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==Downloadable content==
==Downloadable content==
===Eastern releases===
Eight [[DLC]] were delivered through a weekly game update campaign starting on March 5, 2009.<ref name="ryu-ga-gotoku.com">[http://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/three/extra/index.html Ryu ga Gotoku official website, Extra contents, Schedule]</ref><ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2009/02/20/yakuza-3-extended-with-eight-weeks-of-extras/ Yakuza 3 Extended With Eight Weeks Of Extras]</ref> These downloadable contents consist in eight Item packs and eight S.Item packs delivered in-game by a minor character named Bob Utsunomiya (a clown), 2-player support for some mini games (billiards, darts, bowling, golf and ''Answer & Answer''), a ''Yakuza'' (a.k.a. ''Ryu ga Gotoku'') extra quizz series for ''Answer & Answer'', three alternative costumes (one per character) for Kazuma Kiryu, Rikiya Shimabukura and Haruka Sawamura.
Eight [[DLC]] were delivered through a weekly game update campaign starting on March 5, 2009.<ref name="ryu-ga-gotoku.com">[http://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/three/extra/index.html Ryu ga Gotoku official website, Extra contents, Schedule]</ref><ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2009/02/20/yakuza-3-extended-with-eight-weeks-of-extras/ Yakuza 3 Extended With Eight Weeks Of Extras]</ref> These downloadable contents consist in eight Item packs and eight S.Item packs delivered in-game by a minor character named Bob Utsunomiya (a clown), 2-player support for some mini games (billiards, darts, bowling, golf and ''Answer & Answer''), a ''Yakuza'' (a.k.a. ''Ryu ga Gotoku'') extra quizz series for ''Answer & Answer'', three alternative costumes (one per character) for Kazuma Kiryu, Rikiya Shimabukura and Haruka Sawamura.


Four Premium Adventure extra battle modes are also added through DLC, these are Survival Battle, Survival [[tag (game)|Onigokko]] (サバイバル鬼ごっこ, ''sabaibaru oni gokko''), All Star Tournament and All Star Tag Tournament.
Four Premium Adventure extra battle modes are also added through DLC, these are Survival Battle, Survival [[tag (game)|Onigokko]] (サバイバル鬼ごっこ, ''sabaibaru oni gokko''), All Star Tournament and All Star Tag Tournament.

===Western releases===
Four DLC will be delivered on release day with the PAL version's standard deluxe package(called "Premium Pack" or "Battle Pack"). Free downloadable contents are Battle For Survival, All Star Tournament, All Star Tag Tournament and Haruka's Request; the first three are returning from the Japanese version while the latter, which was an extra sidemission, replaces Survival Onigokko<ref>[http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/9/2010/02/yak3pal.jpg Battle Pack advertising]</ref>.


==Marketing and release==
==Marketing and release==

Revision as of 14:42, 25 February 2010

Yakuza 3
North American cover art
Developer(s)Amusement Vision[1]
Publisher(s)Sega
Designer(s)Toshihiro Nagoshi (producer)
Masayoshi Yokoyama (writer)
Composer(s)See Soundtrack
SeriesYakuza
EngineMagical V-Engine
(character design)
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player, Two-player (through minigames update)

Yakuza 3, originally released in Japan as Like a Dragon 3 (龍が如く3, "Ryū ga Gotoku 3"), is the sequel to Yakuza 2 and the fourth installment in the Yakuza series, developed by Amusement Vision[1] and published by Sega exclusively for the PlayStation 3 video game console.[3] It was released in Japan and South East Asia on February 26, 2009, and will be released in North America and Europe on March 9, 2010 and March 12, 2010, respectively.[3]

The sequel Ryū ga Gotoku 4 is currently under development for the PlayStation 3 in Japan.[4]

Gameplay

New features

Yakuza 3 introduces PlayStation Network Trophies to the series with 50 trophies. It also adds four new gameplay elements as listed below:

  • Seamless Battle (シームレスバトル shimuresu batoru): The Seamless Battle is a streaming data-based loading-free system that allows the game to directly connect the adventure mode and the battle mode (called "Kenka") without the usual loading black screen.
  • Chase Battle (チェイスバトル, cheisu batoru): Chase Battle is a new battle mode which replaces the regular brawling (Kenka) with a running sequence set in a certain map. Both chaser and chased have a running gauge that decreases as the character runs and or is hurt by someone or something on his way. When the running gauge is empty the exhausted character stops the chase. Somewhere in the game a minor character, Mack Shinozuka will train Kazuma to improve his running performance.
  • Revelation (天啓, tenkei): Ten revelations will allow Kazuma Kiryu to learn new Heat Actions (ヒートアクション) in the Adventure mode, it is rather similar to the system introduced in the previous game Ryu ga Gotoku: Kenzan !. This time Kazuma uses his cell phone built-in camera to record new moves and techniques. These are acquired through hints and incidents spotted in First Person View. Learned Heat Actions are posted on Kazuma's his personal blog, called Kamuroblo, which uses the same template as producer Toshihiro Nagoshi's own blog.[5]
  • First Person View: When pressing the Sixaxis/Dual Shock 3's R3 button during the adventure mode the standard third person view switches to a brand new first person view mode. This perspective allows a better observation of the streets and people as well as posters reading, but looking at a distant villain in his eyes using First Person View will provoke him and engage an Encount battle. First Person View is disabled in some indoor places.

Event Mode

File:Ryu ga gotoku 3 GTMF2009 slideshow07.jpg
Event Mode uses high polygon models and Magical V-Engine facial animation.

The main story spans over twelve chapters plus a prologue. As with the earlier games, each chapter is preceded by a cinematic, called "event scene", which later becomes available in the Gallery mode. Yakuza 3 features 295 minutes of cutscenes according to the BBFC.[6]

Six sub-scenarios, e.g. Date's Pride, Two Fathers, Hometown Girl, The Finishing Touch, Silver Screen Dragon and Murder at Café Alps are special Missions featuring "event scene" cinematics. Holding R1 button and pressing CROSS button will activate an automatic mode that skips the cutscene dialogues.

Adventure Mode

New Kamurocho landmarks include Ibuki's Kamuro Castle which is closely modeled after Kabukicho's Royal Castle Bldg. (王城ビル).
Another new landmark is the Hotel Sea Clipper which is modeled after North Kabukicho's Aland Hotel love hotel.
Main article: Minigames of the Yakuza series

The main story is completed with 133 unique side stories called "sub-scenarios" ("substory" in the original version, "サブストーリー sabustori). These sub-scenarios are divided into two classes Mission and Hitman. There are 113 Missions, some of them are made up of different episodes, and 20 Hitman sub-scenarios, fifteen of these bounty hunter sidestories are located in Kamurocho, the remaining five are in Ryukyugai.

Twenty minigames are available within the Adventure mode. These are aromatherapy massage, darts, billiards, karaoke, bowling, mahjong, chinchirorin, shogi, chō-han, koi-koi, oicho-kabu, roulette, poker, blackjack, Answer & Answer, UFO Catcher, batting cage, golf, surf fishing and Boxcellios. 2-player support for some of these mini games and an expansion for Answer & Answer are added through DLC; as well as main menu direct access.

Beating the Adventure in "Hard" mode unlocks the "Ex-Hard" difficulty (extreme hard). Completing the game in any difficuly mode will create a "cleared data" gamesave and unlock "Premium New Game" and "Premium Adventure". The first allows to restart the game with all accumulated money, items, experience levels and fighting techniques. The latter is a free run mode dedicated to exploration and completion as it doesn't include the main story, sub-scenarios remain though (and Extra battle modes are added through DLC).

Battle Mode

As with the previous games, the Underground Arena (闘技場) is available. An illicit mixed martial arts competition sponsored by Majima is held in Kamurocho's Purgatory underground area. The Arena is inspired by real life Japanese cage fighting competitions such as K-1 World Grand Prix; the gameplay of this game within the game is similar to fighting games Toshihiro Nagoshi previously worked on such as Virtua Fighter 5 and SpikeOut. Single Tournament has 50 unique international fighters (a minor character with its own profile) and 11 grand prix. These 3-round competitions have various rings, rules and difficulty levels, there are Exhibition Tournament, Street Fight GP, Breakout GP, Heat GP, Bounding GP, Bomber GP, Golden Glove GP, Weapon Master GP, Hyper GP, Magnum Force GP and Maximum GP. Tag Tournament is a two-partner team match including 20 unique teams. Each team is made of paired Single Tournament fighters enhanced with a special duo attack. There are 2 available grand prix named Tag Match GP and Twin Dragon GP. Three Single Tournament fighters and two Encount Battle characters will join Kazuma Kiryu's "Team The Dragon" as tag partners once he finds them in the Adventure Mode; these are boxer Maxim Soldatov (マクシム・ソルダドフ), kenpō Blues Ebinuma (ブルース海老沼), puroresu Daiji Hiyama (桧山 大治), Keigo Kanno (神野 慶吾) and Masaki Hatae (波多江真幸). Orders can be given to these partners using the Dual Shock 3's arrow keys.

Beating the Adventure mode unlocks 35 additional Battle Missions gathered in a bonus mode called Final Competition (究極闘技 kyoukyoku tougi). First category has 10 missions and is called "Melee Competition" (乱戦闘技 ransen tougi), second has 5 missions and is called "Showdown Competition" (対決闘技 taiketsu tougi), third has 10 missions and is called "Trial Competition" (試練闘技 shiren tougi), the fourth category has 5 missions and is called "Cooperation Competition" (協力闘技 kyouryouku tougi). Completing these four categories with a "S" rank (the lower being C, B and A) unlocks the Final Competition (究極闘技 kyoukyoku tougi); this fifth category has 5 missions.

Once the Adventure Mode is completed the player can start a Premium Adventure and meet a hidden minor character (a clairvoyant woman) who allows to play four extra battle modes added through DLC. Survival Battle is an extra Hitman mission where Kazuma Kiryu must find and again defeat the "Last Boss" (ラスボス rasubasu), Yoshitaka Mine; eight bonus bosses are disseminated within Kamurocho. Survival Onigokko, Onigokko is the Japanese term for the tag game, in this extra sub-scenario Kiryu Kazuma is chased by Bob Utsunomiya in Kamurocho, there are ten missions to complete (go to a specific location as requested by the Game Master) in three minutes. All Star Tournament is an extra Arena single tournament that involves all 8 boss characters plus Goh Hamazaki; the latter is a main character that doesn't normally fight since he only appears in the game's Event Mode. All Star Tag Tournament is an extra tag tournament that allows to play with Kazuma Kiryu and his fighting partner Goro Majima against 7 teams of bosses and again bonus characters such as Kazuki, Yuya, Goh Hamazaki and Komaki.

Synopsis

Setting

Ryukyugai's Karyushi Arcade is based on Naha's Ichiba Hondorigai (市場本通り).[7]
Naha's famous Kokusai Street is renamed Ryukyu Street in the game.

Unlike Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! (often confused with Yakuza 3), which was a Miyamoto Musashi-based spinoff set in the Edo period Kyoto, this latest installment will continue the adventures of Kazuma Kiryu from Yakuza and Yakuza 2. The game will take place both in Kamurocho, a fictional version of Tokyo's red-light district Kabukicho, from the first two games and in a brand new location called Ryukyugai.

Ryukyugai is in Okinawa and is also a fictional area, this one is based upon Naha's Makishi. It includes real life landmarks such as the Ichiba Hondori[7] (linked to Mutsumibashi Dori and Heiwa Dori) covered shopping arcade renamed "Karyushi Arcade" (かりゆしアーケード, karyushi akedo) in the game as well as the popular Makishi Public Market shortened "Public Market" (公設市場, kousetsu ichiba),[8] the famous entertainment strip Kokusai Street called "Ryukyu Street" (琉球通り, ryukyu dori),[9] the Okinawa Monorail Kencho-mae Station as "Ryukyugai-mae Station" (琉球街前, ryukyugai mae) or the Mitsukoshi department store (Okinawa Mitsukoshi) which kept its actual name as part of the game's tie-in policy.

Compared with the earlier episodes, the Kamurocho area had some minor changes with additional backstreets and landmarks. Hence South-East Kabukicho's European medieval castle shaped Karaoke box Royal Castle Bldg. (王城ビル) has been modeled and renamed "Kamuro Castle", and North-West Kamurocho love hotel Hotel Aland has been recreated in Kamurocho hotels quarter as the Hotel Tea Clipper.

Characters

Main article: Characters of the Yakuza series

Yakuza 3 main characters are Kazuma Kiryu and Haruka Sawamura though it has a casting of three hundred and sixty characters appearing in the main adventure and sub-scenarios.

Plot

Template:Yakuza chronology Unlike the previous episodes the story is not written by Hase Seishu but by Masayoshi Yokoyama. Yakuza 3 takes a departure from the first two games with its choice of setting: instead of focusing on the gritty cityscape of Tokyo and Osaka, it switches gears and sends Kazuma Kiryu to the Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, where he runs the Morning glory orphanage (アサガオ, asagao) with his adoptive daughter Haruka Sawamura who accompanied him in the previous episodes and the Movie Version.

The Morning glory orphanage is on a land that is owned by Shigeru Nakahara, the boss of a local yakuza clan or bōryokudan, known as the Ryudo Family (琉道一家). Nakahara is under pressure from the country's government to sell the land which is planned to become a seaside resort. When his friend Daigo Dojima, late Chairman of the Tojo Clan, is involved in an assassination attempt, Kiryu once again finds himself in a series of tough situations and has to fight to protect his new sanctuary.[10]

Graphics

The game's default video output is 720p HD graphics without anti-aliasing but it supports 1080p mode upscale.

Production

See also: 3D computer graphics and Shader
Event character Game character
Polygon number 18,000 ~ 20,000 4,500 ~ 7,000
Polygon mesh
(head/body/total) 		43 / 64 / 107 12 / 60 / 72
Texture size
(front&back buffer) 		512 x 512 256 x 256
L.O.D.
(level of detail) 		No 3
Data size
(XSI) 		2.5 MB 600 KB
Produced number ~110
34 (S) + 70 (A) 		250
Production time
(per character) 		11 days (S)
6 days (A) 		3 days

Daisuke Tomoda, CS1 Team (Sega CS R&D) visual artist and character design team leader of the Yakuza series since the original episode,[11] partially unveiled Yakuza 3`s development at the 2009 Game Tools & Middleware Forum seminar held in Tokyo on June 15.[12] The Yakuza 3 character design started shortly after the completion of Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan! in 2008 with a three-week project phase followed by an eight months production.[12] In the end 110 high polygon characters, for they appear in Event Scene cinematics, plus 250 minor characters were created by 60 teams producing a dozen characters each.[12] Thus 360 characters were produced following a "one person one body" philosophy and a three-day per body target schedule.[12] As a comparison, the production of Yakuza on PlayStation 2 took 10 months and didn't had more volume.[12] The series' production pace is one game per year since the original Yakuza in 2005.[12] CS1 used a slogan to describe the game's graphics: "Reality instead of Real" (リアリティではなくリアル, riariti dehanaku riaru).[13]

Magical V-Engine

See also: Cyberware Inc. and Facial animation

As with the previous PlayStation 3 Ryu Ga Gotoku game, main characters have their face scanned through Cyberware's head & face color 3D scanner (model PS).[13] As detailed at the GTMF 2009, Event Scene cinematics are real-time and render highly detailed XSI 6.5 2,5MB data size characters using 18,000~20,000 polygons each;[13] 3D model bones are made of 107 meshes with 64 used for the body and the remaining 43 used for the face.[12] In addition the PlayStation 3 employs advanced graphics technologies without LOD, texture size 512x512 front buffer with 512x512 back buffer, diffuse map and normal map, multi map (ambient occlusion, specular mask, 8-bit specular power RGB) within cutscene.[12] These Event Scene cinematics fully exploit Sega's in-house facial expressions engine called Magical V-Engine.[12] This engine is based on a unique "wrinkles shader" technology (皺シェーダー, shiwa sheda)[12] that allows for advanced facial animation from voice recordings alone.[14] By animating based upon not only the phonetic lip syncing but tone, the software can emulate the basic human emotions in full facial expression.[14]

Audio

Yakuza 3 outputs uncompressed or compressed audio, respectively Linear PCM 2ch/5.1ch (stereo or surround) and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.[15]

Cast

The game's main characters have their face modeled in 3D after their voice actors who are Japanese celebrities. Softimage XSI 3D data are obtained by scanning a human head[16] with Cyberware Inc.'s latest scanner.[13] These include returning voice actors Takaya Kuroda (as Kazuma Kiryu), Rie Kugimiya (as Haruka Sawamura), Hidenari Ugaki as Goro Majima, and TV series actor Satoshi Tokushike (as Daigo Dojima).

New faces are film actors Tatsuya Fujiwara (as Rikiya Shimabukura) known overseas for his Shuya Nanahara role in Kinji Fukasaku's Battle Royale and Battle Royale II: Requiem, Nakamura Shidō II (as Yoshitaka Mine) who played in Ronny Yu's Jet Li is Fearless and Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima, veteran actor Tetsuya Watari (as Joji Kazama/Fuma) famous for his yakuza roles in Seijun Suzuki's Tokyo Drifter, Kinji Fukasaku's Graveyard of Honor and Takeshi Kitano's Brother, veteran singers and tarento Shigeru Izumiya (as Shigeru Nakahara) and George Takahashi (as Goh Hamazaki), veteran seiyu Akio Ohtsuka (as Ryuzo Tamiya), tarento Daisuke Miyakawa (as Mikio Aragaki) and Hiroyuki Miyasako (as Tsuyoshi Kanda).

Soundtrack

The Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Original Soundtrack (HCV-452) album was published by Wave Master in Japan on February 26, 2009. The music was composed by Hidenori Shoji, Kentaro Koyama, Takahiro Kai, Hiroyoshi Kato, Yoshio Tsuru, Hideki Sakamoto and includes a track by Love Sound System (DJ Giuliano, Ayako, Yoshiji Kobayashi). Performers are Minako Obata (a.k.a. Mooki), Chihiro Aoki (chorus) and Mitsuharu Fukuyama (trumpet). Two Karaoke minigame songs are also included, they are performed by voice actors Takaya Kuroda (Kazuma Kiryu) and Rie Kugimiya (Haruka Sawamura). The tracklist for Yakuza 3 has 31 titles (details are available below).

Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Original Soundtrack - tracklist
龍が如く3 オリジナルサウンドトラック

01. Fly (5:15)
02. 龍神の嘶き (ryujin no inanaki) (1:19)
03. Entrance To The Chaos (2:53)
04. Urgency (2:17)
05. Dead Run (2:25)
06. Bruise (1:41)
07. Ryu-Kyu Humming (1:53)
08. Crush & Strike (2:18)
09. D 2 A feat. Chihiro Aoki (chorus) (2:59)
10. TAKUMI 2009 (1:49)
11. Encounter The Dragoon (2:16)
12. Test Your Imagination (2:45)
13. Skirmish (1:54)
14. Underground Dazzling Star (2:08)
15. Another Demiworld (2:25)
16. End Point (2:03)
17. Hear this in the game (2:43)
18. Pure Malice (2:04)
19. Independence For Violence feat. Mitsuharu Fukuyama (trumpet) (2:54)
20. Illtreatment (2:24)
21. Clay Doll On The Cradle (3:42)
22. More Huge (2:06)
23. FM-Sound's Storm (2:26)
24. Receive And Stab You (2:16)
25. Ogre Has Returned (2:31)
26. 泪なき叙情 (namida naki jojou) (4:24)
27. 龍神の福音 (ryujin no fukuhin) (1:42)
28. No.1キャバ嬢をつくろう! (No.1 kyaba jou wo tsukurou!) by Love Sound System
feat. Minako Obata (a.k.a. Mooki) (2:21)
29. Fish On!! (1:16)
30. 神室雪月花 ~桐生 大熱唱版~ (Kamuro Setsugekka ~Kiryu Nesshou Version~) feat. Takaya Kuroda (1:37)
31. きっとChange myself ~Starring☆遥~ (Kitto Change Myself ~Starring Haruka~) feat. Rie Kugimiya (2:05)

Composed by: Hidenori Shoji (1, 2, 5~11, 13, 14, 16, 18~26), Hiroyoshi Kato (12, 15, 17, 27), Kentaro Koyama (3), Takahiro Kai (4), Yoshio Tsuru (29), Hideki Sakamoto (31),
Love Sound System (DJ Giuliano, Ayako, Yoshiji Kobayashi) (28)
Arranged by: Hidenori Shoji (27), Hideki Sakamoto (30)
Written by: Minako Obata (a.k.a. Mooki) (28), Hidenori Shoji (30), Ryosuke Horii (31)
Release: February 26, 2009
Genre: Video game music
Lenght: 74:51
Label: Wave Master
Catalog: HCV-452

Additional soundtrack includes three songs by Japanese rock music artist Eikichi Yazawa.

  • opening theme: Loser by Eikichi Yazawa. This main theme was released as a titletrack single by Garuru Records, the artist's own indie label (GRRC-7), on February 25, 2009.
  • closing theme: Omoi Ga Afuretara (想いがあふれたら) by Eikichi Yazawa from his best of Your Songs 2 released by Toshiba EMI in 2006 (TOCT-26004) and re-released in 2009 by Garuru Records (GRRC-2). This is a reprise of the original version released on his 1997 album Yes.
  • additional theme: Jikan Yo Tomare ~Subway Express 2 Version~ (時間よ止まれ ~SUBWAY EXPRESS 2 バージョン~) by Eikichi Yazawa from his album Subway Express 2 released by Toshiba-EMI in 2002 (TOCT-24840).

Downloadable content

Eastern releases

Eight DLC were delivered through a weekly game update campaign starting on March 5, 2009.[17][18] These downloadable contents consist in eight Item packs and eight S.Item packs delivered in-game by a minor character named Bob Utsunomiya (a clown), 2-player support for some mini games (billiards, darts, bowling, golf and Answer & Answer), a Yakuza (a.k.a. Ryu ga Gotoku) extra quizz series for Answer & Answer, three alternative costumes (one per character) for Kazuma Kiryu, Rikiya Shimabukura and Haruka Sawamura.

Four Premium Adventure extra battle modes are also added through DLC, these are Survival Battle, Survival Onigokko (サバイバル鬼ごっこ, sabaibaru oni gokko), All Star Tournament and All Star Tag Tournament.

Western releases

Four DLC will be delivered on release day with the PAL version's standard deluxe package(called "Premium Pack" or "Battle Pack"). Free downloadable contents are Battle For Survival, All Star Tournament, All Star Tag Tournament and Haruka's Request; the first three are returning from the Japanese version while the latter, which was an extra sidemission, replaces Survival Onigokko[19].

Marketing and release

Kamurocho's Irish pub Bantam (a.k.a. Bacchus in the first game) is decorated with real Toulouse-Lautrec posters; here Aristide Bruant.

Tie-in and product placement

Producer Toshihiro Nagoshi made twenty-seven tie-in[20] with local companies to produce 3D model reproduction of existing shop, restaurant or hostess bar buildings. Such replicas include real exterior, interior, products, menus and sometimes jingles.

Kabukicho's tie-in are Club Sega game centers, Don Quijote discount store,[20] Matsuya (松屋) restaurants,[21] Pronto café[22] (a Suntory joint venture) and Karaoke Kan.[23] Collaboration with Sole tanning studio,[24] Promise,[20] Aeon[20] and Geos[20] is limited to visible ads within Kamurocho.

Okinawa's tie-in are Blue Seal ice cream parlor,[20] Quickly bubble tea stand,[20] Sam's Maui steak house,[20] Stone Market accessory shop,[25] Okinawaya (おきなわ屋) shop,[26] Okinawarigura (泡盛蔵) liquor store[27] and Velotaxi Japan.[20] Limited collaboration include exterior design of Naha's Apa Hotel,[28] Okinawa's Mitsukoshi[20] and OPA[20] department stores (they cannot be entered). Orion draft beer,[20] Tantakatan (鍛高譚) shōchū,[20] Higashuzou (比嘉酒造) awamori[20] and Skymark Airlines[20] have ads visible within the Ryukyugai area.

Sega extended its product placement policy which was introduced in the original episode.[29] Now real products can be bought within discount and convenience stores including Axe fragrance,[20] various Ace Cook instant noodles,[30] several Suntory beers or soft drinks (such as Boss Coffee and C.C. Lemon),[20] Pepsi soda (a Suntory licensee),[20] Kodansha magazines (including Young Magazine, Weekly Morning and Vivi).[20] This also applies to bars and pubs since the Suntory group produces alcohol and owns many licenses for foreign alcoholic beverages like Early Times whiskey, Beefeater Gin, Courvoisier cognac and Carlsberg Beer.[20] Suntory vending machines are still disseminated within Kamurocho as in the previous games.

Some sub-scenarios even resolve around product placement with minor characters specially created to advertise products, for example the sidestory involving Ace Cook noodles and the fictitious ramen shop Kyushu Ichibanboshi (九州一番星)[31] or Young Magazine[32] and the generic convenience store Poppo.

Versions

Eastern releases

Kamutai Magazine bundle

As part of the pre-ordering campaign, the Japanese and Asian first prints were bundled with a limited item, a monography called Kamutai Magazine (February 2009 issue).[33]

Dragon Rising Pack
File:Playstation rising dragon pack.jpg
Limited edition Ceramic White 80GB PlayStation 3 "Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Rising Dragon Pack".

Sony celebrated the Japanese release of the game with a 10,000 pieces limited edition of the Ceramic White 80GB model PlayStation 3 called "Yakuza 3 Dragon Rising Pack" (龍が如く3昇り龍パック, ryu ga gotoku 3 nobori ryu pakku).[34]

Musashi's copper bell

The eastern versions include an extra Adventure Mode item. If the game detects an existing gamesave of Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan! stored on the PlayStation 3 hard disk drive, a reward item will be gift at the New Game launch. This is a red copper bell used by Miyamoto Musashi (a.k.a. Kazumanosuke Kiryu) in the spin-off that can be equipped by Kazuma.

Western releases

Localization

The PAL version is cut and features the Japanese voice cast (with localized subtitles) and includes an additional 18-minute video interview of Tamiya according to the BBFC.[35]

Even though violence and mature elements (such as the stripper clubs) were not censored since the game is rated 18, the localized version to be released in western markets has two elements removed - for cultural reason - according to IGN journalist Greg Miller[36] (subsequently quoted, emphasized and falsified by Kotaku blogger Brian Ashcroft). According to IGN UK, a Sega representative explained the localization changes as following: « The parts we ended up taking out were parts that we felt wouldn't make sense or wouldn't resonate as much ». As a consequence of this policy and according to IGN, the Answer & Answer minigame which was a Japanese History quiz minigame based on a Sega game available in Japanese game centers and « the concept of a hostess club » were removed from the western versions[37]. Additionally, the Sega representative reportedly gave quality garanties to Greg Miller stating « We didn't replace the parts we took out, but we made absolutely sure that the story continuity stayed intact so that the story experience was the same as the Japanese version and that it didn't take away the human drama so inherent to the Yakuza series. »

However, at this pre-release stage Greg Miller's insight unofficial report does not give practical details about what part of the « the concept of a hostess club » was really removed since the Sega spokenperson didn't explicitely told if it was the Let's make a club hostess sidemission or the whole club hostess romancing minigame.

Practically the former consists of picking up a young female non-player character in the Ryukyugai streets and to make her a club entertainer by customizing her physical aspect (with variable parameters such as make-up, haircut, dressing and à la mode accessories) in order to make her attractive to male customers who would give her money to spend time with her (they would speach together while Kiryu watch over as a bodyguard). Such minigame that reflects a typical part of the Japanese culture could be regarded as pimping in the western culture and therefore was removed to avoid the controversy. The latter, removing the whole romancing concept, is unlikely since this side part of the game was already available in the original Yakuza game's western versions.

In fact, what Greg Miller reported from his unofficial talk was the former since his proper words were « Even though the hostess clubs are out, you can still go on dates with the girls »; which confirms only one minor sidemission was removed instead of the entire romancing girl concept. Miller added « The strip clubs are still in Yakuza 3 », the concerned two clubs (namely Asia and Canal Grande) are actually linked to main and side missions in the original Japanese release.

An Adventure Mode bonus item, Musashi's copper bell awarded to series fan, didn't made it to the western release for practical reason; since the spinoff wasn't released in the western world the item could not possbily be unlocked and wouldn't make sense.

Controversy with Kotaku

Although journalist Greg Miller's unofficial insight report published by IGN website stated the club hostess remained except for a single specific sidemission (« Even though the hostess clubs are out, you can still go on dates with the girls»[38]) possibly in order to avoid cultural controversy (« we felt wouldn't make sense or wouldn't resonate as much »[39]), Kotaku blogger Brian Ashcraft extrapolated from the very same news and spreaded inaccurate informations claiming all the hostess bars were removed once and for all[40] which he called « A Giant Mistake». That false rumor caused fan disappointment as hinted by readers posts even tough the so called « giant mistake » wasn't actually made by the Sega company's localization team but by the Kotaku blog itself.

Premium Pack

The PAL version will be released as a standard deluxe edition called "Premium Pack". The package's sticker lists the following contents « Includes bonus enhanced CD soundtrack with a guide to Who's Who in the world of Yakuza + 4 pieces of unlockable content »[41].

Sales

Yakuza 3 is the PlayStation 3's second best seller game for 2009 in Japan, following Square-Enix's million-seller Final Fantasy XIII[42] but outselling Capcom's Resident Evil 5 blockbuster,[43] and is part of 2009's best-selling titles in this market with 499,436 copies sold until December 7, 2009 according to Weekly Famitsu.[43]

Due to their commercial success all Asian versions had bargain re-releases, a PlayStation 3 the Best edition in Asia on November 30, 2009,[44] then in Japan on December 3, 2009[45] and a PlayStation 3 BigHit Series edition on December 11, 2009 in Korea.[46]

Trial Version/Demo

A Demo was released on the Japanese PlayStation Store in February 19, 2009.[47]

A Demo was released on the European PlayStation Store in February 18, 2010.[48]

The latter, was taken from the exact same part of the game, but featured full english texts and subtitles. It also was missing the "hostess bar" feature that was included in the Japanese version [49]

Reception

The Japanese industry gave it the "Award for excellence" in the Japan Game Awards 2009's "Games of the Year Division" for its «Dramatic story development, freedom of the story and the graphics elaborated up to the details of the work. In addition, amusement found in every portion of the game including the vast number of sub-stories and mini games. This work was awarded the prize for the high quality of entertainment».[52] Yakuza 3 also earned SCEJ's PlayStation Award 2009 Gold prize for achieving +500,000 sales in the Japanese market.[51] Other Gold Prizes were Resident Evil 5 (PS3) and Dissidia Final Fantasy (PSP).[51]

Japanese magazine Weekly Famitsu rated the game 38/40.[53] Eurogamer rated the Japanese version 8/10.[54]

During a December 2009 interview with Gamespot, Sega Australia managing director Darren Macbeth said "the publisher needs to be comfortable enough that there is a strong market in the West before giving the go-ahead to local Japanese releases like the Yakuza series. In a lot of cases we have a very strong vocal group of fans, who demand the opportunity to play these games in their local markets, and are very outspoken in their support. However, when the time comes, they are reluctant to stay committed and actually make the purchase".[55]

References

Template:JapaneseText

  1. ^ a b c Sega of America, Sega Europe (2009.12.08). "SEGA brings Yakuza 3 to the West in recognition of fervent fans". Sega. Retrieved 2009-12-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Yakuza 3 (PS3): Amazon.co.uk: PC & Video Games". Amazon UK. 2009.12. Retrieved 2009-12-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Yakuza 3 Marches West". Aaron Webber Assistant Community Manager, Sega of America. 2009-12-08. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  4. ^ "Ryu ga Gotoku 4 official website". Sega. 2009.12. Retrieved 2010-01-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Toshihiro Nagoshi (2009.12.28). "Toshihiro Nagoshi Official Blog". Ameba, ameblo.jp. Retrieved 2009-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "YAKUZA 3 rated 18 by the BBFC". BBFC. 2009.12.08. Retrieved 2010-01-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b IIramboII (2009.12.31). "While Waiting For Yakuza 3 (footages of Ichiba Hondori and Karyushi Arcade)". Youtube. Retrieved 2010-01-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Footage of Makishi Public Market, real life version of "Public Market"
  9. ^ Footage of Kokusai Street
  10. ^ Toshihiro Nagoshi Discusses Yakuza 3
  11. ^ Daisuke Tomoda (2009). "Daisuke Tomoda profile at LinkedIn". LinkedIn website. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Reported by 佐藤カフジ (2009.06.16). "1年1作リリースという驚異的な開発速度を誇る「龍が如く」シリーズの秘密「GTMF2009」の場で明かされた、キャラクター製作における徹底的な効率化の内実とは？". Game Watch. Retrieved 2009-12-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ a b c d Hewlett-Packard Japan (2009). "HP Workstation 導入事例紹介株式会社セガ 「龍が如く3」". Hewlett-Packard. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  14. ^ a b Leigh Alexander (2007.12.12). "Sega Testing New Voice-Recognized Facial Animation Tool". Gamasutra website. Retrieved 2009-12-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Japanese edition back cover (BLJM-60132)
  16. ^ Reported by 木原卓 Photo by 佐伯憲司 (2009.01.23). "セガ、PS3「龍が如く3」完成披露会を開催 渡哲也さん、藤原竜也さんら豪華キャストが大集合". Game Watch. Retrieved 2009-12-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Ryu ga Gotoku official website, Extra contents, Schedule
  18. ^ Yakuza 3 Extended With Eight Weeks Of Extras
  19. ^ Battle Pack advertising
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Sega (2008.11). "Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Adventure Digest (『龍が如く3』アドベンチャー・ダイジェスト)". Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 official website. Retrieved 2009-12-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Yakuza 3 & Matsuya collaboration
  22. ^ Yakuza 3 & Pronto collaboration
  23. ^ Yakuza 3 tie-in campaign
  24. ^ Yakuza 3 & Sole collaboration
  25. ^ Stone Market official website
  26. ^ Okinawaya official website
  27. ^ Okinawarigura official website
  28. ^ "アパホテル〈那覇〉　｜【公式】アパホテル/全国ホテル予約サイト APA HOTEL". Apa Hotel website. 2009.12. Retrieved 2009-12-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Product Placement in Video Games".
  30. ^ Yakuza 3 & Ace Cook collaboration
  31. ^ Ace Cook & Yakuza 3 tie-in - special site
  32. ^ Yakuza 3 & Young Magazine collaboration
  33. ^ "『龍が如く3』、2009年2月26日に発売決定！　予約特典は......あの冊子！". Famitsu website. 2008.11.28. Retrieved 2009-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "限定10000台！ 『龍が如く3』"昇り龍パック"のデザインが決定". Famitsu website. 2009.01.06. Retrieved 2009-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ BBFC (2009.12.08). "Yakuza 3 rated 18 by the BBFC". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 2009-12-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "Yakuza 3 Loses Content in the West". IGN. 2010.02.23. Retrieved 2010.02.24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  37. ^ "Yakuza 3 Loses Content in the West". IGN. 2010.02.23. Retrieved 2010.02.24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  38. ^ "Yakuza 3 Loses Content in the West". IGN. 2010.02.23. Retrieved 2010.02.24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  39. ^ "Yakuza 3 Loses Content in the West". IGN. 2010.02.23. Retrieved 2010.02.24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  40. ^ "Sega, You Are Once Again Making A Giant Mistake". Kotaku. 2010.02.24. Retrieved 2010.02.24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  41. ^ "Yakuza 3 Premium Pack". Fnac retail stores. 2010.02.24. Retrieved 2010.02.24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Final Fantasy XIII: One Million Served". IGN.com, Anoop Gantayat. 2009-12-18. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  43. ^ a b The top 10 best-selling games of 2009 thus far in Japan
  44. ^ "PS3 Ryu ga Gotoku 3 (PlayStation3 the Best) BLAS-50172". GameBaz.com. 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  45. ^ "龍が如く3 PlayStation3 the Best BLJM-55012". Amazon Japan. 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  46. ^ "용과 같이 3 [BigHit]". Sony Computer Entertainment Korea. 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  47. ^ 「龍が如く３ 体験版」、明日19日よりPlayStationStoreにて配信開始！
  48. ^ http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/02/18/‘heads-up’-playstation-store-update-18th-february-2010/ PlaystationStore Update 18th February
  49. ^ http://kotaku.com/5479525/sega-yakuza-3-cuts-were-necessary-for-western-release-%5Bupdate%5D
  50. ^ "Japan Game Awards 2009 > AWARDED GAMES - Games of the Year Division". COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SUPPLIER'S ASSOCIATION (CESA). 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  51. ^ a b c 編集部：oNo 編集部：Nobu (2009.12.03). "SCEJ，日本国内でヒットしたタイトルを表彰する「PlayStation Awards 2009」を開催". Retrieved 2010-01-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ "Japan Game Awards 2009 > AWARDED GAMES - Games of the Year Division". COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SUPPLIER'S ASSOCIATION (CESA). 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  53. ^ N4G.com
  54. ^ [1]
  55. ^ Laura Parker (2009.12.28). "Nagoshi talks Yakuza 3". GameSpot AU. Retrieved 2010-01-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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