SEGAbits Shenmue III Hype Train! Update: Funded but lets go further!

[Centrale]

Seems like a lot of people are getting pretty amped up about this GDC talk possibly indicating some information about the future of Shenmue. But these kinds of postmortems are a longstanding GDC feature. Likewise, Gamasutra periodically runs postmortem articles from all sorts of developers. They are all focused on the past: What went right with the development, what went wrong, and what the developers learned from the experience.

The other postmortems at GDC this year will be for Zork, Robotron 2084, and Lucasfilm Games. There aren't going to be announcments of a new Zork, a Robotron sequel or a re-formation of Lucasfilm Games. What this event will be is a fascinating opportunity to learn about the development of what ultimately became Shenmue 1 and 2... not a reveal or hype event for 3.

For Shenmue fans who are able to keep their expectations realistic, it's going to be great. Just don't set yourself up for disappointment.

[Barry the Nomad]

I still want to know why the guy in the link posted believes Yu owns the license. Does he have evidence?

[Spock]

I still want to know why the guy in the link posted believes Yu owns the license. Does he have evidence?

I am not sure who created the article. It DOES say that it was posted by the GDC staff though. I know that it is not a forum website and that there really is going to be a GDC this year. According to the article, Yu Suzuki will be interviewed about the future of Shenmue. I do not know if that part is fact or just a hopeful guess. I - like most people who know about this franchise - wish he would finally announce if he will be considering a new Shenmue game or not.

[Centrale]

There is nothing on the official GDC site about Yu Suzuki being interviewed about the future of Shenmue. You're referring to a random forum post, not the GDC event info. The only thing Yu Suzuki is doing at GDC is talking about the development of the games that have already been released.

Yu Suzuki has already stated multiple times in the past few years that he wants to make Shenmue 3, but it's a matter of getting the funds to do so from a publisher, which hasn't happened yet (as far as we know). So, is he 'considering' making Shenmue 3? He's already got it planned out, but he's done as much as he can so far. It's really not a question of if he wants to. It's a question of if he can convince a publisher to fund it.

[inthesky]

http://youtu.be/IxMf5lMWqto?t=40s

Check out the username.  :D

Nothing terribly meaningful, of course.

[fernandeath]

I am not sure who created the article. It DOES say that it was posted by the GDC staff though. I know that it is not a forum website and that there really is going to be a GDC this year. According to the article, Yu Suzuki will be interviewed about the future of Shenmue. I do not know if that part is fact or just a hopeful guess. I - like most people who know about this franchise - wish he would finally announce if he will be considering a new Shenmue game or not.

There is nothing on the official GDC site about Yu Suzuki being interviewed about the future of Shenmue. You're referring to a random forum post, not the GDC event info. The only thing Yu Suzuki is doing at GDC is talking about the development of the games that have already been released.

Yu Suzuki has already stated multiple times in the past few years that he wants to make Shenmue 3, but it's a matter of getting the funds to do so from a publisher, which hasn't happened yet (as far as we know). So, is he 'considering' making Shenmue 3? He's already got it planned out, but he's done as much as he can so far. It's really not a question of if he wants to. It's a question of if he can convince a publisher to fund it.

So, he did state about the 'future of shenmue' at this year's GDC.

I don't get it, we've read that Sega lost Shenmue's trademark, but does it belong 100% to Yu Suzuki ?

[Barry the Nomad]

I don't believe SEGA lost the trademark. As our story suggests, it refers to specific uses of the trademark:

Update: It should be noted that the database shows two dead trademarks for Shenmue. One, filed on February 18, 1999 and cancelled on January 17, 2009, pertains to “computer game programs and prerecorded discs and ROMs for computer game programs”. This is likely referring to the original Shenmue for the SEGA Dreamcast.

The one that was cancelled on Valentine’s Day pertains to “entertainment services, namely, providing an online computer game”. This one was filed on August 25, 2003. The now cancelled Shenmue Online was officially announced in 2004, meaning this recent dead trademark is likely for that game and the potential for games like it.

I'll admit, I am not an expert in this stuff, but I don't think it is as plain and simple as "SEGA doesn't own the trademark". I think they DO still retain the rights to Shenmue, but this whole thing is referring to specific uses of the trademark. Not to mention we're dealing with two territories, might be some wonky America/Japan thing.

[JohnOfRage]

This is what I found on Shenmue III


http://www.gamepur.com/news/14198-phil-spencer-talks-about-shenmue-3-xbox-would-welcome-it-microsofts-first-p.html


 

[RegalSin]

Teanslation it is a Japanese thing, so why are we talking about it. If Shemue III, release it should be on the DC2, not a rubbish Microsoft BS system.

[Saturn Memories]

Teanslation it is a Japanese thing, so why are we talking about it. If Shemue III, release it should be on the DC2, not a rubbish Microsoft BS system.

Sega's never gonna make another console. Ever.

[RegalSin]

Not SEGA of Japan, but SEGA of Europe, maybe.

It is not really about making something with super ram, or rub.bish corperate features. It is about making something that people are familiar with. That is the main problem with "Videogame systems". Their are too many to choose, from and the market is divided.

Sega is probably afraid of releasing the, game because of the lack of fan base support on the current gen systems. Also considering who really still cares at SEGA

For it to work, the entire fanbase has to be, on one console, that is respected, and has a strong implusive want.

[Saturn Memories]

Sega West can't fart without asking SoJ for permission first.

[fernandeath]

Sega can't even afford a game like Shenmue 3.
A new console would be utopic... Unfortunatelly...
I guess Sega would just loan the rights of the game just as they did with Bayonetta 2.

---

Anyway, there's this 'update':

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-12-i-never-want-to-play-shenmue-3-half-life-3-or-the-last-guardian

[Spock]

Sega will probably make Shenmue III WAY before they decide to finally make games that can actually compete with stuff like: Assasins Creed, Batman: Arkham, Battlefield, Call of Duty, Gran Turismo, Grand Theft Auto, Fallout, Farcry, Final Fantasy, Halo, Sleeping Dogs, or The Elder Scrolls. I wish Sega would realize that it is focusing too much of its time on other games. At least Shenmue III would be better than wasting their time on making another game about a blue hedgehog.

[Saturn Memories]

It's sorta hard to go back to a story-driven game that last saw a release over 12 years ago and then try to tell its third chapter. Can't imagine how Shenmue III would appeal to anyone other than the small but vocal Shenmue fanbase. IMO, Sega would need to do HD rereleases of the first two games or a complete reboot before even thinking about Shenmue III.