Kotaku: Shenmue

E308 Simon Jeffery Destroys All of Your Hopes For Dreamcast 2, Shenmue 3, and Seaman 2

Adam Barenblat — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:20:39 MDT

See Brian try to talk the head of Sega of America into launching Dreamcast 2 to take on the Wii.
Dreamcast 2? Seaman 2? Shenmue 3? Hear Simon Jeffery crush all of your Sega wet dreams.

Sega: No Plans For Shenmue III, Seaman 2

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:40:51 MDT

Talking with Sega of America president Simon Jeffery today, we asked the inevitable question — Is Sega ever going to release Shenmue III? The Yu Suzuki helmed adventure that saw two releases on the Dreamcast and Xbox has yet to see its epically planned story fully resolved. Unfortunately, the fate of Ryo Hazuki and another taste of "Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment" will have to wait.

"There are no plans for [Shenmue III] right now," Jeffery told us. Despite being one of the most requested Sega "fanboy" titles, it certainly didn't sound like the publisher has much interest in or resources dedicated to the project.

Jeffery was at least less final on Shenmue III's fate than he was on a North American release of Seaman 2. We asked about the still unpublished PlayStation 2 oddball's Western release, to which Jeffery flat-out said "No."

Ryo Hazuki Is A Crank-Calling Smartass

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:00:00 MDT

Yeah, as a concept, these have been done before. Most notably that still-funny Governator one. But soundboard prank calls based on videogame characters? That's new. And what better way to kick off the trend than with Shenmue's Ryo Hazuki doing what he does best: asking deadpan, stupid questions.

[Tapezilla]

Shenmue On Wii, Anyone? Anyone?

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 MDT

Look, I'm so on the fence about posting this my ass cheeks are dotted with splinters. But hey, it's Shenmue, and there's precendent for this kind of business on the Wii, so who knows. Scandinavian games mag Gamereactor have heard that Sega plan to release Shenmue on the Wii. Not a new Shenmue, however, just Shenmue 1 & 2 bundled together, with added (no doubt waggle-intensive) minigames thrown in. Would it sell? Of course not. Would it get certain areas of the internet all giddy with excitement regardless? Of course it would.

Shenmue Ar Tillbaka! [Gamereactor, via Go Nintendo]

The Most Expensive Game Budget Ever

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:08 MDT

Shenmue, that was a pricey game! For the past 18 years or so, Yu Suzuki's Shenmue has been the most expensive game ever developed at US $70 million, making the game the current Guinnes World Record holder. According to Rockstar producer Leslie Benzies, Grand Theft Auto IV just might supplant Shenmue. Over a thousand people worked on the game, and Benzies guestimates GTA IV cost roughly $100 million. Just imagine if Tom Cruise had done voice acting work! So, any takers on what Metal Gear Solid 4 cost? I'm betting slightly north of $120 million.
Grand Theft Auto Producer [Times Online via NeoGAF via Sega Nerds]

Amazing Shenmue Stop Motion Wall Painting

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:30:29 MDT

This Shenmue mural was painted by Alicja Kowal, and the video was made from 440 photos. The music? That was taken from Beats of Rage. Two words: So awesome.

Thanks, Shenmue Dojo!

Sega Pulling The Shenmue Plug?

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:00:37 MDT

The bastards. They killed the Dreamcast and now Shenmue apparently. Shortly after Shenmue II hit the DC, there were rumblings that a sequel was in the works. We're still waiting. Then, back in early 2006, the game's producer and directo Yu Suzuki stated at event China Joy 2006 that Shenmue Online was *still* in development. (The game was originally announced back in 2004!) This year's China Joy turned up no Shenmue Online, and according to Adam Doree from game site Kikizo site, fat chance on seeing Shenmue III:

As for Shenmue, I would have to say at this stage, it is worth forgetting about... Suzuki's status is, once again, up in the air, which counts Shenmue III totally out of the picture right now. This is confirmed, it seems.

SEGA has yet to provide an official statement on the game. Shame to see the rot set in. Really.

No More Shenmue [VGB]

Xbox 360 Backward Compatability Update Leaked? (Psychonauts!)

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:40:37 MST

According to one Cheapassgamer, Microsoft updated their Xbox 360 backward compatability list on the official site, only to retract these games moments later. Did someone hit publish a little too soon? Included in the list of newly supported titles were fan favorites like Shenmue II, Dead or Alive Ultimate, and the Double Fine Studios cult bomb Psychonauts.

Xbox community team member and Gamerscoreblogger Chris Paladino posted to excited forum members "We haven't made any announcements on this subject yet. Please hold off on freaking at this point in time. ;)". Not exactly a denial.

Sadly, those of us still holding on to their original Xboxes for games like Jet Set Radio Future, Otogi and Panzer Dragoon Orta will have to hold on a little longer.

Hit the jump for the list of alleged games due to hit for the next BC udpated. Michael McWhertor

December 2006 Backwards Compatiblity Update (Coming Soon/Not Active Yet) [CAG forums]

* Buffy the Vampire Slayer
* Burnout 3: Takedown (Updated)
* Dead Or Alive Ultimate
* Destroy All Humans!
* Dynasty Warriors 4
* Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick
* Indigo Prophecy
* Family Guy
* Far Cry: Instincts
* Incredibles
* I-Ninja
* Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude
* Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
* MotoGP
* MX Unleashed
* Open Season
* Pariah
* Psychonauts
* Rainbow Six: Lockdown
* Rapala Pro Fishing
* Scarface
* Shark Tale
* Shenmue II
* Splinter Cell: Double Agent
* The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
* Ultimate Spider-Man
* Wakeboarding Unleashed: Featuring Sean Murray
* Whacked!
* Winback 2: Project Poseidon
* Xiaolin Showdown

BBC Kicks Off Shenmue III Campaign

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 15:58:55 MST

Shenmue fans now have the power of the BBC (Scotland... *cough*) behind them. While the rest of us may be ready to face the reality that the series is deader than Ryo's dad after appearing on two different consoles, both regional failures, the Beeb is ready to keep hope alive, in the form of the Shenmue III Appeal...

...the ultimate campaign to force the games industry into finishing the glorious story that was started by Yu Suzuki all those years ago. With the influence of videoGaiden, the power of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the collective multimedia might of gamers everywhere, how can we possibly fail?
What do we want? We want closure. We want Ryo Hazuki's story to be told to its end. We want to see ambition rewarded. We want a straight "Yes." No other answer will do.

That's Rab Florence, voice of irrationality. His counterpart, Ryan Macleod, is obviously clued in to the overrater disaster that was Shenmue. Or maybe he just knows that today's Sega shouldn't be handling something this epic. I dunno, any Shenmue fans out there clamoring for more?

Keep your eyes on the BBC starting November 5th for more. Michael McWhertor

The BBC videoGaiden Shenmue III Appeal [via Press Start]

Shenmue Brings Late 1980's Fashion to PC Gaming

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 07:23:25 MDT

At Chinese game show ChinaJoy, Sega unveiled a trailer for the totally logical MMORPG version of the groundbreaking Dreamcast game Shenmue. Called Shenmue Online (so clever!), the game is designed by Sega and super producer Yu Suzuki (Space Harrier, Out Run, Virtua Fighter) for China and Korea. The online version takes scenarios from Shenmue II and lets players join one fo the three in-game clans. Shenmue's free-roaming style should suit online PC gaming in a way that wasn't possible for the Dreamcast's online service. No Western release has been announced. Bummer. Brian Ashcraft

Photos Here [Hazuki Dojo] Thanks, Sean!

Four Hours Worth of Obsessive Shenmue Fan Movies

brownlee — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:40:41 MDT

If you thought that obsessive Resident Evil 4 fan video was crazy, check this out: Jason Tsui of Gang Entertainment sent along this link to four hours worth of Shenmue I & II movies parodies he created.

The trailer for Shenmue II is pretty good, justified (as most things are) by the presence of a hot blonde. And Mike Paprocki has the debonair good looks of a rising Hollywood star. Unfortunately, I'm not about to invest four hours into a parody of a game I was already disgusted with in thirteen seconds. FLORIAN ECKHARDT

Shenmue Fan Movies [Gang Entertainment]