This is the story of a fan that ends up being co-producer on a game people have been waiting for 15 years. On Shenmue 3 kickstater page, who just broke its $2 millions goal in less than half a day, tuesday, a frenchie is listed besides Yu Suzuki, as co-producer on the project : Cédric Biscay, through company Shibuya Productions. If the name doesn't rign any bell to anyone, millions of players can say thank you to it.
" I love Shenmue to begin with. I played the first two original games in japanese when they came out ". Though his company, Shibuy International who develops economic bridges through france and japan, he meets Yu Suzuki. " We started to talk about the project in 2013 in Monaco, then we talked more in Tokyo and San Fransisco ". The two men first think of two solutions : a real sequel or " something financially less risky. We finally ended up with the former because its what everybody is waiting for " he precises.
Still one big problem to take care : Sega. For years, the company refused to develop a sequel to Shenmue who ended up a financial fiasco on Dreamcast but they didn't want to give or sell the brand either. Biscay doesnt give details but he points that " Sega still holds the rights and accepted the project and the partners ".
No game reach $2 millions on Kickstarter as fast as Shenmue 3. But to create such an ambitious blockbuster, this is only pocket money at best. " Of course it's not enough " he admits. His company is already involved in the Astroboy anime reboot, is also participating in producing Shenmue 3. The other white knight is called Sony. If the game is a PS4 and PC exclusive, it's not by chance. Sony and Suzuki started negociating in GDC 2014. More than money, the Kickstarter is here to take temperature to gauge interest of fans. " If they push the project, then we will deliver " explained Gio Corsi who supervise Sony's projects with tiers publishers. The support isn't only logistic, Sony confirmed us that " of course " there is financial support.
The original Shenmue cost between $47 millions (according to Suzuki) and $70 millions (according to Sega). This sequel should be made for less even if the game use Unreal Engine and no home made software build from scratch like the original. According to Biscay, Suzuki already has a " clear " vision of the pacing of the game that should still be accessible for anyone who never played the original game. " Now the challenge is to make the game and not disapoint the fans " he says. We hope this will ned better than the Veronica Mars movie.
too busy arguing in the other thread ? 
