Securing Shenmue's future

[ChiefNeo]

I've already given over 300. My plan is not to give any more until the game comes out. If the game comes out and it manages to make me happy, as I fully expect it to, then my plan is to go around like a moron, literally buying a retail copy here and there...indefinitely. I kinda facepalm at myself when I read that. I'm not a stupid man haha I am not made out of money...and yet, for Shenmue....this sounds like a fantastic way to spend what money I have.

I fully expect to end up with 10-15 copies of the game.

[Let's Get Sweaty]

One thing's for sure: Shenmue III's never going to end up in a landfill like ET. Even if the rest of the world hates it, there'll still be rabid fans snapping up every copy to build themselves huts to live in after losing their homes.

[Spaghetti]

Copies of Shenmue III will be the currency in the post-apocalypse.

[ShenGCH]

I've already given over 300. My plan is not to give any more until the game comes out. If the game comes out and it manages to make me happy, as I fully expect it to, then my plan is to go around like a moron, literally buying a retail copy here and there...indefinitely. I kinda facepalm at myself when I read that. I'm not a stupid man haha I am not made out of money...and yet, for Shenmue....this sounds like a fantastic way to spend what money I have.

I fully expect to end up with 10-15 copies of the game.

You could always just gift multiple random people copies on Steam; at least that way they'll go to good use instead of ending up as a sacred footrest

[RiGoRmOrTiS]

As desperately as I want Shenmue 3 to succeed, if Shenmue 1 and 2 HD don't come out (as most of us probably expect) I wouldn't be suprised if the game barely scrapes 250k sold including kickstarter/slacker backer sales.

If they do release Shenmue 1 and 2 HD I think the game could possibly hit 500k or there abouts.. At most..

and in the best case scenario where we get HD remakes and Sony shove a whole bunch of marketing behind it comparable to larger budget AAA titles (unlikely) we might hit a million. I've seen many big budget titles with big market pushes struggle over the one million mark.

I think anymore than that is probably a fantasy. I just hope it's enough to wrap things up with Shenmue 4.

I honestly never expected this to last past this kickstarter and Shenmue 3 and I was actually quite concerned when he said he isn't trying to wrap everything up with Shenmue 3. Not because I don't want more,but that I think asking for more past Shenmue 3 is so unlikely we are going to end up giving ourselves another cliff hanger we will never see a conclusion to.

[Spaghetti]

I can't agree that 500K is the best case scenario on two highly successful platforms. The original Shenmue did over double that on Dreamcast.

Let that sink in. Dreamcast.

The market is more accommodating of niche titles these days, and if the game is good enough, it'll hopefully enjoy a long and successful life on digital platforms after the initial retail sales burst is over.

[Hazuki00]

As desperately as I want Shenmue 3 to succeed, if Shenmue 1 and 2 HD don't come out (as most of us probably expect) I wouldn't be suprised if the game barely scrapes 250k sold including kickstarter/slacker backer sales.

If they do release Shenmue 1 and 2 HD I think the game could possibly hit 500k or there abouts.. At most..

and in the best case scenario where we get HD remakes and Sony shove a whole bunch of marketing behind it comparable to larger budget AAA titles (unlikely) we might hit a million. I've seen many big budget titles with big market pushes struggle over the one million mark.

I think anymore than that is probably a fantasy. I just hope it's enough to wrap things up with Shenmue 4.

I honestly never expected this to last past this kickstarter and Shenmue 3 and I was actually quite concerned when he said he isn't trying to wrap everything up with Shenmue 3. Not because I don't want more,but that I think asking for more past Shenmue 3 is so unlikely we are going to end up giving ourselves another cliff hanger we will never see a conclusion to.

Nobody can forecast what will happen so make predictions is in vain.

I hope it will be a success as it deserves!

[mjq jazz bar]

I think it'll sell a ton on the PC just because there's tremendous hype and mystique surrounding the series. This projection is not based on empirical evidence. If Sony wants to build another franchise for their console, they will promote the game on the PS4 ecosystem, provided it isn't garbage, and more curious people will buy it.

Don't pretty obscure JRPGs sell into the millions these days? I remember back when I was a kid it felt like no one even know what Final Fantasy was. Now I see Final Fantasy XV ads on the sides of buses.

[Shenmue_Music]

Am I the only one here that doesn't want Shenmue 4 to be the last one (if it actually is). I actually want 5 or 6 installments.
But of course ideally, I would hope it never ends!

[Peter]

I think it'll sell a ton on the PC just because there's tremendous hype and mystique surrounding the series. This projection is not based on empirical evidence. If Sony wants to build another franchise for their console, they will promote the game on the PS4 ecosystem, provided it isn't garbage, and more curious people will buy it.

Don't pretty obscure JRPGs sell into the millions these days? I remember back when I was a kid it felt like no one even know what Final Fantasy was. Now I see Final Fantasy XV ads on the sides of buses.

And any gamer on the PC worth his salt will be well aware of emulators so in the (not best choice of) practicality, they will already have access to Shenmue 1 and 2 semi HD on NullDC or Demul. If Sega don't want to capitalise that, I will happily promote DC emulators to play Shenmue games regardless if it's against the law or not.

[Valascaziel]

Remember--we live in an age where nostalgia is huge and can have massive benefits, especially in gaming.

Look at NiER...one of the most niche, but beloved RPGs of the PS3 era. It barely sold when I worked at GameStop, but generated a big cult following like Shenmue did.

No one *ever* thought it'd get a sequel, but here it comes, by Platinum Games no less and has subsequently become of the most anticipated games of next year.

[killthesagabeforeitkillsu]

Nier Automata is backed by Square. If SEGA gave Shenmue another chance perhaps that comparison would make more sense. Shenmue III is a kickstarter title, there is no need to stress over sale numbers since we already funded the game. Whatever extra copies it sells, it will go directly into Sony/YSnet bank.

Now, wouldn't it be great if Shenmue III sold 1M and Sony gave Yu Suzuki Kojima-esque treatment? Certainly!

[Anonymous81]

Seeing as how I plan to NEVER open my backer edition(s,) and plan on buying one of every version they release on top of that, I'd say I'm covered at least lol.

[Suzuki Yu]

Am I the only one here that doesn't want Shenmue 4 to be the last one (if it actually is). I actually want 5 or 6 installments.
But of course ideally, I would hope it never ends!

me too. but i don't want it to be an endless series since one of the great things about this series is how the whole story is structured in such a way. a successor is what i would like to have.
i want 6 games or 5 at the very least. (if it was't for Suzuki's age i would ask for more!)
Shenmue is supposed to be a gigantic saga, there are many places within the mainland of China planned to be part of Ryo's Adventure. with 6 games it's already a huge compromise to be taken! i really don't understand the people who want to conclude the story as fast as possible! it will be bad and ruin the entire thing!
even if SIII became a failure i would rather take a proper Shenmue without real ending than a rushed and unfocused Shenmue experience just to finish the story!

[Shenmue_Music]

Am I the only one here that doesn't want Shenmue 4 to be the last one (if it actually is). I actually want 5 or 6 installments.
But of course ideally, I would hope it never ends!

me too. but i don't want it to be an endless series since one of the great things about this series is how the whole story is structured in such a way. a successor is what i would like to have.
i want 6 games or 5 at the very least. (if it was't for Suzuki's age i would ask for more!)
Shenmue is supposed to be a gigantic saga, there are many places within the mainland of China planned to be part of Ryo's Adventure. with 6 games it's already a huge compromise to be taken! i really don't understand the people who want to conclude the story as fast as possible! it will be bad and ruin the entire thing!
even if SIII became a failure i would rather take a proper Shenmue without real ending than a rushed and unfocused Shenmue experience just to finish the story!

Exactly. Great minds think alike!