Kotaku Article: In Case Sega Forgot, Fans Still Really...

[2ndOpp]

Nice of Kotaku to give some Shenmue love... I emailed them sooo many times about our Shenmue projects of the past.

http://kotaku.com/#!5789840/in-case-sega-forgot-fans-still-really-want-a-shenmue-sequel

[2ndOpp]

Or read it here:

In Case Sega Forgot, Fans Still Really Want A Shenmue Sequel

Mike Fahey — In Case Sega Forgot, Fans Still Really Want A Shenmue Sequel Today we give the Speak-Up on Kotaku podium over to commenter Ryohumar, who wants to let Sega know there is still hope for redemption in the form of Yu Suzuki and Shenmue 3.

You know, since SEGA was taken over by Sammy, the company has lost a lot of what made it so special. Having grown up as the one kid with a Sega Master System, I didn't really get why kids were all about Mario, Zelda and Metroid. I was too busy with Shinobi, Phantasy Star and Space Harrier. I followed SEGA through all their console iterations, even the not-so-great ones; I'm looking at you, Saturn. When the Dreamcast hit, I felt SEGA was finally on the path to redemption and my love for their consoles would finally be redeemed by my fellow gamers.

And while that redemption did come, unfortunately, it came only after the console itself and all its games were being cleared out to make room for more PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox games as SEGA had given up on the console business. And though I could reminisce about all of SEGA's Dreamcast era classics, Jet Set Radio, Phantasy Star Online, Crazy Taxi and Space Channel 5 to mention but a few, one casualty of the end of the Dreamcast era stings in particular.

I'm talking, of course, about Shemue.

Shenmue was THE original sandbox game, it laid the groundwork for so many games that came after it. Sega's own insanely popular Yakuza franchise borrows a lot from its older brother. Many of SEGA's Dreamcast classics have seen sequels on more contemporary consoles. Heck, Jet Set Radio Future was a launch title for the original Xbox, and while Shenmue 2 did at least get a US release courtesy of the Xbox, SEGA has yet to so much as announce a sequel.

To add insult to injury, Yu Suzuki has said that the series was planned to be a trilogy, while simultaneously conceding that SEGA will not allow him to make the series' final entry. For those of you in the audience that completed Shenmue 2, you know how heart-wrenching this is. Shenmue 2 ends on a cliffhanger, and we've been waiting for a conclusion for nearly ten years.

For many of the series' followers, this feels like a punch to the gut. Complain about Duke Nukem Forever all you want, but at least it was announced. Shenmue fans are still waiting for that much. Many of them would be happy to know the game was at least in development, that much is evident when this very site reports on Yu Suzuki saying he THINKS SEGA *MIGHT* let him develop the game.

SEGA should be taking this as a wakeup call. Don't let the fate that befell Shinobi, Alex Kidd, Space Harrier and so many of your other prized franchises befall Shenmue; pick up your pen and write that love letter to your fans.

[Axm]

Ya nice of them to feature it. Kotaku is a very high profile site. Sega heads will have seen or herd about this by now aswell.
Not that Kotaku has that much pull in the industry, but they represent us fans because they themselves are fans, just more "popular".

[Bluecast]

Cool. Though never go to Kotaku since they started that fucking god damn retarded shit design for a site. Reminds me of that onion vid of that Sony stupid piece of fucking shit that won't work. As for zelda and them I grew up on NES but now grew to love almost anything.
I can't be just for one genre or just one company like in the 90's for Sega or Nintendo. Everyone.

[ThyDarkAngel]

Pretty cool.
This can only help.
Shenmue is so active in the media since Ryo in Sega All Stars Racing, specially for a game almost a decade without any type of news to it's name.
That itself seems a small victory.

[Crimson Ryan]

Cool. Though never go to Kotaku since they started that fucking god damn retarded shit design for a site. Reminds me of that onion vid of that Sony stupid piece of fucking shit that won't work. As for zelda and them I grew up on NES but now grew to love almost anything.
I can't be just for one genre or just one company like in the 90's for Sega or Nintendo. Everyone.

You can switch the design back to how it was before.

Always good to see sites write up about Shenmue. I first read about Shenmue Gai on Kotaku.

[Peter]

another good high profile article. Easily the best year for Shenmue since 2002

[Fenix]

Imo Shenmue is not a sandbox game because even if you have almost freedom ingame, there's always an argument to follow or you won't be able to make anything.

In other sandboxes like GTA, you can always spend your time doing the idiot in all the city while Shenmue still limited in the case.

[BlueMue]

Nothing special but you can never have enough of those "there are fans out there that are actually still waiting for SIII" articles, so it's nice to read that.

[MiTT3NZ]

I'm actually bored of Shenmue now. Any possible combination of words regarding the video game has been done. All we're doing now is re-reading articles from 5-10 years ago.

[Bluecast]

Not bored of the game as it's still one of my all time fave games. I am just tired of talking about it in depth since nothing to me can be said that has not already. Still can casually talk here and there. The game still brings a smile to my face and the atmosphere is still great as with the music. I have to hand to peter,guy has been here 7 years and has as much love for the series as some n00b from 2004. I admire that.

[MiTT3NZ]

I don't mean bored of the game, just bored reading about it coz we've exhausted everything to do with it.

[Peter]

Not bored of the game as it's still one of my all time fave games. I am just tired of talking about it in depth since nothing to me can be said that has not already. Still can casually talk here and there. The game still brings a smile to my face and the atmosphere is still great as with the music. I have to hand to peter,guy has been here 7 years and has as much love for the series as some n00b from 2004. I admire that.

Thanks dude!

I cant explain it, but the best way i can put it is right thing at the right time. I compare it to other special things that come (and are expected to come) in life, like marriage, family, success etc. Its as much a part of life for me as anything else. My girlfriend knows that, my family and friends know that simply because its part of me. I can never get bored of the story, soundtrack, environments, creation..... i get a tingle everytime i see the AM2 and YS and i do mean everytime i put on Shenmue, Shenmue II and Shenmue IIx. I have the soundtracks on my phone and 2 Shenmue posters framed and hung on my walls. People in life have their little things that makes them smile, and what they enjoy doing, for example, cars, socialising, movies, sports..... mines is Shenmue.

If anything a small part of me prefers that Shenmue III doesnt come soon, for the simple reason that i also love that fact that Shenmue still has not ended. I feel sorry for quite a few Batman fans who are very nervous because just over a year form now, to them Batman will be "over" (since its Nolans last installment to his trilogy). I fear in a way for the day Shenmue III comes, because in all probability there will be no more. Nothing more Shenmue related to look forward to. Thats what makes today, yesterday and the past 7 years special, because it can all be viewed with a sense of hope and positivity that one day, we will be walking down a new street, talking to new people, playing a new arcade and learning more about the story and how it ends. Gamers on the site may not share the love i have for this single game, but thats completely fine (what some people dont understand because this is afer all, a Shenmue forum). But the reason its ok is because its gaming in general that gives them the same feelings Shenmue specifically gives me. Thats a level of respect gamers should have (and most do) for game specific fans, and of course which game specific fans should have for general gamer fans. Hence what makes this place perfect.

[Riku Rose]

I don't mean bored of the game, just bored reading about it coz we've exhausted everything to do with it.

I get more bored when people still make the lame jokes about the series.

I just find myself coming into these parts of the forums even less. We seem to have two community's. People who post in the Shenmue section once a month. And everyone else in the other forums.

[Peter]

Funny because that seems to be the way you want it.