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[Jcgamer60]

In a recent interview Yu Suzuki was asked to elaborate further on what's preventing a third game from being made:

Fans keep providing their support on internet and even after a decade, they are still here. However, they would like to know what they could do to help you start Shenmue III's development ?

Yu Suzuki: Fans from all around the world kept providing support me and I can't thank them enough. About Shenmue, Sega is not a problem at all. For Shenmue III, we need to define a specific budget and if I can gather enough for it, Sega will allow me to do it.

I am pretty sure that Sega doesn't want to take any financial risks regarding Shenmue. That's why I have to gather the necessary budget for it. Anyway, even if I would like to work on other projects beside Shenmue, if I ever get the opportunity to work on the 3rd part, I will do it. And to be honest, I do not think that anyone else can properly accomplish Shenmue III the way I'd like to do it.

If Shenmue III's budget isn't sufficent, quality will suffer from it.

Budget and money are the main problems... If you ever reach your goal and gather enough money to create Shenmue III, do you think that you will be able to conclude the story? Knowing that Shenmue's story is very deep and seems to be far away from its conclusion.

Yu Suzuki: Yes indeed, the story is far away from being completed and to be honest, I do not think that it's possible to end it during Shenmue III. If I had to do it my way, players would experience the ending during Shenmue V. But that seems to be a lot so I'm going to try to finish it within the next 2 games.

Source: Yu Suzuki Interview (Shenmue Dojo)

 

[MR ARCADE FOREVER]

I'd love a Shenmue collection remastered for the next gen consoles. 1080 p 60fps

 

[Toki767]

Sounds like they could use funding from a certain first party.

 

[ShogunDarius]

Shenmue 4 and 5 confirmed

 

[PrivateRyan]

Oh my god did he say SHENMUE 5

*clutches heart*

 

[starwarsfan541]

So basically someone needs to fund it......

Would be hilarious to see the thread if ninty funded or any of the big 3

 

[Jimmyfenix]

Scott Rohde please

 

[benzy]

Where the hell is the kick starter?

 

[sammyCYBORG]

5 games sounds absurd to me.

I'm kinda at the point where it's been so long I'd rather just not have an ending. Any conclusion wouldn't satisfy really.

 

[Larogue]

Phil can do it.

 

[Sidewinder]

Wow, somebody should give him some money, Soony pls?

 

[Alx]

I think he should just publish a book/documentary explaining the rest of the plot as he imagined it, and maybe telling about the production of the game (prototypes, artworks, interviews,...). That's the only way he'll ever get this project to closure without everything going to waste.
It won't make millions but it may be profitable, and will be less frustrating for both the remaining fans and his own ego.

 

[MattKeil]

Kickstart that shit, Sega.

 

[BadWolf]

Sounds like it will never happen.

 

[MaschinenZimmer]

But that seems to be a lot so I'm going to try to finish it within the next 2 games.

Is that a mistranslation? Because it reads like he is planning to do at least 2 other parts...

 

[biteren]

Phil can do it.

i wanna say Yoshida get on it, but i know he wont

 

[stn]

Shenmue V? Just the idea of one more Shenmue title seems to be a lot, in my mind. You have to consider that HD remakes of the first two would be mandatory, as you'd have a ton of gamers who haven't played them that you'd want to purchase the sequel. Not happening, sadly. I wish he'd give an interview and just say its 100% over.

Yakuza has a lot more mainstream appeal since its more action-oriented, and even it has failed to capture the Western audience. And yet we won't even be getting those games localized anymore.

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

Maybe if they released those Shenmue HD ports they had ready to go they'd have a bit more money for a third game.

 

[Shadow Ranger]

Someone fund it, and in the mean time get a decent HD port of I and II released. A wishy washy port has more chance to put people off, so a good port with redone voices, touched up gameplay etc could be the best option.

Either way, a HD port needs to take place first, I think.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Scott Rohde please

I can't imagine Sony would ever fund this. MS published Shenmue II on Xbox, so they'd be the most likely candidate, but Nintendo has partnered with Sega a lot recently, so I could see them stepping up as well.

More than likely though, a new Shenmue game (or games) is never going to happen.

 

[Krejlooc]

And to be honest, I do not think that anyone else can properly accomplish Shenmue III the way I'd like to do it.

Damn straight. Shenmue is distilled yu suzuki.

Take to kickstarter and i'll drain my bank account in seconds.

 

[ratcliffja]

If they tried for a kickstarter, it would likely be in the millions... maybe upwards of $10 million. I don't think they could get that kind of funding.

 

[clem84]

1- Sell a Shenmue HD collection and keep at least part of the profit for a future Shenmue game.

2- Kickstarter. There is no risk in doing this. He can set whatever goal he wants according to what he needs. If the KS doesn't reach it, nothing happens. If it does, we all win.

 

[Betty]

It's the only project I'd pay on kickstarter.

 

[MaddenNFL64]

This is the only kickstarter thing I would ever support. Ever.

edit: Also Sega, HD rerelease of the Shenmue games. Please.

 

[wapplew]

Money is not the problem for MS, I can see it being xbox exclusive.

 

[diablos991]

1- Sell a Shenmue HD collection and keep at least part of the profit for a future Shenmue game.

2- Kickstarter. There is no risk in doing this. He can set whatever goal he wants according to what he needs. If the KS doesn't reach it, nothing happens. If it does, we all win.

Other than the bad PR if it doesn't succeed. At that point no publisher would want to provide funding.

 

[Jimrpg]

Just not ubisoft, acti or ea

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

SEGA ought to consider doing an HD port of the first two games to Steam, just so we can gauge demand for the games as they are and were.

 

[loaf of bread]

Money is not the problem for MS, I can see it being xbox exclusive.

Money is 100 percent the problem. Just because MS has money doesn't mean they're going to use it if they don't feel its worth it.

 

[theWB27]

Sigh....make it a joint venture Micro and Sony. Split it down the middle.

 

[BadWolf]

If they tried for a kickstarter, it would likely be in the millions... maybe upwards of $10 million. I don't think they could get that kind of funding.

Wasn't Mighty No.9 able gather over $4 million?

 

[Moor-Angol]

The son of my son probably will see the true end of Shenmue

 

[Basileus777]

Surely there's enough money to make a mobile card game out of it.

 

[EteRnal PAL]

Kickstarter, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, anyone. Please give us more Shenmue.

 

[PetrCobra]

Sounds like they could use funding from a certain first party.

but can you imagine the riots everywhere

 

[MaddenNFL64]

SEGA ought to consider doing an HD port of the first two games to Steam, just so we can gauge demand for the games as they are and were.

No they have to rerecord dialogue. The audio quality is horrible. Unless the masters are much better, im not sure.

 

[Nightengale]

Guess that explains why no one's willing to fund it.

*Sonintendosoft carrying bags of money for Shenmue 3.*

Suzuki: I need triple the amount you're carrying, because I want to make Shenmue 3, 4 and 5...

*Sonintendosoft leaves*

 

[U n i o n 0015]

Kickstarter, Yu. I'll pitch in like 500 hundred.

 

[Shrike_Priest]

How Sony/Shu/Mark have not jumped on this is beyond me. Hell, it doesn't even matter if it turns out to be a flop, the year or two of pre-release goodwill would be enough to warrant the investment.

 

[SkoomaSuckinSwit]

Sigh....make it a joint venture Micro and Sony. Split it down the middle.

With a jump-start kickstarter on top of that, to show that there's a real thirst for Shenume.
I'd pay in advance, not a second thought.

 

[heringer]

Hopefully in 20 years we will be crying "just make Shenmue 5 and finish the damn story already, SEGA!"

 

[Amagon]

God, I just wish he release the storyboard outlining the rest of the series.

You're killing me Yu!

 

[liquidtmd]

LOL. For ten years GAF salivates and cries at the lack of Shenmue 3

Suzuki: "Well, you know, Shenmue 5"...

OWKOwaJOTP}AEJGP WEOJIG}EOWKOFAOP J{OIG{OIE HGO{IHS{EGBO N@BD@DKM

 

[John Bender]

I'd love a Shenmue collection remastered for the next gen consoles. 1080 p 60fps

More like 792p / 20fps

 

[shinobi602]

Just tell me where to put my fucking money.

Jesus just Kickstart that shit.

 

[CreeperBlocks]

Better Call Shu! Or Phil! Or both of them for the game to appear on Both Consoles.

 

[stryke]

I can't imagine Sony would ever fund this. MS published Shenmue II on Xbox, so they'd be the most likely candidate, but Nintendo has partnered with Sega a lot recently, so I could see them stepping up as well.

More than likely though, a new Shenmue game (or games) is never going to happen.

I still find this image the weirdest thing Shenmue fans have done because well, Sony didn't really do anything.

 

[Nightengale]

How Sony/Shu/Mark have not jumped on this is beyond me. Hell, it doesn't even matter if it turns out to be a flop, the year or two of pre-release goodwill would be enough to warrant the investment.

Because stuff like this don't exist in silos.

Any money going to Yu Suzuki's Shenmue 3 could had potentially gone to new property Z.

And it's even worse if Shenmue 3 isn't ending the story, but leaving another cliffhanger for Shenmue 4/5.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

No they have to rerecord dialogue. The audio quality is horrible. Unless the masters are much better, im not sure.

I'd also be concerned about licensing the Japanese dubs, as the seiyuu industry is very demanding cost-wise.