Shenmue guestbook dilemma

[SMDzero]

I don't want any immersion breaking crap in Shenmue 3!

This Choubu "gentlmen's house" with the guestbook better be far away from the main map so I don't have to see this immersion breaking crap.

It better be on a small isolated island far across the Li River that is inaccessible unless you zoom in on it with the sniper rifle and pull out the edge of the cart and glitch to get there!

[Let's Get Sweaty]

Shenmue fans who backed the game, are they as ego-centered as they will refuse an introduced option that would allow other players not being forced to undergo all those non-desired by Yu Suzuki in-game contents? I refuse to believe Shenmue fans are as selfish.

I hate to bring this up, but almost half of those who cared either way voted to deny PayPal backers the same rewards as themselves.

[Yokosuka]

Your answer leads my thoughts to another question: Shenmue fans who backed the game, are they as ego-centered as they will refuse an introduced option that would allow other players not being forced to undergo all those non-desired by Yu Suzuki in-game contents? I refuse to believe Shenmue fans are as selfish. As I said, I have personally backed for the $800 reward (+much more since, I am around a $1000 donation) but even if I think it will be funny to read my tribute in the guestbook and have my face on a dice, I would like to be able to play the Best Game Ever third iteration as close as its creator's vision, without all those corrupting elements.

Convince the backers won't be the first step anyway but Suzuki. I'm unable to think YSnet willing to add such feature. Not so much because they think backers are selfish or that would be difficult to implement but primarily because they would be afraid to show some disrespect to their backers in a such manner. They promised a certain thing and you want to change it almost contractually by imposing your own view to all the backers (despite the option choice nature).

To answer your question frankly, I don't think our backing community is that selfish if you look at the results from the last poll about exclusive rewards. Quite the opposite, I feel your idea could grow in some popularity but again, you're asking for something rather trivial here. Don't forget that YSnet is completely busy by their will to implement innovative gameplay features and Suzuki is already finding December 2017 too short.

[Tigrr]

I don't think there's any need to have an option to disable it. I would imagine the guest book will be something that you will physically have to look at (like the many draws and objects in houses), so if you're bothered about breaking immersion, just don't look at it

As other people have mentioned, Shenmue has always been a little tongue in cheek with the references to itself and other games, so I don't think it will be too bad.

Just for fun though, it would be quite funny if Ryo drew your attention to the guestbook by saying "I wonder who else has stayed here?"

[koalazeus]

I dont agree with the option to turn off backer elements either. People have helped alot with funding Shenmue to be a part of it and a part of Shenmue lore. Maybe even make it on to a Shenmue wiki one day For that to be an optional thing would reduce its meaning. Plus, I look forward to seeing all peoples rewards and backer contributions in-game! To imagine that this would be possible for so many people back in the day and during the long wait is a positive thing. But the freedom of the guestbook (maybe the signed photo one too) still makes me wonder how it will go and what to write.

The kickstarter says

Write your witticism/aphorism/Shenmue-ism for all to see!

So perhaps it is intended to be a 'vague' comment (rather than ANY 140 char)?

[alexh86]

I wouldn't worry about breaking the immersion. There will be a guestbook with messages, there will be backer portraits in a certain area but these will be contained in one place rather than strewn across the world. If I'd pledged that high, I would make a reference to my family and hometown without being concerned about the game world.

[nygaard88]

If you put a generic message then its kinda not wortg it for yourself. I would enjoy yourself.. don't write something thats completely ridiclous but write something about shenmue or your fam as presumably not every gamer will even read the guestbook

[VukBZ2005]

It would make sense for both Ys Net and Shibuya Productions to post some guidelines for those looking to leave messages in the guestbook to maintain the kind of continuity existent in Shenmue I and II. That way, it adds to the overall story instead of looking like something that was slapped on to generate funding.

[GYO6161]

Sailor sailor and more sailor comments its what im expecting.

[fittersau]

Agreed some guidelines will be more than sufficient, people are adults.

Moreover these people paid extra for this priviliage thus are helping Shenmue 3 be a better game.