A nice mix of already announced games and new reveals. I'm intrigued by that Batman VR game teased, it's just a pity no actual footage was shown about how an Arkham style Batman game would work in VR. Oh well, maybe another time then. Besides, I'm still holding out for Rocksteady to make a full-fledged Batman Beyond game, as unlikely as that might still be.
Anyway, there's still plenty of time between now and the launch of Shenmue 3 in 2017. I'd rather see Yu Suzuki withhold revealing any new Shenmue 3 footage until the game is ready. Under the circumstances, given the unique pressures and expectations of Kickstarter game; Shenmue 3 has to look it's best to justify the money pledged during the campaign. I'm confident that Shenmue 3 will look fantastic when it's revealed; it's just a matter of time.
Wanderin' wrote: Been hiding out ever since Shenmue 3 was officially announced 366 days ago to the day. Since the game is actually reality now, I've had little else to say other than to wait patiently and respectfully for Mr. Suzuki and his team to do what they need to do to make Shenmue 3 as great as it can be given their resources.
But therein lies the point - "given their resources".
First off, I do not wish for this message of mine to give off any kind of negative connotation. After all, as Shenmue fans we ALL know what it's been like to fight for Shenmue 3. And now, ever since its real, official announcement and in-progress development, all of us community of fans also share what it feels like to know that impossible literally is nothing and that anything you can wish for is possible (especially given the decade of hoping and wishing leading up to E3 2015...).
Nevertheless, given last night's Sony E3 conference I just want to get a little peeve off my chest. Now - even though I absolutely adore both Yu Suzuki and Hideo Kojima and loved how Kojima triumphantly harked his return (ie. "I'm back!") on Sony's stage and then proceeded to demo an unbelievably lavishly developed 3D cutscene/trailer (non gameplay, non in game footage, etc.) for his next Sony co-developed PS4 game (that hasn't even chosen a base game engine for development yet) - all this gives me a sour taste, especially given my concurrent affections for Suzuki and Shenmue.
After all, think about this. Kojima and his newly formed Kojima Productions, given their current superstar status in the game industry, has most likely been given near carte blanche/blank check budget resources by Sony to develop his new "Death Stranding" title.
On the other hand, despite Sony's lip service (I know, I know. Without Sony's help, Shenmue 3 would never even be here...) to how legendary Suzuki is and how grand Shenmue is - Suzuki and his impoverished Ysnet are contracted to ask for the mere pittance of $2 million dollars for a mandatory Kickstarter campaign to gauge public response for the necessity of Shenmue 3. That Shenmue's community of fans ultimately pooled together to even afford Suzuki $6 million dollars in the end is his honour and our hard effort and privilege.
My apologies. Long story short: yes, I suppose we should be complacent that Shenmue 3 is even happening at all. And yet, when Kojima is likely being given unlimited resources at his disposal by his partnership with Sony to ensure that his next game will be as grand as it can be, I cannot help but feel that Suzuki and Shenmue 3 are being physically held back in quality and cannot be grander that it can be without being given the same kind of resources that a Kojima game is being given.
After all, what's Suzuki really asking for in total to make the complete Shenmue 3 that he has always envisioned? 10-12 million? Even now we're thirstily grasping for what more additional stretch goals we can afford and Suzuki has spoken of scaling down the scope of Shenmue 3 to what can be developed with $6 million dollars. Surely Kojima is getting more than that to make his Death Stranding.
If Sony wants Shenmue 3 to be the greatest it can be, then it should actively take actions to set it up for success - in short, if they want to commit to Shenmue 3 then they must also believe in it and afford Suzuki the resources he thinks he needs (without this kind of corporate "we'll make the kind of game that $6 million dollars can afford to make" mentality). While on the other hand, it seems so easy for them to commit to and believe that anything Kojima makes will be worth the investment - a self fulfilling prophesy given the fact that they will fund and support its development to make sure it is as grand as it can be.
All things equal, both Kojima's Death Stranding and Suzuki's Shenmue 3 both have the same potential to flop or succeed. And yet one developer is obviously being given all the help it needs to be the best it can be while Suzuki soldiers on, determined to make the best game he can - within the limited scope of the resources allotted to him.
My apologies again. Waiting for so long to have Shenmue continue on definitely makes me a bit standoffish when it comes to discussing the potential continued future and success of the series. But hopefully, surely others can understand what I'm trying to get at when envisioning just how grand Shenmue 3 truly could be if a giant like Sony actually supported Suzuki with all the necessary muscle power to ensure the series continues successfully.
I understand what you're saying Wanderin, there is significant difference between how Sony has supported Yu Suzuki and Hideo Kojima, respectively. However, I don't that Yu Suzuki has in any way been hamstrung by Sony's efforts, quite the opposite in fact. Seeing Shenmue 3 on Sony's stage at E3 last year is hands down the biggest promotion that any Kickstarter campaign has ever received.
So then, why bankroll Hideo Kojima but not Yu Suzuki? It all comes down to that fact that Hideo Kojima needs Sony far more then Yu Suzuki ever did.
Consider that Yu Suzuki was already established, with a team and office. Not to mention a ton of Shenmue 3 pre-production material, dating all the way back to the mid-90s. Essentially, Yu Suzuki was already planning to go ahead with the Shenmue 3 Kickstarter anyway; it's just that Sony saw an opportunity to promote Shenmue 3 while gaining another console exclusive for the PS4. It's an alliance that benefits both Yu Suzuki and Sony, while allowing Yu Suauki to remain independent.
Conversely, Hideo Kojima was in a desperate situation after the release of Metal Gear Solid V. Cast adrift from Konami with the rest of his team, no office, no finances and certainly no access to any IP he worked on previously. Here is where Sony comes in, evidently helping Hideo Kojima to get back on his feet; in exchange for the certain exclusive access to any games that Hideo Kojima creates. It's not clear yet but Sony might even have the rights to Death Stranding, depending on the deal that Hideo Kojima made with Sony.
So overall, I think that the level of support that Sony provided to Yu Suzuki is the best outcome, allowing Yu Suzuki to make Shenmue 3 the game it needs to be, according to his vision. The arrangements made by Hideo Kojima with Sony just wouldn't work for Yu Suzuki. The kind of help that Sony offered Hideo Kojima inevitably has strings attached; strings that Yu Suzuki was able to successfully avoid.
