Sega - AM2 Projects, Sega Rally Sequels?

Thanks to Kikizo for running a series of articles on Sega, including an unconfirmed list of the AM2 studio's output for 2003, and new information about the state of Sega Rally 3. The AM2 list includes both Virtua Fighter Quest (working title) for Gamecube and Outrun 2 for arcade, both due later in 2003. Interestingly, the Outrun sequel is marked as running on the Xbox-based Chihiro arcade board, which powered the arcade version of Crazy Taxi 3, meaning an Xbox conversion would be very straightforward if this is true. Finally, as well as a separate story touching on the possible existence of Fighting Vipers 3, Kikizo claim Sega Rally 3 has been "..completely finished since January this year", but remains unreleased in arcades (and unannounced for PS2) because of "licensing issues", presumably with cars.

Uh oh

[Dsal]

No Shenmue 3.... If you'll excuse me, I'll be huddled in a ball in the corner feeling sorry for myself.

Shenmue...

[Man In Black]

I heard somewhere that when Shenmue was first made for the Dreamcast, it was intended to be a 16-part series! It was quite popular on the DC, but hasn't caught on elsewhere unfortunately. I wonder if they'll keep the other 14 episodes in Japan...

Re:Shenmue...

[Anonymous Coward]

Shenmue has 16 CHAPTERS, yes, but was never intended to be 16-games long. The first game covers the first chapter, and Shenmue II covers (I believe) chapters 3-5 (chapter 2 supposedly takes place on the boat to Hong Kong (between the two games), which includes a fight between Ryo and Chai. An unlockable comic in Shenmue II fills that gap.

There's no official word on how many games the series will (or should/should have) span, but most interviews hint at at least 5 or 6 games. I just hope that if Mr. Suzuk

Re:Uh oh

[Anonymous Coward]

It's okay. I'm sure Mr. Suzuki has the same ADD-like symptoms as Ryo.

"I must finish Shenmue 3. Ooh look, darts. I think I'll play for a while. One game, 100 yen. I think I'll try it."

*5 hours later*

"Hm...it's getting late. Perhaps I should return home for the night."

*Suzuki-san heads back to the house*

*The next morning*

"I must finish Shenmue 3. Nozomi!"

"Yes Suzuki?"

"Nozomi. On that day."

"That day?"

"Did you happen to see a black car?"

"A black car?"

"Yes, a black car on that day."

"Oh, you

Re:Uh oh

[Anonymous Coward]

ob PA link [penny-arcade.com].

Re:Uh oh

[Dsal]

I saw Miyamoto on the floor at E3. He was deep in conversation with another guy so I decided not to bug him. Of course, my friend comes in later and gets his picture with him. Oh well, back at the GDC he attended a few years back I almost accidentally knocked him over when we both weren't looking where we were going. I guess that counts as a run-in with greatness.

I've heard Suzuki mention that he really wants to do Shenmue 3 if only he'd get the budget allocated. C'mon Sega, be a pal... allocate anoth

Re:Uh oh

[simoniker]

It may still be that Shenmue 3 is the 'secret title' AM2 are revealing some time this month, but it's launching in 2004 so it's not on the AM2 release list for this year.

Or at least, that's the reading if you're a hopeless Shenmue optimist. We'll have to see.

Re:Uh oh

[Dsal]

I hope it's on the 2004 list, but given its dismal sales I'm not going to hold out too much hope. Does anyone have the final sales figures for each of the Shenmues? Although to be fair, the 2nd's sales figures are all messed up due to the US release problems. It didn't help that it didn't officially come out in the US until it was over a year and a half old. I think the best bet if they do make a 3 is to include 2 and 1 on the disc, maybe something like the bonus disc for Wind Waker, so all the people w

Re:Uh oh

[13Echo]

You too, huh? I own both Dreamcast games (2nd is the European import), and might even be tempted to buy an XBox if the third game ever comes. Of course, maybe I'll get lucky and it'll come to the Gamecube (yeah, right).

I hope that Shenmue III is the secret AM2 title. The second game ended so abruptly. There are just so many questions that need answers... ;)

licensing issues... with cars.

[mcdrewski42]

"licensing issues", presumably with cars.

Maybe the developers may have had too much Beer (as in Free) and have some drivers license issues... :)