Yu Suzuki considering Crowdfunding/Kickstarter to fund Shenmue 3

Translation
Quote:
Yu Suzuki just said that he is thinking about a Kickstarter to fund the Shenmue 3 developement ! #MAGS
Source: (Sebastien-Abdelhamid) He works with pretty big independent French TV channel and is part of the Monaco Anime Game Show.
https://twitter.com/SAbdelhamid/stat...59625822728192

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=518301

I don't think he would be able to raise the money needed, but I would donate heavily if he made this happen!!!

 

So this French TV guy is the only source? lol

 

I have been waiting for this. This is Suzuki's chance to make a Shenmue 3 which could behave as an abridged epoch, condensing the story which originally was to stretch to ten episodes. What Suzuki had planned for the Shenmue series, based on what I remember, was to follow Ryo through maturation, ascending to a climax, allowing us to experience a full evolution of the character, intimately. We have only gotten infant Ryo so far.

My money is in Suzuki's pockets.


Edit: Regarding this source, Suzuki was asked before if he would make Shenmue on his own (perhaps my dream world collided with reality with this sentence as the issue is far more vague than I remember) and he smiled and stated that Sega would give him the rights if he wanted to do such a thing. If it's not now, I am certain it will be at some point, as Suzuki himself has flirted with the idea when asked in several interviews. My opinion is that Suzuki wants Shenmue to be finished.
Could be wrong.

Team Yu from their facebook page:

Now, we don't want to get anyone's hopes up. As exciting as this sounds, the news is still rather vague and ambiguous, at least until we're able to gather more details. But we promised to pass along whatever came out of the Monaco Anime Game Show this weekend, so please take this with a grain of salt for the time being:

As you may recall from an earlier post, Sebastien-Abdelhamid had asked fans on Twitter to suggest questions that he would ask Yu Suzuki at the MAGS convention. Well, here's a new tweet from the interviewer following that session:

"Yu Suzuki déclare penser au Crownfunding type Kickstarter pour financer Shenmue 3 ! #MAGS"

https://twitter.com/SAbdelhamid/stat...59625822728192

This roughly translates to:

"Yu Suzuki declares he is thinking about crowdfunding such as Kickstarter to finance Shenmue 3! #MAGS"

A thrilling prospect for sure, but before we get carried away let's acknowledge a few things. First of all, while it still inspires hope, it says he's only thinking about it. But most importantly, we don't yet know the context of these comments. We don't even have a direct quote. Did Yu volunteer this statement, or was he coaxed into politely going along with an idea presented to him on the spot? We simply don't know at this stage, so we hope to see a video or at least a full transcription of the interview before deciding how seriously to take this tweet.

We have said before that we believe Yu would be more open to the Kickstarter concept than the corporate suits at Sega. You can read our previous comments here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=375636402448405

On this latest development, we'll keep you posted.


Team Yu (Shenmue Fan Group) on the likelihood of a SEGA endorsed kick starter:

The recent talk about Kickstarter has been interesting, with Psychonauts developer Double Fine Productions managing to raise over $1,000,000 in under 24 hours to make a new adventure game. Naturally this has a lot of Shenmue fans very excited at the prospect of Sega using a similar approach to overcome their financial wariness toward making Shenmue III.

However, Sega and Double Fine are in very different positions. Chances are, most gamers were unfamiliar with the name Double Fine before their fundraising story went viral. Asking fans to pledge money for a game the company otherwise couldn't afford to make is how this underdog developer has made its name. Sega, on the other hand, has a reputation as one of the most established and prolific brands in the industry. Resorting to Kickstarter is likely to seem beneath them, even if it's what the consumer wants. Their corporate ego won't allow it.

Team Yu maintains that the only way we'll ever see Shenmue III become a reality is if Yu Suzuki can obtain the license from Sega. He may then see the benefit in crowdsourcing the capital required to make the game, and we can all put our money where our collective mouth is. But until he has the rights to Shenmue, there'll be no project to fund.

The obstacle between fans and the game remains Sega's stubborn burial of the Shenmue license, instead of giving it to the one man who can put it to good use. Suzuki wants to make the game. We want him to make the game, and would invest our money to help him do so. But before that can happen, Sega must first do the right thing and let Yu take control of Shenmue's destiny.

Please join Team Yu in lifting the plight of our most wanted sequel over this hurdle. Then we'll be on the right track for the kickstart to begin.

 

x

 

Sadly, I partially agree with you. In the corporate gaming industry, the idea of taking risk for a fan base seems far fetched. I am not a rabid Shenmue obsessive who is dodging the popping of the fantasy bubble, but someone who enjoyed the franchise and has watched Suzuki keep the idea afloat through periodic revivals via fan group interviews and sexy winks to certain questions. Why would Suzuki continue this game if he didn't see a possibility. Perhaps he's washed up and enjoys the gaming show circuits and getting a few dollars for hamburgers.

There may be a creative path to capture the rights and make something tasteful yet budget oriented, to finish out the series. I don't know. But it's fun to embrace such a possibility and jerk off to it (metaphor).

Regarding the need for millions and millions to make, I am not so sure. Shenmue's original budget was massive with revolutionary tech and seven years of tweaks and behind the scenes efforts leading up to launch. Surely, the game could be made with creative streamlined budget factors and yesteryear technology and minimal marketing to complete the Shenmue experience. I suppose it comes down to how passionate Suzuki is to his creations and whether he looks at his games through the lens of an artist.

The overview looks dismal.

 

I don't see this happening either too but if it did what system would it be on? pc,wii u,ps4, or the Next Xbox

 

I want to see this game from a long time. I love it if they make a dreamcast release.

 

Intersesting, Yu Suzuki in the interview also stated that the Shenmue story will be continued through anime and manga. So, he's loose lips with visions.

This is a first.


It also turns out that Suzuki is still a supervisor at Sega and he has had access to the Shenmue IP with Shenmue Gai , an online social game, which lasted about a year and another, Shenmue online which never made it to market due to legal difficulties with business partners.

So the idea that Sega has a strict burial policy on the IP , doesn't seem to be correct.

Also, there is the Yakuza engine, which is built out of the spare parts of the original Shenmue assets. Perhaps that could be a solid platform to continue the series.



Rather than spam post every little update, time to sit back and see what Suzuki does next.

 

Rather than spam post every little update, time to sit back and see what Suzuki does next.[/QUOTE] I agree that we should wait but what system do you think they shoud produce this game on?

 

Well if they crowfund Shenmue 3 in different chapters, let's say Shenmue 3 in 8 parts ... it could work.

 

And I loved it if they released the next Avengers movie excusively on Laserdisc.

 

Well, that's an interesting question. If Suzuki sees his unfolding story as being relevant in today's market, with a pick up in speed and focus on action, then he may want to court consoles through it's online option (likelihood of physical game very low) with the purpose of redeeming the franchise. Shenmue as a series was stalled before the heart of the game was able to unfold. The first two chapters or episodes were slow with emphasis on back story and the opening up of the world of Ryo, using Hong Kong as the bridge towards the magical world of Lan-Di. Clearly, Shenmue as a franchise was tremendously ambitious. So, if Shenmue could be sped up to reach a hectic crescendo, on par with today's games, then perhaps it could have a chance in the contemporary market, sexed up and tweaked to fit today's gaming trends, a hybrid of sorts with a back story full enough to satisfy the original fanbase.

There could also be a more traditional Shenmue experience, as a console or P.C online purchase, perhaps distributed in parts like the walking dead. Something low key but clearly a hit within the fan base demographic with room for the new generation. Either way it would surely get a lot of buzz which would be fantastic marketing of the game itself.

It won't be on the dreamcast, that's not feasible. Perhaps through steam on PC, something like this.

So, most likely an online marketplace game, ported to consoles with the possibility of a P.C release or vice versa.

Again, if Suzuki's blueprint for Shenmue was to become more action oriented and lean as the story unfolded, forgoing the intimate world exploration and focusing more on visceral gameplay, then it may have a chance to compete and not get buried as an odd title that somehow fell out of a worm hole to grace an aging demographic.

It comes down to what Suzuki knows about this IP and whether it can inspire a new generation while keeping the older fanbase satiated.

 

Would back. 100%.

No questions asked. If this was kickstarted. It would be funded, like. Instant.


Release it on all major consoles and PC.

 

I've always wondered why Sega will pump money into publishing some of the crap they've been putting out... yet they don't seem to want to even consider finishing Shenmue, a game that (if done correctly) should sell like hotcakes to people like us.

 

All of the above'

By the way do you know where Sailors hang out?

 

no where

 

They hang out in bars, mon.

Anyway, I would definitely invest in this. I find the whole thing unlikely, though.

 

shenmue pinball - the tactical pineball rpg

 

Exactly right, I don't get it either. Then again, it could turn out horrible like NiGHTS on the Wii did... I just didn't like it as much as "Into dreams"

 

Financial risks really, it performed poorly when it came out. The amount of money needed to make it and how it performed was corporately embarrassing in a lot respects. It was really a game that was suppose to save the system. It got partially screwed by some really poor marketing in the west that didn't really emphasis to people why they should buy a dreamcast to play this unique experience.

At the same time the erratic the way part 2 was released which left people a bit confused about what the series was about if they were an average person and not familiar with it. You would think when microsoft bought exclusive rights they would of made a bigger push for the public to be aware of the game. I think them not porting both 1 and 2 in an arcade release or a compilation was a big mistake.

But considering sammy runs things now it make sense since they publish what they think will sell, hence sonic games and big movie liceness. Also consider if hypothetically this was a reality and the game turned out to be a huge success it would be like a financial blunder for them. So either way at this rate its a bit of a fantasy. Honestly shenmue is probably one of the biggest tragedies in the game industry. Why a book on the making of this game hasn't been made is beyond me. I would imagine a lot of interesting stories and scandals would be revealed. Probably sell better than shenmue 3.