http://i.imgur.com/OR68l7n.png
Shenmue 3 Funding and Budget Statement
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ysnet/shenmue-3
There have been many questions concerning Shenmue 3’s budget and what outside sources will be added to the money collected through Kickstarter. I apologize for not having been more forthright in this area and would like to take this opportunity to help clarify the situation.
Ys Net and I have been putting in many long years trying to find a way to bring back a sequel that so many fans have waited so long for. After learning of Kickstarter, I knew it would be possible to get Shenmue 3 started. Wanting to make the best game possible, I also knew that I would have to look to more traditional means to obtain all the funds that would be needed to create the game I had envisioned.
Sony and Shibuya Productions have been wonderful partners because they believe in Shenmue and want to see the best for the fans and the game. Their investment in (and support of) Shenmue have helped to realize a sequel that will stand proud with its predecessors. While it is not business practice to discuss the specific details of such arrangements, I can say that with their assistance on the production and marketing end, and in Sony’s case with some publishing support as well, Ys Net is able to use more of the money we collect through Kickstarter purely for Shenmue 3’s development. It is also important to note that your funds are going strictly to Ys Net for development of Shenmue 3 – Sony and Shibuya Productions are not seeing a cent of your Kickstarter dollars.
The outpouring of support from all of you, the backers, has been so inspirational. I cannot thank you enough. Having reached our funding goal, I am excited to say that the Shenmue story will go on, and our journey with Ryo and Shenhua will continue. Fans will be able to enjoy the sequel they have waited so long for, and newcomers to the series will be introduced to a unique gaming experience.
Of course, like with any Kickstarter, additional funding will only help us make a better game. On top of everything Shenmue 3 will already bring, the Stretch Goals that I have laid out will add extra quests, events, and new gameplay systems that will make the game even more immersive and take the series to the next level. At the $5 million mark, there will be an all new gameplay feature I would be excited to be able to add to the Shenmue legacy. If we should make the $10 million Stretch Goal, a much larger, completely open world will be yours to explore.
Even if these Stretch Goals are not reached, Shenmue 3 will already be a sequel true to its name, and one we can all be proud of. It is my hope though, that together we can make this Shenmue just as revolutionary as the first two were.
I understand this statement may by late in coming. Going forward, we wish to be as open as possible concerning the game’s development. I would like to again ask for your cooperation and support in helping make Shenmue 3 the best that it can be.
Sincerely, Yu Suzuki
People think that Sony/Suzuki are using the Kickstarter to gauge interest, and after hitting 2 Million, Sony will step up and fund it. This is what many people believe (Thanks to misinformation from NeoGAF), and as a result, the Kickstarter pledges have slowed down considerably.
I imagine non-hardcore fans would be like " Why do I have to pledge more than $29 when Sony is going to fund it anyway? "
HOWEVER , it turns out Sony isn't really funding the game... They are just helping with the funding. In fact, Yu Suzuki has other sources of funding (Sony included) already secured, but he said he expect the majority of the budget to come from Kickstarter. Meaning Sony's not helping them by that much.
If we want to see a proper Shenmue 3, we must overfund the Kickstarter. And to do that, we should clear up this misunderstanding first so that non-fans would pledge.
Post this in whatever forum you frequent (Preferably NeoGAF, as it's quite influental on gaming media).
Sources:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-22-yu-suzuki-needs-usd10-million-to-make-a-truly-open-world-shenmue-3
http://i.imgur.com/2dYswc4.png
http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/17/an-intimate-chat-with-sony-playstation-shuhei-yoshida/ (Sony's Yoshida)
http://i.imgur.com/WhDkpyN.png
https://twitter.com/CedricBiscay/status/6125040776589230https://twitter.com/CedricBiscay/status/61250407765892300808
http://i.imgur.com/gTZFmLI.png
Kickstarter Money going to Developers. Not Sony. (Dan Hsu - Sony Employee)
https://twitter.com/DanShoeHsu/status/612461118326345728
Cedric Biscay Tweet (Sony only funding PS4 port from PC)
https://twitter.com/CedricBiscay/status/612352032851259392
- Adam Boyes says there providing "Some Funding"
- Yu Suzuki says the majority of investment will be from Kickstarter.
- Sony's john drake confirms that Sony are not the only ones providing additional funding (at 15:48)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dL198n2d0o -Adam Boyes explains Sony's role with Shenmue 3
Last but not least, a quote from Kickstarter campaign it self:
The more we can raise during this campaign, the more Shenmue 3 will come alive. Together, we can make it happen. Together, we can make a Shenmue that surpasses even the originals!