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[Nirolak]

At the article he talks about how he would be interested in making online games and smartphone titles and shares his views on free 2 play titles along with a few other things.

http://www.edge-online.com/features/an-audience-with-toshihiro-nagoshi/

Yakuza Localization:

Edge: Do you plan to eventually localise Yakuza 5 for the West?

Nagoshi: We don’t have a plan for that at the moment. The Yakuza Studio team is a fixed size, and we have to choose between forging ahead with the next game or localising the one that just came out. This time the size of the game was so large, so rather than localising that game we chose to focus our manpower on the new game. But we get asked about it a lot. We get lots of complaints!


Edge: When you localised Yakuza 4, you removed the Answer X Answer pop-culture quiz mini-game because you felt Westerners wouldn’t know the answers. Since Isshin has a historical setting, won’t that be even harder to localise?

Nagoshi: Well, even many Japanese people might not know the history. But we understand when we see a game set in Ancient Rome, you know? So long as you reach them with the human drama, suits or kimono, it doesn’t matter. Japan or overseas, I’m not worried about that.


Edge: So Isshin could possibly be localised someday?

Nagoshi: I’d definitely love to reach the whole world, haha, if we have the manpower and the money to do it.

Platform Choice:

Edge: Yakuza 1&2 HD came out for Wii U; were you not tempted to take the series multiplatform from now on?

Nagoshi: The PlayStation format has a lot of users, so we knew that our audience is there. With the HD versions, we had already made the game once for PS2 and then in HD, so it was quite easy to port it to Wii U, whereas [porting] a whole new title is a bit tricky. I was interested in the Wii U format and curious about how many Wii U users would be interested in the Yakuza series, and the only way to find that out was to try releasing something. It was an experiment. But the sales weren’t great.


Edge: Why are you releasing the game simultaneously on PS4 and PS3?

Nagoshi: We had committed to making a PS4 launch title, but when I thought about the users – well, the PS4 is cheaper than hardware used to be, but it’s still not cheap, so I decided we’d be letting our fans down if we didn’t also release a PS3 version. That’s why we’re making both versions available on the same day.


Edge: How will the game connect with Vita?

Nagoshi: We will release a Vita version that will work with Crossplay, but we haven’t decided the business model yet, like whether it will be a free download or not. For now, we can only confirm that it will be available at launch and compatible with both the PS3 and PS4 versions of Yakuza: Isshin. We’re still worrying about the details…

 

[DJSharpeCheddar]

It was pretty obvious we weren't getting Yakuza 5 at this point, but hearing it straight from the man himself sucks.

 

[R.I.P]

Edge: Do you plan to eventually localise Yakuza 5 for the West?

Nagoshi: We don’t have a plan for that at the moment.

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

 

[gogogow]

I always thought the Yakuza localizations were done by an external company, it's not?

And yeah, this late and they still don't have plans, basically means we won't ever get it.

Come on Sony, help them out a bit, it's a fucking exclusive!

 

[Coxy]

they can forge on ahead because XDev are handling it, right? Right? RIGHT?! ;_;

 

[darkside31337]

I'm confused about the Vita bit. Is it getting its own version?

 

[Nirolak]

I'm confused about the Vita bit. Is it getting its own version?

Yeah that surprised me too.

 

[dragonflys545]

OH FUCK NO!!!! WTF SEGA!!! FU!

 

[sixteen-bit]

No 5, but what about Kenzan?

 

[Amagon]

Hopes and dreams are crushed today.

 

[Spiegel]

Yeah that surprised me too.

I think it's only some minigames from the PS3/PS4 version.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

What a punch in the gut...

 

[redmetal86]

I was interested in the Wii U format and curious about how many Wii U users would be interested in the Yakuza series, and the only way to find that out was to try releasing something. It was an experiment. But the sales weren’t great.

.....good lord.

 

[gogogow]

Subtitle the damn thing and put it on PSN.

Atlus was profitable selling low numbers of games with massive scripts and full voice acting. What's different here?

They have been doing that since Yakuza 2 upto part 4...

But yeah, a PSN exclusive is better than nothing and should be the way to go for niche games.

 

[Nightengale]

they can forge on ahead because XDev are handling it, right? Right? RIGHT?! ;_;

There are times when companies refuse to allow 3rd-party to handle it.

It's either they do it themselves, and they don't do it at all.

 

[dragonflys545]

No 5, but what about Kenzan?

LOL... Why are you doing this T_T

 

[MaschinenZimmer]

It was pretty obvious we weren't getting Yakuza 5 at this point, but hearing it straight from the man himself sucks.

Yes, all hope lost. Yakuza series is now offically a Japan-only thing. Sad to hear it, but yeah.

 

[Gadirok]

I'm confused about the Vita bit. Is it getting its own version?

Yeah, that sounds confusing.

If there is a yakuza game coming for the Vita then great, I finally have something to quench my open world game thirst for the Vita.

 

[BlackLagoon]

I'm confused about the Vita bit. Is it getting its own version?

Sounds more like a companion app or mini-game thing.

 

[Mesoian]

 

[Holmes]

That explanation sounded like a big fuck you. "We can either localize a game or make a new one, and since we can't be bothered to localize the game, we just made a new one. Golly, we receive a lot of complaints about it!"

 

[Callibretto]

so obviously the problem is man power right? because they rather have their people make the next yakuza game instead of spending time for localization. well this is exactly why Sony made Third Party Production team, they'll lend the team or pick a studio to the port/localization, many of the indie game port for vita is not made by the original developer because they're all busy making their next game. other studio do the porting for them and I believe Sony had a hand in arranging that.

 

[FrostuTheNinja]

Well, that's it then.

 

[dugdug]

I always thought the Yakuza localizations were done by an external company, it's not?

This is what confuses me. Who localized Dead Souls, then?

 

[TheRealTalker]

Shahid should toss his extra $900 000s to this getting localized

 

[AnkiRendan]

I want to cry.

 

[gogogow]

Yeah, that sounds confusing.

If there is a yakuza game coming for the Vita then great, I finally have something to quench my open world game thirst for the Vita.

Which will also not be localized seeing how bad the Vita is doing WW, especially in the West...

 

[Gadirok]

They have been doing that since Yakuza 2 upto part 4...

But yeah, a PSN exclusive is better than nothing and should be the way to go for niche games.

I was hoping they could release all the entries or mainly the HD collection on PSN at the very least. I'd like to get into this series but never owned a PS2. Its the main obstacle for me.

I heard 3 catches you up on stuff, but without playing the first 2 entries I'm really not interested.

Which will also not be localized seeing how bad the Vita is doing WW, especially in the West...

Bummer, totally forgot about its situation.

It wasn't doing well enough on PS3 to justify Yakuza 5 getting localized in the west. I now doubt that the Vita entry would ever be localized.

Still, atleast I'm guessing it would help the situation for vita in japan.

 

[Skeff]

That kind of sounded like Yakuza ishin could be cross buy with a vita version, but there is definitely a vita version... Come on localization team.

 

[kmax]

Well, it's no suprise that Sega has no plans to release 5....I just hope they let let another publisher like Sony, publish the game here instead, so we in the west can enjoy the game as well.

 

[nckillthegrimace]

That explanation sounded like a big fuck you. "We can either localize a game or make a new one, and since we can't be bothered to localize the game, we just made a new one. Golly, we receive a lot of complaints about it!"

That's how I read it, too. Thanks a lot, you orange jerk.

 

[gogogow]

I was hoping they could release all the entries or mainly the HD collection on PSN at the very least. I'd like to get into this series but never owned a PS2. Its the main obstacle for me.

I heard 3 catches you up on stuff, but without playing the first 2 entries I'm really not interested.

They all have "previously in" videos. But it's really boring to watch them though, Yakuza needs to be experienced by playing it, not watching it imo.

 

[BlackLagoon]

This is what confuses me. Who localized Dead Souls, then?

Someone has to take the translated script and modify the game to work with it. That usually ends up being the development studio that made the game in the first place, since many have qualms about letting outside companies mess with their source code.

 

[Dantis]

Wow, 5 is finally dead.

Crazy.

Already hyped for Ishin.

 

[dugdug]

so obviously the problem is man power right? because they rather have their people make the next yakuza game instead of spending time for localization. well this is exactly why Sony made Third Party Production team, they'll lend the team or pick a studio to the port/localization, many of the indie game port for vita is not made by the original developer because they're all busy making their next game. other studio do the porting for them and I believe Sony had a hand in arranging that.

Hmm. If that's the case, then, I hope they Nagoshiate a deal soon!

 

[gogogow]

Someone has to take the translated script and modify the game to work with it. That usually ends up being the development studio that made the game in the first place, since many have qualms about letting outside companies mess with their source code.

Even so, it's not gonna be the ENTIRE team, what Nagoshi was saying.

 

[vpance]

How about Kickstarter, Sega?

 

[The Cartographer]

No Yakuza 5?

I will never forgive them.

 

[Callibretto]

Hmm. If that's the case, then, I hope they Nagoshiate a deal soon!

one of our Sony insider said that Ishin is going to get localized, I've already prepared my pitchforks if it didn't come here.

 

[NoirVisage]

Wow, 5 is finally dead.

Crazy.

Already hyped for Ishin.

It's not

We will get it.
Mark my words people.

 

[Cess007]

I have been counting Yakuza 5 as a lost cause for a while now, but...

Edge: So Isshin could possibly be localised someday?

Nagoshi: I’d definitely love to reach the whole world, haha, if we have the manpower and the money to do it.

Please, please Nagoshi, don't play with my heart like this. Don't give me hope where is none

 

[Krusenstern]

Ishin to get localised maybe? Verendus said it's getting localized.

 

[Reule]

Absolutely disappointing.

so obviously the problem is man power right? because they rather have their people make the next yakuza game instead of spending time for localization. well this is exactly why Sony made Third Party Production team, they'll lend the team or pick a studio to the port/localization, many of the indie game port for vita is not made by the original developer because they're all busy making their next game. other studio do the porting for them and I believe Sony had a hand in arranging that.

I sure hope so.

 

[OmegaDL50]

I guess it's too much to ask for Atlus to use their localization talent to handle this considering Sega acquired them, but it seems Sega's modus operandi remains unchanged in regards to localization efforts.

Well this is disappointing.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

Dead Souls and the WiiU experiment were both a waste of money. Should have been smarter than that and thought about localizing 5 or something. Can they not localize concurrent to development or something? This is really shitty...

 

[ChryZ]

Gutted about Yakuza 5, how much work can it be to throw a few subtitles and text translations in there.

 

[dragonlife]

They should experiment as well by putting 1 and 2 HD on Steam.

Gutted about Yakuza 5, how much work can it be to throw a few subtitles and text translation in there.

A lot.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

At this point I'm not going to buy Ishin even if it is localized.

 

[BlackLagoon]

Sounds more like a companion app or mini-game thing.

Actually, come to think of it, in one of the trailers they put out I'm pretty sure they show off a Vita second screen/companion app type thing.

 

[Acquiescence]

If this becomes widespread then I essentially created a meme. That's my contribution to this world we live in.