Yu Suzuki

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 producer, and two years later he created Hang-On, the first simulation arcade game. Hang-On was also the first arcade racing game to feature a fully interactive cabinet, with the player sitting on and controlling a replica motorcycle.

Suzuki has always tried to push the limits of arcade hardware and was the first to develop a title using the cutting-edge Sega Model 1 arcade board. With the Model 1, Suzuki began his first 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.

In 1993, Suzuki's next Model 1 masterpiece was the acclaimed Virtua Fighter. It was the very first 3D fighting game, and featured what is considered to be one of the deepest fighting engines ever. Virtua Fighter’s impact was such that it is housed in the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology Innovation.

In 1999, Yu Suzuki released Shenmue, his first title for a home console. Five years in the making, Shenmue features a sweeping story, multiple gameplay elements, and an unprecedented level of detail. Shenmue also marks the start of a new genre, dubbed by Suzuki as FREE, or Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment. The story, graphics, and the innovative system exceeded those of many previous games.

Shenmue is currently the second most expensive game to be developed (being recently surpassed by Grand Theft Auto IV, which cost roughly 100 Million USD.) with the whole project costing 70 million USD.

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.

Production History

• Champion Boxing (1984) — Programmer, Director
• Space Harrier (Arcade Version) (1985) — Producer, Director
• Hang-On (Arcade Version) (1985) — Producer, Director
• OutRun (Arcade Version) (1986) — Producer, Director
• Super Hang-On (Arcade Version) (1986) — Producer
• After Burner II (Arcade Version) (1986) — Producer, Director
• Space Harrier (Master System Version) (1986) — Special Thanks (as Yu)
• Power Drift (Arcade Version) (1988) — Producer, Director
• Turbo Outrun (Arcade Version) (1989) — Sp. Thanks (as Yu.)
• Virtua Racing (Arcade Version) (1992) — Director / Chief Programmer [NOTE: Also Producer]
• Virtua Fighter (Arcade Version) (1993) — Producer & Director
• Virtua Fighter (Saturn Version) (1994) — Producer
• Daytona USA (Arcade and Saturn Versions) (1994/1995) — Special Thanks
• Virtua Cop (1994/1995/1997) — Supervisor
• Virtua Fighter 2 (Arcade Version) (1994) — Producer, Director
• Virtua Fighter Remix (1995) — Producer
• Virtua Cop 2 (Arcade and Saturn Versions) (1995/1996) — Producer
• Virtua Fighter (32X Version) (1995) — Special Thanks
• Fighting Vipers (1995/1996) — Producer
• Virtua Fighter 2 (Saturn Version) (1995) — Producer
• Sonic the Fighters (1996) — Producer
• Virtua Fighter 3 (1996) — Producer
• Fighters Megamix (1996) — Producer
• Virtua Fighter 2 (PC Version) (1997) — Supervisor
• Virtua Fighter 3: Team Battle (1997/1998) — Producer
• Virtua Cop 2 (PC and Dreamcast Versions) (1997/2000) — Supervisor
• Ferrari F355 Challenge (Arcade and Dreamcast Versions) (1999/2000) — Produced and Directed by
• D-2 (1999) — Special Thanks
• Shenmue (1999) — Story by, Produced by, Directed by, Executive Producer (Sega Enterprises Ltd.) (Shenmue (Orchestra Version) OST)
• Eighteen Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (2000/2002) — Special Thanks
• Shenmue II (Dreamcast Version) (2001) — Story by
• Propeller Arena: Aviation Battle Championship (2001; unreleased) — Producer
• Virtua Fighter 4 (Arcade Version) (2001) — Producer
• Virtua Fighter 4 (PS2 Version) (2002) — Executive Director
• Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (Arcade Version) (2002) — Producer
• Virtua Cop: Elite Edition (2002) — Producer
• Ferrari F355 Challenge (PS2 Version) (2002) — Producer
• Shenmue II (Xbox Version) (2002) — Executive Producer (Xbox Version), Directed by (Tie‑up With), Produced by (Tie‑up With)
• Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (PS2 Version) (2003) — Executive Director
• OutRun 2 (Arcade Version) (2003) — Producer
• Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 8: Virtua Racing -FlatOut- (2004) — Executive Supervisor
• Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 13: OutRun (2004) — Executive Supervisor
• Sega Race TV (2008) — Director
• Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010) — Creative Officer (Sega Japan)
• Pure Breed (cancelled) — Concept
• Psy-Phi (Arcade) (2005) — Director, Producer, Concept
• Shenmue III (PS4 & PC Versions) (2017) — Director & Producer