Yu Suzuki

Developer BIO

Yu Suzuki ((鈴木 裕), born June 10, 1958, is a Japanese game designer from Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture. He joined Sega in 1983 as a programmer and producer, and two years later created Hang-On, 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 Model 1 arcade board. With the Model 1, Suzuki began his first foray into the world of polygons, and the result was Virtua Racing (1992). 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 game was Virtua Fighter (1993), the first 3D fighting game. The game's impact was such that it is housed in the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology Innovation.

In 2000, Yu Suzuki released Shenmue, his first title for a home console, where he attempted to merge adventure-style gameplay with fighting mechanics and open-world exploration, a system he dubbed "FREE" (Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment).

Websites

• Interview: Suzuki and Wright -- June 2002

Games Credited

• Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (2010), SEGA of America, Inc.
• Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (2010), SEGA Europe Ltd.
• SEGA AGES 2500 Vol.10: After Burner II (2004), SEGA Corporation
• SEGA AGES 2500 Vol.13: OutRun (2004), 3D Ages
• SEGA AGES 2500 Vol.8: V.R. Virtua Racing -FlatOut- (2004), 3D Ages
• Devastation (2003), HD Interactive B.V.
• F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa (2002), Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
• Virtua Cop: Elite Edition (2002), Acclaim Entertainment Ltd.
• Virtua Fighter 4 (2002), SEGA Corporation
• Shenmue II (2001), SEGA Corporation
• Eighteen Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (2000), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• D-2 (1999), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• Shenmue (1999), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• Fighters Megamix (1996), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• Fighting Vipers (1996), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• Virtua Cop 2 (1996), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• Daytona USA (1995), SEGA Europe Ltd.
• Virtua Cop (1995), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• Virtua Fighter 2 (1995), SEGA of America, Inc.
• Virtua Fighter Remix (1995), SEGA of America, Inc.
• Virtua Fighter (1994), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• Rent A Hero (1991), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• Sword of Vermilion (1989), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
• Space Harrier (1986), SEGA of America, Inc.