Yu Suzuki
May 10, 1958) is Sega's leading video game producer. He vitalized games both culturally and technologically, and is a noted figure in the game industry.
Career
Born and raised in Iwate prefecture, Suzuki majored in Electronic Science at Okayama University of Science. He joined Sega Enterprises in 1983.
Suzuki joined Sega as a programmer and a producer, and in his second year he created a simulation arcade game, Hang-On. After Hang-On Suzuki released several hit titles such as Out Run. He also set eyes on the high potentials of CG boards , and was the first to develop a title using the Model 1, a CG board in the forefront of technology at the time.
In 1993, Suzuki created released Virtua Fighter, a 3D computer graphics fighting game, which was popular when released. The Virtua Fighter series was recognized by the Smithsonian Institution as an application which made great contribution to the society in the field of art and entertainment. For the first time ever in the Japanese game industry, it became a part of the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology Innovation, and is now being kept perpetually at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.
Suzuki's Shenmue Chapter 1 Yokosuka for the Dreamcast created a new genre. The story, graphics, and the innovative system exceeded many previous games.
His latest arcade title is F355 Challenge, a racing simulator created upon a strong partnership with Ferrari. This game is drawing some attention not only from the game industry, but also from the automobile industry.
Gameography
- 1985. Early motorcycle simulation game. The player controls the rider by tilting the cabinet, which is in the form of a motorcycle.
- Space Harrier: December 1985. A 3D shooting game which featured smooth 3D graphics through high-speed 3D processing. The motorized cabinet moves in 4 directions (forward, backward, left and right) to enhance the action.
- Out Run: September 1986. A driving simulation game which was popular throughout the world. Each stage ends with a diverging point, which enables players to drive various courses.
- After Burner: July 1987. A 3D flying shooting game which realistically reproduces aerial combats. The cabinet rotates on 2 axes, which makes it possible for the players to feel some realistic motions.
- 1989. A driving game where the player dashes through undulating courses like a roller coaster. There are 25 circuits, and 12 characters to choose from.
- 1990. A flying game where the players view aerial combat through a cockpit view. When a missile approaches from behind, the view automatically changes.
- 1990. A flying game using the After Burner/G-Loc engine. By having 2 motion axes on the cabinet, this game became the first game to rotate 360 degrees.
- 1992. A driving game, the first Sega game to use the 3DCG board "Model 1", which made the realistic environment possible. This was the first game where players could choose their view from the 4 VR buttons.
- Virtua Fighter: December 1993. The first 3D computer graphics fighting game. Human motions are reproduced via high-speed 3D processing. The players can choose from 8 characters. Each character has various distinctive moves.
- 1994. A fighting game, Model 2's texture mapping capability enabled the graphics of this game. The 8 characters from the previous version are enhanced, and 2 new characters have joined the competition.
- 1996. Another fighting game, the first Model 3 game. The Escape Button was added as a new feature. This is the first fighting game to have undulations in the stages. Two new characters were added.
- 1997. Another fighting game with an improved version of the one-on-one battle system of the Virtua Fighter series with the new "Team Battle" system.
- 1999. A racing simulator, equipped with a 6 speed gear shift and a clutch pedal, targeted for players who wish to improve their driving techniques in order to become professional drivers. This game has garnered praise from Ferrari. This game is the first for which Ferrari licensed only a single model of one of their cars.
- Shenmue: December 1999. The first consumer title for Suzuki, which took 5 years to develop. The players control the main character, gather information through conversation, and adventure through their own story. The player experiences another reality which exists inside this game.
- FREE (Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment): This game does not fit into any previous genre of games. It is close to a RPG in that it has a story.
- Virtua Fighter 4: August 2001. Another fighting game in the Virtua Fighter series game. As usual, a few more characters were added to the mix, with some new features. This game was one of the first to use the NAOMI 2 arcade board.
- Ryo Hazuki-san travels through China looking for the murderer of his father, Lan Di.
