Difference between revisions of "Yu Suzuki"
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− | '''Yu Suzuki''' (鈴木 裕), [[AM2]]'s star developer, is one of the most highly-regarded visionaries in the industry. He joined [[Sega]] in 1983 as a programmer | + | '''Yu Suzuki''' (鈴木 裕), [[AM2]]'s star developer, is one of the most highly-regarded visionaries in the industry. He joined [[Sega]] in 1983 as a programmer, and two years later he created ''[[Hang-On]]'', the first simulation [[arcade]] game. |
[[File:Yu Suzuki.jpg|frameless|right]] | [[File:Yu Suzuki.jpg|frameless|right]] | ||
Suzuki has always tried to push the limits of arcade hardware. In the 1980s, he developed [[Super Scaler]] technology that manipulated [[sprite]]s and backgrounds to produce three-dimensional graphics and gameplay for games like ''[[Hang-On]]'', ''[[OutRun]]'', ''[[Space Harrier]]'', ''[[After Burner]]'' and ''[[Power Drift]]''; these games also innovated in terms of gameplay, controls, and cabinet designs, such as the fully interactive ''Hang-On'' cabinet where the player sits on and controls a replica motorbike, and moving hydraulic cockpit cabinets with analog fight-stick controls. He was involved in developing the cutting-edge [[Sega Model 1]] arcade board, and developed the first games for it. With the Model 1, Suzuki made his foray into the world of polygons, and the result was ''[[Virtua Racing]]''; this F1 racing simulator was completely rendered in 3D, and allowed players to experience the action from four different camera angles. | Suzuki has always tried to push the limits of arcade hardware. In the 1980s, he developed [[Super Scaler]] technology that manipulated [[sprite]]s and backgrounds to produce three-dimensional graphics and gameplay for games like ''[[Hang-On]]'', ''[[OutRun]]'', ''[[Space Harrier]]'', ''[[After Burner]]'' and ''[[Power Drift]]''; these games also innovated in terms of gameplay, controls, and cabinet designs, such as the fully interactive ''Hang-On'' cabinet where the player sits on and controls a replica motorbike, and moving hydraulic cockpit cabinets with analog fight-stick controls. He was involved in developing the cutting-edge [[Sega Model 1]] arcade board, and developed the first games for it. With the Model 1, Suzuki made his foray into the world of polygons, and the result was ''[[Virtua Racing]]''; this F1 racing simulator was completely rendered in 3D, and allowed players to experience the action from four different camera angles. |
Revision as of 15:15, 29 July 2017
Yu Suzuki (鈴木 裕), AM2's star developer, is one of the most highly-regarded visionaries in the industry. He joined Sega in 1983 as a programmer, and two years later he created Hang-On, the first simulation arcade game.
Suzuki has always tried to push the limits of arcade hardware. In the 1980s, he developed Super Scaler technology that manipulated sprites and backgrounds to produce three-dimensional graphics and gameplay for games like Hang-On, OutRun, Space Harrier, After Burner and Power Drift; these games also innovated in terms of gameplay, controls, and cabinet designs, such as the fully interactive Hang-On cabinet where the player sits on and controls a replica motorbike, and moving hydraulic cockpit cabinets with analog fight-stick controls. He was involved in developing the cutting-edge Sega Model 1 arcade board, and developed the first games for it. With the Model 1, Suzuki made his foray into the world of polygons, and the result was Virtua Racing; this F1 racing simulator was completely rendered in 3D, and allowed players to experience the action from four different camera angles.
Suzuki's next Model 1 masterpiece was the acclaimed Virtua Fighter in 1993. It was the very first 3D fighting game, and featured what is considered to be one of the deepest fighting engines ever. Virtua Racing and Virtua Fighter helped popularize 3D polygon graphics, with their dynamic camera systems, polygonal human characters, and physics engines, while Virtua Fighter 2 on the Sega Model 2 took it further with texture-mapped characters and motion-capture animation. Virtua Fighter’s impact was such that it is housed in the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology Innovation. He continued to advance 3D graphics and gameplay, working on the Model 2 and Model 3 systems, along with games for them.
In 1999, Yu Suzuki released Shenmue, the first major original title he directed for a home console. Five years in the making, Shenmue on the Dreamcast featured open-world 3D environments, a sweeping story, multiple gameplay elements, quick-time events, and an unprecedented level of detail. Shenmue marked the start of a new genre, dubbed by Suzuki as FREE, or Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment. The story, graphics, environment, and the innovative system, exceeded those of many previous games. Shenmue was the most expensive game to be developed, with the whole project costing $47-70 million (until it was surpassed by Grand Theft Auto IV, which cost roughly $100 million).
In 2003, Suzuki became the sixth person to be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame. On April 1, 2009, Suzuki retired from Sega. Since then he now runs his own game company, YS NET Inc. (established November 11, 2008), but still retains a good relationship with Sega. In 2014, The List named him as one of the top ten game designers of all time, for "striving towards realistic 3D gaming".
Production history
- Champion Boxing (1984) — Programmer, Director
- Champion Pro Wrestling (1985) — Director, Producer
- Hang-On (Arcade Version) (1985) — Director, Designer
- Space Harrier (Arcade Version) (1985) — Director, Designer
- Hang-On (Master System Version) (1985) — Special Thanks
- OutRun (Arcade Version) (1986) — Director, Designer
- Super Hang-On (Arcade Version) (1986) — Producer
- Space Harrier (Master System Version) (1986) — Special Thanks (as Yu)
- After Burner (Arcade Version) (1987) — Director, Designer, Lead Programmer
- After Burner II (Arcade Version) (1987) — Director, Designer, Lead Programmer
- Power Drift (Arcade Version) (1988) — Director, Designer
- Dynamite Dux (Arcade Version) (1988) — Producer
- Turbo Outrun (Arcade Version) (1989) — Producer (as Yu)
- G-LOC: Air Battle (Arcade Version) (1990) — Director, Designer
- GP Rider (Arcade Version) (1990) — Producer
- Strike Fighter (After Burner III) (Arcade Version) (1991) — Designer, Producer
- Rent-A-Hero (Mega Drive Version) (1991) — Producer
- F1 Exhaust Note (1991) — Producer
- Soreike Kokology (1991) — Producer
- Sword of Vermilion (Mega Drive) (1991) — Special Thanks
- Virtua Racing (Arcade Version) (1992) — Director, Chief Programmer
- F1 Super Lap (1993) — Producer
- Virtua Fighter (Arcade Version) (1993) — Director
- Virtua Formula (1993) — Producer
- Burning Rival (1993) — Producer
- Soreike Kokology 2 (1993) — Producer
- Daytona USA (Arcade Version) (1993) — Producer
- Space Harrier (Sega 32X Version) (1994) — Special Thanks
- Virtua Fighter (Saturn Version) (1994) — Producer
- Virtua Cop (Arcade Version) (1994) — Supervisor
- Virtua Fighter 2 (Arcade Version) (1994) — Director, Producer, Supervisor
- Desert Tank (1994) — Producer
- After Burner (Sega 32X Version) (1995) — Special Thanks
- Daytona USA (Saturn Version) (1995) — Special Thanks
- Virtua Cop (Saturn Version) (1995) — Supervisor
- Virtua Fighter (32X Version) (1995) — Special Thanks
- Virtua Fighter Remix (Arcade & Saturn Versions) (1995) — Producer
- Virtua Fighter 2 (Saturn Version) (1995) — Producer
- Virtua Striker (1995) — Producer
- Virtua Cop 2 (Arcade version) (1995) — Producer, Supervisor
- Fighting Vipers (Arcade version) (1995) — Producer
- Virtua Fighter 2 (Mega Drive Version) (1996) — Supervisor
- Virtua Cop 2 (Saturn Version) (1996) — Supervisor
- Fighting Vipers (Saturn Version) (1996) — Producer
- Sonic the Fighters (1996) — Producer
- Virtua Fighter 3 (1996) — Director, Producer
- Virtua Fighter Kids (Arcade Version) (1996) — Producer
- Virtua Fighter Kids (Saturn Version) (1996) — Producer
- Fighters Megamix (1996) — Producer
- Scud Race (1996) — Producer
- Virtua Cop (PC Version) (1997) — Supervisor
- Virtua Fighter 2 (PC Version) (1997) — Supervisor
- Virtua Fighter 3: Team Battle (Arcade Version) (1997) — Director
- Virtua Striker 2 (1997) — Producer
- Digital Dance Mix Vol.1 Namie Amuro (1997) — Producer
- Zen Nihon Pro Wres Featuring Virtua (1997) — Producer
- Virtua Cop 2 (PC Version) (1997) — Supervisor
- Virtua Cop 1-2 Pack (1998) — Supervisor
- Virtua Fighter 3: Team Battle (Dreamcast Version) (1998) — Director
- Fighting Vipers 2 (Arcade Version) (1998) — Producer
- Virtua Striker 2 Version '98 (1998) — Producer
- Daytona USA 2 (1998) — Producer
- Daytona USA 2: Power Edition (1998) — Producer
- Ferrari F355 Challenge (Arcade Version) (1999) — Director
- D-2 (1999) — Special Thanks
- What's Shenmue (1999) — Director
- Shenmue (1999) — Director
- Outtrigger (Arcade Version) (1999) — Producer
- Eighteen Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (Arcade Version) (1999) — Producer
- Ferrari F355 Challenge (Dreamcast Version) (2000) — Director, Producer
- Rent A Hero No.1 (2000) — Special Thanks
- Eighteen Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (Dreamcast Version) (2000) — Special Thanks
- Yu Suzuki Game Works Vol. 1 (2001) — Special Thanks
- Fighting Vipers 2 (Dreamcast Version) (2001) — Producer
- F355 Challenge 2 (2001) — Director
- Shenmue II (Dreamcast Version) (2001) — Story, Director, Writer, Producer
- Propeller Arena: Aviation Battle Championship (2001; unreleased) — Producer
- Virtua Fighter 4 (Arcade Version) (2001) — Executive Director
- Virtua Fighter 4 (PS2 Version) (2002) — Executive Director
- Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (Arcade Version) (2002) — Executive Director
- Virtua Cop: Elite Edition (2002) — Supervisor
- Ferrari F355 Challenge (PS2 Version) (2002) — Producer
- Shenmue II (Xbox Version) (2002) — Director
- Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (PS2 Version) (2003) — Executive Director
- Virtua Cop 3 (2003) — Executive Director
- OutRun 2 (Arcade Version) (2003) — Producer
- Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 4: Space Harrier (2003) — Special Thanks
- Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 8: Virtua Racing -FlatOut- (2004) — Special Thanks
- Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 10: After Burner II (2004) — Special Thanks
- Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 13: OutRun (2004) — Special Thanks
- Pure Breed (cancelled) — Concept
- Psy-Phi (2005) — Director
- Shenmue Online (2007) — Director
- Sega Race TV (2008) — Manager of AM Plus
- Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010) — Creative Officer (Sega Japan)
- Shenmue City (2010) — Director
- Virtua Fighter: Cool Champ (2011) — Director
- Shooting Wars (2012) — Director
- Bullet Pirates (iPhone & Android Versions) (2013) — Director
- Virtua Fighter: Fever Combo (iPhone & Android Versions) (2014) — Director
- Shenmue III (PlayStation 4 & PC Versions) (2017) — Director & Producer
Gallery
Magazine articles
- Main article: Yu Suzuki/Magazine articles.