Shenmue Dojo

James Brown wrote: If there is still going to be a trial version of the game I like the idea of doing what they did with Shenmue 1, where it had no bearing on the actual story, or spoilt the game, just a completely separate entity to familiarize with controls, style of the game. I guess if it is like What's Shenmue...they could be a potential "spoiler" in terms of seeing a location already, or a QTE where someone like "Jimmy" is changed to "Yukawa", but on the surface, i'd actually be happy to play that, especially if it helps with "testing" or fan feedback.

^ Yup yup.

A backer demo in the style of "What's Shenmue" would be fine!

I'd be fine with not getting a demo before the game's release if it means they can focus more on the developement of the full thing. That also spares us the inevitable deconstruction of everything a demo may have to offer.
Both in terms of the silly media writing junk about it and people digging too deep into the files and possibly come up with spoilers way too early.

On a whim decided to ask via the KS if the backer trial version was still planned:

Thank you very much for contacting us.

Currently we are still planning to deliver all of our rewards as promised.

Once more information concerning the rewards is available we will post an update to the Kickstarter page so please stay tuned.

For better or worse, looks like we're still getting it.

Spaghetti wrote: On a whim decided to ask via the KS if the backer trial version was still planned:

Thank you very much for contacting us.

Currently we are still planning to deliver all of our rewards as promised.

Once more information concerning the rewards is available we will post an update to the Kickstarter page so please stay tuned.

For better or worse, looks like we're still getting it.

I'll take this as good news, I had kind of forgotten about the trial/demo game, but now that you guys mention "what's Shenmue", I kind of hope they do make something and share it at release date, something that can be used as a promotional thing, something short with unique dialogue.. Chai telling people this is the game fans have been waiting for.. maybe something goofy?

Not really an issue for me as I'm way too busy these days to keep a gaming PC up to date alongside everything else - I also didn't back that so was never getting it (my main machine is a development machine with the CAD focused graphics chips which has lots of power but random specialist hardware on it that doesn't really run games).

But its likely they will have to make some form of playable part of the game even its just a slimmed down area with no real story and 1 or 2 fights for E3/TGS/other trade show if they want to show it off. I always got the feeling we might get something along those lines and that is what they planned to give to the backers. Developers generally HATE making them as its a total waste of time as they normally feature loads of work around for bits they haven't completed etc. etc. and the majority only watch it on youtube!

Haruto wrote: I don't think Shenmue is the type of game that demo's very well. Some games don't. Dragon's Dogma doesn't,Wonderful 101 doesn't. All great games but not something you really get the hang of in a demo imo.

A What's Shenmue?-like demo set in Choubu could work quite well, I reckon. It would be more of a demonstration than a demo (and yes, I'm well aware 'demo' is short for 'demonstration' ) as we've come to understand the latter.

Either way, I can live quite happily without a demo.

KidMarine wrote: I had zero intention of playing the demo at all.

Yep.

Haruto wrote: What's Shenmue didn't give a good idea what the game is. It has it's charm but in showing what Shenmue really is,it's a poor demo.

Agreed it didn't do a particularly good job at showing off what the game is all about - that would be a pretty tall order by the design of the demo itself - but it at least provided players with a small slice of what to expect in terms of the game's technical aspects; the visuals, the mechanics, the freedom presented by the open world, the level of NPC interaction, etc.

We can still get the demo. If I had to bet I would say it will be the first hour of the game and then it allows you to carry the save into the main game.

That'd be a neat way of doing it, actually.

killthesagabeforeitkillsu wrote: We can still get the demo. If I had to bet I would say it will be the first hour of the game and then it allows you to carry the save into the main game.

Just don't make the same mistake as Sega did with Yakuza 6 and give the full game away accidentally

It'd be nice if we got a demo/trial version for Xmas this year.

Amir wrote:

killthesagabeforeitkillsu wrote: We can still get the demo. If I had to bet I would say it will be the first hour of the game and then it allows you to carry the save into the main game.

Just don't make the same mistake as Sega did with Yakuza 6 and give the full game away accidentally

It'd be nice if we got a demo/trial version for Xmas this year.

While I like the idea, it's too risky.
1. They would have to do a bunch of work to scrub the release of any spoilers for the rest of the game.
2. Furthermore on the first point, they'd need to make sure they omit files necessary for the rest of the game. When the last 3-level backer demo for Mighty No. 9 was released, that game got hacked and people were able to see pretty much a mostly finished version of the rest of the game, minus the multiplayer stuff that the game was delayed to finish.
3. Basing it on the full game increases the chance of piracy, because once the full game comes out someone could potentially hack the final game data into the demo to bypass whatever anti-piracy they plan to use. This has happened to a couple of PC games, like with Doom back in 2016.
4. There was that one interview where Suzuki-san said he was hoping the demo could be a stand-alone experience.

Remember that the backer demo was promised for PC only and will not be available on PS4. This kind of demo that carries over to the full game is more feasible on PS4, where people can't hack the game or data mine the files.

I'll be playing the demo no matter what it is. I want something to play with until the finished game is ready.