Posts tagged Yakuza 5
Sega speaks out about Sony’s PS4
Mar 22nd
Sony’s recent announcement of a yet unseen PlayStation 4 has fuelled the endless discussion of the next-generation of games consoles that has been going on for the last five years or so. Obviously, we Sega Addicts haven’t had much need to shout about the PlayStation 4. Not until now.
Weekly Famitsu recently asked a host of key figures in the Japanese videogame industry for their thoughts on the allegedly super-advanced games console. Two of these figures were no other than Yakuza 5 producer and series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, and Yakuza 5 writer and Sega Section Manager, Masayoshi Yokoyama.
What do they make of the PlayStation 4′s specifications and unique controller? Hit the jump to find out!
[Source: Kotaku]
Show your support for the localization of Yakuza 5 on Facebook!
Mar 20th
With more than 23,000 votes under its belt thus far, The Hatsune Miku Facebook Coalition of America (which I have just decided it is called) has proven to be quite the successful campaign thus far. It only makes sense, then, to try the same tactic with the other oft-requested and well-deserved localization, Yakuza 5.
Earlier this week, a campaign was launched on Facebook to bring the latest entry in Toshihiro’s fantastic crime saga out west. As of this writing, the petition has just crossed 1,800 votes in just a few days, and hopefully that’s just the beginning of the Yakuza lovefest. If you don’t know why we’re so avid about getting this game out here, go play any Yakuza game and you’ll see what I mean. Go ahead, I’ll wait…
Fantastic, right?
If Sega is going to officially back campaigns to bring us a mascot we’ve barely ever seen on western shores, then hopefully they’ll at least pay attention to a completely fan-fueled plea for the latest entry in a well-established series. We’ve been whining about it for nearly a year here on Sega Addicts. It’s nice to see that somebody is now trying to do something about it.
Thanks @YakFan, and good luck!
Aaron Webber: No news yet on Yakuza 5 or HD Edition localization, but ‘spread the word’
Feb 3rd
Ever since (or even before) the Japanese release of both Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Edition and Yakuza 5 last year, western fans of the series have been rabid for something, anything regarding a localization. Here at Sega Addicts, we’re no different.
So naturally, when a post went up about Bayonetta’s PSN release on Sony’s Playstation Blog, people just kept talking about their need for some Yakuza love. This time, Sega’s Aaron Webber piped up to acknowledge the queries… though his answers aren’t all that encouraging,
I worked on Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, and Yakuza: Dead Souls here at SEGA of America, so I hear you on it feeling a little strange to not have one releasing this March. Right now the best thing that can be done is to help spread the word on the series – tell your friends or others you think might enjoy them, and have them grab a copy of Y4 or Dead Souls.
No news of any announcements, but thanks in advance to yourself (and all the Yakuza fans) who are still pushing hard to support the series here. It’s great to see that dedication.
Of course he wouldn’t be able to make any kind definitive statement within the comments section of a blog, but what he did give us doesn’t exactly make either game’s prospects look too hot. If we’re still at a stage where we need to convince Sega to take a chance on a Western release, it could be a very long time before we get it over here, if it happens at all. Look at Anarchy Reigns’ absurd release schedule if you need proof.
Whatever the case, hearing somebody address our desire for this game feels like I’ve passed a long-lived kidney stone. While I doubt it will do much to bolster our chances, just go tell your friends to buy the latest entries in the series. At this point Sega is probably so numb to requests for localizations, remakes, and series rejuvenations that mere complaints or petitions won’t do a thing to sway them.
[Source: Examiner]
Japanese reviewers are positively gushing about Yakuza 5
Jan 13th
The localization of Anarchy Reigns is a marked victory for western Sega fans, but as one battle fades into memory, another still rages strong. I’m talking of course about Yakuza 5, the latest and most ambitious iteration of one of Sega’s best ongoing IPs.
While it looks less and less likely that the massive and undoubtedly expensive gangster epic will be making its way stateside, hope survives with the news that the game has not only sold well out east, but is garnering substantial critical acclaim as well. Iconic Japanese gaming mag Famitsu gave Yakuza 5 the much coveted perfect score of 40 out of 40, while the folks at Impress Watch have also been singing its praises from the mountains.
Hit the jump to see some of what Impress Watch had to say.
[Source: Edge]
The Sega Addicts Kids Table: Episode 57 – The Missing H
Dec 23rd
Like a teenage girls worst nightmare The Sega Addicts Kids Table is late once again! But never fear because Stevie, Josh, and John plan to make it up to you by treating you with another (almost) hour of Sega based podcast drivel. And this episode is very special because we learn something very interesting about me! What word can I, (Stevie) not spell correctly? You’d never guess!
As well as my rubbish attempts at spelling, the gang also discuss gaming shames as well as Yakuza 5‘s sales figures and the latest Aliens: Colonial Marines screenshots. Sounds like a right laugh! And really what else were you gonna do today?
Or go to our iTunes and subscribe!
Also join in with Newey Needs to Knowey by tweeting @Segaaddicts! What Sega location would you like to see turned into a track for Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed? Let us know and you could win a cool monster drawing from Josh himself! But do it quick!
Yakuza 5′s first week sales are less than they were for Yakuza 3 and 4
Dec 19th
With a bounce in my step and a tune in my throat, I happily reported last week that Yakuza 5 was already doing beautifully right out of the gate in Japan. My view may have been a little rose-tinted, but hell, this series deserves some good news.
But when compared to the sales of previous current-gen entries in the series, it appears that Yakuza 5 does slip a little bit behind its predecessors. As Media Create reports, Team Yakuza’s latest entry sold 356,757 copies, which is about 65.80% of its initial shipment. In Yakuza 4′s first week, 383,972 copies were sold (72.01% of its initial shipment), while Yakuza 3 sold 372,301 (78.57%).
Of course, this is only a minor shift, but it does ground expectations a bit. That being said, this is the fifth major entry in a sprawling, long-running series, so such a small fluctuation can only mean good things for fans’ continued thirst for the world of Kazuma Kiryu. At least in Japan.
[Source: Siliconera]
Yakuza 5 outsold the Wii U launch in Japan
Dec 13th
As Sega fans in the West continue to twiddle their thumbs in anticipation of any news on the latest entry in the Yakuza series, recent Media Create data reveals that folks in Japan are snatching up Yakuza 5 in droves. With more than 356,000 copies sold in its launch week, Team Yakuza’s latest offering has outsold even Nintendo’s Wii U launch, which sold just over 308,000 units.
As you might expect, the Wii U’s games also came in well below Yakuza 5′s impressive returns. In fact, this ambitious organized crime epic reportedly managed to outsell all three of the Wii U’s bestselling launch titles…combined. That’s right: Super Mario Bros. U, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, and Nintendo Land just topped 342,000 units sold. Granted, Yakuza 5 came out a couple days before the Wii U, but even so, those numbers are nothing to scoff at.
For a good year now, Western Sega fans have been scrambling for the right words to convince Sega that their ridiculously awesome, criminally underplayed Yakuza series still has the capacity to turn heads and earn money. Nothing has worked yet, but maybe this news will. Please, Sega, give us this game.
All the Yakuza swag you could want in Japan
Dec 6th
I know, I know. I say it constantly, but Japan really does get all the cool stuff! If you buy the limited edition Yakuza 5 PS3 system at certain retail outlets in Japan, you can enter yourself in a raffle to win some sweet Yakuza 5 swag. Hit the jump to see all the prizes! More >
The Sega Addicts Kids Table: Episode 54 – Not So Big
Nov 29th
If you’re not up to date with your Frankie Muniz references then you might not be too happy about today’s new thrilling instalment of The Sega Addicts Kids Table. Yes that’s right, for some reason the Malcolm in the Middle theme got stuck in the teams heads… again, which causes a whole lot of trouble for Stevie, Josh, and John!
When they aren’t quoting They Might Be Giants the gang talks about the Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed poll, and enjoy a conversation about Yakuza 5 (which soon descends into our musings on Sega’s power in the physical videogame world). So who will be the boss of them now? Are they big? Does this reference come out of nowhere? Find out!
Or go to our iTunes and subscribe! Review us! Come on, don’t make life unfair…
Hatsune Miku to cheer up grumpy old Yakuza 5
Nov 23rd
Yakuza 5, the game that has it all, including a fully playable version of Virtua Fighter, chicken racing and even ramen cross-promotion. What’s that? It has Japanese gangsters as too? That’s all well and good, but what this game really needs is some HATSUNE MIKU OH YEAH!
Just when you’d thought you’d seen the last of her, the super-popular vocaloid pop sensation has been confirmed to appear in several forms in Yakuza 5. According to a broadcast on popular Japanese video sharing website Nico Nico Douga, Yakuza 5 character Shun Akiyama can walk past Hatsune Miku snow sculptures and win Miku toys from a claw machine, while Haruka Sawamura can dress up as the vocaloid and engage in dance battles.
Sega have made good use of the popular Hatsune Miku license to great success over the last few months. Unfortunately for Westerners, Yakuza 5, as well as its recently announced demo, will not be leaving the shores of Japan.
[Source: Siliconera]
