Yu Suzuki

They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 234 - Yu Suzuki

Often called SEGA’s Shigeru Miyamoto, Yu Suzuki redefined arcade gaming through innovation and ambition. He pioneered immersive cabinets like Hang-On's rideable motorcycle and After Burner’s flight sim, and used sprite scaling to simulate 3D in hits like Space Harrier and OutRun. His work culminated in the R360 G-LOC—a gyroscopic cabinet offering full 360° motion. Suzuki later led SEGA into 3D with Virtua Racing and Virtua Fighter, and pushed console design forward with Shenmue. Though he didn’t invent Quick Time Events, he coined the term—and created a living, interactive world filled with dynamic conversations, a fully explorable city, and unprecedented detail for 1999. His vision helped shape what players now expect from immersive game worlds.

Champion Boxing (SC 1000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkDpaSXTGwE

Hang On (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TopLKeDqYhw

Hang On (Bike Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KV6gWzBnJw

Space Harrier (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXO7HOUaHaQ

Space Harrier (Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_ljkKcDsKs

Roger Dean Album Covers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Albums_with_cover_art_by_Roger_Dean_(artist)

OutRun (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp3GLGu7cfg

OutRun (Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK3CpGLk0VU

The Cannonball Run (Trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8BNVDUslcE

Ferrari Testarossa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvfx5z4uMOo

After Burner (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSvxN7nMNwo

After Burner Deluxe (Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGWesvT9z8Q

Top Gun (Trailor): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa_z57UatDY

Castle in the Sky (English Trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lMRfLJGXSM

Power Drift (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZZMU2HPmTE

Power Drift (Cabinet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs0slBdnArg

R 360 SEGA G-Loc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OrXW5vCurc

G-Loc Air Battle (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58JKeizTZF0

Virtua Racing (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssPfEPaTaGo

Kenji (Manga): https://mangapill.com/manga/2249/kenji

Virtua Fighter (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7HQ2vspMHA

Virtua Fighter 2 (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7OYlmdhOZY

Shenmue (Dreamcast): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkuWoz6RbgE

New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!

TCW Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode - Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode

Outro Music: RoleMusic - Bacterial Love: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/