Our new website for Yakuza 3 has gone live as of this morning! Currently, the site features news, game info, and trailers – including the first dev diary with Nagoshi-san. If you haven’t seen the dev diary already, I’d highly recommend checking it out, as it offers a good look at Nagoshi-san’s background, and what influenced him while creating the Yakuza series.

You can check out the website via this link or by clicking the image above. In the near future, we’ll also be adding in the final sections, which will include the live action episodes made in Japan that are a prequel to the series, and some downloads to boot. We’ve also included sections for the original Yakuza and Yakuza 2, in case anyone wants to catch up on the story or trailers from the past games in the series. (Just click the logos at the top left of the page.)

Finally, a reminder that our SEGA JRPG event is happening tonight here in San Francisco! Be sure to check out the original blog on that if you’d like to join in for some free swag, and to chat with some people from SEGA.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Vanquish, created by famed director/producer Shinji Mikami, is the next big game straight from the creative minds at PlatinumGames. Details have been pretty light on the game following the recent teaser trailer, but we’re certain that you’ll enjoy what’s coming. To give you a bit more meat to chew on, we have a bit of info on the backstory of the game!

VANQUISH is set in the year 2111. Russia and the US are vying for the ownership of the world’s remaining energy resources and the US has constructed a series of space stations in order to harness energy from the sun. The Russians capture one of the space stations and divert its harvested solar energy into a blast wave that destroys San Francisco, hoping to force the US into a total and unconditional surrender. In response the US tasks its armed forces with recapturing the space stations before the Russians can annihilate more American cities.

We’ll have more on Vanquish as it becomes available, check back soon to see what we’re cooking up! In the meantime, here are some screens to whet your appetite.

Vanquish will be released this coming winter 2010 and will be available on PS3 and Xbox 360.

We’re excited to announce that the Iron Man 2 game will feature the voices of Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson in an expansion of their roles in the upcoming movie. Don Cheadle will voice James “Rhodey” Rhodes (aka War Machine), while Samuel L. Jackson joins as S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury. I put the full press release at the end of this blog for you.

We are also releasing the pack front images for all platforms today. I’ve put the PS3 and Xbox 360 images below. You can download these and see the Wii, DS, and PSP pack fronts on our Flickr.

Press Release

IRON MAN 2: THE VIDEO GAME GETS TALENTED

SEGA Announces Voice Talent Featured in the Upcoming Video Game

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (March 5, 2010) –SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced that Iron Man 2: The Video Game will feature the voices of renowned actors Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson. Expanding their roles from the upcoming Iron Man 2 summer blockbuster from Marvel Studios, Cheadle voices Tony Stark’s close friend James “Rhodey” Rhodes – the powerful War Machine – while Jackson joins the game as S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury. Together they round out a cast of characters that transports fans into a deeper and more authentic cinematic video game experience.

Packed with favorites from the movie and comic book worlds, Iron Man 2: The Video Game offers gamers a chance to choose between Iron Man and War Machine, as they battle through hugely destructible indoor and outdoor environments. Tony and Rhodey both come equipped with their own distinct assortments of fully customizable, earth-shattering weapons, as well as vicious melee combat moves, all of which will come in handy against the likes of Crimson Dynamo and other classic Marvel foes.

“With an original story line, an exclusive new song tied in to an incredible soundtrack, and the voices of Hollywood’s top leading men, Iron Man 2: The Video Game offers a video game experience that has something for any kind of gamer,” said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America. “With the intuitive new control system, this game brings fans of all ages and gaming abilities an Iron Man experience they can enjoy.”

Iron Man 2: The Video Game will be available on May 4th, 2010 for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ system. For more information, please visit the official site at www.ironman2game.com or to download screenshots, videos and art, please visit the SEGA FTP site at http://segapr.segaamerica.com.

About SEGA® of America, Inc.
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com/usa

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.
SEGA® Europe Limited is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe’s web site is located at www.sega-europe.com.
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