Yakuza 3 captures second-best PS3 launch in Japan
by Xav de Matos 
{ Mar 4th 2009 at 8:00PM }
[Via N4G]
[Via N4G]
- Riccitiello reckons console price cuts came too late
- Holy trademark, NIS! 'Badman' games to be renamed
- Xbox Live Marketplace Feb. schedule includes $10 Battlefield 1943
- BlazBlue: Continuum Shift gaining a character in console port
- Ghost Recon also headed to Wii, PSP, and DS; Wii version developed by a different team
Featured Galleries (view all)
Team Joystiq
Chris Grant
Editor-in-Chief
James Ransom-Wiley
Managing Editor
Ludwig Kietzmann
Senior Editor
Andrew Yoon
East Coast Editor
Randy Nelson
West Coast Editor
Justin McElroy
Reviews Editor
Alexander Sliwinski
Contributing Editor
Ben Gilbert
Contributing Editor
David Hinkle
Contributing Editor
Griffin McElroy
Contributing Editor
JC Fletcher
Contributing Editor
Kevin Kelly
Contributing Editor
Mike Schramm
Contributing Editor
Richard Mitchell
Contributing Editor
Xav De Matos
Contributing Editor
WIN Network
- Autos
- Technology
- Lifestyle
- Gaming
- Finance
- Entertainment on AOL
- Lifestyle on AOL
- Sports on AOL
- Travel on AOL
- Also on AOL
Joystiq Video
Loading Viddler Videos
Joystiq Features
AOL News
All contents copyright © 2003-2010, Weblogs, Inc. All rights reserved
Joystiq [PlayStation] is a member of the Weblogs, Inc. Network. Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Notify AOL
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lieutenant @ Mar 4th 2009 8:11PM
"the publisher has no plans to bring the game to North America at this time."
The JP version has english subtitles, right? Right!? =/
Mana Knight @ Mar 4th 2009 8:16PM
It does not have any English subtitles.
I'm glad to see Yakuza 3 sell well. I just hope it sells good after a while so Sega changes its mind.
sony boy @ Mar 4th 2009 8:18PM
sega...bring this game to the usa!!!!!!!!!!! Your need the money because you have crappy sonic games!!!
jabelosoh @ Mar 4th 2009 8:19PM
What? No plans to bring this over? Aww come on, that sucks! D=
Khaled @ Mar 4th 2009 8:20PM
I downloaded the demo but have yet to play it.
Speaking of that, what happened to the weekly Asian stores update post that we used to have @ PS3 FANBOY?
InFaMoUs1- @ Mar 4th 2009 8:29PM
what happened to cool stuff for sunday? i actually looked foward to that stuff.
Devin @ Mar 4th 2009 8:43PM
What would be their reason for not bringing it to NA? The costs involved with localization? Hell, look at how well MGS4 sold over here. It reminds me of Shenmue which is only a good thing in my book. Please Sega, change your mind.
deathxrebirth @ Mar 4th 2009 8:48PM
Possibly because it is too Japan-centric? A lot of the mini-games, quests and nuances would only make sense to a native Japanese or a gaijn-in-the-know. Coupled with the fact that the first two didn't sell well outside of Japan and there you go.
I for one would pick this up in a heartbeat. Here is hoping the Asian version will have subs (though I have already heard it won't :()
Copland @ Mar 4th 2009 8:50PM
I think Yakuza 1&2 didn't do well in foreign countries considering the install base of Playstation 2.
So I think Sega has the impression that Yakuza series isn't for foreign countries.
Which is my guess.
Devin @ Mar 4th 2009 9:07PM
How do you think it compares to Shenmue? I loved that game and so did a lot of my friends. It had fun mini-games, random walking around talking to people and lots of fighting.
Copland @ Mar 4th 2009 8:52PM
I actually have the game, but the game does not have english subs.
Also, I completely agree with deathxrebirth for the reason why Yakuza 3 has no plans on releasing in foreign countries.
Devin @ Mar 4th 2009 9:08PM
Why is Gametrailers showing tons of trailers for the game even if it's never coming to NA? I personally think it looks fun and I don't even game that much. I will say I've never played the past two titles...
Brett from Atlanta @ Mar 4th 2009 9:16PM
Here's an idea. What is they released a version with english subs for download on the PSN store? It's basically free money for them. This way enthusiasts that actually really want this game (me) will cover the cost of the subs and then some. This way they don't have to care if it sells well or not over here because they have to invest next to nothing in it. If it flops over here big deal, they covered the cost of the subs and anything after that is basically free money. What do you guy think?
Skyflur @ Mar 5th 2009 7:51PM
I don't understand why games don't just have subs, if it's not worth doing voice overs than they should really just add subs. But I guess they don't see that as a worth while idea. I know I would import, but a lot more people wouldn't. With that much of a first week sale, i think it might eventually show its face in other territories.
Syn @ Mar 4th 2009 9:31PM
That screenshot isn't Yakuza 3!
Yakuza Kenzan! and Yakuza 3 are different games.
Syn @ Mar 4th 2009 9:34PM
Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan and Ryū ga Gotoku 3.
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Mar 4th 2009 9:40PM
The screen shot is from a different game.
I played the demo and the game is friggin incredible. I had pondered importing it but decided against it after the scale of the demo. I guess if it never gets localized I will have to bite the bullet and import it. Of course only after I find A translation guide for it online.
Josh @ Mar 4th 2009 9:57PM
Man, I wanted to try the Yakuza series, but if it's dead outside of Japan, then I guess I won't...
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Mar 5th 2009 11:03AM
You can buy Yakuza 1 & 2 for the PS2. Both have been localized for North America and can both be purchased for a very minimal amount of money. One of my favorite series of all time.
Josh @ Mar 5th 2009 11:19AM
I know, but if it's going to end there then I probably won't even bother...
Marky264 @ Mar 4th 2009 10:05PM
I'm importing it no matter what if it doesnt arrive outside the japan, loved the yakuza games it's just a shame people stateside are too thick to appreciate great games of the yakuza series, I bet hardly any of you have heard of Shenmue games either
michael000 @ Mar 4th 2009 11:19PM
Another case where Sony shows its absolute lack of forward thinking and its insistence on banging its head against a wall. Apparently they believe EVERYONE only wants to play FPS and western developed style adventure games. Hint hint M$ is absolutely smoking them cause those are the genres that the XBOX brand was built on. Sony clearly has forgotten how much of a part that JP developers played in the building of the Playstation brand.
You've got a established series that sells well overseas and has a niche market already in the states that has 2 quality EXCLUSIVE games for your system. Why not step in and help abit with localization? How can it not be a win win for both Sega and Sony? Sega gets a little help taking some of the risk out of releasing stateside and Sony gets 2 quality exclusives that aren't carbon copy of all the other drivel they've released lately.
Oh well, i have no intention of replacing my dead launch 60gb (boy was that a mistake) till i can either buy one for $250 or until they seriously step up their JP developer support. Don't see either of those happening anytime in the next 2 years.
Popfrogs @ Mar 5th 2009 12:33AM
If you're too cheap to replace it, I'll buy it from you for $100.
michael000 @ Mar 5th 2009 2:13AM
Luckily i bought a Best Buy product replacement plan and it died a month before that expired, got a gift cert for $643 back heh.
Coincidentally enough the the only thing it didn't cover was the Yakuza 2 disc that was in the PS3, damn dead power supply.
St.McDuck @ Mar 4th 2009 11:36PM
I just bought Yakuza 1 & 2 (both new), so nobody can say I haven't done my part to bring Yakuza 3 over to America.
garnsr @ Mar 4th 2009 11:51PM
I enjoyed the first two, and was looking forward to this one. I hope it comes here, I played the Japanese demo and it seems to be pretty much the same as the first two but much prettier. But wasn't it supposed to be set in the Tokugawa Era originally?
Think Adrian @ Mar 5th 2009 1:29AM
They've had so much time developing this, and it still looks plastic, not so much difference from Tekken 5 on PS2...
Think Adrian @ Mar 5th 2009 1:30AM
how did that comment get there? Ignore please...
Think Adrian @ Mar 5th 2009 1:29AM
Who cares about the US, bring it to Europe!
TedC @ Mar 5th 2009 1:33AM
There's an online petition you can sign, asking Sega to bring Yakuza 3 to North America. Who knows whether it'll do any good, but it couldn't hurt:
http://www.petitiononline.com/yakuza/
stargateheaven @ Mar 5th 2009 9:32AM
They are probably thinking how much trouble to localize.. when really, no one wants famous voice actors.. original voice and english subs are fine, sega, FINE.
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Mar 5th 2009 11:08AM
All Yakuza 2 has is subs and that still took 2 years to localize. The reason Yakuza 1 & 2 didn't sell well is because SEGA didn't market them at all.
pavel @ Mar 5th 2009 8:38AM
Oh No!! Come on Sega help a brother out! I bought the first two & enjoyed them although the gameplay is a little dated, Shenmue anyone? Hmm what can we do. I know, tell Microsoft its a PS3 that they need to entice to go multiplatform. Ha!
Paulmichael @ Mar 5th 2009 1:04PM
What's with all the love towards this boring entry in the series? I suggest playing the demo off the JP PSN Store, because then you'll see that Yakuza 3 is a horrible game. There are so many aspects to this game that seem stuck in the last generation of consoles. It's mediocre at best, worse-than-the-first-50-Cent-game at worst.
Darrell @ Mar 5th 2009 2:09PM
Who's running Sega? if the game is so popular there, and has a cult following here what is the big deal?
OutKast206 @ Mar 5th 2009 3:44PM
I agree that SEGA should just release a DL patch to install English subtitles for the game. I'm not a programmer, but I'm sure it can be done in a cost effective manner and charge us (me) for the subs ... $10 is fine with me... even $20 for that matter, I just want play and understand what the hell is going on while I'm playing! Besides the English voice overs suck, you loose that 'feel' of the Japanese characters due to their voice/tone, especially the Yakuza voices (if you ever watched yakuza movies you will understand what I'm saying). please don't force me to have one of my Japanese speaking friends come over and translate while I play the game!!
why don't non-English speaking developers think forward and add English subs to their "popular" games since all PS3 games are region free? or am I mistaken?
KiraXD @ Mar 5th 2009 5:29PM
dammit sega... i LOVE the demo... looks like im gonna have to import it and find online translations.
lewis d. @ Mar 12th 2009 9:18AM
I think everybody that wants it should just import it. The game is very Japan centric like someone else said, they all have been. That's probably part of the reason it hasn't done well here, only people who are really into Japanese culture will understand every facet of this game. I for one didn't play the first Yakuza until it was 15-20 bucks at Gamestop but when I did, I fell in love with it. And the reason for this was lack of, or very bad marketing. Had I actually heard of Yakuza when it was first released, being the Japan freak I am, I would have pre-ordered it... And I won't even go into how hard it was to accept that I would never get to play Ryu Ga Gotoku 2... But then the unthinkable happened, they brought it over here!! So there is still hope guys... Still, there are translations available online. Some guy called the ThePatrick made some really good ones in the past for Yakuza 2 before it was released with subs and also for Kenzan! and he's working on one for Yakuza 3 as we speak. I for one already imported Yakuza 3, I'm lust waiting for his translation or for another one to pop up before I start playing... Until then, I have Kenzan! which is super full of awesome!! Kazuma will KIRYUUU!!! LOL... X-P