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[hodgy100]

How can they lose the license to Shenmue, when Ryo has been a guest star in a bunch of games? Don't they fall under an umbrella copyright or is every single character in a game individually protected...which seems stupid and unlikely.

I asked one of the sumo digital guys at a guest lecture about getting the rights for characters in sonic racing games actually. He explained that they had to go to the creator of each individual character as they are the copyright holder for the character.

 

[Mindwipe]

How can they lose the license to Shenmue,

They didn't.

when Ryo has been a guest star in a bunch of games?

Sega didn't sell a product called Shenmue that was related to videogames.

Don't they fall under an umbrella copyright or is every single character in a game individually protected...which seems stupid and unlikely.

This is nothing to do with copyright.

 

[Aquamarine]

Lose assets? How can major game companies even do this? I can't imagine a company such as Nintendo allowing something like this to happen. I mean, unless I'm misunderstanding something, reading this reminds me of the old days when some movie and TV studios would just let their film stock rot or get hopelessly misplaced instead of being vigilant and trying to maintain/preserve it.

Simple: they're not rock-solid in their organization and get sloppy. Inevitably, with negligence and time, more and more unaccounted for things slip through the cracks and get lost.

 

[UrbanRats]

But how can something be dead if it was never really alive?

But now they found the corpse, barely hidden in a shallow ditch in the woods.

Closure at last, however bittersweet.

 

[Trojan X]

The emotions in this thread. I got nothing else to say...

 

[StrongArmSteady]

They didn't.



Sega didn't sell a product called Shenmue that was related to videogames.



This is nothing to do with copyright.

So what are the ramifications of them dropping the trademark? Sony can great a game with Shenmue in the title, which stars Nathan Drake?

 

[Trojan X]

So what are the ramifications of them dropping the trademark? Sony can great a game with Shenmue in the title, which stars Nathan Drake?

Simply they, SEGA, will have potential big issues releasing any game titled "Shenmue" in the US if someone grabs the name. SEGA still hold the IP rights of Shenmue, but in terms of releasing the game stateside, they will have conflict once that name goes to someone else. SEGA would not want this to happen to them considering that the US is their biggest market, especially for a game like Shenmue that is known worldwide.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

Simply they, SEGA, will have potential big issues releasing any game titled "Shenmue" in the US if someone grabs the name. SEGA still hold the IP rights of Shenmue, but in terms of releasing the game stateside, they will have conflict once that name goes to someone else. SEGA would not want this to happen to them considering that the US is their biggest market, especially for a game like Shenmue that is known worldwide.

Unless they're selling the IP.

Spoiler

Let's keep the insanity going.

 

[Finalow]

we still believe, Shenmue 3 the dream.

jk, RIP in pieces.

 

[Trojan X]

Unless they're selling the IP.

Spoiler

Let's keep the insanity going.

Or game licensing. If SEGA wanted to, they can cut a deal with Sony for them to invest in the title and release the game on SONY's platform. SEGA will still collect a royalty share from the game sales but that share will be small compared to what the developers and SONY earn. I.e. license out their games for SEGA can't afford or bothered to do anything else regarding their titles. However, this IS Sega we are talking about here so... yeah.

 

[Mandoric]

Simply they, SEGA, will have potential big issues releasing any game titled "Shenmue" in the US if someone grabs the name. SEGA still hold the IP rights of Shenmue, but in terms of releasing the game stateside, they will have conflict once that name goes to someone else. SEGA would not want this to happen to them considering that the US is their biggest market, especially for a game like Shenmue that is known worldwide.

This is inaccurate. Loss of registration doesn't mean loss of trademark rights, it means loss of the presumption of trademark rights (among other things - bootleg Shenmue merchanside, say, would now need to be pursued via civil suit rather than automatically denied entry by customs.)

The rights themselves still exist, as long as Sega is plausibly using the name in commerce. Which they are and will be as long as Sonic Racing is up on Steam, for example. Sega just has to actually prove "hey we're still using this, see, our new Sonic Racing product includes Shenmue brand components!" rather than faxing over a registration form.

 

[fastford58]

Or game licensing. If SEGA wanted to, they can cut a deal with Sony for them to invest in the title and release the game on SONY's platform. SEGA will still collect a royalty share from the game sales but that share will be small compared to what the developers and SONY earn. I.e. license out their games for SEGA can't afford or bothered to do anything else regarding their titles. However, this IS Sega we are talking about here so... yeah.

No one would be getting royalties for anything because a new Shenmue would sell about 41 copies, and mostly to people on GAF.

The series is dead. Ten years gone now. No one that would mass buy the title even knows what the game is.

Although...a Shenmue reboot done by a studio like Quantic Dream might be something. But there is no way they can just poop out Shenmue 3 and expect it to be anything less than a longing Shenmue fan's fart in a windstorm.

 

[Trojan X]

This is inaccurate. Loss of registration doesn't mean loss of trademark rights, it means loss of the presumption of trademark rights (among other things - bootleg Shenmue merchanside, say, would now need to be pursued via civil suit rather than automatically denied entry by customs.)

The rights themselves still exist, as long as Sega is plausibly using the name in commerce. Which they are and will be as long as Sonic Racing is up on Steam, for example. Sega just has to actually prove "hey we're still using this, see, our new Sonic Racing product includes Shenmue brand components!" rather than faxing over a registration form.

Thanks for the correction.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

Although...a Shenmue reboot done by a studio like Quantic Dream might be something.

Ugh, it would really be... Something.

But I agree that Shenmue 3 would likely not be a huge hit. Still, it would be an important feather in Sony's (or some other publisher's) cap.

 

[gunstarhero]

Let's move on sailors.

 

[Fox Mulder]

No one would be getting royalties for anything because a new Shenmue would sell about 41 copies, and mostly to people on GAF.

The series is dead. Ten years gone now. No one that would mass buy the title even knows what the game is.

Although...a Shenmue reboot done by a studio like Quantic Dream might be something. But there is no way they can just poop out Shenmue 3 and expect it to be anything less than a longing Shenmue fan's fart in a windstorm.

shenmue is dead because Sega let it die.

it was always a niche game, but the only two entries were on the Dreamcast and original Xbox. Those two consoles sold like 30 million combined. Why wasn't there a ps2 port? Why not a digital rerelease on steam, psn, or xbl?

Sega doesn't baffle me anymore. Seeing a great game like Chu Chu Rocket get a mobile only re-release shows how stupid they are.

 

[Nzyme32]

I vote mega 64 pick it up, yu suzuki already blessed them with the real conclusion

 

[MultiCore]

No one would be getting royalties for anything because a new Shenmue would sell about 41 copies, and mostly to people on GAF.

The series is dead. Ten years gone now. No one that would mass buy the title even knows what the game is.

Although...a Shenmue reboot done by a studio like Quantic Dream might be something. But there is no way they can just poop out Shenmue 3 and expect it to be anything less than a longing Shenmue fan's fart in a windstorm.

Although I'd prefer a PC version....I would buy a PS4 to play a proper new Shenmue game. /shrug

 

[Celine]

Sega now does want Nintendoes.

What does Nintendo do?

 

[Agent Unknown]

Simple: they're not rock-solid in their organization and get sloppy. Inevitably, with negligence and time, more and more unaccounted for things slip through the cracks and get lost.

Right, which gets to my point that it's kind of like how movie and TV studios often used to let their old film stock rot or get lost. Just still find it surprising.

 

[sgtmofo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxMf5lMWqto#t=27

Profile name "Ryo H"

Shenmue III on PS4 confirmed!!!

 

[Seik]

It's time for NeoGAF to take over the trademark.

Then we have to find a dev actually willing to do Shenmue 3 and kickstart it.

Spoiler

I wish, lol.

What does Nintendo do?

They're expert at dodging my money by not releasing any F-Zero/Star Fox titles.

 

[BurnOutBrighter]

Haha I would lose my shit if GAF actually bought an IP one day.

 

[Ape]

Shamue on you, Sega.

 

[To Far Away Times]

He never did find those sailors, did he?

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Time for a Shenmue Kickstarter without SEGA

This. In Suzuki we trust.

 

[Haines]

Its so strange to me that they abandoned this series. They made 2 games is it really that hard to make another

 

[LelouchViBritannia]

If we could just get a straight forward response from Sega or Yu on the future of Shenmue, i would be happy.

They're both so secretive when it comes to this ip.

 

[Paracelsus]

Nagoshi should buy the ip himself and make 3 with Suzuki endorsment and Yakuza engine.

 

[TheHater]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxMf5lMWqto#t=27

Profile name "Ryo H"

Shenmue III on PS4 confirmed!!!

16 second and 25 second mark. Looking for more clues

 

[Dion Blaster]

I don't think I can handle anymore of this. It's always a glimmer of hope and then deep despair.

Where was the glimmer of hope? Has there ever been a glimmer for Shenmue 3?

Its so strange to me that they abandoned this series. They made 2 games is it really that hard to make another

The first two cost massive amount of money. It'd cost even more now.

 

[v0rtikal]

haha that profile... nice trolling Sony.

 

[SegaManAU]

Not surprised this has happened considering how Sega has been treating their older catalog of IPs...

Speaking of Shenmue on a slightly related topic I wonder how much this watch is worth.

The last one I seen on eBay a few years ago sold for US $800.

 

[Tricky I Shadow]

Am I the only one here expecting Shenmue I and II HD to finally being announced for the PS4 at the post-mortem next month with a possible hint that Shenmue III is coming? I absolutely can not see them doing this event without announcing or at the very least hinting at these two things. They know how much the fans want more Shenmue. So why bother with the event then? Why draw more attention to it? Something is surely up, especially with all these other ‘hints’ recently. I haven’t been this hopefully to something Shenmue related since Shenmue II came out. I...I think this might actually be it.

 

[Tricky I Shadow]

Am I the only one here expecting Shenmue I and II HD to finally being announced for the PS4 at the post-mortem next month with a possible hint that Shenmue III is coming? I absolutely can not see them doing this event without announcing or at the very least hinting at these two things. They know how much the fans want more Shenmue. So why bother with the event then? Why draw more attention to it? Something is surely up, especially with all these other ‘hints’ recently. I haven’t been this hopefully to something Shenmue related since Shenmue II came out. I...I think this might actually be it.

I guess I am the only one. : (

 

[Chance Hale]

Sometimes it is nice to dream, but just remember you will eventually have to wake up.

 

[AmanoBuff]

Afaik, it's mostly due to legal/copyright reasons.

Spoiler

back in '12 you may remember that Sega went into a port spree. JSR, Nights...they thought it was a great idea, with very low risk and nice proft potential since, well, they don't want to fund traditional AAA anymore. Multiple ports were in development, among them was the canceled Skies of Arcadia port.

Shenmue case was special since not many people know this, but apparently the engine for both games uses licensed technology. It's not Bink Video or Sofdec codecs, apparently it's related to the very own engine.

Well, the thing is, according to what I've been told, the owner of those technologies folded years ago, and it's not clear who owns the copyright now.

Someone shown Sega a working Shenmue prototype for Xbox 360...but after disappointing sales by JSR and Nights, they didn't care enough to bother with the legal hassle. So it never went through the prototype stage, and the Skies of Arcadia port was canceled.

And I guess my dream of getting Model 3/later arcade games ports went to shit as well ;(

Is this for real? And if it is, isn't this thread-worhty?

A lot of fans (myself included) have been asking and keep asking and begging for both Shenmue and SoA HD ports for years, so while sad, at least it's good to know what really happened to these projects.

Anyone knows if there's been a thread created for this?

 

[NateDrake]

Am I the only one here expecting Shenmue I and II HD to finally being announced for the PS4 at the post-mortem next month with a possible hint that Shenmue III is coming? I absolutely can not see them doing this event without announcing or at the very least hinting at these two things. They know how much the fans want more Shenmue. So why bother with the event then? Why draw more attention to it? Something is surely up, especially with all these other ‘hints’ recently. I haven’t been this hopefully to something Shenmue related since Shenmue II came out. I...I think this might actually be it.

What other hints? The name 'Ryo H' in a PS4 video? That is more of a stretch than a hint.

 

[Tricky I Shadow]

What other hints? The name 'Ryo H' in a PS4 video? That is more of a stretch than a hint.

That (why would they even do this if something wasn't happening?), the Shenmue III numberplate and most promising is the tweet of Cerny and Yu together a few months ago. I don't know, I just feel like what's the point of holding this post-mortem if your not going to give everyone what they want. They know how much we want more Shenmue and the timing to announce something just seems right if it’s ever to happen.....and the fact that Cerny will be present is promising. Surely they won't just do the most-mortem and then just say "well, that's it. Bye."

 

[Ryu Hayabusa]

 

[Jabba]

Simple: they're not rock-solid in their organization and get sloppy. Inevitably, with negligence and time, more and more unaccounted for things slip through the cracks and get lost.

Yep, I believe this is what happened with SOE original coding for Star Wars Galaxies. When the EMU team approached SOE they wanted to know if they could look at or even use the original coding. SOE told them, they no longer had the code.

Is there a way to read the spoiler post without the CIA style censoring? PS3 browser mind you.


NVM, got it. Thanks to any replies though.

Atolm, just wow at all levels of your post. (

 

[Boogybro]

That (why would they even do this if something wasn't happening?), the Shenmue III numberplate and most promising is the tweet of Cerny and Yu together a few months ago. I don't know, I just feel like what's the point of holding this post-mortem if your not going to give everyone what they want. They know how much we want more Shenmue and the timing to announce something just seems right if it’s ever to happen.....and the fact that Cerny will be present is promising. Surely they won't just do the most-mortem and then just say "well, that's it. Bye."

I'm totally with you on this.

If something doesn't happen when they've done all this teasing, I will have to boycott Sega for life.

 

[bryanee]

I still believe

*sobs*

 

[Breakfast at Noon]

please god let tell tales buy this.

 

[Tricky I Shadow]

I'm totally with you on this.

 

[Jo Shishido's Cheeks]

Wow that's a little odd... what makes you think Telltale would be a good fit for Shenmue? I'm struggling to think of many developers less suitable tbh

 

[Breakfast at Noon]

There style would work imo, i just cant think of anyone else who would take it on without royally fucking it up.

 

[Tricky I Shadow]

There style would work imo, i just cant think of anyone else who would take it on without royally fucking it up.

*barf**

 

[Ponn]

Simply they, SEGA, will have potential big issues releasing any game titled "Shenmue" in the US if someone grabs the name. SEGA still hold the IP rights of Shenmue, but in terms of releasing the game stateside, they will have conflict once that name goes to someone else. SEGA would not want this to happen to them considering that the US is their biggest market, especially for a game like Shenmue that is known worldwide.

So in other words business as usual for Sega.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

I bet this was done on purpose so sony could pick it up