At the Game Developers Conference last weekend, Bill Gates wasn't the only one making important announcements. Yu Suzuki, the man behind such Sega arcade classics as Outrun, Space Harrier, and Virtua Fighter 3, divulged new information regarding his newest series: Shen Mue.

The first in the series, Shen Mue - Chapter 1: Yokosuka, has already been released in Japan and is set for a North American release later this year. At the conference, Mr. Suzuki announced that the next game in the series will be known not as "Chapter 2" of the series, but as Shen Mue 2. This distinction is important because the game will take place entirely in Hong Kong, not in China, as was the case of Shen Mue - Chapter 1. Suzuki went on to note that Shen Mue 2 will contain chapters two, three, four, and five of the series.

Another important revelation concerning the Shen Mue series was made during the Game Developers Conference. In the first official acknowledgment of it, Mr. Suzuki mentioned the existence of Shen Mue 3. When a reporter inquired Suzuki about the meaning of the words, "Shen Mue," he replied that we will find out in Shen Mue 3. Although this news is exciting, more important right now in the minds of North American gamers is the imminent release of Shen Mue - Chapter 1, which will not be released a moment too soon. Stay tuned to RPGamer for all the latest information on Sega's highly anticipated Shen Mue.