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Yu Suzuki discusses concept for Shenmue 3

JC Fletcher — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:26:00 EST

James Mielke, formerly of 1UP, tracked down Sega legend Yu Suzuki for an interview, during which Suzuki revealed one of his ideas for the design of Shenmue 3 -- which, just to keep you from getting your hopes up, is still totally not happening. But it sounds interesting! But it's not happening.

"Shenmue 3 doesn't expand outward, but inward," Suzuki said, contrasting the expansive worlds of the original games with an emphasis on deeper interaction with the main characters, Ryo Hazuki and Shenhua. In the examples he gave, which were "not actually in the game," your choice of tea or coffee, or answers to hypothetical questions, would affect your relationship with in-game characters.

The rest of the two-part interview discusses Suzuki's past creating novel arcade games like Hang-On, the acquisition of 3D technology from Lockheed to develop Virtua Fighter and Virtua Racing, and the long-lost touchscreen arcade game Psy-Phi. "I think it would be good to make it for Kinect," Suzuki mused. "Yeah, maybe I'll make that my next project, although, I should probably make the game a little simpler for the Kinect audience."

Yu Suzuki discusses concept for Shenmue 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shenmue Town is a 'side story,' made by Yu Suzuki's new company

JC Fletcher — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:05:00 EST

Here's a thought experiment. Would it be worse if:

Yu Suzuki's Shenmue story continued, but in the form of a mobile game that none of us will ever play, or
a new (mobile, Japanese) Shenmue game was made by Suzuki, and didn't continue the story?

Both of those are kind of hellish -- the first means that we'd only be able to catch up with our pal Ryo through online summaries by fans, while the second would mean that the Shenmue story was being drawn out even more without reaching any kind of resolution.

Shenmue Town, the Japan-only mobile game announced last month, will be a "side story" to the Shenmue games, developed by Yu Suzuki's Ys Net and managed by Sunsoft. So Suzuki finally figured out a way to make more Shenmue ... and it's a "side story." There are still few details about the game: Andriasang reports that you'll start in Yokusuka, setting for the first Dreamcast game, as Ryo Hazuki. Art on the official site is all Dreamcast-era character art, with a note that "Shenmue returns" and an invitation to "Come back this winter."

Shenmue Town is a 'side story,' made by Yu Suzuki's new company originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yahoo Japan establishes Shenmue Town, which is where we want to live now

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Yahoo Japan and social cell phone game developer Mobagetown recently partnered up to help strengthen the latter's projects. Now called Yahoo Mobage, the company recently outlined its plans for a new web portal for social games, including Persona 3 Social, a new Nobunaga's Ambition title from Tecmo Koei and, arguably the most exciting game announcement of the 21st century, a social game called Shenmue Town. Yes, that Shenmue.

Other than its winter Japanese launch window, we know next to nothing about Shenmue Town. In our heart of hearts, we imagine you mingle around crowds of other real life players, asking if anyone knows anyone who speaks Chinese, or if anyone knows where a dude can find some sailors around these parts.

Yahoo Japan establishes Shenmue Town, which is where we want to live now originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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