Yu Suzuki, the pioneer of numerous videogame franchises, has stepped down from his role as R&D creative officer at Sega.
According to the latest Sega-Sammy investor report, the revered game designer has "retired" from the key role. Suzuki, 50, remains at Sega in a somewhat diminished capacity; acting as the R&D manager at Sega's AM Plus division.
AM Plus has yet to release a title outside of Japan, with the group having developed two arcade titles, one of which was the long-delayed arcade touch-screen game Psy-Phi.
Suzuki's name is synonymous with Sega's, and is responsible for the birth of several iconic franchises that brought the publisher wealth and fame. Having joined Sega in 1983 as a programmer, Suzuki quickly exhibited a prodigious talent in understanding how to design arcade games that both attracted audiences and pleased players.
The arcade release of OutRun made his career, yet the list of Suzuki's creations read like a Desert Island Games collection; Afterburner, Space Harrier, Shenmue, Virtua Cop and Virtua Fighter.
By 2003 he was still active in game production, both adding final tweaks to the applauded Virtua Fighter 4, as well as overseeing the unsuspectingly triumphant sequel to OutRun. In the same year he was honoured with an induction into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.
Since receiving the honour, Suzuki has not been involved in the production of any key releases. In recent times he has been best known for working on and promoting Shenmue Online, the unreleased online role-playing game.
Yet Shenmue Online, like its creator, has slipped under the radar in recent times. The game looks unlikely to ever see a release, and furthermore, the Shenmue series itself looks likely to remain incomplete.
If Shenmue is to be Suzuki's legacy, then the games' loose-ends are perhaps fitting tribute to an arcade maestro who, in the traditions of coin-sinking, always left the audience wanting more.
You never know. Fallout 3 came 10 years or so after Fallout 2. Granted, it was a whole new take on the Fallout universe, developed and released by completely different companies and it was a different experience to what had come before. Ah! Just recalled that FO3 is not the direct continuation of FO1&2, though it is set in the same universe.
He will always be fondly remembered by gamers of a certain (old) age.
I hope that they don't do a third Shemnue, only for the simple reason that I am wary that they may sour the franchise.
Saying that, the Yakuza team seem to have done a very good job on Yakuza 3.
Let's just say that I reckon that only a brave team would take on the final Shemnue....
Agreed. The only Shenmue should be "Yu Suzuki's Shenmue". From the direction at the end of the Shenmue 2, I wouldn't even let the Yakuza team take over. Just give Suzuki access to the game engine and let him do the rest.
Anyway, he has not totally left Sega - he is just sticking to his managament postion and leaving the creative side. COME ON SEGA, GET YOUR FINGER OUT AND GET SHENMUE 3 DONE!
Anyway, he has not totally left Sega - he is just sticking to his managament postion and leaving the creative side. COME ON SEGA, GET YOUR FINGER OUT AND GET SHENMUE 3 DONE!
You're just setting yourself up for a crushing fall, let go!
Terrible news. Sega have already shown a lack of creativity over the last 5 or so years and to hear their main driving force is moving up stairs is saddening indeed... I REALLY want the Shenmue saga to be wrapped up, but as the years go by, I start to lose interest. The ideal chance was to finish continue it last gen, but they let that pass only for them to work on this Shenmue Online game that probably won't see the light of day...
shenmue, what an adventure it was! will never forget the evenings spent wondering around the city and asking the same wacky questions. seriously,the game is top class.innovative.
There's NO WAY Yu Suzuki san will retire from making magical games, whether under the current limited financial constraints of Sega, or moving on to bigger and better things elsewhere!!
The guy is genuinely up there with Miyamoto, as a true trailblazer, and genuine innovator of gaming!
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I hope he has enough cash left to setup his own studio and buy the Shenmue IP from Sega. I need closure...
