Weekly AM2 Volume 12 [29th Feb 2000] - Guizhang Chen's Background

In this series we translate Shenmue content from Weekly AM2, the official online magazine published by Sega's AM2 development team back in the day. These pages regularly featured news and information about the Shenmue series from the end of 1999 through to 2001 with the release of Shenmue II.

Shenmue content in Vol. 12 features a developer interview about the character of Guizhang Chen, providing insight into how his character design came about, and even some of his hobbies!

-Switch

 

Vol. 12: 29th Feb. 2000

Hello, it's Takuan!

Did you attend AOU2000*?

The excitement and the crowd were overwhelming.

I've written a report on it, so please check it out.

We have an article that fans of Guizhang from Shenmue Chapter One: Yokosuka will love.

There are also plenty of other articles that can only be read here, so don't miss this week's Weekly AM2!

Let's get into it!

*Note from Switch: the AOU Show (Amusement machine Operators' Union), was an annual show held in Japan for arcade and amusement machine companies to exhibit their hardware to the public. It  ran from 1986 until 2013. In 2000 it was held at the Makuhari Messe convention center near Tokyo.

This week's contents:

• AOU2000 Report [not translated]
• Insights into the Creation of the Super-Popular Character of Guizhang
• Interview with 18 Wheeler Developer Mr. Goji [not translated]
• Four-Panel Manga Submissions

Become a Patron!

Interview w/ Shenmue Main Designer: Masanori Oe, Dec 1999 | Dreamcast Magazine

In the December 24th 1999 edition of the Japanese Dreamcast Magazine, two short but insightful developer interviews were published as part of a 16-page special feature about Shenmue, serving to stir up excitement for the game's imminent release. The interviews themselves took place approximately 3 weeks prior to Shenmue's release in Japan at the end of December.

This post is a translation of the interview with Masanori Oe, who is credited as Shenmue's main designer.

Shenmue's main designer, Masanori Oe (also written Ohe)

The article translation begins below.

Become a Patron!

Poll Result: Patrons' Choice Topic for January 2023

Every month Phantom River Stone holds a poll among our patrons to choose a topic for the blog in the coming month. After tallying the votes (including accumulated votes from previous months), the winning topic that has been voted this time is:

"Dreamcast Magazine Dec 1999 Interviews w/ Shenmue development staff: Masanori Oe & Takenobu Mitsuyoshi"

Two short but insightful developer interviews were published in the Japanese Dreamcast magazine as part of a 16-page special feature about Shenmue. The two members of the development team interviewed were Masanori Oe, who is credited as the main designer, and sound director Takenobu Mitsuyoshi.

Main Designer Masanori Oe (left) & Sound Director Takenobu Mitsuyoshi (right)

With the publication of these interviews being just prior to Shenmue's release at the end of December 1999, they would have served to stir up the excitement of the Japanese readers.

"Rather than worrying about whether a Saturn belonged there or not, we were more concerned with whether the Saturn's drive lid opens properly. And so, the Saturn's drive lid does open properly! [laughs]" - Masanori Oe

 "Yu Suzuki kept nagging us: the music during the game mustn't draw attention to itself... but it also has to be there. For people like us who had previously created ordinary game music, creating the right balance was extremely difficult, and gave us a hard time." - Takenobu Mitsuyoshi

Watch for our translation of the interviews in an upcoming post! Early access will be available for blog patrons.

Become a Patron!

Weekly AM2 Vol. 6: Interview with Shenmue Design Director, Masanori Oe | 18th Jan 2000

In this series we translate Shenmue content from Weekly AM2, the official online magazine published by Sega's AM2 development team back in the day. News and information about the Shenmue series could be found regularly within these pages from the end of 1999 through to 2001 with the release of Shenmue II.

Vol. 6 contains an interview with Shenmue Design Director, Masanori Oe. There is also an announcement for a soon-to-be-released strategy guide book, and an outline of the Network Ranking competition.

-Switch

 

Vol.6: 2000.1.18

Hello! This is Takuan.

A lot of people are catching colds, aren't they. Is everyone okay? Let's keep our spirits up this week, and blast our colds away!

This week's contents:

• Interview with Shenmue Design Director, Masanori Oe
• Shenmue Strategy Book Information
• i-mode Gallery Image #2
• Network Rankings Prizes!
• Play Shenmue at the World Hobby Fair!

Become a Patron!