Shenmue

[Nester the Lark]

You guys have probably noticed by now that I'm a Shenmue fan. It's one of my favorite games. I'll admit that it it's not for everyone, but it is a severely and unfortunately under appreciated game.

Since I've started playing thru it yet again, I was wondering if anyone else on this forum had played it and was a fan. I know some of you at least used to own Dreamcasts, so...

Also, I came across something that I wonder if swiidol might be able to help with. Someone at GameFAQ's (RED FLAG) mentioned that the May issue of a Swedish game magazine called Game Reactor (which is a real magazine) had a small blurb mentioning that Shenmue I and II were supposedly being ported to the Wii with motion-controlled mini-games. I've heard rumors about stuff like this constantly over the last few years, and it never amounts to anything, but at least there's a verifiable source on this occasion. I was wondering if swiidol reads this magazine, and if he saw the blurb in question.

[TV Eye]

I've always wanted to play Shenmue, unfortunately they stopped releasing Dreamcast games when I bought my Dreamcast.

Hopelfully this rumor is true.

[missingno.is back?]

I have one of the discs of Shenmue for Dreamcast, but I don't have any of the rest, so I can't even play it.

I haven't played my Dreamcast in like two years...

[Fryguy64]

I owned a Dreamcast and Shenmue. It's an excellent, if not slightly barmy, game - but I'd definitely pick up a Wii compilation!

[Wildcat]

I've never played Shenmue myself. My DC was primarily for fighters. I'd give it a try, though, because a lot of people seem to have enjoyed it, if it came to the Wii.

[Nester the Lark]

Quick update:

The GameFAQs poster who mentioned the article from the game magazine posted a scan of the piece in question. He was also asked to post it at the Shenmue Dojo forums, which he did. It's in Swedish, so I don't understand it, but he posted his own translation at GameFAQs a few days ago. Here it is, verbatim:

In English:
"Shenmue is back!"
"Sega has rereleased classics like Nights,Bass Fishing and House of the Dead lately. Now it's said that Shenmue is next. But don't think that it's about a new game, instead, they're bringing back the two original Shenmue games with extra Wiimote-minigames which will be released for the Wii."

Source: boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=198621&topic=43067895

Now, incidentally, today was Sega's Gamer's Day, but apparently all attendees had to sign an embargo, and they can't reveal any info until tomorrow (the 16th). So, maaayyybeee, if there's any truth to this, we might hear something about it...

Or one can hope.

EDIT: Just a follow-up.

Nothing was revealed at Sega's Gamer's Day. It took someone until now to point out that the blurb from Game Reactor was in the rumors section. Also, someone from the Shenmue Dojo forums said that they checked in with a contact at Sega France who called the news an "extravagant rumor."

Still, even if it doesn't turn out to be true, it riled up the fans a bit and even got the attention of Kotaku. This kind of a attention is good for the series and spreads awareness. So, keep up the enthusiasm!

[kirbychu]

This thread reminded me, I still haven't finished Shenmue 2! I've been getting frustrated with it, though. If I stay in one area for a long time, for some reason all the sound dies. First the music stops, and then the sound effects go, too. I don't know if it's a normal problem (I'm playing it on a 360) or if it's just my copy.

[Nester the Lark]

Edge Online: Yu Suzuki Steps Down at Sega

If Shenmue is to be Suzuki’s legacy, then the games’ loose-ends are perhaps fitting tribute to an arcade maestro who, in the traditions of coin-sinking, always left the audience wanting more.

It's a little random to post this all of a sudden. Suzuki actually still works at Sega, but in a "diminished capacity." However, the article above almost reads more like an obituary.

Still, you know how fond I am of Shenmue, so I thought it worth noting. I have no idea what this news means, if anything, for the possible future of the series.

[Wildcat]

Yeah, the Sega nuts at the other forum I post at were all over this news. Sucks that he's practically "retired" now, but hey, he's done a lot for gaming.

And I do own Shenmue now, just to provide an update. I just haven't played it yet, but I will. Sometime.

[Nester the Lark]

Apr 7, 2009 9:42:48 GMT -5 Wildcat said:

And I do own Shenmue now, just to provide an update. I just haven't played it yet, but I will. Sometime.

Before or after Secret of Evermore?

The sad thing, to me, is that Suzuki-san hasn't done much since Shenmue. I was under the impression that he might have been given the proverbial "window seat" because of Shenmue's failure. Or maybe he just lost his confidence. But either way, it seemed like such a waste for a man of his talents and contributions to be spending so much time on the sidelines.

[parrothead]

I heard that Yu Suzuki is working on Shenmue Online, which will possibly be the world's first MMORPG fighting game.

Every time I think of Yu Suzuki, I feel sorry about his Virtua Fighter series not catching as much popularity as Namco's Tekken series. It's like Capcom's Street Fighter series being more popular than Konami's Yie Ar Kung-Fu series.

Shinya Arino: Suzuki-san, what are games to you?

Yu Suzuki: Games are sound, footage, and interactivity. So when I think of entertainment, all three need to be in games. All of them. In entertainment, games are a small universe.

Shinya Arino: Something like that?

Yu Suzuki: *nods yes while smiling*

[The Qu]

Shemnue Online came out a long time ago. 2005, I think? It was exclusive to Korea.

[Wildcat]

Nester - That I'm not sure of. I need to beat Zelda: Twilight Princess (again), Persona 4 and Dragon Quest VIII (the latter two are really close to being finished), and then I'll probably decide on which.

And I think Qu's right - I recall hearing that, too.

[Nester the Lark]

No, Shenmue Online was never released anywhere. As of last year, according to Yu Suzuki, the game was still categorized as "in development," but it had been put on hold.

[Wildcat]

Heh, I'd guess you'd know better than me.