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Post by Nester the Lark on Jun 15, 2015 21:02:35 GMT -5
Can't wait to post this. Yu Suzuki was on the PlayStation press conference, and he just launched a Kickstarter for Shenmue III! He's looking for $2 million, and it'll be released for PC and PlayStation 4. This is incredible! I'm speechless! It'll almost surely be successful! Shenmue III is not dead!!! |
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Post by Manspeed on Jun 15, 2015 21:43:02 GMT -5
It'll only be "not dead" if enough people throw money at it. And $2 million is a lot.  |
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Post by Leon on Jun 15, 2015 21:51:51 GMT -5
It will be financed, but I don't like this.
This isn't as if Yu Suzuki is asking people to finance a spiritual sequel owned by his small company. This is an IP owned by Sega, who should not need to resort to Kickstarter to create games. If the IP is so important to Suzuki, he should work with Sega to make it a reality, not beg for donations at E3.
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Post by TV Eye on Jun 16, 2015 0:30:05 GMT -5
Sega will no doubt finance the game. The 2 million is so that they know they have an audience. That's what Bloodstained is doing as well (not having any gameplay to show).
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Post by kirbychu on Jun 16, 2015 3:53:28 GMT -5
It will be financed, but I don't like this. This isn't as if Yu Suzuki is asking people to finance a spiritual sequel owned by his small company. This is an IP owned by Sega, who should not need to resort to Kickstarter to create games. If the IP is so important to Suzuki, he should work with Sega to make it a reality, not beg for donations at E3. He's spent over a decade trying to get Sega to fund it with no luck, though. You can't blame Suzuki, this is the only way he can make it happen. And if the IP is owned by Sega, they must be involved at least in some way or it wouldn't be happening. EDIT: Though the fact that there's no mention of Sega on the Kickstarter at all makes me think they may actually not own the IP after all. Maybe it's another Toejam & Earl situation. |
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Post by Nester the Lark on Jun 16, 2015 10:32:37 GMT -5
From what I've seen, Sega does still own the IP. They're just licensing it out to Suzuki and Ys Net. They don't seem to be involved any further than that, but I suppose we'll learn details soon enough. Oh, and it's funded!!! $2 million in less than 12 hours! That makes it the fastest growing Kickstarter of all time. It's officially alive!
EDIT: The Kickstarter FAQ has shed a little light on a few things. Other platforms beyond PC and PS4 are "undecided." And here's what they have to say about Sega:  |
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Post by Leon on Jun 16, 2015 17:00:43 GMT -5
Well, it's been announced that Sony is funding the game so I guess it's a good thing that people donated all that money...
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Post by Nester the Lark on Jun 17, 2015 14:58:05 GMT -5
Apparently, the PC version of the game is being published by Shibuya Productions. ( Source) And here's a French interview (with English subs) that's got some interesting bits in it. There may be a stretch goal to add an arcade to the game. Also, the footage shown in the Kickstarter video was actual in-engine footage, not pre-rendered. Also, there were apparently a couple of bogus Shenmue III campaigns on Indigogo and GoFundMe, but both have been removed.
Well, video got removed. I think it was a fan translation, so it must've been flagged. Anywho, the Kickstarter has been updated with a bunch of new stretch goals, mainly for expanding areas of the game and adding extra missions and events. Also, they added this bit to the FAQ: Can you make an open world game for just $2 million?
No, we cannot make an open world game for $2 million. Shenmue will be produced using both the funds raised from the Kickstarter and through other funding sources already secured by Ys Net Inc. We are very sorry, but due to contractual obligations, details of outside investments will not be disclosed. |
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Post by Nester the Lark on Jun 19, 2015 12:54:20 GMT -5
Here's a Game Informer interview with Yu Suzuki that has a few interesting bits: Were you surprised by how fast the Kickstarter goal was reached?
The thing that really surprised me first about the Kickstarter was the crash that happened. Kickstarter broke – that was a big surprise. I couldn’t believe that! The second one was how fast it went to $1 million. Apparently, it is the fastest game or entertainment project on Kickstarter to reach that number.
A big part of the original Shenmue games were the Sega Easter eggs, such as the capsule toys and playing Sega games in the arcades. Is there any possibility that those will appear in this game even though those licenses belong to Sega?
There are some things I can use and there are some things I can’t use. It’s kind of depending on further talks with Sega. I think there’s going to be a lot of small details that we’re going to have to speak with them on as we go along.
The challenging part, at least in the United States, is that Shenmue came out on Sega Dreamcast, Shenmue II came out on Xbox, and Shenmue III is coming to PlayStation 4 and PC, making it difficult for many fans to experience the first two games since they’re on separate platforms. Are there any plans to bring Shenmue I and Shenmue II to modern platforms?
If you have that question, it’s better that you ask Sega because they hold the rights to those. Those are their properties and I'm not in a position to talk about that, but I’m thinking about asking them! Also, here's an interview with Adam Boyes where he explains Sony's relationship with the game most clearly: |
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Post by Nester the Lark on Jun 24, 2015 19:49:31 GMT -5
The latest Kickstarter update has Yu Suzuki, himself, making a funding and budget statement, although it basically just clarifies what's been said before. This should have been addressed much earlier, but I think a lot of developers that used to work at large companies are not used to being so transparent when it comes to how a game is developed and funded. There have been many questions concerning Shenmue 3’s budget and what outside sources will be added to the money collected through Kickstarter. I apologize for not having been more forthright in this area and would like to take this opportunity to help clarify the situation.
Ys Net and I have been putting in many long years trying to find a way to bring back a sequel that so many fans have waited so long for. After learning of Kickstarter, I knew it would be possible to get Shenmue 3 started. Wanting to make the best game possible, I also knew that I would have to look to more traditional means to obtain all the funds that would be needed to create the game I had envisioned.
Sony and Shibuya Productions have been wonderful partners because they believe in Shenmue and want to see the best for the fans and the game. Their investment in (and support of) Shenmue have helped to realize a sequel that will stand proud with its predecessors. While it is not business practice to discuss the specific details of such arrangements, I can say that with their assistance on the production and marketing end, and in Sony’s case with some publishing support as well, Ys Net is able to use more of the money we collect through Kickstarter purely for Shenmue 3’s development. It is also important to note that your funds are going strictly to Ys Net for development of Shenmue 3 – Sony and Shibuya Productions are not seeing a cent of your Kickstarter dollars.
The outpouring of support from all of you, the backers, has been so inspirational. I cannot thank you enough. Having reached our funding goal, I am excited to say that the Shenmue story will go on, and our journey with Ryo and Shenhua will continue. Fans will be able to enjoy the sequel they have waited so long for, and newcomers to the series will be introduced to a unique gaming experience.
Of course, like with any Kickstarter, additional funding will only help us make a better game. On top of everything Shenmue 3 will already bring, the Stretch Goals that I have laid out will add extra quests, events, and new gameplay systems that will make the game even more immersive and take the series to the next level. At the $5 million mark, there will be an all new gameplay feature I would be excited to be able to add to the Shenmue legacy. If we should make the $10 million Stretch Goal, a much larger, completely open world will be yours to explore.
Even if these Stretch Goals are not reached, Shenmue 3 will already be a sequel true to its name, and one we can all be proud of. It is my hope though, that together we can make this Shenmue just as revolutionary as the first two were.
I understand this statement may by late in coming. Going forward, we wish to be as open as possible concerning the game’s development. I would like to again ask for your cooperation and support in helping make Shenmue 3 the best that it can be.
Sincerely, Yu Suzuki |
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Post by Nester the Lark on Jul 1, 2015 12:39:50 GMT -5
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Post by Nester the Lark on Jul 14, 2015 21:27:34 GMT -5
The Kickstarter is down to its last few days, and I'm pretty sure it will break at least 5 million, if not the 5.1 million stretch goal for a Portuguese language option, but I doubt it'll catch Bloodtained at this point. I can't help but wonder, tho, if it would've been even more successful if the campaign had been run a bit better from the start.
Anyway, here's a new "trailer" for the game, showing a short scene with Ryo and Shenhua:
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Post by Nester the Lark on Aug 21, 2017 21:14:54 GMT -5
Finally, here's a proper teaser trailer:
Yeah, Deep Silver is publishing. Hmm...
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Post by Nester the Lark on Aug 21, 2018 9:48:05 GMT -5
Shenmue I & II is out today on Steam, PS4 and Xbox One.
Shenmue III will be out (drum roll)... August 27, 2019.
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Hope you have fun with the games until you don't have to avoid the spoilers.