Yu Suzuki leaving Sega, at a time of transition.

[Segata Sanshiro]

Yu Suzuki has been on the forefront of game design and technology since he entered the industry. It seemed as though with every game he made, he was not only pushing game technology to new levels, he was inventing a new genre. From After Burner II, to Out Run, to Virtua Fighter, to Shenmue, Suzuki has constantly blazed trails.

Unfortunately, following the commercial underperformance of the groundbreaking Shenmue series, which remains incomplete to this day, Suzuki has operated below the radar.

...continue reading.

Source: Gamasutra

[Myles]

Good interview. Thanks for the link.

[led_wing]

he will leave sega, so what that means to the future of shenmue?

[mue 26]

Shame they didn't call him up on his infamous "I think Sega will let me make it" comments.

[ThyDarkAngel]

He stays as an 'advisor' at Sega.
Truth be told, that really doesn't change the possibilities of him getting back to his past IPs. Fear not that part.

Really, really good to hear he has many original ideas and is trying to find fundings for them.

Fingers crossed, Shenmue related or not.
If given the chance, Yu could do some great things, I'm sure.

[Lan Di-sama]

There was one other title as well, and that one also got stopped by Sega midway. But maybe that was for the better, because the Sega of the time was not in all that good shape, and they were shrinking down a lot of projects...
maybe that part of it doesn't need to get written down. [laughs] I don't want to impact Sega's image.

Shenmoo 3

[Bluecast]

Wow. Things are getting out of hand.

[Axm]

Hmm well I guess this confirms he wont have any major role at Sega anymore besides occational advisor. I dont think this rules him out of a Sega Shenmue project but at the same time its a major blow to the chance of a big budget Shenmue title headed by suzuki anytime soon.

What this also means though is its opened up Suzuki to more options and posibilities within his own company. Obviously Shenmue Town is his main focus at the moment and if its receaved well in the east and west then we could have more funding for a larger Shenmue project.

Unfortunately though their was alot of talk about new idea's and new IP's on the drawing board. So if the funding does come in for a larger project then who knows if it'll even be Shenmue related at all.

Seems his Kinect fighting game might also be a detractor aswell.
I guess we wont have any new major Shenmue projects for a few more years at this rate..

[Schiff]

There was one other title as well, and that one also got stopped by Sega midway. But maybe that was for the better, because the Sega of the time was not in all that good shape, and they were shrinking down a lot of projects...
maybe that part of it doesn't need to get written down. [laughs] I don't want to impact Sega's image.

Damn, so we got really that close to Shenmue 3??

[Henry Spencer]

At least he will be able to do what he wants from now on. Full creative control is a good thing for him. I'd like to see what he'll do now after being an "advisor" for so long.

There was one other title as well, and that one also got stopped by Sega midway. But maybe that was for the better, because the Sega of the time was not in all that good shape, and they were shrinking down a lot of projects...
maybe that part of it doesn't need to get written down. [laughs] I don't want to impact Sega's image.

Damn, so we got really that close to Shenmue 3??

Sounds like it. Goddammit.

[AnimeGamer183]

Anymore bad fucking news I can get thrown my way this week? Why must video games continue to be on the decline, and whats funny is financially they are more profitable than ever. Anyone else see a connection here?

[ThyDarkAngel]

This is NOT bad news.

He stays as Sega as an advisor. Truth be told as an advisor or in the role he had until now, chances of him making III with Sega are exactly the same.

This only means one thing and one thing only: if he gets the budget he will do Shenmue III tomorrow (just like he did Town) and with total creative freedom.

[Dorian]

This is the end. I'm not holding my breath anymore. It was a good ride for all this years but Ryo dies in a fucking cave.

[mrandyk]

Ive lost all hope now.

[Hazuki Legend]

Suzuki's leaving in September... Tokyo Game Show is in September... anyone want to buy into the theory that he'll leave on the back of the announcement of Shenmue III with most of what he'd need to do with it already out of the way?

I'm honestly not holding out any hope, i haven't done for a while but that's something for the biggest of optimists to cling onto.