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Yu Suzuki (born
May 10,
1958) is
Sega's leading
video game producer.
Born and raised in
Iwate prefecture, he majored in
Electronic Science at
Okayama University of Science. He joined
Sega Enterprises in
1983.
He joined Sega as a
programmer and a
producer, and in his second year he created the first in the world
simulation arcade game,
Hang On. After Hang On, as a pioneer of simulation
games, he released many hit titles such as
Out Run. He also set eyes on the high potentials of CG boards,
and was the first to develop a title using the Model 1, a CG board in the
forefront of technology at the time.
In 1993, he created a global sensation with the release of
Virtua Fighter, a 3D computer graphics fighting game. This Virtua
Fighter series was highly recognized by the
Smithsonian Institution as an application which made great
contribution to the society in the field of art and entertainment, and for
the first time ever in the Japanese game industry, became a part of the
Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Research Collection on
Information Technology Innovation, and is now being kept perpetually
at the Smithsonian's
National Museum of American History in
Washington D.C. He vitalized games both culturally, and
technologically, and is a meritorious man in the amusement industry.
His title, Shenmue Chapter 1 Yokosuka for the
Dreamcast create a new genre. The grand story, the incredible
graphics, and the innovative system exceeds many previous games.
His latest arcade title is
F355 Challenge, a
racing
simulator created upon a strong partnership with
Ferrari. This game is drawing much attention not only from the game
industry, but also from the automobile industry.
Gameography
-
Hang-on July 1985
- Motorbike Game: First simulation game in the world. The player
controls the rider by tilting the cabinet, which is in the form of a
motorcycle.
-
Space Harrier December 1985
- 3D Shooting: A shooting game which accomplished smooth 3D graphic
images, through high-speed 3D processing. The motorized cabinet moves
in 4 directions (forward, backward, left and right) to enhance the
action.
-
Out Run September 1986
- Driving: A driving simulation game which was a huge hit throughout
the world. Each stage ends with a diverging point, which enabled
players to drive various courses.
-
After Burner July 1987
- Flying: A 3D shooting game which realistically reproduced aerial
combats. The cabinet rotates on 2 axes, which made it possible for the
players to feel realistic motions.
-
Power Drift August 1989
- Driving: A driving game where you dash through undulating courses
like a roller coaster. There are 25 circuits, and 12 characters to
choose from.
-
G-Loc May 1990
- Flying: The players can experience the realistically reproduced
aerial combat, through a cockpit view. When a missile approaches you
from behind, the view will automatically change.
-
R-360 November 1990
- Flying: Using the After Burner/G-Loc engine. By having 2 motion
axes on the cabinet, this game became the first game in the world to
rotate 360 degrees in all directions. This cabinet enabled players to
enjoy an ultimate experience.
-
Virtua Racing August 1992
- Driving: The first Sega game to use the 3DCG board "Model 1",
which made possible the realistic cyber space. This was the first game
where players could freely choose their view from the 4 VR buttons.
-
Virtua Fighter December 1993
- Fighting: The very first 3DCG fighting game in the world. Human
motions are realistically reproduced by high level 3D processing. The
players can choose from 8 characters. Each character has a variation
of distinctive moves.
-
Virtua Fighter 2 November 1994
- Fighting: Model 2's texture mapping capability enabled the
beautiful graphics of this game. The 8 characters from the previous
version has been enhanced, and 2 new characters have joined the
competition. Every factor has been improved from the previous version.
-
Virtua Fighter 3 September 1996
- Fighting: The first Model 3 game. The Escape Button has been added
as a new feature. This is the first fighting game to have undulations
in the stages. 2 new characters have been added.
-
Virtua Fighter 3 Team Battle September 1997
- Fighting: Improved version of the 1 on 1 battle system of the
Virtua Fighter series, with the new "Team Battle" system added as a
new feature.
-
F355 Challenge July 1999
- Driving: A real racing
simulator, fully equipped with a 6 speed gear shift and a
clutch pedal, targeted for players who wish to improve their
driving techniques in order to become professional drivers. This game
has brought forth great praise and sympathetic responses from Ferrari,
for it far exceeds previous arcade games, and for being a very
complete piece of entertainment. For the first time ever,
Ferrari licensed a game which features only a single model of a
Ferrari car.
-
Shenmue December 1999
- 'Free': The first consumer title for Yu Suzuki, which took 5 years
from the first conception. The players control the main character
freely, gather information through conversation, and adventure through
their own story. Everything is so full of reality. You'll be
experiencing another reality which exists inside this game.
- FREE (Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment) -- This game does not fit
into any previous genre of games. It is close to a
RPG in a sense that it has a story.
-
Virtua Fighter 4 August 2001
- Fighting: Another game in the Virtua Fighter series game. As
usual, a few more characters added to the mix, with some new features.
This game was one of the first to use the NAOMI 2 arcade board.
-
Shenmue 2 September 2001
- 'Free': The second in the Shenmue Saga, this time we see the game
character
Ryo Hazuki-san travel through
Hong Kong looking for the murderer of his father,
Lan Di.
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