Sega, realising that it hasn't played with our hearts much recently, has issued more cruel teases on the future of the Shenmue franchise.
Speaking in the latest issue of Famitsu 360 (via PS3 Center), the Japanese publisher is quoted as saying that Shenmue is a series it "still thinks a lot about doing" - however sales are a factor.
"Neither of the previous games sold well, so Sega is hesitant about returning to the franchise," the translation supposedly says. "They reassure fans, though, that if there is an opportunity to revisit the franchise, they would love to do it."
Sega also reportedly states that it'd consider developing the third Shenmue if a platform holder were to fund its development, in exchange for exclusivity.
I can see this working in one of three ways. Either it becomes a wii exclusive and they rerelease the first two games and then the third. It would cut down on dev costs alot but also could hinder the projects potential scope.
They rerelease the first two over live or PSn and then make the third a big bucks HD title.
Third, which at this point is my favourite. Restart the whole thing from scratch.
Shenmue has almost mythical status now, even (especially?) for people that never played it. A new game could capitalise on that and sell really well. Games of Shenmue's size and scope are also pretty standard now. The time is right for Shenume 3!
i never played the first 2 -have they aged well or should i just leave it be?
Considering they were incredibly ahead of their time. they haven't aged that badly. not sure if the 2nd i'll run in a 360 but if you've got a dreamcast they're definately worth tracking down and playing. JUst don't buy into the hype. You'll be disappointed.
up there with some of my favs games ever, i would love a new one/release. Wish i never sold my dreamcast, for now i will just have to play it on my emulator on my PC
Oh and Xbox exclusivity please as the Playstation effectively killed off the Dreamcast and sells of the other 2 Shemnues'.
More like Xbox killed off Shenmue. The Dreamcast version sold well when compaired to other titles on the Dreamcast. When Sega brought Shenmue to the Xbox, what did xbox owners do? They turned there snotty noses up at it (I brought it though and unlocked all the shenmue comics through the photo mode!). They had they chance, I say get Sony on the case.
Played and completed both Shenmue's on the Dreamcast and both were truly superb games!
If Sega are so worried about not recouping development costs and making a profit then why not offer the gaming community an ultimatum of "put your money where your mouth is" and pre-order the game prior to development beginning, that way they could see first-hand exactly how many people truly do want a sequel...with the caveat that if they produce a piece of crap, people get their money back!
Oh and Xbox exclusivity please as the Playstation effectively killed off the Dreamcast and sells of the other 2 Shemnues'.
More like Xbox killed off Shenmue. The Dreamcast version sold well when compaired to other titles on the Dreamcast. When Sega brought Shenmue to the Xbox, what did xbox owners do? They turned there snotty noses up at it (I brought it though and unlocked all the shenmue comics through the photo mode!). They had they chance, I say get Sony on the case.
Did it b******s. I bought it on both Dreamcast and Xbox but the damage was already done. As a post Dreamcast Playstation owner , I don't carry the brunt of blame all those council estate pikey kids in the early noughties do. Blame them for the delay of Shemnue 3
I think the answer here, really, is for Sega to re-release the first one on WiiWare, XBLA and PSN, and then do the same for the sequel a year or so down the line.
This, in part at least, should fund the development of Shenmue 3 for retail.
I had both on the DC and sold them about 3 years ago due to the need for money at the time. I totally, totally regret it now though... they were in mint condition too.
I don't care which console they bring it to, just bring it! You better bring it Sega!
(I like the way CVG only mention Sony and Microsoft... no mention of Nintendo - although to be fair it'll probably have to be put on a number of discs)
PS3 would probably make the most sense now as they already have the Yakuza engine up and running for it, which looks as though it would handle a new Shenmue beautifully. Either way though, i don't care what it releases on, i just want it!
I wonder if anyone at Sega even remembers what is supposed to happen next in the story... Such a cliffhanger they left it on - just when things were getting started.
So many websites dedicated to the 3rd game, and I dont think there is any game that fans are so vocal about, so adamant that they want a new addition to; yet Sega wonder if it would sell?
Personally, I dont think it would work on Xbox. Its a very Jap-type game and I believe the Xbox still isn't too popular in that part of the world. If I recall, the only reason it came out on the Xbox (and only in the west) was because the US didn't get the Dreamcast sequel, but we did. I bought a Dreamcast, preowned and at a low price, for this game alone, and I still have the console and both editions of the game for it. Sega, people want this game and they want to pay money for it.
(I like the way CVG only mention Sony and Microsoft... no mention of Nintendo - although to be fair it'll probably have to be put on a number of discs)
That doesn't make sense? The Wii uses Dual layer DVD's which are pretty much the same as the DL DVD's that the 360 uses. Plus Shenmue came on four Dreamcast discs which were 1GB each so it would fit on a standard DVD without a problem.
I'd Like to see a Shenmue 3 if anything to complete the trilogy but it may never happen. I think a Trilogy style bundle like Nintendo did recently with Metroid prime would be a good move and open the market to people who haven't played it before. Plus it would be bloody good value if you got three shenmue games for Ł40 when you consider the size of them and the amount of content in each.
(I like the way CVG only mention Sony and Microsoft... no mention of Nintendo - although to be fair it'll probably have to be put on a number of discs)
That doesn't make sense? The Wii uses Dual layer DVD's which are pretty much the same as the DL DVD's that the 360 uses. Plus Shenmue came on four Dreamcast discs which were 1GB each so it would fit on a standard DVD without a problem.
I'd Like to see a Shenmue 3 if anything to complete the trilogy but it may never happen. I think a Trilogy style bundle like Nintendo did recently with Metroid prime would be a good move and open the market to people who haven't played it before. Plus it would be bloody good value if you got three shenmue games for Ł40 when you consider the size of them and the amount of content in each.
unless it was a straight port with (now) crappy dreamcast graphics, then todays shenmue would weight in well over 4GB.
if it was as ambitious as the last ones, with todays technical standards, then i doubt a single 360 disc would do.
for this reason, the fact it would probably run on a yakuza engine (which is only out for ps3) and the fact microsoft tend only to fund generic sure-fires, sony would be prime suspects for a shenmue exclusive.
(I like the way CVG only mention Sony and Microsoft... no mention of Nintendo - although to be fair it'll probably have to be put on a number of discs)
That doesn't make sense? The Wii uses Dual layer DVD's which are pretty much the same as the DL DVD's that the 360 uses. Plus Shenmue came on four Dreamcast discs which were 1GB each so it would fit on a standard DVD without a problem.
I'd Like to see a Shenmue 3 if anything to complete the trilogy but it may never happen. I think a Trilogy style bundle like Nintendo did recently with Metroid prime would be a good move and open the market to people who haven't played it before. Plus it would be bloody good value if you got three shenmue games for Ł40 when you consider the size of them and the amount of content in each.
unless it was a straight port with (now) crappy dreamcast graphics, then todays shenmue would weight in well over 4GB.
if it was as ambitious as the last ones, with todays technical standards, then i doubt a single 360 disc would do.
for this reason, the fact it would probably run on a yakuza engine (which is only out for ps3) and the fact microsoft tend only to fund generic sure-fires, sony would be prime suspects for a shenmue exclusive.
The point was more to do with just port the orignals on to discs and for fans and new people to get up to speed and enjoy the first two. The dreamcast graphics would be fine now and not everything needs HD-ing for graphic whores like yourself. And well as for more Sony loving we all know about that...
dorian2011 wrote: tbh i think it shud go multiplatform as it probz wudnt sell well on ps3 with all the chavs unless you put ryo in kappa tracksuit and a burberry cap
No, you just offend those of us who dislike reading posts that appear as though they were written by prattling idiots. Like most of your posts, actually, Dorian. Wouldn't mind your constant Sony bashing if you actually put some effort into your comments.
And I hate to be the one to break it to you but... you come across as a complete chav yourself.
Funnily enough, I was playing Shenmue 2 last night - conincidence? The thing that really bugs me the most about Shenmue is that the second game ended on a cliffhanger and the story was never finished. I hope Sega see's sense because there are plenty of websites and forums out there begging for Shenmue 3, and I would love to play another Shenmue game. The first two had such a great atmosphere, and I cannot see why Sega says it didn't sell well when they have the Yasuka series which is incredibly similar in places. C'mon Sega, give the fans what they want!
More like Xbox killed off Shenmue. The Dreamcast version sold well when compaired to other titles on the Dreamcast. When Sega brought Shenmue to the Xbox, what did xbox owners do? They turned there snotty noses up at it (I brought it though and unlocked all the shenmue comics through the photo mode!). They had they chance, I say get Sony on the case.
No dude. Shenmue didn't sell well enough on the Dreamcast for Sega to recoup costs. Hence why the second game was in subtitles and not dubbed with actors (better in my opnion though).
Having the sequel only on the Xbox was silly too though its hard to say how well it would've sold if it was released on the PS2 as well
Would definitely buy a HD verions of the first two on PSN/XBLA, absolute classics in my opinion. Am continually dismayed by the lack of sequel... Come on SEGA!
More like Xbox killed off Shenmue. The Dreamcast version sold well when compaired to other titles on the Dreamcast. When Sega brought Shenmue to the Xbox, what did xbox owners do? They turned there snotty noses up at it (I brought it though and unlocked all the shenmue comics through the photo mode!). They had they chance, I say get Sony on the case.
No dude. Shenmue didn't sell well enough on the Dreamcast for Sega to recoup costs. Hence why the second game was in subtitles and not dubbed with actors (better in my opnion though).
Having the sequel only on the Xbox was silly too though its hard to say how well it would've sold if it was released on the PS2 as well
I said it sold well compaired to other Dreamcast games which it did, see here:
The first Shenmue was the 4th biggest selling game on the machine. No, it didn't make a lot of money but then again the dreamcast didn't sell a lot of units. But considering the size of the user base, it did sell well.
That doesn't make sense? The Wii uses Dual layer DVD's which are pretty much the same as the DL DVD's that the 360 uses. Plus Shenmue came on four Dreamcast discs which were 1GB each so it would fit on a standard DVD without a problem.
Actually, I believe they were more equivalent to CD Roms which is why the whole 4 disc sequel fit on one DVD disc for the Xbox release.
SEGA, PLEASE MAKE A PS3/360 SHENMUE 3, PANZER DRAGOON & VIRTUAL ON! Oh yeah, & a request for a PS3/360 Border Break in the west (with a single-player campaign mode). I love you SEGA!
I reckon they should remake the game as one game with story elements of parts 1 & 2 and finishing off with 3. Big budget title, no corners cut. If they get it right it will sell massively. Guided by Yu Suzuki also and other great programing and developement minds. SEGA, JUST DO IT.
Actually, I believe they were more equivalent to CD Roms which is why the whole 4 disc sequel fit on one DVD disc for the Xbox release.
The discs were based on CD roms but Yamaha made them into GD Rom's which should of held 1.2GB but it was more like 1GB after production. The first shenmue was on 3 GD roms and the second 4 GD roms but I imagine that there was alot of crossover data that you could eliminate if you put it all on one disc which would save space. As I said I think it would be possible to put 1 and 2 on one DVD and possible to put both with upscaled 1080p graphics (for those you feel the need) on one Dual layer DVD.
I just remember a whole lot of piracy as it was easy to burn games onto a normal CD and play them, apparently, but then I imagine most of those games weren't using the full capacity of the disc.
Shenmue 2 had a different town/area on each disc iirc.
Yeah I remember reading somewhere that they just fitted S-2 on a Xbox DVD with the extra tweaks they made, but with todays fast DVD drives, extra & faster ram plus the improvements in compression and programming they could well squeeze both onto one DL-DVD even with a upscaled 1080p mode. But only Sega would know that so lets hope they give us the answer .
Sega are just bottoms. Would such a game cost so much to make these days? If they can flush money away with half-hearted remakes of NiGHTS and Sega Racing watchamacallit, they can make Shenmue 3.
The only real question to ask is, with the huge gap and probably new people making it, with new ideas, could they do it justice? Perhaps its too late now to try to continue the story.
The original plan I remember, was made up of many chapters. I think the first game was the first chapter and the second game was like, the next 4 chapters or something like that. I wonder if that means a complete story, or at least the outline, already exists for further games. Or would they make it up as they go along like a TV soap.
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