Yu Suzuki’s Twitter Q&A: Check out our complete transcript

One of the issues with the Shenmue 3 KickStarter is that many people felt like there wasn’t enough details on the project. Unsurprisingly fans had a million questions for legendary game developer Yu Suzuki, thankfully Yu has tried to answer fan questions. First was in a form of a live Twitch chat, that didn’t go so smoothly (which he has apologized for).

Now he has taken to Twitter and allowed users to ask him any question, all you have to do is use the tag: #YouAskYu and the response was outstanding. But what did we learn from this? We gathered some of the best answers and posted them after the break!

@Shenmue Dojo: Can you please explain why there are two different statements about how many chapters (11 / 16) Shenmue has? 

Yu Suzuki: It is 11 chapters, but with branched story line, it will be more than 11.

@Mooncalfian: Suzuki-sama, at $5 million, exactly HOW open world will Shenmue 3 be, compared to Shenmue 1/2? Arigatou!

Yu Suzuki: I’m expecting something similar to Dobuita in terms of scale.

@ShenmueHDplz: Hello Yu-San will Shenmue have online functionality for example Online arcade Highscores or Online 70 man fighting battles?

Yu Suzuki: It will be a lot of fun, but depends on budget, so still under consideration.

@cactusdatsun: Will you be disappointed if the kickstarter doesn’t raise $10mill for that ‘open world experience’?

Yu Suzuki: No I won’t. I am greatful I have another chance for a new Shenmue. I will do everything I can within the budget.

@FullReactiveEye: For Ryo Hazuki’s model and others, are you going to reuse models and generally assets from Shenmue 1 and Shenmue 2?

Yu Suzuki: I don’t plan on recycling them, but will use the good parts as an reference.

@EvianCafun: Would love to hear Mandarin voice acting alongside Japanese in #Shenmue3, could we make it stretch goal?

Yu Suzuki: Thank you, it is under consideration.

@FullReactiveEye: Why do you think Shenmue didn’t appeal to the mass audience back then? Would it need to be ‘modernized’ for today?

Yu Suzuki: One reason may be there were so many new challenges. New challenges this time too. It’s the most important thing.

@Kebbati_menji: Can we expect the return of lottery prize in Shenmue 3? May be the first prize can be a figure of Yu Suzuki! I Love Caramel

Yu Suzuki: Great idea. Thanks. I will need to think about something more appealing than a figure of me.

@imranali4172: Will you research the latest tech in AI so you can include it in Shenmue 3? Make it a pioneering game like its predecessors? 

Yu Suzuki: Yes. I would like to take on some new challenge in terms of technology.

@AndrewJumpen: Is there a possibility to film a production process for example motion capture or dubbing, during development of Shenmue 3?

Yu Suzuki: Yes, we have it and I would like to feature it in an update

@SvenSadas: Will CocaColaCo join the Party ?

Yu Suzuki: I’m considering collaborations with companies like Coca Cola.

@jayel_romeu: My ten year old daughter wants to know if she’ll be able to use the phone at will in #Shenmue3 like she does in Shenmue 1. 

Yu Suzuki: Look forward to it. There will be many nostalgic scenes. Maybe a tin can telephone as well?

@murder0usInt: If future installments of Shenmue become a possibility will we have the option to bring over save data from 3?

Yu Suzuki: I have not decided it yet.

@murder0usInt: Can we expect epic fights like in Kowloon in Shenmue 2 and a similar battle fight system?

Yu Suzuki: There is “Battle System Expanded” Stretch Goal. It will enhance the battles, better than Shenmue 2.

@murder0usInt: Should we expect any Sega related stuff in Shenmue 3 like arcade games or toy capsules?

Yu Suzuki: There is a possibility.

 

@BrendOTron: Were there any gameplay elements for Shenmue 1 and 2 that had to be cut due to budget constraints?

Yu Suzuki: Yes. I wanted the ramen noodles to get soggy and yucky, but couldn’t. I wanted to get that real.

@RiGoRmOrTiS_UK: Will the “Shenmue Trial” be used for feedback to improve the game like Square Enix have with the FF15 demo?

Yu Suzuki: I would definitely want to get feedback, so I’m looking into how to put a system like that in place.

@RiGoRmOrTiS_UK: Will everything be voice acted the same way as 1 and 2? or will budget constraints not allow 100% VO all the time?

Yu Suzuki: Full voice will be possible if we have enough funding.

@wispartan27: My question is why is not possible to use (Shenmue Passport) models for the Shenmue 3?

Yu Suzuki: I’m considering about adding some functions from Shenmue Passport.

@wispartan27: can we expect custom clothing for Ryo Hazuki it would be great feature to able to style Ryo Hazuki as we want #Shenmue3?

Yu Suzuki: There’s a feature on the $250 tier and up to change Ryo’s jacket. Other customizing under consideration

@0DryJones0: Where did Ryo get his band aid? 

Yu Suzuki: It didn’t appear in Chp.1, but there was a martial arts event. The scar is from the final match

@FullReactiveEye: Will Shenmue 3 be compatible with the project Morpheus VR headset for the ultimate second life experience?

Yu Suzuki: I feel VR offers great possibilities.

@FullReactiveEye: Will in Shenmue 3 be a dog to pet call look and feed?

Yu Suzuki: Depends on the budget.

@sensonishikie: I always wondered how ryo , being Japanese, could communicate so easy in China. Can ryo speak Chinese?

Yu Suzuki: Let’s not go there…

@Akifromspace: Hello Suzuki-san, do you have a rough idea how many people will be in the development team for Shenmue 3?

Yu Suzuki: It will vary depending on the KS budget.

@CarlLeonWalker: Since relationships between characters will be more prominent, will we see something like a multiple choice conversation system?

Yu Suzuki: I am thinking about a dialogue selection system.

@RareRune: Please confirm that guns will never be a part of Shenmue gameplay, not for Ryo or any other playable character.

Yu Suzuki: I am not thinking about including guns as a weapon at the moment.

@G0ldenheaven: Will Ryo finally eat and do other bodily functions?

Yu Suzuki: I don’t plan on implementing it for S3.

That’s all folks. If you want to support Shenmue 3 Kickstarter click here. It would be nice for Yu Suzuki to do interviews with more in-depth answers instead of having to deal with Twitter’s character limitations. Maybe do one with a fan site that has been big fans of his since they where mere kids. Oh, i dunno… maybe one of them bits Sega sites I hear about on the interewebs….

Right guys?

Come on!

 

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