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Sega - AM2 Projects, Sega Rally Sequels?

Posted by simoniker on from the magical-sound-shower-part-deux dept.

Thanks to Kikizo for running a series of articles on Sega, including an unconfirmed list of the AM2 studio's output for 2003, and new information about the state of Sega Rally 3. The AM2 list includes both Virtua Fighter Quest (working title) for Gamecube and Outrun 2 for arcade, both due later in 2003. Interestingly, the Outrun sequel is marked as running on the Xbox-based Chihiro arcade board, which powered the arcade version of Crazy Taxi 3, meaning an Xbox conversion would be very straightforward if this is true. Finally, as well as a separate story touching on the possible existence of Fighting Vipers 3, Kikizo claim Sega Rally 3 has been "..completely finished since January this year", but remains unreleased in arcades (and unannounced for PS2) because of "licensing issues", presumably with cars.

15 comments

  1. Uh oh by Dsal · · Score: 1, Funny

    No Shenmue 3.... If you'll excuse me, I'll be huddled in a ball in the corner feeling sorry for myself.

    1. Re:Uh oh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's okay. I'm sure Mr. Suzuki has the same ADD-like symptoms as Ryo.

      "I must finish Shenmue 3. Ooh look, darts. I think I'll play for a while. One game, 100 yen. I think I'll try it."

      *5 hours later*

      "Hm...it's getting late. Perhaps I should return home for the night."

      *Suzuki-san heads back to the house*

      *The next morning*

      "I must finish Shenmue 3. Nozomi!"

      "Yes Suzuki?"

      "Nozomi. On that day."

      "That day?"

      "Did you happen to see a black car?"

      "A black car?"

      "Yes, a black car on that day."

      "Oh, you mean the day of the incident?"

      "Yes."

      "Now that you mention it, I do sorta remember a black car."

      "You do? Nozomi, what can you tell me about the black car, from the day of the incident?"

      "Yes, it splashed mud all over me and was speeding really fast."

      "YOU FARKING BITCH! YOU BARELY REMEMBER A SPEEDING BLACK CAR THAT ALMOST KILLED YOU AND SPLASHED MUD ON-....I mean...oh, thank you very much."

      "Ryo-I mean...Suzuki. Please don't press yourself too hard."

      "I won't. See ya!"

      *Leaves*

      "I must finish Shenmue 3. Ooh, is that a capsule toy?!"

      Etc., etc., etc. =P

      And yeah, I'm joking, because I'd really like to see Shenmue 3+ as well. While the series has its faults, it is definately worthy of any gamer's library space. And after such an incredible ending in Shenmue 2 (I'm referring to the chapter with the rooftop scene, not "real" ending in the cave), I'd be quite bummed if Sega/AM2/Suzuki didn't finish the series.

      On a side note, I'm still kicking myself for not letting Mr. Suzuki know of my support for Shenmue when I ran into him on the E3 show floor (he spent quite a bit of time wandering the floor, something that can't be said for most of the "game gods"). I did get a picture with him, but failing to mention it was definitely one of my regrets from the show.

    2. Re:Uh oh by simoniker · · Score: 1

      It may still be that Shenmue 3 is the 'secret title' AM2 are revealing some time this month, but it's launching in 2004 so it's not on the AM2 release list for this year.

      Or at least, that's the reading if you're a hopeless Shenmue optimist. We'll have to see.

    3. Re:Uh oh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope you're right, and that "Virtua Fighter Quest" isn't the "Virtua Fighter RPG" that Shenmue started out to be. I worry that they decided it would be easier to tear everything down and start from scratch, perhaps banking on the VF brand (applies more to Japan than the US).

      *The kicking continues*

    4. Re:Uh oh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      ob PA link.

    5. Re:Uh oh by Dsal · · Score: 1

      I saw Miyamoto on the floor at E3. He was deep in conversation with another guy so I decided not to bug him. Of course, my friend comes in later and gets his picture with him. Oh well, back at the GDC he attended a few years back I almost accidentally knocked him over when we both weren't looking where we were going. I guess that counts as a run-in with greatness.

      I've heard Suzuki mention that he really wants to do Shenmue 3 if only he'd get the budget allocated. C'mon Sega, be a pal... allocate another 20 million to something that will sell a a couple hundred copies. It's good times!

    6. Re:Uh oh by Dsal · · Score: 1

      I hope it's on the 2004 list, but given its dismal sales I'm not going to hold out too much hope. Does anyone have the final sales figures for each of the Shenmues? Although to be fair, the 2nd's sales figures are all messed up due to the US release problems. It didn't help that it didn't officially come out in the US until it was over a year and a half old. I think the best bet if they do make a 3 is to include 2 and 1 on the disc, maybe something like the bonus disc for Wind Waker, so all the people who hadn't played it yet could get up to speed.

    7. Re:Uh oh by 13Echo · · Score: 1

      You too, huh? I own both Dreamcast games (2nd is the European import), and might even be tempted to buy an XBox if the third game ever comes. Of course, maybe I'll get lucky and it'll come to the Gamecube (yeah, right).

      I hope that Shenmue III is the secret AM2 title. The second game ended so abruptly. There are just so many questions that need answers... ;)

  2. licensing issues... with cars. by mcdrewski42 · · Score: 1

    "licensing issues", presumably with cars.

    Maybe the developers may have had too much Beer (as in Free) and have some drivers license issues... :)

    --
    /* affect != effect */ void affect(int *thing,int effect) { *thing += effect; }
  3. Shenmue... by Man+In+Black · · Score: 1

    I heard somewhere that when Shenmue was first made for the Dreamcast, it was intended to be a 16-part series! It was quite popular on the DC, but hasn't caught on elsewhere unfortunately. I wonder if they'll keep the other 14 episodes in Japan...

    --
    -"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
    1. Re:Shenmue... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Shenmue has 16 CHAPTERS, yes, but was never intended to be 16-games long. The first game covers the first chapter, and Shenmue II covers (I believe) chapters 3-5 (chapter 2 supposedly takes place on the boat to Hong Kong (between the two games), which includes a fight between Ryo and Chai. An unlockable comic in Shenmue II fills that gap.

      There's no official word on how many games the series will (or should/should have) span, but most interviews hint at at least 5 or 6 games. I just hope that if Mr. Suzuki plans on finishing the series, it isn't rushed to completion in one last game, simply to cut Sega/AM2's losses on the game (it sold a decent amount, but not really enough to cover development costs).

      And I think you meant that it was made for the Sega Saturn, which is what it was originally developed for. And frankly, it looked DAMN good for a Saturn game, but the same could also be said of the DC version (and XBOX port of the 2nd game). Its also worth noting that the first game was originally supposed to cover the events of both Shenmue and Shenmue II. The Saturn video shows everything from Iwao's murder all the way to meeting Shenhua in the forest at the end of the second game.

      *Still kicking myself for not mentioning Shenmue to Suzuki-san at E3* =P

    2. Re:Shenmue... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, Shenmue II starts at chapter 2.

    3. Re:Shenmue... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shenmue timeline

      The only real "fault" with this timeline is that it mentions Shenmue II covering four chapters, instead of the apparent three (Aberdeen/Wanchai, Kowloon, and Guilin). Whether Shenmue starts on chapter 2 or not has been debated for some time, as publications like the Shenmue manga seem to hint at a skip in the timeline. I don't think Sega or Suzuki have said either way, but that's the way I'd look at it as well. While there is some debate over whether the second game is chapters 2-4, I believe its pretty much accepted at this point that it covers 3-5.