Sega "sorry" for Yakuza 3 cut content

Sega has discussed why it cut content from Yazuka 3's Western release.

Series producer Masayoshi Kikuchi said that removing mini-games and hostess bars were a "business decision" to make it more appealing to non-Japanese audiences.

"At the time there was an argument with Sega internally that in order to make the game more compatible and appealing to the Western market, we would do better off removing those mini-games that are hard to understand and heavily rooted in Japanese culture," he said.

"We did what we thought would be good for the Western market, but after the game was released we received a lot of feedback from users in the complete opposite direction, asking for complete content.

"Learning from that experience this time, we've tried to include all content in the Japanese version you see in [Yakuza 4].

"It was a big surprise for us. I'm definitely pleased that people wanted to see more, but at the same time, I feel sorry for the fans who were let down by the ...

[Ilikegames76]

make the gamers feel like they have been short-changed. We paid full price for the game and we expect the game to be complete.

[TotalPS3Fanboy]

at least Sega learnt a lesson that they don't have to Westernize by cutting contents. The whole point is that the game in its original form is already appealing enough.

[hay]

That's why I wanted this game... To be rooted in Japanese culture in a Japanese game.
Patch it Sega! I stil haven't bought it cause of that.

[Game-ur]

Forgive them just this one time and get this game, the production values are AAA

[Lifendz]

Glad they get it. Let us decide what features are too Japan-centric. Didn't they realize that if someone was interested in this game to begin with that person was probably interested in all the game's features?

[coolfool]

you said exactly what I was thinking! I actually WANT the Japanese culture. It's one aspect that would make the game feel really unique from western releases.

[sikbeta]

Everything is cool, just don't do it next time :)

[ryuzu]

The problem is in order to understand those games you have to understand the under lying cultural basis for them.... If you don't, you won't understand the game and just shrug you shoulders and go do some more fighting.

Ideally Sega would put in a nice detailed description so gamers can learn something - but gamers don't want to learn that kind of stuff and Sega probably don't want to explain it.

I imagine there'll be a lot of comments about some pointless and/or incomprehensible minigames in Y4 now.

r.

[Redempteur]

sorry but there wasn't a problem with those games ( in the first two games ) yes they wanted to be more appealling but if they asked all those who asked Y3 to be translated , all of them wanted EVERYTHING !

the only cut i can accept is answer X answer because it's a quiz game very hard and very deep rooted in japanese culture..but the hostess and several ( 10 ) quests ? CUT ? there was no real reason for that cut

[AKS]

I also feel insulted by the removal of content. It's as though they think they are doing me a favor by cutting out optional content because I'd be too confused and bewildered by cultural differences. Do NOT dumb down games you expect me to buy. I was willing to overlook this incident and still bought it this time, but I would have passed on future games had they not addressed this issue. I accept their apology and am pleased to hear they will not do this again. Even so, it's quite bizarre that they thought this given that gamers buying Yakuza games are typically going to be very aware of Japanese culture. Even the name is a Japanese word and the dialogue is in Japanese. WTF were they thinking?!

BTW, kudos to gamers for voicing their opinion about this. I'm pleased that I'm not the only one who felt this way.

[SaiyanFury]

SEGA could technically still patch the game. Only in a recent PS Store update did SEGA even release the DLC that I got when I preordered the game 6-7 months ago. And that DLC was all patches that unlock stuff that was already on the disc. I KNOW the hostess clubs and stuff are on the disc, all they need do is release a patch that unlocks that stuff. Get on it SEGA, if you're really sorry then fix the problem and everyone's happy.

[MGRogue2017]

That's okay, Sega.

http://tiny.cc/7j5ge

[troll]

Yakuza is an amazing series, so how can we not forgive you SEGA? You keep up the good work and we'll keep filling up your coffers. Just remember that cut content = cut profit.

[Cloudberry]

.
At least localized it faster.

/: (

[LordStig]

let's hope for a DLC in the future.

[StitchJones]

No they aren't. They planed it the moment they were going to release the game in other territories. This is why Japanese game development is so horrible these days. Western developers have surpassed them in terms of story and content. Sega just cannot seem to get anything right.

[AssassinHD]

If they were really sorry about it they would patch the cut content into the western release. If they don't do that then their expression of sorrow amounts to nothing more than empty words.

[nycredude]

I've finished Yakuza 3 already and although I would have liked to have all that content, it was still an excellent experience. I'd rather they focus of Yakuza 4 and the other game now.

[Corrwin]

Dear Gamers,

We completely dropped the ball here.

Despite leaving Yakuza I and II almost completely untouched, we decided you didn't want a Japanese experience, although nobody forced you to pick up the previous games about Japan and it's people.

We're happy to say sorry now (rather than at release), since any sales we might lose from this announcement will be negligible. And this hollow gesture makes us look humble enough, that those of your with short memories might still Yakuza 4 at full price.

We probably won't cut content from Yakuza 4, because we're much too busy putting together a truck-load of DLC, to be ready for the launch date.

Keep buying our games, or else.

Sincerely,

SEGA Fuck You department.

[nycredude]

I think you are overreacting. Even with all the cut content there is still more than enough content to put most games to shame this gen. Yakuza is worth every penny of the price.

[Corrwin]

1 - SEGA left Yakuza 1 & 2 untouched.
2 - Saying sorry now, does nothing to sales.
3 - Buying Yakuza 3 at launch at full price, knowing it was cut, says "We're happy you cut the content" to SEGA.
4 - Y3 had a metric ton of DLC in Japan. Even though they had a complete game. If Y4 is complete in the west, most likely there will be a ton of paid for DLC for us too.
5 - Nobody attacked the game itself, so calm down. Yakuza is a fantastic series, which is why it is an even more horrid act of ignorance to have it butchered.

Still think it's an overreaction? Or just the simple truth, and you've let your love for the game (which is understandable) blind you to anything bad SEGA could do?

As long as they keep making the games right? No matter what state they're in?

[akiraburn]

Corrwin, while I do agree with some of what you said, I don't completely agree with a few things. One thing I would note, is that I don't necessarily believe that the DLC situation will happen. Yakuza 3 had a bunch of DLC and that all was bundled together on the disc for the release we got here, which leads me to believe that they will bundle the DLC together for us again.

Second though, I think that this admission of their fault could be a positive thing. I too was pretty irritated with the omission of both the hostess clubs, as well as some of the other things like Shogi. Although this admission of fault doesn't fix Yakuza 3 (and that is still pretty irritating), this at least shows that they have some decency and are willing to admit their faults.

It could end up being like you said, where they are simply trying to save face to keep fans happy, meanwhile getting ready to screw us again, which would be really not cool. Or they could be genuinely sorry for the situation, and are trying to make it right in Yakuza 4. Right now, only time can tell really.

[inbetweener]

The whole game is "rooted in Japanese culture", if they removed it all it would just be a title screen.

[Infernostew]

I'm glad that they actually learned a lesson and that what happen with Yakuza 3 won't be repeated in other releases. On the contrary, I'm still not satisfied with their late appology to their customers after the deception of "it's the full game just less trivia". I still bought the game and appreciate that they actually localized the game but if you're making more cuts than just trivia please tell us. The last thing I want is to come home after making a purchase to find out that cuts were made. It's not he cut mini games that bothered me but the fact they sega disn't inform us about all of these changes and that they didn't respond to fans or even give a legitament reason why this choice was made.

[EpsilonTeam]

Ok..cant they just DLC the cut content?

[xino]

This is why Japanese always fail to capture what westerners want! Since they sterotype western gamers all the time and thing they all want the same thing.

This is the most retarded decision I've ever noticed SEGA committed.

First of all you are bringing a Japanese game set in Japan and made by japanese to Western audiences and you decide to remove some contents because they are too complex and too Japanese. WTF!? If those content are Japanese culture then there is absolute no point in bringing the game to the audience because ALL of the contents for the game is Japanese style hence Yakuza!

I'm so glad I never wasted my money and brought this trash by supporting a retarded decision.

Just because the game is like GTA style doesn't mean that is all the Western audiences are interested in, again proof that Japanese developers love stereotyping and are too single minded.

Just bring back Shenmue 3!
At least a long awaited game is coming Feb 2011 and it's Duke Nukem Forever

[Acquiescence]

but I purchased both Yakuza and Yakuza 2 day of release and in both those games I hated the Hostess Clubs and never even bothered with any of the gambling games. When SEGA cut that stuff from number 3, I wasn't particularly fazed. I mean, the game was already crammed with an absurd amount of shit to do anyway, so I certainly wasn't going to miss getting chatted up by a virtual chick who is essentially paid to pretend to be interested in what men are saying. As much as I love Japanese culture, there are some proper dubious elements to it, and hosts and hostesses just freak me the hell out.

[criticalkare]

Don't care they learned from their mistakes, and bringing those contents to yakuza 4

[Azurite]

Hope they also use a better translation this time around.

[Fulensenca]

Too late. Yakuza 3 was released over 6 mounths ago.
I love Yakuza series and I loved Valkyria Chronicles, but I don' t know how much longer I can bear this love/hate relationship with SEGA.

SEGA, get it right once for all. And soon.