Jet Set Radio Wii

Jet Set Radio Wii
Developer(s)	Kuju Entertainment
Platform(s)	Wii (Planned)
Release date	Rejected

Jet Set Radio Wii was a pitch for a new Jet Set Radio game for the Nintendo Wii. The game was pitched by Kuju Entertainment, who would eventually work with Sega via a subsidiary of them known as Headshot Games, on The House of the Dead: Overkill. Despite the rejection of the pitch, fans were intrigued on how a Jet Set Radio game would work on the Wii.

History

In 2006, Kuju Entertainment, with the help of concept artist Corey S. Lewis, created a pitch for a new Jet Set Radio game that would have been developed for the Wii, and tried to propose the project to Sega. However, Sega showed very little interest in it and as a result the game never went past the initial pitching stage. Only evidence of the pitch existing are pieces of concept art. The concept art depicted returning characters such as Beat, Gum, Tab, DJ Professor K, and Poison Jam, along with newcomer gangs such as the Skwable Hawks and Swivle Nozzle Ninja. Judging by the designs of Beat, Gum, and Tab, the game would've leaned more closely to Jet Set Radio's style rather than Jet Set Radio Future, specifically in terms of outfits and color schemes of the aforementioned three.

Reception

Although despite never being made, Jet Set Radio Wii had an interest among fans. The interest was strong enough to the point where media entertainment website, IGN, went out their way to make a "Reboot" article for the pitch. Collaborating with an artist known as Wynturtle, and showcasing new art made by them, separate from the ones made by Corey Lewis, and gameplay ideas for the game. Some ideas include having graffiti being tagged similarly to Jet Set Radio by using the Wiimote and being able to move with the nunchuk. Additionally, the article would bring up concepts such as "freestyle areas", multiplayer, online functionality and modes such as an online campaign-tournament that would virtually be an active turf war among players. It also elaborated on time-based environments with link-ups to the Wii's weather channels, where real life weather could affect weather in the game and influence gameplay. Wynturtle's art included takes on Beat, Gum, and Tab, like Corey's, but featured Mew in a new design.

Gallery

Concept art of Beat's potential design.

Concept art of Gum's potential design.

Concept art of Tab's potential design.

Concept art of K's potential design.

Concept art of Poison Jam.

Concept art of newcomer rival gang, the Skwable Hawks.

Concept art of another new rival gang, Swivle Nozzle Ninja.

Concept art of certain items such as skates, a graffiti can, and a radio.

Trivia

• The reason for Sega's lack of interest can more than likely be directed towards the Jet Set Radio series not selling well in Japan, and in general.
• Another pitch for a new Jet Set Radio game would be made by Dinosaur Games in 2017 called Jet Set Radio Evolution. It was shown to Sony and the Atlus division at Sega, but would ultimately be turned down as well.
• When asked about it, Hideki Naganuma would reveal he had no idea about the rejected pitch in 2014 and 2015.
• Naganuma would give appraisal towards Corey's Jet Set Radio art in a couple tweets in 2018, which included his redesigns for Beat, Gum, and Tab for Jet Set Radio Wii.

External links

• Video Game Projects on Corey Lewis' blog.