- “Total Net Ranking” Opens on Shenmue Passport!
- GDC Report from the U.S.A
- Announcement: Japan Game Awards Results
- Masaya Matsukaze’s Advice Corner
- ‘Shenmue Chapter One: Yokosuka - Original Soundtrack’ finally hits store shelves!
- Tokyo Game Show 2000 Spring Information
- i-mode Image Service #4, Now with Color Support
“Total Net Ranking” Releases on Shenmue Passport!
- Total Net Ranking calculates your overall position across all Network Ranking games (nine events in total, including the Triathlon).
- The Score shown is the sum of your rankings in each game. A lower Score means a higher overall ranking.
- You must be registered in the Network Ranking to appear in the Total Net Ranking.
- Any event you haven’t entered will be counted as last place in that game.
- Your ranking name will be the same as your Network Ranking username.
 |
| Total Net Ranking screen in the Shenmue Passport (image added by Switch) |
GDC Report from the U.S.A
Okukawa, from our publicity team, was on-site and brings us this report.
GDC is the largest U.S. event aimed at game developers and tool creators, and one session stood out above the rest this year: Yu Suzuki’s keynote speech on the final day, with roughly 3,000 attendees filling the hall.
 |
| Lobby at the GDC 2000 venue |
And the first thing that hit me was this: Yu Suzuki is hugely popular in America too! I’d heard that beforehand, but experiencing it firsthand was something else.
Every time a classic title - Hang-On, Space Harrier, Virtua Fighter, and more - appeared in his talk, the audience broke into applause. Even his smallest comments drew cheers. The atmosphere was incredible. Americans really know how to show their excitement.
Yu Suzuki himself seemed to be enjoying all the energy in the room, responding to the crowd's energy as he spoke.
The announcement of the U.S. version of Shenmue Chapter One: Yokosuka was also a big moment, and from the reactions, fans were thrilled.
The session began with a video introducing Yu Suzuki’s career.
As his past works played, the applause never stopped. The most popular titles were Hang-On, Space Harrier, Out Run, Virtua Racing, and of course the Virtua Fighter series.
 |
| Some of Yu Suzuki's past works from the introduction video |
A Shenmue video followed, and Yu Suzuki took the stage to loud cheers. His popularity in the U.S. is truly impressive.
He spoke about how he first entered game development, along with new techniques being used in Shenmue’s production - topics you rarely hear directly from him.
Footage from the U.S. version of Shenmue Chapter One was also shown for the first time, revealing just how far development had progressed.
 |
| [Note from Switch: interesting dialogue differences and title typos like these were present in these early screens; these were adjusted in the release] |
To close the keynote, he played the Japanese version of Shenmue Chapter One: Yokosuka.
Buying items at Abe Store in Sakuragaoka, trying the capsule machines, chatting with people along Dobuita Street, playing Space Harrier at the arcade - the audience loved every moment.
- Video of Yu Suzuki's GDC 2000 interview and playthrough:
Announcement: Japan Game Awards Results
On Thursday, March 30, 2000, the winners of the 4th Japan Game Awards will be announced, to recognize games released in Japan between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 1999.
Shenmue Chapter One: Yokosuka has been nominated in five categories:
-
Grand Award
- Award for Excellence
- Category Awards
- Programming Award
- Graphics Award
- Scenario Award
Which title will take home the Grand Award? How will Shenmue Chapter One: Yokosuka fare?
We’ll bring you full coverage of the ceremony in an upcoming issue of Weekly AM2.
Masaya Matsukaze’s Advice Corner
Masaya Matsukaze, the voice of Ryo Hazuki in Shenmue, will be answering your personal questions! Whether it’s love troubles, how to become an actor, or anything else on your mind, questions of any kind are welcome.
Five submissions will be selected by lucky draw, and Matsukaze will personally respond to each one. Might he have the solution to your worries?
Application Deadline: April 4
Results Announced: April 18
If you’d like to send your question to Matsukaze, please email us here.
As of April 4, applications are now closed.
Thank you to everyone who sent in a question!
‘Shenmue Chapter One: Yokosuka - Original Soundtrack’ finally hits store shelves!
As announced back in Weekly AM2 Vol. 11, the Shenmue Chapter One: Yokosuka Original Soundtrack will finally be released on Wednesday, March 23!
A 2-disc set featuring 39 tracks - a generously packed collection.
Whether you’ve already completed Shenmue or you’re still in the middle of your journey, this soundtrack is highly recommended for every fan.
I had the chance to listen to the CD ahead of release, and as I did, scene after scene from Shenmue came back to me vividly.
One of my favorites is the track “The Continent and the Sea.” Every time I hear it, it really lifts my spirits.
Incidentally, we included the ringtone version of this track in last week’s Weekly AM2, so comparing the two might be fun.
There are many other memorable pieces that beautifully capture Shenmue’s most iconic moments, so be sure to give it a listen.
Product Information
-
Title: Shenmue Chapter One: Yokosuka – Original Soundtrack
- Release Date: March 23
- Distributor: Toshiba EMI
- Catalog No.: TYCY-10034 (2-disc set)
- Price: ¥3,200 (tax included)
First Press Bonus: Includes an authentic film frame from the Shenmue commercial shown in theaters.
Tokyo Game Show 2000 Spring Information
Spring is here, and that means it’s time once again for the Tokyo Game Show. This will be the first Game Show of the year 2000!
What titles will Sega be bringing to their booth this time? We can’t wait to find out.
So mark your calendars - let’s all head to Makuhari Messe on April 1st and 2nd! We’ll also have a full report afterward, so look forward to that as well.
Tokyo Game Show 2000 Spring
-
Dates: April 1 (Sat) and April 2 (Sun), 2000
- Venue: Makuhari Messe (Japan Convention Center)
- Sega Booth: Exhibition Hall 5
- Merchandise Corner: Exhibition Hall 1
i-mode Image Service #4, Now with Color Support
This month’s Character Visuals #3 features:
- Color Version: Ryo and Shenhua
- Black & White Version: Chai
Each image has its own charm, so be sure to check them out on your i-mode handset. (Some device models even let you set the images as a screensaver.)
*Note from Switch: i-mode was a mobile internet technology announced in 1999, that was provided as an optional pay service for users of DoCoMo mobile phones. It consisted of a walled-off set of pages that allowed users to easily buy goods and services.
Source: www.sega-rd2.com (archived)
Translated Weekly AM2 Series Archives on Phantom River Stone
2000
Vol. 15: Report on Yu Suzuki's Presentation at the Game Developers Conference | 20th March 2000 (this post)
1999
No comments:
Post a Comment