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Sony is officially helping with funding and development with Shenmue 3

Ishan

Junior Member
Some of the money will definitely go to Sony, there no way Sony giving out millions for this without a way to make their money back. Even a pub fund where Sony give money upfront to indie studio, they'll get their money back first before the developer see their profit money.
Define money going back yo sony ?this is completely vague . Will it sel some ps4 yes will it give sony a "for the gamers" boost yes . Will sony take any of that 2-3 even 20 mill no they aren't stupid ... And you are if you think that .
 

GavinGT

Banned
Sony is basically just another backer at this point, with the added bonus of developers helping out, they are helping make a fan dream come true.

Sony is just another Kickstarter backer. They paid for the secret $10 million tier, which gets them Yu Suzuki's Ferrari F355.
 

Vintage

Member
This feels a bit like a ransom demand from Sony:
"We already have the developer, we gave them funds and there's nothing stopping this game from getting made, BUT we're not releasing it unless you give us money"
 

oti

Banned
This feels a bit like a ransom demand from Sony:
"We already have the developer, we gave them funds and there's nothing stopping this game from getting made, BUT we're not releasing it unless you give us money"

This is so wrong just reading this hurts.
 
This feels a bit like a ransom demand from Sony:
"We already have the developer, we gave them funds and there's nothing stopping this game from getting made, BUT we're not releasing it unless you give us money"

Except that is not how it is and we aren't even giving money to Sony.
 

Ishan

Junior Member
This feels a bit like a ransom demand from Sony:
"We already have the developer, we gave them funds and there's nothing stopping this game from getting made, BUT we're not releasing it unless you give us money"

Err try getting funds for a game which has been a proven money sink with high dev costs and justifying it to your higher ups ... If you can dude I have many ideas I would like you to fund .

Edit : I'll give you a 50% cut even
 
do you know how many Kickstarters say that and then have XBO, Vita, etc stretchgoals added later on?

Additionally, saying it will only come out for PC and PS4 is not the same as simply saying up front what their involvement is.

I'm honestly surprised anybody could be against it - even if you thought it was clear, it definitely makes it more kosher to simply state it outright in an official capacity.

The information on the KS page was very clear that PS4 and PC were the only development platforms. There were no hints in the stretch goals of the addition of other platforms later. People were not being misled in any way into thinking it might come to other platforms. And if anyone did blindly back in with that hope, well they have 30 days to remove their pledge.

They were open and up front about their involvement in the very first interviews on day 1 of the show, including on their own livestream show, less than 24 hours after it was revealed. So if anyone finds this objectionable, again they have 30 days now to remove their pledge.
 
This feels a bit like a ransom demand from Sony:
"We already have the developer, we gave them funds and there's nothing stopping this game from getting made, BUT we're not releasing it unless you give us money"

I see some of you go on full force on this. We have Shenmue 3! :)))))
 

Piccoro

Member
This is the exact same thing that happened with Bloodstained.

Why didn't anyone complained about Bloodstained, but everybody's complaining about Shenmue III?...
 

xxracerxx

Don't worry, I'll vouch for them.
This feels a bit like a ransom demand from Sony:
"We already have the developer, we gave them funds and there's nothing stopping this game from getting made, BUT we're not releasing it unless you give us money"

For that bit of pulling shit out of thin air, my response:

tIAyeGe.gif
 

Spades

Member
Paying for games feels so strange

Well, paying for a game which has the backing of a major publisher over 18 months early does, sure. This very forum had many people campaigning against pre-orders.

I realise that Kickstarter is aimed at unknown games and so it is different, but if Sony were planning on backing this game all along (no way would they have put it in the E3 conference if they didn't - don't try to tell me otherwise) then there is absolutely no need for this Kickstarter.
 
I don't have an issue with this in principal, although it should have been made clearer (if it wasn't already obvious to some).

However.

Had Microsoft done this, they would have been crucified.
 

panda-zebra

Member
This feels a bit like a ransom demand from Sony:
"We already have the developer, we gave them funds and there's nothing stopping this game from getting made, BUT we're not releasing it unless you give us money"

This feels a bit like a sizeable, if not complete misunderstanding of the situation.
 
This feels a bit like a ransom demand from Sony:
"We already have the developer, we gave them funds and there's nothing stopping this game from getting made, BUT we're not releasing it unless you give us money"



Not really. They are giving them funds, but not FULLY funded. Really, if Sony was giving all the money, there would have no need of a PC version. The only reason is the funds are coming from both Sony AND Kickstarter.
 

Spades

Member
But you are not giving Sony any money here.

Whilst this is true, this Kickstarter feels like nothing more than a glorified pre-order where you must pay up-front and wait for 18 months. Sony would not have included Shenmue 3 in their E3 conference had they not intended to help fund development, making the money this Kickstarter campaign raises almost a moot point.

They clearly had confidence that there was a market for Shenmue 3, or they would not have included the game in their most important (from a public perception) conference of the year. Why would they?
 
Well, paying for a game which has the backing of a major publisher over 18 months early does, sure. This very forum had many people campaigning against pre-orders.

I realise that Kickstarter is aimed at unknown games and so it is different, but if Sony were planning on backing this game all along (no way would they have put it in the E3 conference if they didn't - don't try to tell me otherwise) then there is absolutely no need for this Kickstarter.

And I'm sure they'll just write a blank check of whatever amount with no questions or concerns.
 

Corto

Member
Thanks for this, this is pretty much exactly my thoughts and I think does a better job of explaining them than I managed to do.

But there's something wrong there. Shenmue 3 is not "their" project. "Their" meaning Yu Suzuki's and Sony. Sony is helping with funding of the game and marketing costs to ensure that the game is on their platform. Sony doesn't have ownership of the IP, a share in the possible profits, or creative power in the final game. You could say that Sony bought exclusivity, but that would be wrong as the game is being released on PC and that partial exclusivity doesn't make the game "Sony's". Sega owns the IP, Yu Suzuki has all creative power.
 

Qvoth

Member
Judging from the new French article, I get the feeling the kickstarter decision came 1st before Sony came knocking
This ks money probably won't go to Sony
 

linkent

Member
Well, paying for a game which has the backing of a major publisher over 18 months early does, sure. This very forum had many people campaigning against pre-orders.

I realise that Kickstarter is aimed at unknown games and so it is different, but if Sony were planning on backing this game all along (no way would they have put it in the E3 conference if they didn't - don't try to tell me otherwise) then there is absolutely no need for this Kickstarter.

That IF, If the game doesnt reach 2mil, possibly sony dont want to back it.
 

xxracerxx

Don't worry, I'll vouch for them.
Judging from the new French article, I get the feeling the kickstarter decision came 1st before Sony came knocking
This ks money probably won't go to Sony
Of course the Kickstarter money is not going to Sony, it is going to the developers.
 

Vintage

Member
This feels a bit like a sizeable, if not complete misunderstanding of the situation.

I fully understand the situation but it just felt strange announcing kickstarter in between all first-party Sony funded exclusives like this game was one of them, and then asking money in advance.
 

hesido

Member
Though Sony's *potential* financial backing was obvious, the stage presentation were along the lines of "We're not involved in this kick-starter, but we are celebrating the launch of the kickstarter". Of course they couldn't admit that they were going to back the project according to the result of the kickstarter, but then again they didn't need to say "We are not involved". Can't remember the exact quote on stage, though.
 
It's funny reading through this thread and seeing people complain and cry about this kickstarter being shady because of sony funding it. Did people really think 2 million would cover the cost of this game at all? Of course it was to see if there was interest. The original Shenmue cost over 70 million to make! I pledged because I've seen people begging for this game to happen for years, I only hope they release a HD collection so people like myself who never played these can get caught up to speed.
 

leeh

Member
Quite frankly, I'm appalled this is being defended so much. Just to be clear, I have never played one of these games, and won't be interested in picking this one up.

I see a couple of arguments being used here, for this approach:
  • This game wouldn't happen unless it was for the Kickstarter.
    Well, that's not true. That's Sonys choice to partly fund the game if Kickstarter succeeds. Why wouldn't they just open an early pre-order system through PSN and include a cheaper price and say so much % of this pre-order will go to development. Then you'd get your goodies, your cheaper price. They'd also probably get more money over time.
  • This means dead franchises can come back with kickstarters
    Oh come on, if a new game under an old IP can raise 3 million in days then it's not dead is it. They obviously knew interest was apparent to even consider this approach.
  • Sony aren't getting any money from this
    What a load of shit, they have to spend money to distribute and publish this game. They need to see returns. I wouldn't be surprised if this kickstarter was for publishing costs and if they were met, then they fund development costs.
  • They don't know about the market
    This is the icing on the cake. How do all those multi-million business' cope now gauging their market without kickstarters? Poor, poor excuse. Take risks, you obviously know there's interest to even get up on a world stage and announce this.

For Sony, to get up on a world stage and announce a kickstarter for a game is arrogant and an appalling way of going about a IP revival. What impression does this give to other teams who want to do a similar thing? They'll be thinking "Oh, we'll have to raise X amount of money before Sony will give me anything."

Like I said in a point above, this should of been announced with an early-preorder scheme where money from the pre-order gets subsidized into development costs. Multi-million dollar companies should not be using Kickstarter.
 
I don't have an issue with this in principal, although it should have been made clearer (if it wasn't already obvious to some).

However.

Had Microsoft done this, they would have been crucified.

Why would they be crucified? Why would anyone be crucified? You can get the game for $29 this way. Probably half the price it will be when the game is finished and released. It's coming to PC. And if you find Sony's involvement abhorrent or morally objectionable you can simply remove your pledge at any time within the next 30 days.

There is really nothing to be outraged over.
 

Behlel

Member
I think that Sony have calculated an ammount of money they were confident to get back when the game will be released and the exceed have been kickstarted.
 

Corto

Member
Well, paying for a game which has the backing of a major publisher over 18 months early does, sure. This very forum had many people campaigning against pre-orders.

I realise that Kickstarter is aimed at unknown games and so it is different, but if Sony were planning on backing this game all along (no way would they have put it in the E3 conference if they didn't - don't try to tell me otherwise) then there is absolutely no need for this Kickstarter.

The buzz this Kickstarter is making, breaking records and making the news is invaluable. That ensures that the Kickstarter was indeed needed to raise awareness to this. The presence in Sony E3 conference ensured the success of the kickstarter campaign. There was a risk, as there is always, that the Kickstarter campaign didn't have enough traction. I don't believe that it would fail, but sometimes the worst that could happen to a KS project is to be just borderline successful. This ensured a resounding success of the campaign and attention bandwidth in the gaming media and forums.
 

GavinGT

Banned
Whilst this is true, this Kickstarter feels like nothing more than a glorified pre-order where you must pay up-front and wait for 18 months. Sony would not have included Shenmue 3 in their E3 conference had they not intended to help fund development, making the money this Kickstarter campaign raises almost a moot point.

They clearly had confidence that there was a market for Shenmue 3, or they would not have included the game in their most important (from a public perception) conference of the year. Why would they?

It's the third entry in a niche franchise that's been dormant for 14 years and has never been on Playstation before. It's also widely known for having been the most expensive game ever made, and losing buckets of money for Sega. If you think Sony was ready to lay down millions of dollars on faith alone, you're just wrong.
 
I fully understand the situation but it just felt strange announcing kickstarter in between all first-party Sony funded exclusives like this game was one of them, and then asking money in advance.

This is a Sega IP that was proceeded by assassin creed, ff7 remake, devolver and announced by Boyes of Third Party Relations. The only chance of you feeling strange that this is "in between first parties" is you being delusional.
 

Spades

Member
And I'm sure they'll just write a blank check of whatever amount with no questions or concerns.

Well, hey, SFV wouldn't happen without Sony's investment, right? So by that logic, there clearly isn't as much hunger for a new SF game because Capcom don't have enough faith to produce it. Why not Kickstart that game?
 

leroidys

Member
But there's something wrong there. Shenmue 3 is not "their" project. "Their" meaning Yu Suzuki's and Sony. Sony is helping with funding of the game and marketing costs to ensure that the game is on their platform. Sony doesn't have ownership of the IP, a share in the possible profits, or creative power in the final game. You could say that Sony bought exclusivity, but that would be wrong as the game is being released on PC and that partial exclusivity doesn't make the game "Sony's". Sega owns the IP, Yu Suzuki has all creative power.

They are a stakeholder. As a consumer stepping into the role of stakeholder via kickstarter, I think that all other stakeholders should be clearly identified up front.
 
Well, hey, SFV wouldn't happen without Sony's investment, right? So by that logic, there clearly isn't as much hunger for a new SF game because Capcom don't have enough faith to produce it. Why not Kickstart that game?

The current market demand for a series like SF is much easier to estimate than a 14 year old series with a bombed second game.

Its apple and oranges.
 

Corto

Member
They are a stakeholder. As a consumer stepping into the role of stakeholder via kickstarter, I think that all other stakeholders should be clearly identified up front.

The consumer in this case is a patron not a stakeholder. There won't be any return to the patrons besides the game coming to fruition. And even that is not 100% ensured. A kickstarter is not a guarantee of a final product.

edit: Sony involvement though makes it an almost guarantee. So that's another benefit of Sony footing in some money to this.
 

Klossen

Banned
Please explain to me how this is any different from them investing in, say, Horizon: Zero Dawn as an example?

Because anyone with RPG interest can pick up Horizon and enjoy it. Shenmue 3 would alienate a great deal of players being the sequel of a niche game.
 

Spades

Member
The current market demand for a series like SF is much easier to estimate than a 14 year old series with a bombed second game.

I'm not denying that. But why include it in your E3 conference if you had no intention of getting behind it unless it does well at Kickstarter level? They wouldn't.
 
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