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[Acquiescence]

we'll get Shenmue 1 + 2 before 3 right?

Doesn't seem like it's going to happen unfortunately.

 

[Sectorseven]

In case anybody missed it, they add a FAQ to the bottom of the Kickstarter page. This does not appear to me to be absolutely exclusive.

To me it means a possible Vita port eventually, especially if it's the only way to generate interest in the east.

 

[Crowza]

Full FAQ if anyone is interested.

FAQ


▻ Will there be an Xbox/Wii U/Linux/Mac version for Shenmue 3?


Currently we are planning development only for PC (Windows) and PS4. Other platforms have not been decided yet.

Last updated: Tue, Jun 16 2015 5:16 AM EDT



▻ Will there be a physical copy reward for PS4?


The Shenmue 3 Kickstarter will only be offering the digital download version for the PlayStation Network.

Last updated: Tue, Jun 16 2015 5:16 AM EDT



▻ Is this game affiliated with SEGA?


SEGA has officially given us the rights to use the "Shenmue" license.

Last updated: Tue, Jun 16 2015 5:16 AM EDT



▻ Are there plans for the HD versions of Shenmue 1 & 2?


The property rights for Shenmue 1 and Shenmue 2 belong to SEGA, so we are not in a position to comment on that.

Last updated: Tue, Jun 16 2015 5:19 AM EDT

 

[thewhitehawk]

Quoting myself from another thread:

Heh... at best I'd expect an "HD Shenmue" with some additional content but that's as much as I expect. I feel sorry for Last Guardian appreciators, myself included, but in terms of feeling sorry for those sort of people nothing beats those who still have hopes for a new Shenmue.

I will now proceed to eat my shoe, thank you very much.

 

[Tigerfog]

To me it means a possible Vita port eventually, especially if it's the only way to generate interest in the east.

A portable Shenmue 1 and 2 would be a portable happiness in my pants.
It would be awesome if it were at all possible.
I'm wondering if the VITA cards can hold enough data for all 7 CDs of Shenmue 1 to 2 though.

 

[kess]

Best thing to happen to Sega fans since the Dreamcast OH MAH GAWWD

 

[Chaos17]

we'll get Shenmue 1 + 2 before 3 right?

Read the F.A.Q. :
-Are there plans for the HD versions of Shenmue 1 & 2?
-The property rights for Shenmue 1 and Shenmue 2 belong to SEGA, so we are not in a position to comment on that.

 

[JoeyJungle]

Full FAQ if anyone is interested.

Oh man, hopefully Sega gets blown away by the Kickstarter and goes "Hey, here's Shenmue 1&2 HD! And also PSO2 western release, just for good measure!"

 

[Ahasverus]

I suppose the planned profits come from the physical ps4 editions.

 

[Yawnier]

Waking up to see this funded... awesome news.

Shouldn't be too long until the first stretch goal is reached

 

[Thaedolus]

I am so happy about this. I have been in shock today, feeling a bit dizzy at work. After all these years, all the let downs, I honestly had given up hope for a real sequel.

Shenmue has a special meaning to all its fans, I'm sure. It certainly does for me. It was Shenmue II that was the first step for me to fall in love with China. The beautiful scenery from Guilin made me interested in that big country. That's how I decided to visit China, why I started to learn the language and eventually how I met my wife. So without Shenmue I don't think we would ever have met.

Shenmue has had a real impact in my life. I can't wait to finish the story.

When I visited Japan a couple years ago, I legit felt like I had been there before. All the quirky little things Shenmue managed to capture and convey gave me a sense of familiarity with the stuff we saw there. It was quite a pleasant and nostalgic feeling.

 

[Hex]

This game probably actually costs between $30 and $50 million. This Kickstarter is just for fleecing fans.

How is it fleecing fans if you can get the game for $29 which is definitely cheaper than it would have been if a retail normal release.
Do people even think before they type negative crap?

 

[FaintDeftone]

I noticed the FAQ states that Sega gave the team the licensing rights to make the game. I wonder if this Kickstarter is meant to pay Sega off in order to do so.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

I suppose the planned profits come from the physical ps4 editions.

And I'll probably buy one too, even though I'll already be getting a digital one. And I'll buy it for $60 if they price it that way.

 

[Erevador]

The best way to get the HD re-releases is just to make the Kickstarter for Shenmue 3 a smash hit. Sega will see the ravenous demand and want to cash in.

 

[FiveMinuteHero]

I noticed the FAQ states that Sega gave the team the licensing rights to make the game. I wonder if this Kickstarter is meant to pay Sega off in order to do so.

Very interesting. Imagine if the licensing cost 2 million.

 

[moltonasty]

I saw the news last night and had to go to sleep to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I woke up today, and saw it's still real..Shenmue 3 is happening.

Whaatttttttttt

I waited 14 goddamn years for this! Take that haters and naysayers!!! All the threads on gaf over the years "why dont they do a shenmue 3 kickstarter" only to have a bunch of nasty comments like "it wont get funded, no one cares anymore"

Where the haters at now??? the game is already funded, and will continue to get more money! This is just such s glorious day for me, i never thought this day would come. Best e3 ever, best day ever, god bless us all.

 

[Xieldos]

Do take some time to read this. Suzuki-san has once said in a Sept 2014 interview that in order to complete the entire series of 16 chapters (of which Shenmue 1 is Chapter 1 and Shenmue 2 is Chapters 2-6) he may need 3 more games (up to Shenmue 5). But Suzuki-san hopes to finish the series in a 4th game. However, do take note that now there are higher storage capacity media available (Blu-ray and PC HDD) so more of the story can be included. Link: http://shenmuedojo.net/new/games/s3preview.html

Now that Niao Sun is going to make her first appearance in the upcoming 3rd game along with Lan Di, I can't wait for the rest of the Heavenly Kings to show up!

We already know that one of them is Xiuying's brother. I don't think we have any clue as to the last one though.

 

[Weils]

I know, I posted that interview too some pages back. But I doubt Shenmue 3 will contain 10 chapters. Shenmue 1+2 are around 50 hours long. So Shenmue 3 should be at least the same if not the double (making a dumb calculation, of course I don't know how long a chapter can be) of that time. It seems too much, for me.

I'm actually stuck in a dilemma. I hope that Suzuki-san is able to finish up the game in Shenmue 3 (which is less likely), as I'm not sure if there will be ongoing overwhelming support like what we have witnessed for Kickstarter. Who knows, Sony or whoever else is funding this project may pick up from here after gauging the sales once Shenmue 3 releases? Really wish for another miracle here as I sincerely would like Suzuki-san not to rush and show more of the story in its entirety, though I do appreciate his wish to pick the speed up with completing the series now that he has the chance to do so.

http://shenmuedojo.net/new/extras/interview1114.html
Q: Fans keep providing their support on the internet and even after a decade, they are still here. However, they would like to know what they could do to help you start Shenmue III's development?

Yu Suzuki : Fans from all around the world have kept providing me support and I can't thank them enough. About Shenmue, Sega is not a problem at all. For Shenmue III, we need to define a specific budget and if I can gather enough for it, Sega will allow me to do it.

I am pretty sure that Sega doesn't want to take any financial risks regarding Shenmue. That's why I have to gather the necessary budget for it. Anyway, even if I would like to work on other projects beside Shenmue, if I ever get the opportunity to work on the 3rd part, I will do it. And to be honest, I do not think that anyone else can properly accomplish Shenmue III the way I'd like to do it.

If Shenmue III's budget isn't sufficent, quality will suffer from it.

Q: Budget and money are the main problems... If you ever reach your goal and gather enough money to create Shenmue III, do you think that you will be able to conclude the story? Knowing that Shenmue's story is very deep and seems to be far away from its conclusion.

Yu Suzuki : Yes indeed, the story is far away from being completed and to be honest, I do not think that it's possible to end it during Shenmue III. If I had to do it my way, players would experience the ending during Shenmue V. But that seems to be a lot so I'm going to try to finish it within the next 2 games.

 

[Caipirinha]

Info from Kickstarter comments

"Please add a strech goal for a PS4 physical copy"
Independant studio means digital version. Unless a contract is signed with the console constructor. And you can't promise a physical version in a KS camapaign unless such a contract grants it.

Time to spam the living christ out of Shuhei..

 

[Weils]

We already know that one of them is Xiuying's brother. I don't think we have any clue as to the last one though.

Nope. Please read the interview on Shenmue Dojo on what Suzuki-san has revealed in a tidbit: Ziming Hong is not one of the 4 Heavenly Kings.

 

[Krejlooc]

We already know that one of them is Xiuying's brother. I don't think we have any clue as to the last one though.

Spoiler

Lan Di is Xiuying's brother

It feels so good to have to actually spoiler plot details about Shenmue again, because the plot is suddenly relevant one more time.

 

[kess]

Info from Kickstarter comments

"Please add a strech goal for a PS4 physical copy"
Independant studio means digital version. Unless a contract is signed with the console constructor. And you can't promise a physical version in a KS camapaign unless such a contract grants it.

plz add a $100,000 stretch goal for a Dreamcast port too

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Officially at $2.4 million now.

 

[Fisty]

I noticed the FAQ states that Sega gave the team the licensing rights to make the game. I wonder if this Kickstarter is meant to pay Sega off in order to do so.

Most likely, Sony was probably unwilling to pay the licensing costs but would fund part/most of the game if Yu was able to license it himself in some way. Theres no way Shenmue 3 will be made with $2m.

 

[Theonik]

A portable Shenmue 1 and 2 would be a portable happiness in my pants.
It would be awesome if it were at all possible.
I'm wondering if the VITA cards can hold enough data for all 7 CDs of Shenmue 1 to 2 though.

No but 2 Vita cards could. Well actually that's a bit of a toss. In the first place, each GD-ROM can fit about 1GB of data. Vita cards can go up to 4GB. At the same time a remaster can save a lot of space by repackaging duplicated assets that are needed across disks.

 

[Cave Johnson]

I really think $2 million is too low for something of this ambition. Times have changed, there is new tech and new gameplay mechanics to take advantage. I hope the budget increases.

It's been repeated time and time again that the kickstarter campaign =/= to game budget.

 

[GarciaHotspur]

So the game can come on Xbox One one day ? Sony's decisions are weird, sometimes. But it's good for gamers !

 

[raphier]

It's been repeated time and time again that the kickstarter campaign =/= to game budget.

That's one hell of an expensive campaign with limitless goal

 

[Dennis]

I can't. I don't understand. I just. I don't know how. I mean. Who? Like. I what? You did...they're...I mean you can't..

*fumbling for wallet*

I mean...you're like...and there's...and you don't understand.

*leaves 100 on the counter*

And this is on what? And it's like wait what? And you kind WHAT I mean WHAT THE

 

[Canis lupus]

Shenmue is supposed to be 16 chapters long

Shenmue 1: Chapter 1
shenmue 2. Chapter 2-4
shenmue 3 chapters 5-12 ?
Shenmue 4 chapters 13-16?


There'll at least be another Shenmue game needed to finish the story, no way they'll wrap up the story in 3, unless it's 100 hours long.

 

[Noisepurge]

we'll get Shenmue 1 + 2 before 3 right?

Thats up to Sega completely hopefully they will get greedy and send the sourcecode to Bluepoint for porting.

Info from Kickstarter comments

"Please add a strech goal for a PS4 physical copy"
Independant studio means digital version. Unless a contract is signed with the console constructor. And you can't promise a physical version in a KS camapaign unless such a contract grants it.

Yeah, i immediately thought Sony and possible publishers will want to save those copies to be sold after the kickstarter and the game actually comes out.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Thats up to Sega completely hopefully they will get greedy and send the sourcecode to Bluepoint for porting.

Bluepoint doesn't need the source code. During the Silent Hill HD Collection fiasco, they said they just take the retail discs and reverse engineer it to avoid issues like that.

 

[TheChillyAcademic]

So will the game no be released on PSN then? lol

 

[Theonik]

Shenmue is supposed to be 16 chapters long

Shenmue 1: Chapter 1
shenmue 2. Chapter 2-4
shenmue 3 chapters 5-12 ?
Shenmue 4 chapters 13-16?


There'll at least be another Shenmue game needed to finish the story, no way they'll wrap up the story in 3, unless it's 100 hours long.

If Shenmue 4 can happen which I think is finally a possibility, this would be the optimal scenario. I'm really nervous about rushing the ending in a single low-budget game as the worst case scenario but I am confident neither will be true!

 

[Krejlooc]

Shenmue I and II HD are already developed and ready to launch. Sega has been sitting on them for a few years now.

 

[Noisepurge]

Bluepoint doesn't need the source code. During the Silent Hill HD Collection fiasco, they said they just take the retail discs and reverse engineer it to avoid issues like that.

goddamn wizards

 

[blahness]

Shenmue I and II HD are already developed and ready to launch. Sega has been sitting on them for a few years now.

Where is this info coming from? Is it confirmed in any way?

 

[khaaan]

I don't know if anyone else asked or brought it up but I asked a question on the Kickstarter asking if there will be anything to help bring new players up to speed.

Hello,

Currently, the property rights of the Shenmue I and II is owned by SEGA, so port or HD edtition of I and II will be something we cannot comment on. The $2.5M stretch goal will be in the line with your suggestion I believe.

Hope this answered your question.

I never explicitly asked about a port but at least they addressed it.

 

[Mendax]

Where is this info coming from? Is it confirmed in any way?

various rumours afaik

 

[Theonik]

Shenmue I and II HD are already developed and ready to launch. Sega has been sitting on them for a few years now.

Yes, well, are we sure they were completed? It would seem uncharacteristically silly even by SEGA standards to sit on them unless they were waiting for the KS to succeed and ride on the hype blitz for maximum profit.

At any rate. With this hitting $6m minimum I doubt SEGA isn't going to do it.

 

[MattyG]

Shenmue I and II HD are already developed and ready to launch. Sega has been sitting on them for a few years now.

God I hope so. I need to play them before this comes out.

 

[e_i]

Wait, Shenmue 2 was never released here, right? Only the first one?

 

[Yawnier]

Where is this info coming from? Is it confirmed in any way?

I believe there were rumors of this back in 2012-ish, around the time Sega released remasters for Jet Set Radio and NiGHTS.

Found it: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/rumor-shenmue-1-and-2-hd-finished-hitting-xbla-psn/

http://www.gamesradar.com/shenmue-hd-has-been-ready-go-well-over-year-rumor/

 

[Laevateinn]

Wait, Shenmue 2 was never released here, right? Only the first one?

This is why nobody would fund this. Shenmue 2 was released on the Xbox after Dreamcast owners were scattered to the wind.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Wait, Shenmue 2 was never released here, right? Only the first one?

If by "here" you mean the United States, yes, Shenmue 2 was released on the original Xbox.

 

[Ty4on]

Wait, Shenmue 2 was never released here, right? Only the first one?

Xbox version was released in NA. PAL and JAP got the Dreamcast version.

 

[amstradcpc]

Info from Kickstarter comments

"Please add a strech goal for a PS4 physical copy"
Independant studio means digital version. Unless a contract is signed with the console constructor. And you can't promise a physical version in a KS camapaign unless such a contract grants it.

Could Sony be funding in exchange for exclusiveness of the PS4 physical sales?.

 

[Megauap]

Only 70k left to reach the first stretch goal. So close...

 

[Walpurgis]

This is why nobody would fund this. Shenmue 2 was released on the Xbox after Dreamcast owners were scattered to the wind.

Thank god for internet hype then. I seriously doubt that most people funding this have ever played any of the games. It's nice to see the revival of a dead franchise though, especially one that ended so suddenly.