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[Bulletbrain]

"A further consequence is that Lost Judgment might be the end of the series since SEGA's strategy is now very PC centric."

Yeah, they will ditch the series because they can't release the game on PC.

Well, if one could apply a little bit of analytical thinking, they would see why. The return on investment on a wider release is much higher per single title. But I guess it's too much to expect from some people. Sigh.

 

[martino]

PC weight enough for this license and sadly japan strange fear will probably cost us this spin of.

 

[Metnut]

Seems like PC Gamers spend more time begging for ports on NEOGaf than they do actually playing games.

 

[Pagusas]

So they are worried about the nude/furry mods?

 

[Danjin44]

in my opinion original characters are so much better than celebrities as characters, we get most of iconic design from original characters.

 

[YCoCg]

Wait what, but the games website (and for the sequel) already had PC assets there and ready to go, they were only pulled AFTER the Stadia deal was made to keep it exclusive to that for one year, now apparently this was the issue?

 

[Faithless83]

Well, if one could apply a little bit of analytical thinking, they would see why. The return on investment on a wider release is much higher per single title. But I guess it's too much to expect from some people. Sigh.

The thing is, they already have PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series.
They said that Judgment will be a branch of Yakuza focused on the action, while the mainline games will be turn based RPGs.
The series was successful enough to ensure a sequel, they will not ditch the series just because PC. Also, PC is not the main focus from any DEVs, besides CDPR and maybe Blizzard (but that's changing too).
Looks like I'll be using this image more than I thought I would:

But here you go and your "analytical thinking". Sigh.

 

[Bulletbrain]

The thing is, they already have PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series.
They said that Judgment will be a branch of Yakuza focused on the action, while the mainline games will be turn based RPGs.
The series was successful enough to ensure a sequel, they will not ditch the series just because PC. Also, PC is not the main focus from any DEVs, besides CDPR and maybe Blizzard (but that's changing too).
Looks like I'll be using this image more than I thought I would:

But here you go and your "analytical thinking". Sigh.

I think you realise that the addressable market on PS4+PS5+XBOX+PC is higher than just the consoles. I think you also realise SEGA wanted Judgement series on PC. Sure Judgment is most definitely profitable on a console release, but a wider release will be MORE profitable. It is as simple as that. Try to keep up.

 

[TGO]

No big lost then, they'd only Pirate it anyway.
And cue 20 people who celebrate in the "Denuvo Fails" thread trying to convince us they don't do it..

 

[Holammer]

If they're afraid mods will ruin the actors good name and image it's fucking stupid. Models and textures can easily be extracted from the console versions too. Import them into SFM or Blender and Bob's your uncle.
If anything this paints a huge fucking target on them. Just out of spite SFM artists should churn out porn with the guy and make it as utterly ridiculous as possible, I'm talking dragon dildos, midgets, ponies, the whole nine yards.

 

[Corndog]

should've kept it as PS exclusive

Console warrior to the rescue.

 

[bender]

Console warrior to the rescue.

Everyone deserves the love of Kiryu.

 

[A.Romero]

I predict a very moving death scene coming up in the next game.

Something involving acid to the face or something.


SEGA is on board with PC for a long time.

For example, a press release from back in 2014:

In financial disclosures for the nine months ending December 31 Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. reported that its top selling retail games platform was Sega PC games. In addition, the number of PC titles sold versus the same period the previous year grew from 770,000 to 2.3 million units, an increase of 198%. Football Manager 2014, which was released in October, was the best selling PC title at 680,000 units. On console, the best selling title was Sonic Lost World, totaling 640,000 units between Wii U and 3DS systems.

Obviously that's not exactly the situation anymore but it's a good reference of for how long SEGA has seen the PC market as attractive. The face of an actor being a stopper to get to say 25% of the sales is something that could inspire them to either drop the actor or simply put those resources into the development of other titles.

This is from a more recent article:

Sega has a robust, PC-focused business in its games operations outside of Japan, with some of the industry's leading strategy and simulation developers in its portfolio.

Creative Assembly, Relic Entertainment, Amplitude Studios and Sports Interactive are all owned by Sega, and their games are likely to have driven the company's performance on Steam during the lockdown.

These comments suggest that Sega's management in Japan has recognised the strength this provides, and will now make PC an equal priority on all new releases.

*Emphasis mine.

In other words, while consoles probably bring most of the sales, PC is big enough as not to leave that money in the table.

Back on topic: Fuck using celebrities. Games need great actors but there are many unknown and talented people that can bring a lot to game productions without all this bullshit.

 

[bender]

Back on topic: Fuck using celebrities. Games need great actors but there are many unknown and talented people that can bring a lot to game productions without all this bullshit.

Normally I'd agree that skipping over big names is a good thing, but the Yakuza Team are some of the best in the business at getting great performances no matter who they cast.

 

[01011001]

this explains why the second game is not on PC... but why was the first game on PC but not on Xbox One

like... wtf? they released the first one on PC but not Xbox One, the second one tho will release on Xbox One but not on PC

 

[A.Romero]

Normally I'd agree that skipping over big names is a good thing, but the Yakuza Team are some of the best in the business at getting great performances no matter who they cast.

All the more reason: if the team can make anyone shine, get people without all this baggage that seems to just impede Sega doing whatever they want with the game.

 

[bender]

All the more reason: if the team can make anyone shine, get people without all this baggage that seems to just impede Sega doing whatever they want with the game.

Nah. Diversity is good. We don't need more Troy Baker/Nolan North situations.

 

[Barakov]

Eh...this sounds like the talent agency is just staffed by uber boomers who don't get videogames at all.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Good, hopefully more Japanese personalities, developers and other important people think of how Nintendo and Sony built the gaming industry to what it is... they should only be supporting national gaming products platforms.

Nintendo and Sony should have dominion over games completely.

They’d rather cancel the series than continue without releasing them on PC. Like it or not, these JP companies are raking in money on Steam. Need I remind you Sony just bought a PC port specialist studio.

 

[A.Romero]

Nah. Diversity is good. We don't need more Troy Baker/Nolan North situations.

Well, that's what I'm saying: Why celebrities when there are many talented and unknown people available?

I don't know what Baker and North have to do with this if we are talking about a game with Japanese characters but I agree, it would be great to hear other voice acting in high budget games just for the sake of diversity.

 

[bender]

Well, that's what I'm saying: Why celebrities when there are many talented and unknown people available?

I don't know what Baker and North have to do with this if we are talking about a game with Japanese characters but I agree, it would be great to hear other voice acting in high budget games just for the sake of diversity.

Baker and North are popular video game voice actors and are overused. There is nothing wrong with celeb voice actors just like there is nothing wrong with little know voice actors. It doesn't need to be all or none. And if having celebs attached to the games helps generate more interest and sales, even better. Yakuza deserves all the attention it can garner.

 

[A.Romero]

Baker and North are popular video game voice actors and are overused. There is nothing wrong with celeb voice actors just like there is nothing wrong with little know voice actors. It doesn't need to be all or none. And if having celebs attached to the games helps generate more interest and sales, even better. Yakuza deserves all the attention it can garner.

Agreed but as you can see in this case it sometimes comes with a cost. I doubt the sales attracted by using this actor compensate for missing a platform.

So if given the choice between using a celeb and having these issues or having unknown (talented) actors, I'd go for the second.

If celebs can do it without impacting development or distribution, then I don't particularly care. I want good voice acting, nothing else.

 

[Bryank75]

They’d rather cancel the series than continue without releasing them on PC. Like it or not, these JP companies are raking in money on Steam. Need I remind you Sony just bought a PC port specialist studio.

They might be playing the PC publishing game for now with last gen games..... but it's funny these memes of Gaben when Steam is so much smaller and insignificant compared to PlayStation.

Valve total equity = 10 billion

Valve total emplyees = 360 people

LOL....Sony could dismantle, crush and put Steam back together again several times over. The reason they put a few old games on there is because Steam is not a threat.

The only reason you even have a Yakuza series is because it did so well on PlayStation initially. It's been on PlayStation for 15 years, if you didn't know.

Raking in the money is the most hilarious exaggeration.... we all saw the game sales for Horizon, Death Stranding and Days Gone......... pathetic numbers, barely worth it. PC gamers spend big on hardware and then spend pennies on software.

 

[rkofan87]

just redo the mocap with some one else same mc new actor.

 

[BennyBlanco]

They might be playing the PC publishing game for now with last gen games..... but it's funny these memes of Gaben when Steam is so much smaller and insignificant compared to PlayStation.

Valve total equity = 10 billion

Valve total emplyees = 360 people

LOL....Sony could dismantle, crush and put Steam back together again several times over. The reason they put a few old games on there is because Steam is not a threat.

The only reason you even have a Yakuza series is because it did so well on PlayStation initially. It's been on PlayStation for 15 years, if you didn't know.

Raking in the money is the most hilarious exaggeration.... we all saw the game sales for Horizon, Death Stranding and Days Gone......... pathetic numbers, barely worth it. PC gamers spend big on hardware and then spend pennies on software.

Yea, Steam is so insignificant that is has more active users than PSN.

Steam has more monthly active users than both Xbox and PlayStation

Valve has published a round-up of Steam usage data, and the report reveals more information about how the service compares to PlayStation and Xbox.

www.vg247.com

Nice 2012 talking points.

 

[Bryank75]

Yea, Steam is so insignificant that is has more active users than PSN.

Steam has more monthly active users than both Xbox and PlayStation

Valve has published a round-up of Steam usage data, and the report reveals more information about how the service compares to PlayStation and Xbox.

www.vg247.com

Nice 2012 talking points.

Yeah, I even have an account and I dont use it at all. It signs in when I'm online though.

Is Steam making money from people signing in?

Those figures are from 2019

 

[Gp1]

Sony could dismantle, crush and put Steam back together again several times over.

Yeah... it worked very well for Epic, EA, Ubi, Blizzard...

 

[Bryank75]

Yeah... it worked very well for Epic, EA, Ubi, Blizzard...

Yeah, as if they are on Sony's level..... Sony is one of the top 3 most important companies in Japan. Maybe 4 depending on perspective.

Anyway, I said 'could', it was a hypothetical.

The point was that Valve are not a threat.

I think it's stupid to end a series just because of PC..... just change his face in the PC version or whatever.
Make his new contract for console only.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Yeah, I even have an account and I dont use it at all. It signs in when I'm online though.

Is Steam making money from people signing in?

Those figures are from 2019

The numbers are from 2020. Nice try tho.

Nearly 20 million more monthly active users than psn but Steam is insignificant.

 

[Bryank75]

The numbers are from 2020. Nice try tho.

Nearly 20 million more monthly active users than psn.

Yeah, 20 million new accounts cause their old ones were banned.

The growth rate for PC gaming is 3 or 4%

Console growth rate is 7%.

As I said, those accounts do not make money just with sign ins. No info on people with multiple accounts due to things like Destiny trials 7 win run help etc.
There's a lot of shady shit that goes on on PC...

The amount of COD bans is obscene on PC too.

So, those figures are meaningless.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Yeah, 20 million new accounts cause their old ones were banned.

The growth rate for PC gaming is 3 or 4%

Console growth rate is 7%.

As I said, those accounts do not make money just with sign ins. No info on people with multiple accounts due to things like Destiny trials 7 win run help etc.
There's a lot of shady shit that goes on on PC...

The amount of COD bans is obscene on PC too.

So, those figures are meaningless.

Except Monthly Active Users means people who played a game, not just signed in. I wonder if PSN numbers account for the spam bots? Shady shit happens on every online service. Sorry you’re sad that Steam is popular, must be hard for you.

 

[Bryank75]

Except Monthly Active Users means people who played a game, not just signed in. I wonder if PSN numbers account for the spam bots? Shady shit happens on every online service. Sorry you’re sad that Steam is popular, must be hard for you.

As I pointed out the COD ban rates and people using different accounts for flawless runs in Destiny and other things probably contribute a massive amount to that.

Nobody offering flawless runs in Destiny is going to use their own main Steam account.... they will have alts to use the aimbots and stuff on.

That's why hardly anyone is offering flawless runs on console..... it's way too fair.

That stuff is happening in loads of games too, they're just the one's I am familiar with...of course they played games on the different accounts.... doesn't mean much though.

 

[Gp1]

I think it's stupid to end a series just because of PC..... just change his face in the PC version or whatever.
Make his new contract for console only.

Stupid is a company like Sega being entangled in a contract like this.

It's something you would expect from the 90's Sega not the post 2010 Sega.

 

[Bryank75]

Stupid is a company like Sega being entangled in a contract like this.

It's something you would expect from the 90's Sega not the post 2010 Sega.

Can't argue with that.

 

[Faithless83]

I think you realise that the addressable market on PS4+PS5+XBOX+PC is higher than just the consoles. I think you also realise SEGA wanted Judgement series on PC. Sure Judgment is most definitely profitable on a console release, but a wider release will be MORE profitable. It is as simple as that. Try to keep up.

Geez man, don't be so dense.
All I'm saying is that it makes no sense to ditch a franchise just because you can't release on PC.
That's absurd.

So let's put your hat on and do the math:
Which is better: release it on consoles or CANCEL THE FRANCHISE, just because of the PC sales?
I'll throw this one as a hint: Is it hard to make a successful new IP nowadays?

Spoiler: answer

Think hard before you answer, please.

Edit to reflect the absurdity that I'm reading on this thread:

 

[Fuz]

Who even is this Takuya Kimura and why is he such a whiny little bitch.

 

[ACESHIGH]

I don't get it, who gives a flying fuck about who this actor is?

For any western gamer looks generic as fuck. Might as well kill his character poochie style.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

According to a Japanese weekly publication (as reported by Kotaku), Takuya Kimura's talent agency holds a tight leash over how their star asset's likeness is used and fears how that control might be diluted by a proper PC release. A further consequence is that Lost Judgment might be the end of the series since SEGA's strategy is now very PC centric.

Report: Judgment Series Is Ending Over PC Version Disagreement

Takuya Kimura's talent agency has never seemed enthusiastic about computers.

kotaku.com

It's very frustrating to see this kind of PC phobia still persisting in 2021. Hopefully SEGA can collab with another Japanese star working for an agency with more common sense.

 

[Virt McPolygon]

Replace the actor and get someone with less of a punchable face.

Takuya Kimura and/or his "talent" agency really wants people to forget his pansy-ass tv drama and boy band days by starring in roles like the Blade of the Immortal movie and now Judgement.

Easily the worst casting decision of all RGG Studio games. Going from cool actors that were in great yakuza films to this punchable face for a MC was disappointing misstep that's coming back to bite them in the ass if this rumor is true.

 

[Bulletbrain]

Geez man, don't be so dense.
All I'm saying is that it makes no sense to ditch a franchise just because you can't release on PC.
That's absurd.

So let's put your hat on and do the math:
Which is better: release it on consoles or CANCEL THE FRANCHISE, just because of the PC sales?
I'll throw this one as a hint: Is it hard to make a successful new IP nowadays?

Spoiler: answer

Think hard before you answer, please.

Edit to reflect the absurdity that I'm reading on this thread:

They ain't going to cancel it and just twiddle their thumb lmao. The Yakuza world is ripe with possibilities. They can either keep the detective motif going with another new character or make a spin-off picking from one of the dozen great characters from other games.

Let me dumb it down for you some more: instead of making say, judgment 3 and making USDX million with a console only release, they make a new spinoff or a new title which could make USDX+ million. Yakuza LAD is the highest selling Yakuza game partly due to it being available in PC and consoles. It's about opportunity cost. It's about ROI. It's about maximising the potential market. So please put your PC hate boner away if you can.

 

[Bulletbrain]

I don't get it, who gives a flying fuck about who this actor is?

For any western gamer looks generic as fuck. Might as well kill his character poochie style.

Kimura is a real big deal in Japan, and to a lesser extent, in Asia. Originally when the judgement series was conceived (2016?) I believe Sega was mostly interested in home markets and less on the western markets. So hiring the dude might have been a smart move back then. Also, the actor himself has no issue with this; it's his talent agency that is causing the problems.

But you are right. Kimura obviously does not have the nearly the same star power in western markets. This adds more possibility of SEGA ditching the series (probably the contract has some clause saying Kimura cannot be recast).

 

[Faithless83]

They ain't going to cancel it and just twiddle their thumb lmao. The Yakuza world is ripe with possibilities. They can either keep the detective motif going with another new character or make a spin-off picking from one of the dozen great characters from other games.

Let me dumb it down for you some more: instead of making say, judgment 3 and making USDX million with a console only release, they make a new spinoff or a new title which could make USDX+ million. Yakuza LAD is the highest selling Yakuza game partly due to it being available in PC and consoles. It's about opportunity cost. It's about ROI. It's about maximising the potential market. So please put your PC hate boner away if you can.

You are just giving too much credit to the PC sales to the point that it will require a main protagonist change.

They did remove some likeness in the past due to some scandal, but that was it and it was a secondary character.

My point is that: no, PC is not that important to risk changing an established IP, character and story.

So let me dumb this down for you:
They will work this out, thinking that PC will actually be a decisive factor to cancel an established character is laughable

 

[Patrick S.]

Kimura is a real big deal in Japan, and to a lesser extent, in Asia. Originally when the judgement series was conceived (2016?) I believe Sega was mostly interested in home markets and less on the western markets. So hiring the dude might have been a smart move back then. Also, the actor himself has no issue with this; it's his talent agency that is causing the problems.

But you are right. Kimura obviously does not have the nearly the same star power in western markets. This adds more possibility of SEGA ditching the series (probably the contract has some clause saying Kimura cannot be recast).

Is this guy owned by that talent agency or something? Don't they work for him, and he can tell them to STFU?

 

[JunkerWoland]

Is this guy owned by that talent agency or something? Don't they work for him, and he can tell them to STFU?

Speaking in generalities, most popular talent in Japan are employees of their agencies, with the agencies holding work contracts and dictating the relevant terms. Considering Kimura is represented by Johnnys, one of the largest and notoriously one of the strictest agencies, he likely works under conditions, where he has little-to-no say in contract stipulations.

 

[LazyParrot]

Is this guy owned by that talent agency or something? Don't they work for him, and he can tell them to STFU?

Johnny's is incredibly influential, to the point where they have significant control over the Japanese media landscape. When it came to light that their founder had been sexually abusing young boys signed to his agency for decades the vast majority of Japanese news outlets refused to report on it because they feared the repercussions. Getting on their bad side is generally not a good idea, and there's no way Kimura would risk it over something as trivial as this.

 

[Saber]

They ain't going to cancel it and just twiddle their thumb lmao. The Yakuza world is ripe with possibilities. They can either keep the detective motif going with another new character or make a spin-off picking from one of the dozen great characters from other games.

Let me dumb it down for you some more: instead of making say, judgment 3 and making USDX million with a console only release, they make a new spinoff or a new title which could make USDX+ million. Yakuza LAD is the highest selling Yakuza game partly due to it being available in PC and consoles. It's about opportunity cost. It's about ROI. It's about maximising the potential market. So please put your PC hate boner away if you can.

Still dumb that both you and OP think the main reason for a series to cease to exist is because they're not coming to one plataform. This smells bitter as a port begging to me.

 

[Keihart]

Not false tho, popular PC game releases and instantly you can mod everything naked or something.
Not that i think is logical trying to avoid it tho, rule 34 is a thing and thus everything is subject to some degree of degeneration, there is no avoiding it, you can only make it harder.

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

I noticed every party character in Yakuza 7 has a funny karaoke song except the Korean guy. Maybe that guy's talent agency says caused a similar fuss over musical rights to their actor.

 

[Fake]

They will work this out, thinking that PC will actually be a decisive factor to cancel an established character is laughable

Agree. Seriously, people that thing about this are out of their fucking mind just for the sake of port beg.

 

[Bulletbrain]

I noticed every party character in Yakuza 7 has a funny karaoke song except the Korean guy. Maybe that guy's talent agency says caused a similar fuss over musical rights to their actor.

Yup. Seems the licensing cost to have this guy sing is expensive! Too expensive to include in the end.