Yu Suzuki : Western Release of Shenmue Gai Planned

[Yama]

"Shenmue City, the surprise new installment of the long dormant Shenmue series, may be coming to western services like iPhone and Facebook according to series creator Yu Suzuki."

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Source: GamesTM

[Heart Of Swords]

I've never played any of these games before, but I'll probably end up playing this. The article says that two more episodes are on the way, and more will follow if it does well.

[*Kenshin Himura*]

"Shenmue City, the surprise new installment of the long dormant Shenmue series, may be coming to western services like iPhone and Facebook according to series creator Yu Suzuki."

Read Article

Source: GamesTM

Thanx for the update Yama, I'll have to try this Shenmue game out*

~Himura

[Wanderin']

Well, it Shenmue Gai is to be released in the west, that is actually pretty big news for the Shenmue world, all things considered. However, although all of this is ultimately positive change, it looks like we're all in for a battle of attrition.

At the moment, Suzuki's mindset is set squarely on the present and the immediate future, as he intimates that "if Shenmue Gai does well, hopefully management (Sega? Sunsoft?) will let him go forward with developing more Shenmue Gai sidestories/episodes,". Now, there is nothing wrong with living in the present - it is a realistic and practical perspective. But - this also means that Suzuki is not at all immediately thinking about how to bring Shenmue 3 about, and has instead focused all his energies into trying to make Shenmue Gai at least appreciably successful (ie. not a complete flop that will dissipate into obscurity).

So why is that a battle of attrition? Well, it's a battle of attrition because we know what our efforts will be rewarded with if we can contribute as the Dojo as a whole to the potential success of Shenmue Gai: more Shenmue Gai.

Now, that isn't necessarily such an unattractive prospect. Like many have pointed out, Shenmue Gai becoming successful and having more add-ons/episodes/side-stories added can only add more to the probability that Suzuki and Sega would begin to shift more attention to bringing the entire Shenmue universe back as a game series proper. On the other hand, when Suzuki comments that "[he and Ys-Net] can potentially entertain the idea of adding more Shenmue stories as episodes of Shenmue Gai if Gai becomes successful," also means that if every last thing fails, Suzuki could very well add the rest of the core Shenmue Saga story as add-on episodes of Shenmue Gai, if necessary.

This isn't meant to be a negative post at all. After all, with Shenmue Gai releasing and possibly reaching western shores, we haven't had more positive developments for Shenmue than now. What this post is meant to do however, is remind us to focus on the present: steel yourselves, because our support for Shenmue Gai will ultimately not cause any immediate development plans for Shenmue 3 to occur. It will however, lead us to more Shenmue Gai. And more Shenmue Gai over the years may finally very well lead us to Shenmue 3. Cheers.

[*Kenshin Himura*]

^ Shenmue Gai leading to Shenmue 3?? well it could happen, *crosses fingers*

[ShenmueAddict99]

good but we just wants Shenmue III

[Yama]

I can see the initial launch doing well due to the Shenmue fans immediate support, which in most cases is simply support in hopes for Shenmue III. A sequel or add on to Gai would likely be received far less. I don't think it matters just how good or bad it is, the original sales will be Shenmue support across the board. If Shenmue III doesn't come into the cards and Gai starts to turn into a series itself, I could see it loosing more fans than gaining. Let's be honest, we all want Gai to make a few bucks and get out of the way to make room for bigger and better things.

[Hazuki Legend]

Only reason Suzuki is suggesting the success of this game may lead to other projects is purely to eliminate people believing that something is going on with Shenmue III and so far it's working. Lets go back a bit, if i'm not mistaken i believe the last game Sega AM2 done was Virtua Fighter 5, now that's been out quite a while i doubt that they've been sitting in their offices watching porn all the time since then. We've had Ryo make his first appearance in years when he appeared on All Stars racing. We've seen Shenmue Gai come out of nowhere and now we're getting a Western release and Sega recently had a questionnaire at an expodition asking about revisiting franchises and suggesting an alternative option if Shenmue was their initial answer, this isn't all just a coincidence. I think i've said it before but it's worth keeping an eye on Sega's activity especially around Shenmue Gai over the next 6 months or so especially as we get nearer to E3, because you'd be naive to think they don't have something bigger in the works.

[ThyDarkAngel]

Only reason Suzuki is suggesting the success of this game may lead to other projects is purely to eliminate people believing that something is going on with Shenmue III and so far it's working. Lets go back a bit, if i'm not mistaken i believe the last game Sega AM2 done was Virtua Fighter 5, now that's been out quite a while i doubt that they've been sitting in their offices watching porn all the time since then. We've had Ryo make his first appearance in years when he appeared on All Stars racing. We've seen Shenmue Gai come out of nowhere and now we're getting a Western release and Sega recently had a questionnaire at an expodition asking about revisiting franchises and suggesting an alternative option if Shenmue was their initial answer, this isn't all just a coincidence. I think i've said it before but it's worth keeping an eye on Sega's activity especially around Shenmue Gai over the next 6 months or so especially as we get nearer to E3, because you'd be naive to think they don't have something bigger in the works.

Haha, I can't make me believe this but it would be great.

I don't think that they have nothing in the works as of now. They are, namely through Shenmue Gai and namely Suzuki, trying to gather the resources and build up the momentum to actually do something more, something bigger.

If you really think that (that it is actually happening now, behind closed doors) you will problably be very disapointed.

Still, it would be GREAT if I was wrong, hehehe.

[Panda_rapist]

Only reason Suzuki is suggesting the success of this game may lead to other projects is purely to eliminate people believing that something is going on with Shenmue III and so far it's working. Lets go back a bit, if i'm not mistaken i believe the last game Sega AM2 done was Virtua Fighter 5, now that's been out quite a while i doubt that they've been sitting in their offices watching porn all the time since then. We've had Ryo make his first appearance in years when he appeared on All Stars racing. We've seen Shenmue Gai come out of nowhere and now we're getting a Western release and Sega recently had a questionnaire at an expodition asking about revisiting franchises and suggesting an alternative option if Shenmue was their initial answer, this isn't all just a coincidence. I think i've said it before but it's worth keeping an eye on Sega's activity especially around Shenmue Gai over the next 6 months or so especially as we get nearer to E3, because you'd be naive to think they don't have something bigger in the works.

yu was given a less important post, i think am2 was just left aside while sega financed the more succesfull games

[Hazuki Legend]

yu was given a less important post, i think am2 was just left aside while sega financed the more succesfull games

So you think they've had kept paying a dormant AM2 department and their staff going just for the sake of it?

[Panda_rapist]

probably giving them minor things to do, but yes i think sege has beeing only investing in the succsefull branches which explains there pretty good profits lately

[Crimson Ryan]

What makes AM2 an unsuccessful branch?

[Panda_rapist]

^ shenmue, rent a hero also failed lamentebly

[Without Remorse]

Well, I can spend money on this and support it. I am in. I probably won't enjoy playing it, but knowing that it was made for next to nothing, and will be used as a measuring stick and funds to support future Shenmue titles, I will be dropping some cash on it. Way to go Yu, you finally gave us a way to give you money, with almost no overhead.