western Development, it's not even unheard of to outsource gruntwork to foreign studios for cheap rather than pay an artist $36K to do the same job domestically. Hell, just look at the services postings at Gamasutra to find 30-40 studios right now willing to take on your outsourcing needs.

When Japanese developers speak of the differences between East vs. West in game development, these are the aspects they almost always seek. Because I have news man, western developers for the most part are every bit as unimaginative and copycatish as the eastern devs they rant on how much better they are.

el serpiente @ Dec 3rd 2008 9:39AM

Oh look, sk8rh8r is trolling again.

Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 2nd 2008 6:45PM

the graphics of the game look pretty good. They seem similar enough to MGS4 that it makes me wonder if the games share the same engine

There is +10 minute TGS trailer in the tubes now. Its all in Japanese. Still interesting to watch though.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/43266.html

unclee00 @ Dec 2nd 2008 7:24PM

Is it expensive to add subtitles to a game? Since the US and japan share the same region for Blu-ray I don't see why Sega just doesn't add an option for english subtitles in the Japanese release. I'd happily import it (they don't even have to translate the menus, just slap on some subtitles).