Yakuza 3 confirmed NOT to be coming stateside

[corn619]

Thank you Sega for ruining my day, you suck.

[Ack]

Did they advertise Yakuza 2 much? I haven't been following game-related press much, but I don't remember seeing much of anything for it. I didn't even know the game existed up until I heard about it here.

So how am I supposed to buy a game if I don't know it exists?

[MrPopo]

Isn't PS3 region free anyway?

At least Yakuza fans can import number 3. Shenmue fans have nothing, NOTHING!

While it's an option, the downside to importing is that the game is frequently in a language the player cannot understand. Some games this matters, some games it doesn't.

[Dylan]

It doesn't make sense to me why companies do this. Even mediocre sales can justify the cost of translating a game with an added profit. Heck, the game is practically made already. Also it's never helpful to piss off your fanbase.

[otaku]

No they didn't advertise the game much and my local stores only had 1-2 copies if any at all it was the same with shenmue 2 when it came out on xbox. Someone will need to translate the ps3 version since the game has alot of dialogue and story.

Yeah shenmue fans, myself included really got screwed.

[IcKy99]

someone should make a printout translation guide for most of the dialog and controls so we can read it while we play, im that desperate

[Incognito D]

Isn't PS3 region free anyway?

At least Yakuza fans can import number 3. Shenmue fans have nothing, NOTHING!

While it's an option, the downside to importing is that the game is frequently in a language the player cannot understand. Some games this matters, some games it doesn't.

Hopefully someone will stick up some translated videos of the cut-scenes on Youtube or something. At least then people could watch while they play.

I would accept this state of affairs if it meant Shenmue III being made.

[the7k]

Yeah, while Yakuza 2 did sell pretty badly (40k copies), keep in mind that it was released September 9, 2008. For the PlayStation 2. With no advertising.

Honestly, 40k copies under those circumstances is a miracle. Especially when you consider that Mad World selling 66k copies on a current-gen system with a very healthy advertising budget is something Sega considered a success.

[MrPopo]

It doesn't make sense to me why companies do this. Even mediocre sales can justify the cost of translating a game with an added profit. Heck, the game is practically made already. Also it's never helpful to piss off your fanbase.

Not necessarily. The net profit on each unit (subtracing licensing costs and cost of manufacturing) has to cover the cost of localization and advertising. There's a certain breakpoint where you've sold enough units to cover costs, and potentially with this game the breakpoint is much higher than 40k units. I don't know, as I'm not privy to their process and costs.

[Dakinggamer87]

Thanks SEGA first Shenmue now Yakuza.. You are dead to me!!