what games exactly? I guess some people think Shenmue is a cheap indie game.
Original Shenmue in 1999 was most expensive game at that time, it took 47-70mil to develop.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Sony is officially helping with funding and development with Shenmue 3
- Thread starter kamakazi5
- Start date
what games exactly? I guess some people think Shenmue is a cheap indie game.
Original Shenmue in 1999 was most expensive game at that time, it took 47-70mil to develop.
Why?
Honestly, there have been a bunch of games from established developers to go through Kickstarter now. Most of them require outside funding, either from the studio itself or from investors. What this Kickstarter does is A) signal that there is interest in a Shenmue sequel, B) give huge fans a chance to either get the game cheaper than it will likely retail for or to grab a bunch of cool Shenmue media/swag that wouldn't exist otherwise, and C) have some input on the creative process.
I'm not really seeing a downside. People have waited close to 15 years for a Shenmue 3 announcement.
They at least clarified in their Kickstater that they have a publisher. There was nothing at all on Shenmue's KS page about any of this at all.
Captain Smirk
Member
Did people actually think a game of the scale of Shenmue could be funded with 2 million?
Of course they needed a publishing partner
Edit: Beaten like a kickstarter target
Of course they needed a publishing partner
Edit: Beaten like a kickstarter target
Mendax
Member
no point. twitch only and was only for 5 minutes or so afaik
People paid for things on Kickstarter. The point is that they get what they paid for.
DannyDanger
Member
Didnt they already say why?
You have to realize Yu said he started working on the Kickstarter way b4 approaching Sony
I didnt know Helping Funding and Fully Funding were the same thing
But maybe Sony or Yu did. It's an old franchise that failed spectacularly to recover the millions used to fund its development. Any sane publisher in this day and age would be crazy to write a blank check for Yu to use in the funding of a proper Shenmue sequel. And Yu would want a proper budget to create the sequel his creation and its fans deserve not a shoestring budget for a forgettable game.
Shining Sunshine
Banned
benicillin
Banned
I think using Kickstarter to gauge fan interest and secure additional publisher funding is totally fine and I would be happy if other passion projects for cult or niche games did the same thing. If I could donate $300 somewhere to get Resident Evil Outbreak remade or something, trust me I would.
plasmawave
Banned
I think it is in this case.
flashtitan
Banned
Does that mean we will get a physical PS4 release now?
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
Paying? Lol. So those people who purchase enormous items that they probably would of been gouged out on Ebay for is now PR?
KillerSloth
Banned
LOL at people salty over this? No one put s gun to peoples heads for this, it was either this or no Shenmue.
MrCunningham
Member
Petitions were almost entirely useless anyway. Voting with your wallet always makes things happen.
CaptainTiptop
Member
I think you'll find I just pre-ordered Shenmue III, thanks.
NotTheGuyYouKill
Member
I have no problems with this approach to such niche games like Shenmue. The fans proved that they're willing to vote with their wallets, hence the game is happening.
People were before E3 saying that a Shenmue KS would never have even reached a one million dollar goal. Sony had to gauge consumer interest in some way before committing the big Benjamins. It's understandable given Shenmue's commercial history.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
No, we should continue to support risky business that has been known to tank more developers than any other art/entertainment industry.
I think both risks are merited. Nothing wrong with this. They do not force you to fund it. If it does not get any Kickstarter interest, then it shows the game would have been a flop more than likely.
robertsan21
Member
Great news for Shenmue fans and that it will be on PS4 is just a great bonus. Awesome game console.
gamechanger87
Member
That's why I'm saying reduce the donations down to the $30 tier, which was the minimal amount to guarantee a pre-order.
I guess everything above the $30 is like a collectors edition.
starwarsfan541
Banned
Seems rather disingenious how they handled the kickstarter announcing it during a e3 conference......
Expected this though
Expected this though
Zeyphersan
Banned
Oh hey you're back! Welcome.
Alright, let me clarify. To ME there was never any doubt that this would raise $2 million in 31 days. Cult hits/spiritual successors hit that level of funding all the time. It's not revisionism on my end because after seeing what gets funded on kickstarter there was never a reason to believe it wouldn't make it
Caipirinha
Member
Ok so I guess this is my most anticipated title of the gen then.
I don't mind the "gauging interest" approach to Kickstarter, but one thing I don't understand is the economics of it. The most passionate fans who are donating to the Kickstarter are already going to receive a copy of the game. Are they just assuming there are a lot of other fans, that aren't contributing to the Kickstarter, who will buy the game at its time of release? How else do they justify piling on more funding?
Compsiox
Banned
You just said my point.
Zombie James
Banned
For only $2M, even.
They give money to companies so they get exclusive betas.
I sure hope so!
lol
Scummy in what world? They let the fans be a part of helping and the response was overwhelming. Now Sony is going to jump in with the rest. The game is going to be made and we all win.
autoduelist
Member
Makes perfect sense to me, and a natural side-evolution of kickstarter.
Kickstarter is -why- we're having a renaissance of beloved franchises coming back - from the wastelands to the planescapes to bard's tales to dozens of other direct sequels and homages. This is a good thing -- no, a great thing.
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
Not to sound superficial, but I like that it is getting the AAA coat of paint the originals had for their time.
Sony is known for funding many weird, different and/or divisive experiences and Shenmue is very much that.
GitarooMan
Member
There was tons of doubt that a 2 million kickstarter for Shenmue III would fail? I don't remember that at all.
Use your brain. The fans cried for it and it was either put up or shutup. Gauge interest. Why fund something if no one even cares if it exist? Be glad the damn game is even coming and its coming to a PC near you also. They are actualling funding a PC version. Would you believe that? :/
Compsiox
Banned
Ulterior motives
Very true, but this assumes everybody would be aware of the finances of the previous games or of gaming in general.
If I've learned anything at all over the past few years, its that your average gamer does NOT understand the budgeting of a top class video game.
maquiladora
Member
Maybe just the $5 tier. Everything above that is the game and bonus stuff that people want. I doubt many people care where the extra funding is coming from. 2 million was never going to be the full budget for this game anyway. There was going to be additional funding from somewhere...
How else did you want it?
Similar threads
- Poll