Having a kickstarter doesn't require you to use only those funds for a project from beginning to end - many launch only intending to finance part of a project or to demonstrate interest to potential investors. This is pretty normal and also, I think, totally fine in the wider scheme of things.
So the people who want to make Shenmue 3 maybe took it to Sony who said 'we don't know if this is worth the investment'. The team then decided (or worked with Sony) to try and demonstrate that there is some serious interest in the game, and they've had a pretty huge success overnight with that.
The people who backed Shenmue 3 will get their digital copies of the game and whatever other reward stuff that went along with the KS, and Sony will provide the funding and other support that was contingent on its success.
What exactly is sleazy about this? The alternative scenarios are either
A) the team try and make the Shenmue 3 people are hoping for on a few million from kickstarter (10% of which is taken by KS and fees, and another chunk is taken fulfilling rewards)
B) Sony gives the Shenmue 3 team $100 million because that's what a pal would do.
OR they could see how many people were willing to put money down, how much and then Sony use that to gauge how much to invest in the development of the game. Crowdfunding is a part of the entertainment business and there
isn't any one correct way to do it.
These are entertainment products. They aren't prying the money out of your hand.
That's my perspective on it as someone who didn't really like Shenmue 1 that much and hasn't played 2. I dunno if I'll even play this game, but the announcement was pretty interesting anyway.
