This is a translation of an article that was published in the September 2001 edition of the Dorimaga magazine. In it, Yu Suzuki and some of the Japanese voice actors talk about the completion of Shenmue II (released for the Dreamcast in Japan during the month this article was published) including some of the content that had to be cut from the release, and reflect back on their experiences over the previous 5 years they spent on the Shenmue project.
Part of this article (about Chapter 2) was translated by Kiyuu and discussed back in 2003. Also a short manga version of the Chapter 2 boat scenario is included as unlockable content on the Xbox version of Shenmue II.
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Special Interview: Looking Back on Shenmue
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Yu Suzuki – Executive Producer
Masaya Matsukaze – Japanese voice & motion actor for Ryo
Hazuki Ishigaki – Japanese voice & motion actress for Shenhua
Takumi Hagiwara – Japanese voice & motion actor for Ren
Compared to the previous episode, “Chapter One - Yokosuka”, the townsfolk of Shenmue II seem friendlier. The game gives the impression that it has been made to address some of the areas that had room for improvement in the first game, as if to acknowledge that some may find it off-putting if everyone were to give you the cold shoulder like in Shenmue I. Some people may already have completed Shenmue II in its entirety, but this interview covers a range of topics, including things that people who have finished the game will also want to hear about.
TV Commercials
Q: The first topic is about the commercials for Shenmue II that are currently being shown on TV.
Shenmue II Commercial #1: "Pork"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cdJMDayC4o Shenmue II Commercial #2: "Kung Fu"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVGozf4zCRs Shenmue II Commercial #3: "Beautiful Woman"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jv1cgLsQAk
Suzuki: To film those TV commercials we went over to Shanghai, although in the near future we plan to show commercials that will feature actual screens from the game. I think showing some of the gameplay will help attract ordinary members of the public to the game.
Matsukaze: You know, Hagiwara-san and I actually appear in one of those commercials, but probably no one’s noticed. (laughs) And we're really acting, too!
http://i.imgur.com/WV2O5Qr.png
Left & bottom-right: the set of the Hong Kong street at the Shanghai Film Park. The first photo was actually taken by Yu Suzuki. In the “Beautiful Woman” version of the commercial, look for Masaya Matsukaze (Ryo), and Takumi Hagiwara (Ren), showing their “real acting" (!) in the background.
Top-right: two giant pig carcasses containing a machine gun were chopped up on location. The set crew took the innards home for dinner.
Hagiwara: Right. People who have played Shenmue II are sure to recognize that we’re acting the bit where we lie in wait for Yuan. There are several different episode variations of the commercial, and they’re fun to watch. In the one with the old man, he was pretty shaky on his feet, so we had to film using a high-speed camera to make it look as though he was standing steadily. Gee, that old man was wobbling all over the place. (laughs)
Release of Shenmue II
Q: With Shenmue II going on sale soon, how do you all feel about that? You've been involved with Shenmue for a really long period of time.
Suzuki: We’ve been through a lot to get here, but for me I think the main thing is to have created something that will be loved by the people who play the game. Recently that’s all I’ve been thinking about. So I’m extremely keen to hear everyone’s comments. Right now it’s the only thing on my mind. (laughs)
Matsukaze: For me, I started my “countdown” about a month ago. It hasn’t felt that long, but I’ve been willing it to get here faster. (laughs)
Suzuki: I think the way the game has been put together is pretty unusual these days. For example, the shop interiors have been created down to the last inch. I don’t think any other game pays such ridiculous attention to detail. “Shenmue: The Movie”, which is playing right now, has that same flavor.
Q: It really has been a long project, hasn’t it. The voice actors have also been involved for ages; how long has it been?
Matsukaze: I’ve been playing the role of Ryo since the days of the Saturn. All up, I’ve been acting the part for just over 5 years.
http://i.imgur.com/LRomR4A.png
Matsukaze has been playing as Ryo for over 5 years.
Q: Did those 5 years feel long?
Hagiwara: It felt long! For one thing, an enormous amount of time was spent on filming, but it also took a long time for it to be incorporated into the actual game. We captured an endless amount of motion footage, and even after the voice recordings had been done, the creation of the game still had to be done. It seemed like the release day would never be reached.
Suzuki: Well, the software implementation side was tough too! After writing the software there was a huge checklist to be run through – I wish I had it here to show everyone! (laughs) There was a line chart that showed the number of check items decreasing; there were more than 10,000 items to check and it seemed endless.
Q: By the way, how many times larger is Shenmue II compared to Shenmue I?
Suzuki: I don’t know exactly, but I'd say easily 3 or 4 times the size of Shenmue I. But a lot of scenes got left out, because right as we neared the end of development I added a whole lot of extra content. Even using the best compression techniques of the time, there was too much for it all to fit. Even so, at the end we increased the content by about an extra 30% of the total game, for the area of Guilin where Shenhua appears.
Matsukaze: I heard a lot about that near the end of the development. People were saying that too much had been made and it wouldn’t all fit in.
The Cutting Room Floor
Q: I’ve heard that there was going to be a “Chapter 2 – The Boat” between Shenmue I and Shenmue II, but Shenmue II starts with Ryo disembarking from the boat, doesn’t it. And the mother of a little girl makes reference to something about that. (laughs)
Suzuki: That’s right. “Chapter 2 – The Boat” from the original scenario was dropped completely.
Matsukaze: Oh yeah, the boat! Actually Chai shows up there. It turns out that Chai survives being cast into Yokosuka harbor, and he shows up on the boat where Ryo fights against this unseen enemy. That was how the scenario was going to run.
Q: Were the scenes filmed?
Matsukaze: Yes, they were. They were filmed in a really over-the-top style. (laughs) Several of the people involved in the story on the boat were to then appear again in a later scenario. They would say something along the lines of “Oh, it’s you from that time on the boat...”, connecting the plot together. That was the plan for the scenario.
Suzuki: The confrontation with Chai would have made a nice situation. We had completed the designs for the boat interior, with everything detailed - from the escape routes and deck heights to the length of the handrails. The plan was that it would develop into a large-scale action scene.
Matsukaze: We completed filming of all the motion capture too. It started with opening the cabin door, and events developed spectacularly from there.
Q: So as you were working on making Shenmue II, you reluctantly had to cut it?
Suzuki: Well, it didn’t trouble me too much. I was like “It’s impossible, it won’t fit – cut it!”. (laughs)
Q: I’m guessing that there were a lot of other scenes cut from the final version, and motion capture that wasn’t included? In particular, I think Ren’s movements are really well done and I was impressed; but I kind of wish we could see more of them.
Hagiwara: Well, if the motion capture was kept for all the detailed actions, it would make a huge amount. We shot a ton of fight scenes as well. Quite a lot has been cut.
http://i.imgur.com/ppqn5We.png
On asking Yu Suzuki, “What happened to Niao Sun, who was shown at the premiere?”, he replies “I haven’t been able to use her yet, since she appears later in terms of the scenarios.” Masaya Matsukaze, who plays Ryo, hints at things to come: “When it’s time for Niao Sun to make an appearance in Shenmue, the story will have reached an amazing point!”
Q: Which was more difficult to carry out: dubbing voices to the actions, or the motion capture?
Suzuki: Firstly, these weren’t carried out by different people – the actor’s own acting is the source of the motion capture. Also, when an opponent is hit in the game he cries out; so by actually hitting him, his cry will be the cry of someone who has really been hit. (laughs) It may sound like tough work, but I think it was the perfect set-up.
There was a lot of trial and error at the beginning, but by the time we got to Shenmue II, at last we had found ways to manage things more efficiently.
Q: By the way, Shenmue is your first RPG-style game, isn’t it. Would it be correct to say that one of the main factors that sparked you to develop it is one that is commonly cited, namely the arrival of Final Fantasy VII during the era of the Saturn and PlayStation?
Suzuki: To be honest, part of it was because I found myself in a position of having “no place to go next”. The reason that the Sega Saturn lost popularity wasn't because it was beaten in terms of Sega vs Sony software titles, but because of a completely separate shift in power. And around that time I definitely had a kind of feeling of not having a place to go. As well as that, up until now I had been competing in the 3-minute world of arcade games, and I had been wanting to try my hand at creating something without such a time limit. So you can say that these two points are why I decided to move from arcades to try my hand on the home console.
http://i.imgur.com/9JQjld9.png
“At first Shenhua wears plain clothing, but I planned to have her wear various different clothes later on” says Suzuki. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds” comments Hazuki Ishigaki, who plays the role of Shenhua.
Looking Back
Q: And so, now that at last Shenmue II has been completed, how do you feel now looking back on it? After the Shenmue Premiere event (December 20, 1998), I guess that the plan was to release it within a year, but it has turned out to have taken right up until now... Is that somewhere near the mark?
Suzuki: It’s true that it didn’t turn out quite as I had initially planned. As more people became involved things grew more and more complicated, not just by a factor of a few times, but exponentially. And with everyone being a developer, if the person next to them developed something impressive, then they would feel compelled to outdo it. This resulted in a kind of chain reaction where everyone would strive to improve their output quality. But it’s hard for me to tell people not to increase quality! It was really challenging to find the right balance.
However there is one thing I think turned out well. In some ways Shenmue shares similarities with fighting-based games, but in the last half of the game in Guilin, where Shenhua appears, there’s no fighting at all. So I feel that I’ve been able to bring out the true Shenmue spirit there.
With Shenmue the graphics are all generated in real time, and ordinarily an attempt to make a game like this would be abandoned in frustration. (laughs) Game developers simply don’t go to the extremes we did. To tell you the truth, I don’t think we could go through it all again.
The Future
Q: So you won’t be making another Shenmue?
Suzuki: The first thing I want to do is take some vacation (laughs), and the staff too. I don’t think we could put ourselves through such tough times again as we did with Chapter One. However, even so, I’ve now learned a lot about how to make this type of game and so I’m confident that we’ll be able to make the next one more efficiently and with less of a burden. We’ll be able to make a similar kind of game, and it’s something I want to do. But... I feel like taking a bit of a break first. (laughs)
Q: Hypothetically speaking, if there was the possibility again in the future, what would be your choice of hardware? Ah, before asking that - is there any potential for a port?
Suzuki: Porting Shenmue I and II across to other hardware wouldn’t be impossible, but due to the sheer size it would materially be a tough job to take on. The easiest and most likely option would be the PC, in a year or two. That’s because the PC has, in a sense, the ability to handle anything and has few constraints.
Q: What thoughts do you actors have about that?
Hagiwara: I’m already raring to go! (laughs) Bring it on!
http://i.imgur.com/CrmKdVM.png
We really hope to see more acting from Takumi Hagiwara, who plays Ren. “Just say the word and I definitely will!” he says.
Q: I would have liked to have seen Ren take part in more scenes, to be honest!
Hagiwara: I know, right? There are still heaps of interesting stories connected to the scenarios made so far. Things like “Why is Ren present?” and “Why did Shenhua make an appearance?” It all gets explained later on.
Ishigaki: My wish for a port is that it starts properly from the very first disk of the series (laughs).
Matsukaze: Yeah, I agree.
Q: Yu-san, going back to the point you mentioned about the feeling you had of “nowhere to go”, have you satisfied this to some extent for the future?
Suzuki: In a way... not completely though. Conversely, now things have turned into a kind of hardware war, so it has become kind of pointless, right? Life is full of variety, for better or worse. But for me, the creation process is enjoyable, and therefore I want to create a product that people will enjoy. I think that’s been the lesson I’ve learned.
Matsukaze: A lot of female characters appear in Shenmue II, but actually people like Fangmei have some really detailed parameters associated with them such as her level of intimacy. And to reflect these parameters, her spoken lines were all recorded with various tones of voice! I hope everyone can appreciate the amazing attention to detail that fills every corner of the game.
Suzuki: For me, I don’t consider that “Shenmue” came to an end with the demise of the Dreamcast. I have an emotional attachment to the game. And so, I hope to meet up with you all again one day.
Matsukaze: Let’s meet next time for “Shenmue Returns”. (laughs)
Hagiwara: Absolutely. I hope we can.
http://i.imgur.com/Xn9zNAj.png
Matsukaze, Ishigaki, Suzuki and Hagiwara. For now, the long long project that was Shenmue has come to an end. Will we meet everyone again in the next episode? Or perhaps in a different project... if one is in the works? We’ll be watching for the next release from Yu Suzuki!
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Re: Dorimaga 2001 Interview w/ Yu Suzuki & others
Those commercials got ZERO to do with Shenmue. Could be some stupid Japanese chewing gum ad like this one, just without actually being cool.
Yeah these things get through some how... Someone with too much lateral thinking says we should go with this angle... yada yada.. Why would Yu Suzuki spend so much time and effort as well as SEGA's money to get his game marketed like that when Shenmue was so much about realism not super cheesiness. Boggles the mind.
I suspect Yu did have second thoughts about the commercials (or maybe had some negative comments about them), from the way he pointed out that commercials showing actual game footage were on their way.
By the way, the voiceover they use says "You never know what's going to happen - Shenmue II".
But I appreciate Masaya and Takumi's sense of humor when they describe how convincing their acting was in the commercial, likening it to an ambush scene in Shenmue II -- when in fact they are barely distinguishable, and appear for a split second. :)
http://i.imgur.com/EKSaYRg.png
Yeah these things get through some how... Someone with too much lateral thinking says we should go with this angle... yada yada.. Why would Yu Suzuki spend so much time and effort as well as SEGA's money to get his game marketed like that when Shenmue was so much about realism not super cheesiness. Boggles the mind.
I suspect Yu did have second thoughts about the commercials (or maybe had some negative comments about them), from the way he pointed out that commercials showing actual game footage were on their way.
By the way, the voiceover they use says "You never know what's going to happen - Shenmue II".
But I appreciate Masaya and Takumi's sense of humor when they describe how convincing their acting was in the commercial, likening it to an ambush scene in Shenmue II -- when in fact they are barely distinguishable, and appear for a split second. :)
http://i.imgur.com/EKSaYRg.png
- Wed Aug 19, 2015 9:46 am
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Re: Translation requests here!
From another thread:
Phong wrote:I have some more scans of articles from Japanese magazines around that time, if any translators are interested. I posted them in large format 600 DPI in this thread:
http://shenmuedojo.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48816
- Sun Aug 23, 2015 11:10 pm
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Re: Translation requests here!
Curious as to what these say from the Wan Chai martial arts school, are they the same sayings as in the Hazuki Dojo? Does any of the "clear as a polished mirror" quotation?
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/11907135_10100569647294422_6873269718195502944_o.jpg
At least a couple of them are seen elsewhere:
1. 泰然自若 - "Always maintain composure and presence of mind". This is the same as the one in Ryo's father's room.
2. 道可道非常道 - "The Way that can be told of is not an unvarying way" (the first line of the Tao Te Ching). I haven't seen it anywhere else in the game.
2015/9/5 update: Kiyuu noted it is also found in the Hazuki Dojo. The game subtitles translate it as "Principles cannot be expressed only by words".
2015/11/5 update: I also found this scroll displayed in one of the shops on Dragon Street, along with a scroll that has a variation with a similar meaning: 名可名也 非恒名也.
3. 天龍地友 - "Heaven, Dragon, Earth, Comrades". Seen on the paper about the Chawan Sign.
Since I was digging around anyway, a couple of others from the Hazuki Dojo are:
不撓不屈 - "Be ever unyielding" (Ryo's father's room)
and of course...
明鏡止水 - "Keep your mind as clean as a polished mirror" (Fuku-san's room)
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/11907135_10100569647294422_6873269718195502944_o.jpg
At least a couple of them are seen elsewhere:
1. 泰然自若 - "Always maintain composure and presence of mind". This is the same as the one in Ryo's father's room.
2. 道可道非常道 - "The Way that can be told of is not an unvarying way" (the first line of the Tao Te Ching). I haven't seen it anywhere else in the game.
2015/9/5 update: Kiyuu noted it is also found in the Hazuki Dojo. The game subtitles translate it as "Principles cannot be expressed only by words".
2015/11/5 update: I also found this scroll displayed in one of the shops on Dragon Street, along with a scroll that has a variation with a similar meaning: 名可名也 非恒名也.
3. 天龍地友 - "Heaven, Dragon, Earth, Comrades". Seen on the paper about the Chawan Sign.
Since I was digging around anyway, a couple of others from the Hazuki Dojo are:
不撓不屈 - "Be ever unyielding" (Ryo's father's room)
and of course...
明鏡止水 - "Keep your mind as clean as a polished mirror" (Fuku-san's room)
- Wed Aug 26, 2015 3:09 am
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Re: Translation requests here!
Translation of the Twitch interview is done! I've posted it to the existing Twitch interview thread here:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=48103&p=1097784#p1097784
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=48103&p=1097784#p1097784
- Sat Jun 27, 2015 4:34 am
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Re: Translation requests here!
Thank you so much for all of your effort, Switch. Your domain in the language is... awesome.
You're welcome!
By the way, I've recently come across this stack of old (Japanese) Dreamcast Magazine scans online at retrocdn.net , and looking through them there are a heap of Shenmue-related interviews and articles going back to the time of Project Berkley.
I'm planning to work through the translations of these articles as time allows. They may give some insight into how Shenmue I & II were developed and put together. At least, it will give us something to read while we wait for Shenmue III.
You're welcome!
By the way, I've recently come across this stack of old (Japanese) Dreamcast Magazine scans online at retrocdn.net , and looking through them there are a heap of Shenmue-related interviews and articles going back to the time of Project Berkley.
I'm planning to work through the translations of these articles as time allows. They may give some insight into how Shenmue I & II were developed and put together. At least, it will give us something to read while we wait for Shenmue III.
- Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:51 am
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Re: Dorimaga 2001 Interview w/ Yu Suzuki & others
This is great!
I have some more scans of articles from Japanese magazines around that time, if any translators are interested. I posted them in large format 600 DPI in this thread:
http://shenmuedojo.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48816
Thanks! I've also posted your message to the Translation requests thread .
I have some more scans of articles from Japanese magazines around that time, if any translators are interested. I posted them in large format 600 DPI in this thread:
http://shenmuedojo.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48816
Thanks! I've also posted your message to the Translation requests thread .
- Sun Aug 23, 2015 11:11 pm
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Re: Translation requests here!
2. 道可道非常道 - "The Way that can be told of is not an unvarying way" (the first line of the Tao Te Ching). I haven't seen it anywhere else in the game.
I should have noticed earlier, but that's one of the scrolls hung in Hazuki Dojo.
So, those three hanging scrolls are all duplicates of the ones in Shenmue, after all.
Oh, I had completely missed that! Thanks for clearing that up. (The right-hand scroll in the Dojo that hides the sword slot). It seems fitting that this also links back to Iwao-san. Also I noticed there is a translation for this scroll in the game subtitles, which is "Principles cannot be expressed only by words".
I should have noticed earlier, but that's one of the scrolls hung in Hazuki Dojo.
So, those three hanging scrolls are all duplicates of the ones in Shenmue, after all.
Oh, I had completely missed that! Thanks for clearing that up. (The right-hand scroll in the Dojo that hides the sword slot). It seems fitting that this also links back to Iwao-san. Also I noticed there is a translation for this scroll in the game subtitles, which is "Principles cannot be expressed only by words".
- Sat Sep 05, 2015 7:04 am
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Re: Translation requests here!
Giorgio wrote:New interview of Yu Suzuki on Famitsu:
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201509/08087158.html
Happy to see another interview out!
It looks like there hasn't been any full translation made yet, so I'll make a start on it (may take a couple of days).
Update: translation posted here.
- Wed Sep 09, 2015 4:51 pm
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Re: Making of Shenmue
Very nice find. I've put it at the top of my translation list, after I'm done with the Famitsu article translation.
(In the meantime, playing a bit of Shenmue with Japanese voices may help tune your ear to pick up some of the video narration, like the story Yu Suzuki mentioned on the Niconico video... ;-) )
I'll update on this thread.
(In the meantime, playing a bit of Shenmue with Japanese voices may help tune your ear to pick up some of the video narration, like the story Yu Suzuki mentioned on the Niconico video... ;-) )
I'll update on this thread.
- Fri Sep 11, 2015 12:26 am
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Re: New Famitsu Interview with Yu (Sept 8th)
Ok, here is a translation for Part 1 of the Famitsu article. I hope this will minimize the pain of having to read the auto-translation from Google.
The second part will follow as soon as it is completed, although I know it's probably where the most interesting snippets of information may lie!
What will Shenmue III be like? A post-Kickstarter interview with Yu Suzuki (Part 1/2)
Shenmue 3 has drawn a lot of attention, after breaking several records on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter. We asked Yu Suzuki for his thoughts following the completion of Kickstarter, including the additional features that were reached through stretch goals.
How does Yu envision Shenmue 3?
The development of Shenmue 3 via crowd funding was announced at the Sony Computer Entertainment press conference, held the day before the opening of E3 2015. Through the crowd-funding campaign that was launched immediately on Kickstarter following the announcement, the funding milestone of $1,000,000 was achieved in record time; also a new record was set for the highest-funding for a Video Game on the platform, and total of approximately 780m yen of funding was gathered, making it the 6th most-funded project in Kickstarter history.
Famitsu.com carried out an interview with Yu Suzuki, director of the game that has been receiving all the attention: Shenmue 3. As this is the first interview after the end of the crowd funding, we also wanted to ask him about additional features achieved by the stretch goals. Check it out!
Looking back on a tumultuous month after the end of the Kickstarter project
Q: The Kickstarter campaign for Shenmue 3 recently finished as the most-funded Video Game on the platform. Please tell us honestly how you are feeling now.
Yu Suzuki (YS): Honestly speaking, it's "Here we go!"
Q: So you're feeling keen to get underway, rather than sitting back after a successful campaign?
YS: Yes, what I'd really like would be to make the development period longer. So it's like, "Hurry up, let's get started!"
Q: Will you move forward with development without any change to the planned release target date of the end of 2017?
YS: Yes. The budget from Kickstarter has now been confirmed, so I'm at the stage of seeing how far I can stretch the width and scale of the project within that budget.
Q: Looking back on the period from the Shenmue 3 announcement at E3 until now, what has been the most memorable thing for you?
YS: Most memorable for me while I was away at the E3 conference has to be the moment of the announcement. Right before it, while I was waiting backstage, the remake of Final Fantasy VII was announced, and I could hear the tremendous commotion. I was worrying and thinking "I hope Shenemue's going to be ok, 14 years on (from the previous game)" but when the video was shown I heard a huge cheer...
http://www.famitsu.com/images/000/087/158/l_55e03d3fd1969.jpg
Q: The cheering was really loud, wasn't it. People were getting to their feet in joy.
YS: Of the whole conference, that was the moment when the audience's reaction most sounded like screaming.
Q: Is it one you will always remember?
YS: A lot has happened since then, but that was the moment that touched me the most. Later on I watched videos of people's reactions to the Shenmue 3 announcement. There were people whose voices cracked with excitement, and others who didn't stop crying. I was really moved when I saw everyone's reactions.
Q: You have mentioned in previously that you had been considering Kickstarter for a long time. What things did you find most difficult or surprising when you actually ran the campaign?
YS: There was a lot to learn. I had heard that with Kickstarter, starting at a fast pace is important, so although I really wanted to announce something beforehand, I wasn't able to because it was to be announced at the Sony conference. So I thought about whether there was anything at all I could do, and on the morning of the conference I put up a photo of a forklift on Twitter… which got me scolded by someone from Sony (laughs).
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHeMgPTUMAADEN1.jpg
Q: Fans will guess what's going on simply from seeing a forklift, you know! (laughs)
YS: But... it's just a forklift!
Q: I think it shows the extent to which forklifts have remained in everyone's hearts.
YS: That's true. In a survey of Shenmue fans, the third most popular thing people wanted to know was whether forklifts would make an appearance in Shenmue 3 (laughs).
Q: (laughs) By the way, approximately 780m yen was raised through the Kickstarter campaign; do you have plans for other ways to accept funding?
YS: I'm planning on accepting funding via PayPal. It is still being coordinated so I can't give details at the moment, but progress is being made on getting it ready.
Q: Depending on the amount of further funding, is there a possibility that stretch goals not reached during the Kickstarter campaign will be included?
YS: I would like to add them if possible. Kickstarter is a non-Japanese site and so I think it may have been hard for Japanese people to use. Even for the mailing address entry, people may have worried that making a slight mistake might result in their rewards not being delivered. So when accepting funding through PayPal, I'd like to ensure it supports Japanese language.
Q: That makes sense. With Japanese support, fans in Japan will feel relieved, won't they. Development work on Shenmue 3 will start in earnest from here, so are there any roles you are particularly looking for to help the development move forward?
YS: I would especially welcome any planners or programmers who would like to work together with us. Development will be carried out with Unreal Engine, so I'd be happy if they have experience in Unreal Engine development as well as in development for the home game market.
Appearance of new characters - and the return of some from the past, such as Nozomi
Q: Next I'd like to ask you in more detail about what kind of game Shenmue 3 will be. Firstly, there wasn't a stretch goal for "Japanese language support" in the stretch goals revealed on the Kickstarter site. But since Masaya Matsukaze has been announced as the voice actor for the lead character of Ryo Hazuki, there will be Japanese-language support, won't there?
YS: That's right. I won't be able to express subtle nuances unless I make it in Japanese first. After the Japanese version we'll make the English version, and then support for other languages will follow.
Q: So although the video for the Kickstarter project had the main character speaking in English, development of the game will be carried out with Japanese voices?
YS: Yes.
Q: I'm sure the fans are wondering who will be cast as voice actors for the Japanese version..?
YS: I haven't decided the cast of voice actors yet. Some of those who were cast for the previous games are no longer active in voice acting, so...
Q: But if you tell them "I'm making Shenmue 3!", maybe they'll come out of retirement for you!
YS: If that happened, I would be really happy. I'd love to have them return.
Q: I hope we can get everyone from the cast to read this interview. So, at the moment are you in the middle of writing the scenarios?
YS: Yes, I'm working on them now, and the main scenario is largely done. I'm discussing with Yoshimoto-san the parts I'd like to expand a bit more [Editor's note: scriptwriter Masahiro Yoshimoto, who is in charge of the scripts for the series].
Q: Have you already started making maps and character models?
YS: No, not yet. They will be done after we've finished adjusting things like the scenario structure and the order in which each of the maps will be traveled to.
Q: Shenmue 3 will feature the three villages of Bailu, Choubu and Baisha, with gameplay differing in each of the villages - could you tell us about the characteristics of each of the villages?
YS: The village of Bailu, which you visit first, is where Ryo ended up at the end of Shenmue 2. You will be exploring the mountain village and the inner depths of the mountains of Guilin. Choubu is more developed than Bailu village, more like a town. The size of the town will be set accordingly for the funding that was achieved through Kickstarter. It looks like I will be able to make its scale slightly larger than I had originally planned. In Choubu you can buy things and carry out quests. You will be able to play minigames, and there will be food stalls, souvenir shops, lodges, temples and other buildings there.
Q: So Bailu village will feature in the story as somewhere to enjoy the scenery, while Choubu will be where you can enjoy open-world gameplay like in the previous game?
YS: Yes, although the word "open-world" may lead to misunderstanding as there are now many great open world games around…. Choubu is a place with "Shenmue-like" gameplay - what I called FREE for the earlier Shenmue games. I consider Bailu village to be a place where you can enjoy spending time with Shenhua. And for Baisha, I'm planning to make it a place where you can play in completely different way from the earlier Shenmue games. It's the place I want to focus on most.
Q: Could you give a little more detail about Baisha?
http://www.famitsu.com/images/000/087/158/l_55e03d474bf9e.jpg
YS: It has several enemy hideouts, and you can enjoy the situation of infiltrating one; protecting your friends from external attack as you battle with enemies to take it over. You will not simply be fighting, but will make full use of war tactics that resemble famous tactics from China's Three Kingdoms period, such as the Water Attack or the Fire Attack, as you fight. This may sound very difficult, but I plan to make it straight-forward when you try playing, so please don't worry about that.
Q: In a previous interview, you mentioned being able to change your player character during these operations, didn't you?
YS: That would be the stretch goal that was successfully reached during the Kickstarter, called the Character Perspective system. I'd like to allow you to be able to play not just as Ryo, but also as others like Shenhua and Ren, and clearly portray the characteristics of each of the characters. For example… Shenhua, a girl, wouldn't do something like suddenly hit someone else.
Q: She doesn't seem like the type to do that, does she.
YS: And so, if you have selected Shenhua, you won't have the option to hit. However, if it is Ren, he may well suddenly strike out (laughs). In this way, depending on the character the things you can do differ, and depending on your choice the outcome will change. I'd also like to portray the differences between men and women.
Q: Between men and women?
YS: In the places where Character Perspective occurs, there are events where you advance as a pair. At that time, if you are controlling Ren then he'll be like "Hey, I'm so cool" and try to put on an act, whereas if you control Shenhua she'll look at his posing and think "What an idiot…" - that kind of thing (laughs).
It's something that happens in real life too, right? It is said that if you talk to two people that have had an argument, they will give you completely different stories about it, although they have experienced the same thing. I'd like to express the difference in values between men and women, as well as the kind of everyday life situations that everyone can relate to. I don't think many games have delved into this kind of thing deeply, so I think it will be an attractive new aspect of Shenmue which sets it apart from other games, as well as from the previous chapters.
Q: It makes me want to try controlling various different characters. On that point, I'd like to ask about the characters. Could you tell us about Ren, once again?
YS: Ren is a character who appeared in Shenmue 2, and is the leader of a Hong Kong street gang. He's cunning, intelligent, and skillful at fighting. At first he travels with Ryo from impure motives - "I smell money involved!", but gradually starts to look up to Ryo. I haven't yet mentioned about how Ren makes this transition, but I hope you will enjoy it. Shenmue 3 contains some fun scenes with Ren.
Q: It sounds like Ren will be quite heavily involved in Shenmue 3's story...?
YS: Who knows? (laughs)
Q: We're looking forward to hearing more about that (laughs). Next, could you tell us about Niao Sun, a woman who will make her appearance in Shenmue 3?
YS: She is one of the four Chiyoumen leaders and rules over the South. Ruling over the East is the Blue Dragon ("Sōryū"), Lan Di. Niao Sun is the Flame Empress ("Entei") who rules over the South, and is a beautiful but cruel character. I'm really excited as I'm able to at last portray Niao Sun, in Shenmue 3. [Editor's note: Niao Sun was presented to the public prior to the release of the first chapter of Shenmue, and was introduced in the character introduction video but she did not appear in Shenmue or Shenmue II.]
Q: And in Shenmue 3, Shenhua will finally become fully involved in the story, won't she.
http://www.famitsu.com/images/000/087/158/l_55e03d45d7658.jpg
YS: I took a vote on the most popular characters from Shenmue up until now and, most likely because she didn't appear much, Shenhua ranked low. Even after the announcement of the Kickstarter campaign, all I heard was "Please include Nozomi" (laughs). So I've made it possible to make a phone call to Nozomi.
Q: In this next game, it has been announced that there will be parameters that represent your relationship with Shenhua. I believe that in Shenmue 2 Fang Mei also had an affinity parameter - will it be something similar but more in-depth than that? [Editor's note: depending on how favorable her impression of Ryo was, Fang Mei would change how she called him, and special events would take place].
YS: Well, I hadn't really been thinking of Fang Mei.
Q: Are you able to give more details about the parameters for Shenhua at this point?
YS: I haven't finalised them yet, but I'm thinking of setting up around 3 parameters like level of trust, level of intimacy, friendliness toward you… something like these would be the top contenders. With a high level of friendliness, cooperation with Shenhua will go smoothly, that sort of thing. With the Character Perspective which will feature in the latter half of the game, if you choose to play as Shenhua, her true feelings will be revealed, and you may be in for a shock - "So that's what she thinks of me…!" That's something I'd like to try to do. (laughs)
Q: You might find she actually doesn't think much of you! (laughs)
YS: I think male players make up the majority, so I think it will be fun to introduce an element where they will think "Ouch!".
Q: Will the parameters be set up only for Shenhua? Do you plan to set up parameters for any other characters, such as Nozomi?
YS: It would be more enjoyable if there were parameters for other characters too, wouldn't it. For example if you get along too well with Shenhua, Nozomi may get jealous and cut your phone call short with a cool "Oh. Really….". I haven't decided the details yet, but I'll consider it.
End of Part 1
The second part will follow as soon as it is completed, although I know it's probably where the most interesting snippets of information may lie!
What will Shenmue III be like? A post-Kickstarter interview with Yu Suzuki (Part 1/2)
Shenmue 3 has drawn a lot of attention, after breaking several records on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter. We asked Yu Suzuki for his thoughts following the completion of Kickstarter, including the additional features that were reached through stretch goals.
How does Yu envision Shenmue 3?
The development of Shenmue 3 via crowd funding was announced at the Sony Computer Entertainment press conference, held the day before the opening of E3 2015. Through the crowd-funding campaign that was launched immediately on Kickstarter following the announcement, the funding milestone of $1,000,000 was achieved in record time; also a new record was set for the highest-funding for a Video Game on the platform, and total of approximately 780m yen of funding was gathered, making it the 6th most-funded project in Kickstarter history.
Famitsu.com carried out an interview with Yu Suzuki, director of the game that has been receiving all the attention: Shenmue 3. As this is the first interview after the end of the crowd funding, we also wanted to ask him about additional features achieved by the stretch goals. Check it out!
Looking back on a tumultuous month after the end of the Kickstarter project
Q: The Kickstarter campaign for Shenmue 3 recently finished as the most-funded Video Game on the platform. Please tell us honestly how you are feeling now.
Yu Suzuki (YS): Honestly speaking, it's "Here we go!"
Q: So you're feeling keen to get underway, rather than sitting back after a successful campaign?
YS: Yes, what I'd really like would be to make the development period longer. So it's like, "Hurry up, let's get started!"
Q: Will you move forward with development without any change to the planned release target date of the end of 2017?
YS: Yes. The budget from Kickstarter has now been confirmed, so I'm at the stage of seeing how far I can stretch the width and scale of the project within that budget.
Q: Looking back on the period from the Shenmue 3 announcement at E3 until now, what has been the most memorable thing for you?
YS: Most memorable for me while I was away at the E3 conference has to be the moment of the announcement. Right before it, while I was waiting backstage, the remake of Final Fantasy VII was announced, and I could hear the tremendous commotion. I was worrying and thinking "I hope Shenemue's going to be ok, 14 years on (from the previous game)" but when the video was shown I heard a huge cheer...
http://www.famitsu.com/images/000/087/158/l_55e03d3fd1969.jpg
Q: The cheering was really loud, wasn't it. People were getting to their feet in joy.
YS: Of the whole conference, that was the moment when the audience's reaction most sounded like screaming.
Q: Is it one you will always remember?
YS: A lot has happened since then, but that was the moment that touched me the most. Later on I watched videos of people's reactions to the Shenmue 3 announcement. There were people whose voices cracked with excitement, and others who didn't stop crying. I was really moved when I saw everyone's reactions.
Q: You have mentioned in previously that you had been considering Kickstarter for a long time. What things did you find most difficult or surprising when you actually ran the campaign?
YS: There was a lot to learn. I had heard that with Kickstarter, starting at a fast pace is important, so although I really wanted to announce something beforehand, I wasn't able to because it was to be announced at the Sony conference. So I thought about whether there was anything at all I could do, and on the morning of the conference I put up a photo of a forklift on Twitter… which got me scolded by someone from Sony (laughs).
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHeMgPTUMAADEN1.jpg
Q: Fans will guess what's going on simply from seeing a forklift, you know! (laughs)
YS: But... it's just a forklift!
Q: I think it shows the extent to which forklifts have remained in everyone's hearts.
YS: That's true. In a survey of Shenmue fans, the third most popular thing people wanted to know was whether forklifts would make an appearance in Shenmue 3 (laughs).
Q: (laughs) By the way, approximately 780m yen was raised through the Kickstarter campaign; do you have plans for other ways to accept funding?
YS: I'm planning on accepting funding via PayPal. It is still being coordinated so I can't give details at the moment, but progress is being made on getting it ready.
Q: Depending on the amount of further funding, is there a possibility that stretch goals not reached during the Kickstarter campaign will be included?
YS: I would like to add them if possible. Kickstarter is a non-Japanese site and so I think it may have been hard for Japanese people to use. Even for the mailing address entry, people may have worried that making a slight mistake might result in their rewards not being delivered. So when accepting funding through PayPal, I'd like to ensure it supports Japanese language.
Q: That makes sense. With Japanese support, fans in Japan will feel relieved, won't they. Development work on Shenmue 3 will start in earnest from here, so are there any roles you are particularly looking for to help the development move forward?
YS: I would especially welcome any planners or programmers who would like to work together with us. Development will be carried out with Unreal Engine, so I'd be happy if they have experience in Unreal Engine development as well as in development for the home game market.
Appearance of new characters - and the return of some from the past, such as Nozomi
Q: Next I'd like to ask you in more detail about what kind of game Shenmue 3 will be. Firstly, there wasn't a stretch goal for "Japanese language support" in the stretch goals revealed on the Kickstarter site. But since Masaya Matsukaze has been announced as the voice actor for the lead character of Ryo Hazuki, there will be Japanese-language support, won't there?
YS: That's right. I won't be able to express subtle nuances unless I make it in Japanese first. After the Japanese version we'll make the English version, and then support for other languages will follow.
Q: So although the video for the Kickstarter project had the main character speaking in English, development of the game will be carried out with Japanese voices?
YS: Yes.
Q: I'm sure the fans are wondering who will be cast as voice actors for the Japanese version..?
YS: I haven't decided the cast of voice actors yet. Some of those who were cast for the previous games are no longer active in voice acting, so...
Q: But if you tell them "I'm making Shenmue 3!", maybe they'll come out of retirement for you!
YS: If that happened, I would be really happy. I'd love to have them return.
Q: I hope we can get everyone from the cast to read this interview. So, at the moment are you in the middle of writing the scenarios?
YS: Yes, I'm working on them now, and the main scenario is largely done. I'm discussing with Yoshimoto-san the parts I'd like to expand a bit more [Editor's note: scriptwriter Masahiro Yoshimoto, who is in charge of the scripts for the series].
Q: Have you already started making maps and character models?
YS: No, not yet. They will be done after we've finished adjusting things like the scenario structure and the order in which each of the maps will be traveled to.
Q: Shenmue 3 will feature the three villages of Bailu, Choubu and Baisha, with gameplay differing in each of the villages - could you tell us about the characteristics of each of the villages?
YS: The village of Bailu, which you visit first, is where Ryo ended up at the end of Shenmue 2. You will be exploring the mountain village and the inner depths of the mountains of Guilin. Choubu is more developed than Bailu village, more like a town. The size of the town will be set accordingly for the funding that was achieved through Kickstarter. It looks like I will be able to make its scale slightly larger than I had originally planned. In Choubu you can buy things and carry out quests. You will be able to play minigames, and there will be food stalls, souvenir shops, lodges, temples and other buildings there.
Q: So Bailu village will feature in the story as somewhere to enjoy the scenery, while Choubu will be where you can enjoy open-world gameplay like in the previous game?
YS: Yes, although the word "open-world" may lead to misunderstanding as there are now many great open world games around…. Choubu is a place with "Shenmue-like" gameplay - what I called FREE for the earlier Shenmue games. I consider Bailu village to be a place where you can enjoy spending time with Shenhua. And for Baisha, I'm planning to make it a place where you can play in completely different way from the earlier Shenmue games. It's the place I want to focus on most.
Q: Could you give a little more detail about Baisha?
http://www.famitsu.com/images/000/087/158/l_55e03d474bf9e.jpg
YS: It has several enemy hideouts, and you can enjoy the situation of infiltrating one; protecting your friends from external attack as you battle with enemies to take it over. You will not simply be fighting, but will make full use of war tactics that resemble famous tactics from China's Three Kingdoms period, such as the Water Attack or the Fire Attack, as you fight. This may sound very difficult, but I plan to make it straight-forward when you try playing, so please don't worry about that.
Q: In a previous interview, you mentioned being able to change your player character during these operations, didn't you?
YS: That would be the stretch goal that was successfully reached during the Kickstarter, called the Character Perspective system. I'd like to allow you to be able to play not just as Ryo, but also as others like Shenhua and Ren, and clearly portray the characteristics of each of the characters. For example… Shenhua, a girl, wouldn't do something like suddenly hit someone else.
Q: She doesn't seem like the type to do that, does she.
YS: And so, if you have selected Shenhua, you won't have the option to hit. However, if it is Ren, he may well suddenly strike out (laughs). In this way, depending on the character the things you can do differ, and depending on your choice the outcome will change. I'd also like to portray the differences between men and women.
Q: Between men and women?
YS: In the places where Character Perspective occurs, there are events where you advance as a pair. At that time, if you are controlling Ren then he'll be like "Hey, I'm so cool" and try to put on an act, whereas if you control Shenhua she'll look at his posing and think "What an idiot…" - that kind of thing (laughs).
It's something that happens in real life too, right? It is said that if you talk to two people that have had an argument, they will give you completely different stories about it, although they have experienced the same thing. I'd like to express the difference in values between men and women, as well as the kind of everyday life situations that everyone can relate to. I don't think many games have delved into this kind of thing deeply, so I think it will be an attractive new aspect of Shenmue which sets it apart from other games, as well as from the previous chapters.
Q: It makes me want to try controlling various different characters. On that point, I'd like to ask about the characters. Could you tell us about Ren, once again?
YS: Ren is a character who appeared in Shenmue 2, and is the leader of a Hong Kong street gang. He's cunning, intelligent, and skillful at fighting. At first he travels with Ryo from impure motives - "I smell money involved!", but gradually starts to look up to Ryo. I haven't yet mentioned about how Ren makes this transition, but I hope you will enjoy it. Shenmue 3 contains some fun scenes with Ren.
Q: It sounds like Ren will be quite heavily involved in Shenmue 3's story...?
YS: Who knows? (laughs)
Q: We're looking forward to hearing more about that (laughs). Next, could you tell us about Niao Sun, a woman who will make her appearance in Shenmue 3?
YS: She is one of the four Chiyoumen leaders and rules over the South. Ruling over the East is the Blue Dragon ("Sōryū"), Lan Di. Niao Sun is the Flame Empress ("Entei") who rules over the South, and is a beautiful but cruel character. I'm really excited as I'm able to at last portray Niao Sun, in Shenmue 3. [Editor's note: Niao Sun was presented to the public prior to the release of the first chapter of Shenmue, and was introduced in the character introduction video but she did not appear in Shenmue or Shenmue II.]
Q: And in Shenmue 3, Shenhua will finally become fully involved in the story, won't she.
http://www.famitsu.com/images/000/087/158/l_55e03d45d7658.jpg
YS: I took a vote on the most popular characters from Shenmue up until now and, most likely because she didn't appear much, Shenhua ranked low. Even after the announcement of the Kickstarter campaign, all I heard was "Please include Nozomi" (laughs). So I've made it possible to make a phone call to Nozomi.
Q: In this next game, it has been announced that there will be parameters that represent your relationship with Shenhua. I believe that in Shenmue 2 Fang Mei also had an affinity parameter - will it be something similar but more in-depth than that? [Editor's note: depending on how favorable her impression of Ryo was, Fang Mei would change how she called him, and special events would take place].
YS: Well, I hadn't really been thinking of Fang Mei.
Q: Are you able to give more details about the parameters for Shenhua at this point?
YS: I haven't finalised them yet, but I'm thinking of setting up around 3 parameters like level of trust, level of intimacy, friendliness toward you… something like these would be the top contenders. With a high level of friendliness, cooperation with Shenhua will go smoothly, that sort of thing. With the Character Perspective which will feature in the latter half of the game, if you choose to play as Shenhua, her true feelings will be revealed, and you may be in for a shock - "So that's what she thinks of me…!" That's something I'd like to try to do. (laughs)
Q: You might find she actually doesn't think much of you! (laughs)
YS: I think male players make up the majority, so I think it will be fun to introduce an element where they will think "Ouch!".
Q: Will the parameters be set up only for Shenhua? Do you plan to set up parameters for any other characters, such as Nozomi?
YS: It would be more enjoyable if there were parameters for other characters too, wouldn't it. For example if you get along too well with Shenhua, Nozomi may get jealous and cut your phone call short with a cool "Oh. Really….". I haven't decided the details yet, but I'll consider it.
End of Part 1
- Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:58 am
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Re: Yu Suzuki officially announces Paypal support for Shenmu
Relevant part from the recent Famitsu interview . Seemingly still alive.
Q: Do you have plans for other ways to accept funding?
YS: I'm planning on accepting funding via PayPal. It is still being coordinated so I can't give details at the moment, but progress is being made on getting it ready.
Q: Depending on the amount of further funding, is there a possibility that stretch goals not reached during the Kickstarter campaign will be included?
YS: I would like to add them if possible. Kickstarter is a non-Japanese site and so I think it may have been hard for Japanese people to use. Even for the mailing address entry, people may have worried that making a slight mistake might result in their rewards not being delivered. So when accepting funding through PayPal, I'd like to ensure it supports Japanese language.
Q: That makes sense. With Japanese support, fans in Japan will feel relieved, won't they.
Q: Do you have plans for other ways to accept funding?
YS: I'm planning on accepting funding via PayPal. It is still being coordinated so I can't give details at the moment, but progress is being made on getting it ready.
Q: Depending on the amount of further funding, is there a possibility that stretch goals not reached during the Kickstarter campaign will be included?
YS: I would like to add them if possible. Kickstarter is a non-Japanese site and so I think it may have been hard for Japanese people to use. Even for the mailing address entry, people may have worried that making a slight mistake might result in their rewards not being delivered. So when accepting funding through PayPal, I'd like to ensure it supports Japanese language.
Q: That makes sense. With Japanese support, fans in Japan will feel relieved, won't they.
- Fri Sep 11, 2015 11:05 pm
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Re: New Famitsu Interview with Yu (Sept 8th)
Here is a translation of the second part of the article, which turned out to be shorter than Part 1 .
(Note: I have used the term "move scroll" in this article. This is the same thing as "technique scroll" from the English Kickstarter page).
What will Shenmue III be like? A post-Kickstarter interview with Yu Suzuki (Part 2/2)
Further evolution: not just for battles and QTEs, but also part-time jobs
Q: I'd like to ask in detail about battles. The "move scrolls" system (items which can be obtained by various means during the game. Once obtained, you are able to use new moves) has already been announced; will there be any other new elements?
YS: Regarding what form battles should take, I'm planning to design their structure while being mindful of the budget, among other things. The graphics engine and power of expression are completely different now compared to those of the past, so I'd like to create battles that are fitting for the current era. For the battles in Shenmue 1 and 2, I used the Virtua Fighter 2 engine. Since I made Virtua Fighter, I was able to make use of that knowledge, you see. Virtua Fighter was a one-on-one fighting game, with timing being important, so it wasn't immediately suitable for use for Shenmue-style battles. I had to make a lot of modifications. However, this time I will be creating battles to suit Shenmue 3 right from the beginning. I'm aiming for straightforward but exhilarating battles in which the action is the main highlight, not battles which are made up of extremely detailed physics.
Q: Depending on the choices you make with Character Perspective, will you be able to control Ren in battle?
YS: That hasn't been decided, since it would take a lot of time to implement battles for multiple characters. But I also think that fighting a battle as Ren sounds interesting, so I can see where you're coming from. Ren's character especially is quite distinctive, so I have a feeling it would make for interesting battles.
Q: In Shenmue 2, Shenhua made dandelion seeds float into the air by holding up her hands. It appears that she has some mysterious powers. Does she ever use them for fighting?
YS: I'm thinking of showing a glimpse of that.
Q: Next, please tell us about QTEs. I think you could say that they are one of the things that define Shenmue, and are something that fans are anticipating. Will QTEs also have evolved in some way?
YS: You could think of it that way. Since Shenmue is where the QTE originated, I'm thinking “I must take them to the next level!". Having said that, the concept of being able to be enjoyed by anyone will remain unchanged. QTEs in Shenmue are designed so that if the player is unsuccessful, they will gradually become easier. I will continue to keep that user-friendly approach.
Q: After hearing your description, I hope some battle scenes can be revealed to the public as soon as possible.
YS: I also want to test the battles as early as possible. One of the things I'm looking forward to is how to best leverage the strengths of Unreal Engine for battles.
Now planning is in progress, which is of course is enjoyable, but since there are no visible results yet I am eager for hands-on interaction. I want to try actually walking and adjusting how the game feels based on my own sense when playing - for example, “Maybe I should make it a little bigger". Because even if the design specifies “2km x 2km", you don't know if that's truly an appropriate distance until you try playing.
Q: I think players would also like to know more about part-time jobs and minigames. Are the designs for these progressing?
YS: I'm thinking of having fishing as a part-time job. In the game, as mentioned a little earlier, move scrolls are an important item. Once you obtain a move scroll, that move becomes usable in battle. There are various ways to obtain move scrolls, but for those sold in weapons shops, naturally you won't be able to purchase them unless you have money. How you save money is up to each player, but you can earn money steadily through a part-time job or increase it instantly by gambling. However, you also need money in order to gamble, so I'm thinking of including fishing as a system for earning that initial capital. Both Bailu village and Choubu are in the country, so you'll be able to sell the fish you caught. In Shenmue 3, like I just talked about, various elements tie in together. Rather than buying a move scroll with the money you've earned, you may choose to buy a good fishing rod instead. Buying a good fishing rod will increase your chances of catching fish, making your fishing more effective.
Q: So what you do with the money you get is up to the player, isn't it. By the way, has a decision been made on whether forklifts will be included? (laughs)
YS: It's amazing how popular forklifts seem to be, isn't it. (laughs) That's still being considered.
http://www.famitsu.com/images/000/087/158/l_55e03d43ef17d.jpg
Release far off, however monthly updates are planned until then
Q: Previously you mentioned being interested in online or downloadable content. Is there any plan to support these?
YS: I really want to be able to, but I have to be strict about the order of priority as to which elements should be included. I am concentrating firstly on offline, making a game that plays well from start to finish.
Q: As you have an interest in virtual reality (VR), did you try out a VR device at E3 or elsewhere?
YS: Yes, I did. That device is really interesting. In the past I have carried out experiments with VR at SEGA, and also have been involved in a VR project, so I have strong feelings toward VR. It made me think “Today's technology has come this far!", with all sorts of new possibilities being born. I'm deeply impressed. However Shenmue is a game that you play for a relatively long time, so I don't know whether VR is suitable. But it is a fascinating device.
Q: Approximately when will further information about Shenmue 3 be made public?
YS: I plan to put out information each month, a little at a time. Something like a “brief Shenmue update". This project has been possible only through everyone's support, so I want to report its progress. And at large events, I'd like to announce any news that's likely to be talked about.
Q: You've also mentioned that you want to incorporate opinions from the players, haven't you.
YS: I will be putting a system in place that allows backers to voice comments.
Q: This may be too soon to ask about, but when do you think a playable demo will become available?
YS: It's too early to talk about that (laughs). I think it will be much later on before we can deliver a playable demo. Likely after the start of 2017.
Q: I'm looking forward to the updates. And finally, could you give a message to the readers looking forward to Shenmue 3?
YS: My sincere thanks for your ongoing support for Shenmue up until now. It is thanks to all of you that we were able to achieve several records on Kickstarter. Since the site for the Kickstarter campaign was in English, I think it may have been difficult for some of you to participate, and so I am also planning to support PayPal. There are just over 2 years to go until the release of Shenmue 3. Thank you for your continued support.
End of article
(Note: I have used the term "move scroll" in this article. This is the same thing as "technique scroll" from the English Kickstarter page).
What will Shenmue III be like? A post-Kickstarter interview with Yu Suzuki (Part 2/2)
Further evolution: not just for battles and QTEs, but also part-time jobs
Q: I'd like to ask in detail about battles. The "move scrolls" system (items which can be obtained by various means during the game. Once obtained, you are able to use new moves) has already been announced; will there be any other new elements?
YS: Regarding what form battles should take, I'm planning to design their structure while being mindful of the budget, among other things. The graphics engine and power of expression are completely different now compared to those of the past, so I'd like to create battles that are fitting for the current era. For the battles in Shenmue 1 and 2, I used the Virtua Fighter 2 engine. Since I made Virtua Fighter, I was able to make use of that knowledge, you see. Virtua Fighter was a one-on-one fighting game, with timing being important, so it wasn't immediately suitable for use for Shenmue-style battles. I had to make a lot of modifications. However, this time I will be creating battles to suit Shenmue 3 right from the beginning. I'm aiming for straightforward but exhilarating battles in which the action is the main highlight, not battles which are made up of extremely detailed physics.
Q: Depending on the choices you make with Character Perspective, will you be able to control Ren in battle?
YS: That hasn't been decided, since it would take a lot of time to implement battles for multiple characters. But I also think that fighting a battle as Ren sounds interesting, so I can see where you're coming from. Ren's character especially is quite distinctive, so I have a feeling it would make for interesting battles.
Q: In Shenmue 2, Shenhua made dandelion seeds float into the air by holding up her hands. It appears that she has some mysterious powers. Does she ever use them for fighting?
YS: I'm thinking of showing a glimpse of that.
Q: Next, please tell us about QTEs. I think you could say that they are one of the things that define Shenmue, and are something that fans are anticipating. Will QTEs also have evolved in some way?
YS: You could think of it that way. Since Shenmue is where the QTE originated, I'm thinking “I must take them to the next level!". Having said that, the concept of being able to be enjoyed by anyone will remain unchanged. QTEs in Shenmue are designed so that if the player is unsuccessful, they will gradually become easier. I will continue to keep that user-friendly approach.
Q: After hearing your description, I hope some battle scenes can be revealed to the public as soon as possible.
YS: I also want to test the battles as early as possible. One of the things I'm looking forward to is how to best leverage the strengths of Unreal Engine for battles.
Now planning is in progress, which is of course is enjoyable, but since there are no visible results yet I am eager for hands-on interaction. I want to try actually walking and adjusting how the game feels based on my own sense when playing - for example, “Maybe I should make it a little bigger". Because even if the design specifies “2km x 2km", you don't know if that's truly an appropriate distance until you try playing.
Q: I think players would also like to know more about part-time jobs and minigames. Are the designs for these progressing?
YS: I'm thinking of having fishing as a part-time job. In the game, as mentioned a little earlier, move scrolls are an important item. Once you obtain a move scroll, that move becomes usable in battle. There are various ways to obtain move scrolls, but for those sold in weapons shops, naturally you won't be able to purchase them unless you have money. How you save money is up to each player, but you can earn money steadily through a part-time job or increase it instantly by gambling. However, you also need money in order to gamble, so I'm thinking of including fishing as a system for earning that initial capital. Both Bailu village and Choubu are in the country, so you'll be able to sell the fish you caught. In Shenmue 3, like I just talked about, various elements tie in together. Rather than buying a move scroll with the money you've earned, you may choose to buy a good fishing rod instead. Buying a good fishing rod will increase your chances of catching fish, making your fishing more effective.
Q: So what you do with the money you get is up to the player, isn't it. By the way, has a decision been made on whether forklifts will be included? (laughs)
YS: It's amazing how popular forklifts seem to be, isn't it. (laughs) That's still being considered.
http://www.famitsu.com/images/000/087/158/l_55e03d43ef17d.jpg
Release far off, however monthly updates are planned until then
Q: Previously you mentioned being interested in online or downloadable content. Is there any plan to support these?
YS: I really want to be able to, but I have to be strict about the order of priority as to which elements should be included. I am concentrating firstly on offline, making a game that plays well from start to finish.
Q: As you have an interest in virtual reality (VR), did you try out a VR device at E3 or elsewhere?
YS: Yes, I did. That device is really interesting. In the past I have carried out experiments with VR at SEGA, and also have been involved in a VR project, so I have strong feelings toward VR. It made me think “Today's technology has come this far!", with all sorts of new possibilities being born. I'm deeply impressed. However Shenmue is a game that you play for a relatively long time, so I don't know whether VR is suitable. But it is a fascinating device.
Q: Approximately when will further information about Shenmue 3 be made public?
YS: I plan to put out information each month, a little at a time. Something like a “brief Shenmue update". This project has been possible only through everyone's support, so I want to report its progress. And at large events, I'd like to announce any news that's likely to be talked about.
Q: You've also mentioned that you want to incorporate opinions from the players, haven't you.
YS: I will be putting a system in place that allows backers to voice comments.
Q: This may be too soon to ask about, but when do you think a playable demo will become available?
YS: It's too early to talk about that (laughs). I think it will be much later on before we can deliver a playable demo. Likely after the start of 2017.
Q: I'm looking forward to the updates. And finally, could you give a message to the readers looking forward to Shenmue 3?
YS: My sincere thanks for your ongoing support for Shenmue up until now. It is thanks to all of you that we were able to achieve several records on Kickstarter. Since the site for the Kickstarter campaign was in English, I think it may have been difficult for some of you to participate, and so I am also planning to support PayPal. There are just over 2 years to go until the release of Shenmue 3. Thank you for your continued support.
End of article
- Sat Sep 12, 2015 6:21 pm
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Re: Translation requests here!
Does this has anything to do with Shenmue ?
http://i2.wp.com/www.seganerds.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/561110.jpg?resize=614%2C223
That is from the tgs sega merch:
http://www.seganerds.com/2015/09/10/tgs-2015-segas-game-lineup-merch-booth-information/
They'll also have Shenmue T-shirts and pins !
This one isn't related, it's SEGA's founding principle, which is apparently "Creation is our life".
http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/ir/ar2014/coo_sega/index.html
http://i2.wp.com/www.seganerds.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/561110.jpg?resize=614%2C223
That is from the tgs sega merch:
http://www.seganerds.com/2015/09/10/tgs-2015-segas-game-lineup-merch-booth-information/
They'll also have Shenmue T-shirts and pins !
This one isn't related, it's SEGA's founding principle, which is apparently "Creation is our life".
http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/ir/ar2014/coo_sega/index.html
- Sun Sep 13, 2015 12:51 am
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Re: Translation requests here!
A translation of this comment of Yu Suzuki at Shenmue 500K Facebook group?
ペイパルの情報は、載せないで下さい。
まだ、正式な発表の前なので！
YSNETの公式発表後でお願いします。
情報の公開時期を伝えるのを忘れてました。
よろしくお願いします。
http://i.imgur.com/fGMs4qw.png
"Please do not put up information about PayPal.
Since it's ahead of the formal announcement!
Please wait until after the official announcement by YSNET.
I forgot to specify the timing for making the information public.
Thank you for your cooperation."
ペイパルの情報は、載せないで下さい。
まだ、正式な発表の前なので！
YSNETの公式発表後でお願いします。
情報の公開時期を伝えるのを忘れてました。
よろしくお願いします。
http://i.imgur.com/fGMs4qw.png
"Please do not put up information about PayPal.
Since it's ahead of the formal announcement!
Please wait until after the official announcement by YSNET.
I forgot to specify the timing for making the information public.
Thank you for your cooperation."
- Tue Sep 15, 2015 11:19 pm
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Re: SEGA TGS 2015 Live Stream Discussion Topic
Looks like the next part starts in 15 minutes.
- Wed Sep 16, 2015 9:46 pm
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Re: Translation requests here!
Thanks for the support! 
I'm glad to help the Shenmue community leap over that language barrier.
I'm glad to help the Shenmue community leap over that language barrier.
- Wed Sep 16, 2015 8:42 pm
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Re: Making of Shenmue
A quick update on the English subtitles: progressing well, and currently at 40%.
Although sometimes catching what Yu is saying to his staff is quite challenging.
Although sometimes catching what Yu is saying to his staff is quite challenging.
- Tue Sep 22, 2015 3:01 am
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Re: Why what the rideable Bike cut from Shenmue 1?
I see they had even built a bike shed in Dobuita where Ryo could leave his bike.
http://i.imgur.com/u7cMLMQ.png
By the way, listening to Yu's words in the GDC video, he says "I wanted to put it (the bicycle) into Shenmue, but we ran into various problems and gave up on it". So he was just a touch more specific than the interpreter's version.
http://i.imgur.com/u7cMLMQ.png
By the way, listening to Yu's words in the GDC video, he says "I wanted to put it (the bicycle) into Shenmue, but we ran into various problems and gave up on it". So he was just a touch more specific than the interpreter's version.
- Tue Sep 22, 2015 3:31 am
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Shenmue 3 stage in testing
A tweet from Cedric Biscay:
Sounds promising! Great to see that the developers already have a playable stage in testing.
Sounds promising! Great to see that the developers already have a playable stage in testing.
- Tue Sep 22, 2015 4:49 am
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Re: Thanking Sony
I'm pushing to make my article about Shenmue 3 published on a website (my chances are very poor but I try) and I'm currently correcting some parts : after reflections, I have difficulties to be precise about the most crucial part : the Sony's role.
We know since The Point with Gio Corsi that Sony's role is to help the devs by doing the promotion and giving some tech help and a bit of publishing but they're not the publishers. But Corsi was talking about his company Third Party Production and I think his active role as workers. That doesn't mean he has funded something or not before, right ? Corsi never tried to deny the funding . And we know that Andrew House said at the early beginning that Sony funds the game.
So, rather to say "Sony don't fund the game" or "Sony don't fund the development of the game", I decided to write "Sony don't fund the whole game". Would I be wrong ? I don't want to be dishonest.
I think that's fair to say. Also Yu Suzuki mentioned in the first Twitch stream that Sony are providing support with "funding, promotion and marketing".
We know since The Point with Gio Corsi that Sony's role is to help the devs by doing the promotion and giving some tech help and a bit of publishing but they're not the publishers. But Corsi was talking about his company Third Party Production and I think his active role as workers. That doesn't mean he has funded something or not before, right ? Corsi never tried to deny the funding . And we know that Andrew House said at the early beginning that Sony funds the game.
So, rather to say "Sony don't fund the game" or "Sony don't fund the development of the game", I decided to write "Sony don't fund the whole game". Would I be wrong ? I don't want to be dishonest.
I think that's fair to say. Also Yu Suzuki mentioned in the first Twitch stream that Sony are providing support with "funding, promotion and marketing".
- Thu Sep 24, 2015 1:30 am
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Re: SHENMUE GAIDEN ANNOUNCED!!!
Reported on the Japanese gamer site Game*Spark! It has links to the Facebook page & this thread, at the end of the article.
http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2015/07/26/58820.html
http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2015/07/26/58820.html
- Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:47 am
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Re: What's Shenmue: Article about the saga's history
An epic read! Clearly a lot of time has been put into the writing and research. Thanks for sharing it.
(I noticed a tiny typo: "motnhs").
(I noticed a tiny typo: "motnhs").
- Sun Oct 11, 2015 11:11 am
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Re: Translation requests here!
I noticed another wall-hanging scroll in Shenmue II, so thought I would add it here to the scrolls talked about on this thread earlier.
It can be seen in one of the shops on Dragon Street in Kowloon (thanks to James Reiner for his no-clip video of Dragon St here ).
http://i.imgur.com/se0vRlhl.png
The scrolls on the left and right walls, "道可道非常道", is one that also hangs in the Hazuki Dojo, and is the first line of the Classic Chinese text Tao Te Ching. It can be translated as "The Way that can be told of is not an unvarying way". The translation given in the game is "Principles cannot be expressed only by words".
This shop also has a different scroll on the back wall, "名可名也 非恒名也". This is the second line of the Tao Te Ching and means "The names that can be told of are not unvarying names".
It can be seen in one of the shops on Dragon Street in Kowloon (thanks to James Reiner for his no-clip video of Dragon St here ).
http://i.imgur.com/se0vRlhl.png
The scrolls on the left and right walls, "道可道非常道", is one that also hangs in the Hazuki Dojo, and is the first line of the Classic Chinese text Tao Te Ching. It can be translated as "The Way that can be told of is not an unvarying way". The translation given in the game is "Principles cannot be expressed only by words".
This shop also has a different scroll on the back wall, "名可名也 非恒名也". This is the second line of the Tao Te Ching and means "The names that can be told of are not unvarying names".
- Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:23 pm
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Re: Random Shenmue Thoughts
To Amir:
What I would like to know, are who is so called friends at SOJ are, because I find it hard to believe people had nothing nice to say about working on it.
His statement might've made sense if the development team was super small, but it wasn't. Every person had a "specific" task to do, but the way he makes it sound like, each person had to do like 50 people worth of the work or that Yu was a slave driver(lol which I think we all know, Yu couldn't act like that, if his life depended on it).
Nevermind the fact that the games the produced, ended up being so special, that even 14-16 years later, people are still talking about them. I don't buy that people involved in such a huge project, that led to the creation of two very special games, would have nothing nice to say about working on such.
A lot of great projects take their toll on the people who work on them; any James Cameron film, the latest Mad Max, any sizable video game released in recent years that has had to meet a certain release date... In the case of Shenmue as well they were doing things that were never done before. I doubt Shenmue III's development will be quite so strained.
On the subject of Yu's management style, make sure to check out the Making of Shenmue NHK video (which will be up very soon complete with subtitles) which has some footage of actual developer meetings. It's interesting to see Yu being a lot more demanding during those that you might think from his laid-back image these days.
What I would like to know, are who is so called friends at SOJ are, because I find it hard to believe people had nothing nice to say about working on it.
His statement might've made sense if the development team was super small, but it wasn't. Every person had a "specific" task to do, but the way he makes it sound like, each person had to do like 50 people worth of the work or that Yu was a slave driver(lol which I think we all know, Yu couldn't act like that, if his life depended on it).
Nevermind the fact that the games the produced, ended up being so special, that even 14-16 years later, people are still talking about them. I don't buy that people involved in such a huge project, that led to the creation of two very special games, would have nothing nice to say about working on such.
A lot of great projects take their toll on the people who work on them; any James Cameron film, the latest Mad Max, any sizable video game released in recent years that has had to meet a certain release date... In the case of Shenmue as well they were doing things that were never done before. I doubt Shenmue III's development will be quite so strained.
On the subject of Yu's management style, make sure to check out the Making of Shenmue NHK video (which will be up very soon complete with subtitles) which has some footage of actual developer meetings. It's interesting to see Yu being a lot more demanding during those that you might think from his laid-back image these days.
- Sat Nov 07, 2015 2:20 am
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Re: Translation requests here!
It's some kind of talisman based on Taoism?
Nice find! It looks very similar to those talismans.
About the script on them (from a book called "Encyclopedia of Taoism"):
Talismans often do include include recognizable symbols and words, but they are not meant to be read by humans. Legible only to the gods, they give power over troops of divine protectors, both within and without the body.
Nice find! It looks very similar to those talismans.
About the script on them (from a book called "Encyclopedia of Taoism"):
Talismans often do include include recognizable symbols and words, but they are not meant to be read by humans. Legible only to the gods, they give power over troops of divine protectors, both within and without the body.
- Sat Nov 07, 2015 2:06 am
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Re: Making of Shenmue
Translated subtitles are now complete for the Making Of Shenmue video, in multiple languages. Thanks to everyone who was involved in the project!
Shenmue 15th Anniversary (North America) & Making of Shenmue
Shenmue 15th Anniversary (North America) & Making of Shenmue
- Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:29 am
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Re: Making of Shenmue
Thanks for everyone's positive feedback to the team on the video captions.
I guess Suzuki wasn't asked to review the voiceover commentary for the video, or he probably would have asked them to change the part stating that Shenmue is an RPG, rather than FREE. :)
One new thing I learned was that the number of channels on the Dreamcast's sound chip was driven by the requirements from Suzuki for Shenmue. It just shows the influence that he had in SEGA at that time.
In the scene at 52:00, Suzuki talks about wanting to deliver a "properly-finished, beautiful work" and presses his staff for some ideas about what to do for the last part of the harbor area. I believe they discussing the ending of Shenmue I (one of the developer's also mentions boarding the boat). Fascinating to see an important part of the game being worked out.
http://i.imgur.com/wNqxpAqm.png
One funny thing about the original Japanese voiceover is that the actual names of any companies or products are never spoken - instead they are shown in text on the screen. Even "Shenmue" is never mentioned directly. So for example Yamaha becomes "a large firm that manufactures musical instruments" and so on, leading to some amusingly round-about descriptions.
I took a load of screenshots as there was some interesting beta stuff/differences, I might post some of the more interesting ones along with observations when I get the time :D
Looking forward to seeing them!
I guess Suzuki wasn't asked to review the voiceover commentary for the video, or he probably would have asked them to change the part stating that Shenmue is an RPG, rather than FREE. :)
One new thing I learned was that the number of channels on the Dreamcast's sound chip was driven by the requirements from Suzuki for Shenmue. It just shows the influence that he had in SEGA at that time.
In the scene at 52:00, Suzuki talks about wanting to deliver a "properly-finished, beautiful work" and presses his staff for some ideas about what to do for the last part of the harbor area. I believe they discussing the ending of Shenmue I (one of the developer's also mentions boarding the boat). Fascinating to see an important part of the game being worked out.
http://i.imgur.com/wNqxpAqm.png
One funny thing about the original Japanese voiceover is that the actual names of any companies or products are never spoken - instead they are shown in text on the screen. Even "Shenmue" is never mentioned directly. So for example Yamaha becomes "a large firm that manufactures musical instruments" and so on, leading to some amusingly round-about descriptions.
I took a load of screenshots as there was some interesting beta stuff/differences, I might post some of the more interesting ones along with observations when I get the time :D
Looking forward to seeing them!
- Wed Nov 11, 2015 9:38 am
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Re: Yu Suzuki in China promoting Shenmue 3 (Video Included)
I've added in English captions onto the video.
For the Chinese parts I've used the translation provided by Hyo Razuki.
For the Chinese parts I've used the translation provided by Hyo Razuki.
- Mon Nov 16, 2015 9:54 pm
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Re: Translation requests here!
It Appears SCE is backing up the development of Shenmue 3. Shenmue is a Sega IP, are there any plans to support this effort?
Shenmue is of course an important IP, not only to Sega, but also to the many games it has influenced. It was the first of its kind in the go anywhere, do anything open world style games. On top of that Mr. Suzuki had a very strong desire to make Shenmue 3. モノ作りは本当に作りたい人が作るべきで、それが鈴木裕氏を中心としたクリエイターだということです。Of course Sega is interacting with Mr. Suzuki even now. We will continue supporting him concerning Shenmue 3 as well.
I can't figure out a way to phrase that one sentence into English that doesn't sound moronic. Someone help a brotha out.
Here's my attempt - hard to form a smooth translation though.
"Craftsmanship is something that should be done by those who really want to create, and this has Yu Suzuki as the main developer."
Shenmue is of course an important IP, not only to Sega, but also to the many games it has influenced. It was the first of its kind in the go anywhere, do anything open world style games. On top of that Mr. Suzuki had a very strong desire to make Shenmue 3. モノ作りは本当に作りたい人が作るべきで、それが鈴木裕氏を中心としたクリエイターだということです。Of course Sega is interacting with Mr. Suzuki even now. We will continue supporting him concerning Shenmue 3 as well.
I can't figure out a way to phrase that one sentence into English that doesn't sound moronic. Someone help a brotha out.
Here's my attempt - hard to form a smooth translation though.
"Craftsmanship is something that should be done by those who really want to create, and this has Yu Suzuki as the main developer."
- Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:30 pm
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Re: Yu Suzuki in China promoting Shenmue 3 (Video Included)
*１９時 *マップチェンジ (FR : Changement de la carte à 19h / EN : Map changing at 7PM)
*２３時３０分 F.O ｰ F.I 莎花の家 (FR : Maison de Shenhua à 23h30 / EN : Shenhua's house at 11:30PM)
I am still trying to figure out what that "F.O" part is, but I have no idea.
How about "Fade Out -> Fade In"? So at 11.30PM you are taken from your current location back to Shenhua's house.
- Tue Nov 17, 2015 1:23 am
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Re: Yu Suzuki in China promoting Shenmue 3 (Video Included)
I've guessed some parts in the spoiler:
Tried to translate this screen as well as I can (can barely read some parts due to quality) :
http://s29.postimg.org/41i6cs493/translate_1.jpg
Info :
漓 江の支流、 狼回 山をの*たところにある山村
民家 (FR : Résidence privée / EN : Private house) ** 戸 鐘楼 寺
袁 の情報 NA (FR : Information concernant * / EN : Information about 袁（Shenhua's stepfather） *)
*の情報 NA (FR : Information concernant * / EN : Information about *)
PC **********
Q 鐘楼 ********
PC ******** F.O
Here's how it looks after straightening and rotating the slide and integrating the English translations from David and Kiyuu onto it, plus some minor additions.
I'm quite surprised at how much detail Yu Suzuki has revealed, even though it's still at a high level.
(Spoilers)
The map change at 7:00PM is intruiging...
Some of the abbrevations seem self-explanatory, such as EV = Event, Q = Quest. Not sure about some of the others.
http://i.imgur.com/tOoqZmo.png
Updated: forest event changed to "bear" (thanks to Kiyuu).
Tried to translate this screen as well as I can (can barely read some parts due to quality) :
http://s29.postimg.org/41i6cs493/translate_1.jpg
Info :
漓 江の支流、 狼回 山をの*たところにある山村
民家 (FR : Résidence privée / EN : Private house) ** 戸 鐘楼 寺
袁 の情報 NA (FR : Information concernant * / EN : Information about 袁（Shenhua's stepfather） *)
*の情報 NA (FR : Information concernant * / EN : Information about *)
PC **********
Q 鐘楼 ********
PC ******** F.O
Here's how it looks after straightening and rotating the slide and integrating the English translations from David and Kiyuu onto it, plus some minor additions.
I'm quite surprised at how much detail Yu Suzuki has revealed, even though it's still at a high level.
(Spoilers)
The map change at 7:00PM is intruiging...
Some of the abbrevations seem self-explanatory, such as EV = Event, Q = Quest. Not sure about some of the others.
http://i.imgur.com/tOoqZmo.png
Updated: forest event changed to "bear" (thanks to Kiyuu).
- Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:44 am
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Re: Yu Suzuki in China promoting Shenmue 3 (Video Included)
Hello everyone, I am so happy to be here :D :D :D . Shenmue dojo is very famous in Chinese shenmue fans club.
Welcome! Thanks for sharing the video.
Does Switch need to translate the first 40 minutes or so? If he'd like to that's great but I get the feeling most of it is repeated from the GDC 2014 talk.
Yeah first part talking about Virtua Fighter is not the most important part. But that's up to him I guess.
Right, the first half looks like a recap of previously presented material so I'll be starting with the juicy stuff on Shenmue III and the rest can be added later on.
Welcome! Thanks for sharing the video.
Does Switch need to translate the first 40 minutes or so? If he'd like to that's great but I get the feeling most of it is repeated from the GDC 2014 talk.
Yeah first part talking about Virtua Fighter is not the most important part. But that's up to him I guess.
Right, the first half looks like a recap of previously presented material so I'll be starting with the juicy stuff on Shenmue III and the rest can be added later on.
- Wed Nov 18, 2015 9:14 pm
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Re: Yu Suzuki in China promoting Shenmue 3 (Video Included)
English captions are now added in for the Shenmue III part of the video. (You can use the label at the top of the video to skip straight there).
Thanks to sshen1127 for providing the translations for the Chinese in the Q&A and fan art section.
https://youtu.be/YNkaLCzL6Z8?t=2146
Captions for the first half of the video (which contains material seen previously) are in progress.
Thanks to sshen1127 for providing the translations for the Chinese in the Q&A and fan art section.
https://youtu.be/YNkaLCzL6Z8?t=2146
Captions for the first half of the video (which contains material seen previously) are in progress.
- Sat Nov 21, 2015 4:30 am
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China interview with Yu Suzuki (Nov 19)
Dojo member sshen1127 has kindly translated this recent brief but exclusive interview from Yu Suzuki's China visit.
Nov 19 interview with Yu Suzuki (Chinese)
http://tieba.baidu.com/p/4168537061
English translation
Q: Master Yu, when did you first meet up with master Lui Lian Zhi - was it 1991 or 1994? On what did you two first collaborate, was it working on Virtua Fighter 1 or 2?
Yu: The first time we met was 1993. Our first time working together was for VF2.
Q. Will Shenmue 3 have Chinese subs?
Yu: We are looking into it at the moment.
Q. In the near future, do you have any plan to release a fighting game similar to VF? Or to work with Sega for the next installment of the game?
Yu: Right now Daichi Katagari is the one who is overseeing the VF games. I handed over the games to him 100%. I will not be working with Sega for another VF game. But I might develop a brand new fighting game of my own.
Q: How many more Shenmue games are there until the end of the story?
Yu: There is a total of 11 chapters. Shenmue 3 will be chapters 5 and 6.
Q: Will everyone who donated for the game have to wait until near the release date to have their address and version of the game confirmed?
Yu: When the time comes we will send out an email to everyone. Please keep an eye on your mailbox.
Q: Can you use Chinese characters for all the Chinese people who donated for the game, in the "Thank you" credits at the end of the game?
Yu: All the credits will be in Roman characters.
Q: Will Shenmue 3 follow the same formula as Shenmue 1 and 2? In your opinion, what is the biggest difference with Shenmue 3? And what is the key selling point to attract new players to the game?
Yu:
1. Shenmue 3 will follow in the footsteps of Shenmue 1 and 2. It will keep what makes Shenmue Shenmue. For example, real-time full voice acting.
2. Shenmue 3 will be a more of an "open world" game so player can explore more places.
3. Towards the later half of the game, there will be a brand new way to play the game to attract new players. But the details are a secret.
Q: Will there ever be a spin-off of Shenmue, such as Shenmue 0?
Yu: No, not at the moment... [laughs]
Q: Is there any plan to release an Outrun-like racing game in the future?
Yu: We do have plans to release such a game.
Q: Will Shenmue 3 have an online feature?
Yu: There is no plan for any online feature for Shenmue 3.
Nov 19 interview with Yu Suzuki (Chinese)
http://tieba.baidu.com/p/4168537061
English translation
Q: Master Yu, when did you first meet up with master Lui Lian Zhi - was it 1991 or 1994? On what did you two first collaborate, was it working on Virtua Fighter 1 or 2?
Yu: The first time we met was 1993. Our first time working together was for VF2.
Q. Will Shenmue 3 have Chinese subs?
Yu: We are looking into it at the moment.
Q. In the near future, do you have any plan to release a fighting game similar to VF? Or to work with Sega for the next installment of the game?
Yu: Right now Daichi Katagari is the one who is overseeing the VF games. I handed over the games to him 100%. I will not be working with Sega for another VF game. But I might develop a brand new fighting game of my own.
Q: How many more Shenmue games are there until the end of the story?
Yu: There is a total of 11 chapters. Shenmue 3 will be chapters 5 and 6.
Q: Will everyone who donated for the game have to wait until near the release date to have their address and version of the game confirmed?
Yu: When the time comes we will send out an email to everyone. Please keep an eye on your mailbox.
Q: Can you use Chinese characters for all the Chinese people who donated for the game, in the "Thank you" credits at the end of the game?
Yu: All the credits will be in Roman characters.
Q: Will Shenmue 3 follow the same formula as Shenmue 1 and 2? In your opinion, what is the biggest difference with Shenmue 3? And what is the key selling point to attract new players to the game?
Yu:
1. Shenmue 3 will follow in the footsteps of Shenmue 1 and 2. It will keep what makes Shenmue Shenmue. For example, real-time full voice acting.
2. Shenmue 3 will be a more of an "open world" game so player can explore more places.
3. Towards the later half of the game, there will be a brand new way to play the game to attract new players. But the details are a secret.
Q: Will there ever be a spin-off of Shenmue, such as Shenmue 0?
Yu: No, not at the moment... [laughs]
Q: Is there any plan to release an Outrun-like racing game in the future?
Yu: We do have plans to release such a game.
Q: Will Shenmue 3 have an online feature?
Yu: There is no plan for any online feature for Shenmue 3.
- Sat Nov 21, 2015 8:29 pm
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Re: Nocon Kid visits Dobuits St. in Yokosuka (Facebook Photo
Reconnaissance for the flashback movie, perhaps?
His photos of Dobuita St really evoke Shenmue.
His photos of Dobuita St really evoke Shenmue.
- Sun Nov 22, 2015 9:15 pm
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Re: China interview with Yu Suzuki (Nov 19)
Update:
The English translation of the interview by sshen1127 (after minor editing) has been added above.
The English translation of the interview by sshen1127 (after minor editing) has been added above.
- Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:37 am
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Re: Yu Suzuki in China promoting Shenmue 3 (Video Included)
UPDATE: I've finished adding translations of Yu Suzuki's talk for the first half, completing subtitles for the whole video.
The first half mainly covers content that has been seen before at the 2014 GDC, but it was still interesting to see this second take on it. One thing that is new is the slide explaining how the characters' moves from Virtua Fighter were mapped across to some of the main characters in Shenmue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNkaLCzL6Z8
The first half mainly covers content that has been seen before at the 2014 GDC, but it was still interesting to see this second take on it. One thing that is new is the slide explaining how the characters' moves from Virtua Fighter were mapped across to some of the main characters in Shenmue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNkaLCzL6Z8
- Tue Nov 24, 2015 9:25 am
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Re: full list gift Yu received during china press conference
Here's an English translation from the Japanese (so hopefully it retains most of the original meaning!)
Hello Master Suzuki,
We are big fans of the Shenmue series. You have come to Shanghai this time to tell the young people of China about your experience with game development. On behalf of everyone, I would like to welcome you and express our thanks.
Most of us were part of the Dreamcast era, and so we have deep feelings for your creation, Shenmue. We experienced this wonderful game and Ryo’s adventures. It would not be going far to say this was a part of our life experience. In Shenmue we have seen many experiences of loneliness, growth, love and strength, and they won’t be forgotten as long as we live. It was such a shame that the story of Shenmue did not continue at that time. We felt as sad as if we had lost part of our family, or a girlfriend/boyfriend. We thought this regret would stay with us for the rest of our lives.
In the 14 years that followed, we avidly followed all news about Shenmue. Although occasionally we could not bear to see the reports, as our raised hopes would always be dashed. Little by little, we tucked Shenmue away deep in our hearts. As the Chinese poet Guo Moruo once wrote, “Disappointed year after year, Year after year, my hope's still fierce”.
At last, there was a turning point. At the 2015 E3 conference, you announced the Shenmue III Kickstarter project. At that moment, tears overflowed from everyone’s eyes, and we smiled with joy. We have a saying in China, “A man cannot cry easily. But when he can, it is true sadness”. Actually we have already turned 30, and have not cried for many years – some of us probably have not cried for 10 years. However this time we cried plainly. Tears of emotion, tears of happiness. We are really grateful to you for your efforts. Without these we would not believe we would ever cry so much again.
From the time of the Kickstarter project announcement, we have gathered together again and have continued to support Shenmue III. Everyone is putting in maximum effort, I am happy to say. The funds gathered in China may not be great compared to elsewhere, but it represents the hearts of the Shenmue fans across China. We will never leave the Number 1 Shenmue club. Thanks to Shenmue, we have all become friends, which has made us happy. We are grateful to you for this also.
We have one request for you, which is that we would like Shenmue III in Chinese. Naturally this will require budget but please consider it. It will please all the players who speak Chinese. We are also hoping for HD versions of Shenmue I and II.
Finally, we celebrate the smooth development of Shenmue III, and pray that it will be a big hit. We pray for great happiness and health to you, your staff and families from the bottom of our hearts.
Shenmue Fan Club of China
Hello Master Suzuki,
We are big fans of the Shenmue series. You have come to Shanghai this time to tell the young people of China about your experience with game development. On behalf of everyone, I would like to welcome you and express our thanks.
Most of us were part of the Dreamcast era, and so we have deep feelings for your creation, Shenmue. We experienced this wonderful game and Ryo’s adventures. It would not be going far to say this was a part of our life experience. In Shenmue we have seen many experiences of loneliness, growth, love and strength, and they won’t be forgotten as long as we live. It was such a shame that the story of Shenmue did not continue at that time. We felt as sad as if we had lost part of our family, or a girlfriend/boyfriend. We thought this regret would stay with us for the rest of our lives.
In the 14 years that followed, we avidly followed all news about Shenmue. Although occasionally we could not bear to see the reports, as our raised hopes would always be dashed. Little by little, we tucked Shenmue away deep in our hearts. As the Chinese poet Guo Moruo once wrote, “Disappointed year after year, Year after year, my hope's still fierce”.
At last, there was a turning point. At the 2015 E3 conference, you announced the Shenmue III Kickstarter project. At that moment, tears overflowed from everyone’s eyes, and we smiled with joy. We have a saying in China, “A man cannot cry easily. But when he can, it is true sadness”. Actually we have already turned 30, and have not cried for many years – some of us probably have not cried for 10 years. However this time we cried plainly. Tears of emotion, tears of happiness. We are really grateful to you for your efforts. Without these we would not believe we would ever cry so much again.
From the time of the Kickstarter project announcement, we have gathered together again and have continued to support Shenmue III. Everyone is putting in maximum effort, I am happy to say. The funds gathered in China may not be great compared to elsewhere, but it represents the hearts of the Shenmue fans across China. We will never leave the Number 1 Shenmue club. Thanks to Shenmue, we have all become friends, which has made us happy. We are grateful to you for this also.
We have one request for you, which is that we would like Shenmue III in Chinese. Naturally this will require budget but please consider it. It will please all the players who speak Chinese. We are also hoping for HD versions of Shenmue I and II.
Finally, we celebrate the smooth development of Shenmue III, and pray that it will be a big hit. We pray for great happiness and health to you, your staff and families from the bottom of our hearts.
Shenmue Fan Club of China
- Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:29 am
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Re: Yu Suzuki in China promoting Shenmue 3 (Video Included)
Just a small point I noticed during translation where the China talk differed from the one at GDC 2014:
In the part about the original plan for Shenmue, Suzuki mentions that he had at first been planning to release Shenmue as a set of two games, which would cover all 11 chapters.
I found that this is different from 2014 GDC's translation (from Mark Cerny), which said he had originally planned to release "the first 2 chapters as a single game".
I double-checked with a Japanese news report of the GDC presentation, and it turns out that this was actually a mis-translation; Suzuki did in fact say he had originally planned for two games covering the 11 chapters.
In the part about the original plan for Shenmue, Suzuki mentions that he had at first been planning to release Shenmue as a set of two games, which would cover all 11 chapters.
I found that this is different from 2014 GDC's translation (from Mark Cerny), which said he had originally planned to release "the first 2 chapters as a single game".
I double-checked with a Japanese news report of the GDC presentation, and it turns out that this was actually a mis-translation; Suzuki did in fact say he had originally planned for two games covering the 11 chapters.
- Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:27 pm
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Re: MORE SHENMUE INTERVIEW ON THE 25 IN CHINA (SECOND UPDATE
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/SeJr7FAGI-Y/
Is this it ???
Seems like an old documentary on Shenmue (I don't think I've ever seen it).
This is the Making of Shenmue video that was subtitled recently for the Dojo. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend checking it out.
http://www.shenmuedojo.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=49298
Is this it ???
Seems like an old documentary on Shenmue (I don't think I've ever seen it).
This is the Making of Shenmue video that was subtitled recently for the Dojo. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend checking it out.
http://www.shenmuedojo.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=49298
- Fri Nov 27, 2015 3:01 am
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Re: Translation requests here!
Found this image of some Dreamcast controller concept art and the motion controller prototype, was wondering if there was any cool info on there? Thanks :)
http://gamewalker.link/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pZ7A4.jpg
Here's a quick summary of what it talks about. Interesting they had also been thinking about a "Wii Remote" kind of design.
⋅ The controller designers had originally been designing the controller with six action buttons, assuming they would be necessary. But the opinion of the more far-sighted game creators within SEGA and also outside the company was that players would find less buttons easier to get used to, and that games should be designed to use fewer buttons. Eventually a decision was made to go with just four buttons, meaning the designs they had been working on until that point had to be redone.
⋅ Prototypes were initially built in clay or polystyrene to keep costs low. Buttons were often just drawn on paper and stuck on.
⋅ The design for the final controller was refined numerous times, with hundreds of revisions made through a trial-and-error process.
⋅ The vertical-shaped controller shown at the bottom of the page was the result of the design team's desire to try designing something completely different from the typical controller shape, something which would have impact. It was to be held with one hand above the other, with trigger buttons on the underside. It was to have two extension slots, one at each end. The design went as far as having a colored mock-up model created, but it did not go to production.
http://gamewalker.link/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pZ7A4.jpg
Here's a quick summary of what it talks about. Interesting they had also been thinking about a "Wii Remote" kind of design.
⋅ The controller designers had originally been designing the controller with six action buttons, assuming they would be necessary. But the opinion of the more far-sighted game creators within SEGA and also outside the company was that players would find less buttons easier to get used to, and that games should be designed to use fewer buttons. Eventually a decision was made to go with just four buttons, meaning the designs they had been working on until that point had to be redone.
⋅ Prototypes were initially built in clay or polystyrene to keep costs low. Buttons were often just drawn on paper and stuck on.
⋅ The design for the final controller was refined numerous times, with hundreds of revisions made through a trial-and-error process.
⋅ The vertical-shaped controller shown at the bottom of the page was the result of the design team's desire to try designing something completely different from the typical controller shape, something which would have impact. It was to be held with one hand above the other, with trigger buttons on the underside. It was to have two extension slots, one at each end. The design went as far as having a colored mock-up model created, but it did not go to production.
- Wed Dec 09, 2015 12:09 am
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Re: Shenmue III spoilers - avoid or embrace?
Sonoshee wrote:Yu dropped a huge bombshell in the NicoNico interview and I had a big part of the Shenmue story spoiled.
I wonder if Yu has now changed his thinking about revealing too much during interviews/conferences, as he was careful to censor out plot-related information at his recent China presentation.
- Tue Dec 01, 2015 9:46 pm
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Re: Translation requests here!
I assume the motion captor was an extension to buy separately and put in one of the two slots.
This sounds likely. Motion support wasn't mentioned in the article above, but the Japanese-language Wikipedia page for the Dreamcast states that they had been planning an extension pack called a "G Sensor Device" that would have provided motion features similar to the later-released Wii controller.
This sounds likely. Motion support wasn't mentioned in the article above, but the Japanese-language Wikipedia page for the Dreamcast states that they had been planning an extension pack called a "G Sensor Device" that would have provided motion features similar to the later-released Wii controller.
- Wed Dec 09, 2015 7:50 pm
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Re: Translation requests here!
Giorgio wrote: Just struck me that the following video has not been translated. Any chance?
It would be a shame for it to remain untranslated. Will see what I can do. At least the narrator speaks clearly, unlike Yu Suzuki at his staff meetings
- Thu Dec 10, 2015 8:39 pm
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