Sappharad wrote:I think they'd probably do fine if they had access to the original code, assets, and Sega gave them the right requirements when it comes to improvements they could make that wouldn't damage the original experience.
Sorry to cut out the rest of your post, but you kind of throw your own argument onto the fire with this bit.
Blitworks' remit is whatever SEGA gives them to work with. As far as we can tell, SEGA wants to go whole hog on Shenmue/Shenmue II. If SEGA are serious about doing it right and give Blitworks the keys to the castle, then what's the worry?
Why is Jet Set Radio emulated? Because that's what Blitworks pitched. Why did they pitch that? Because, solicited or not, it's unlikely SEGA would give them access to the source code without a deal already being made. Why didn't SEGA give them access to the source code after a deal was made? Because an emulator was the cheaper, quicker, and easier option.
The Jet Set Radio remaster was a turning point for SEGA's approach to re-releasing Dreamcast games and a marked improvement in quality. Who cares if Blitworks' unreleased Sonic CD was nixxed? It's just another example of SEGA starting to take a more serious and quality-focused approach to their back-catalogue.
What's different 5 years later? A lot of things. Shenmue is actually back and SEGA have more incentive than ever to up their remaster game. Actual ports rather than emulators are now becoming a beneficial longer term investment decision thanks to console architecture drifting closer to PC, should they need to be released again later down the line. Crucially, the desire to do Shenmue HD is coming from within SEGA and is not the result of a company pitching the idea to them.