DEMUL. It's a bit tricky to set up and can be unstable on some hardware but is by far the most accurate Dreamcast emulator. And no unfortunately, you wont be able to use your original discs.
-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
-
We have made minor adjustments to how the search bar works on ResetEra. You can read about the changes here.
Shenmue Community |OT| The day the snow turned to rain
- Thread starter Erevador
- Start date
No problem! And yeah using your physical Dreamcast is probably the best plan if you just want to jump right in and get going straight away. Dreamcast emulation involves a lot of trial and error; it's something you might spend a few hours getting right before starting.
Heads up, that ShenmueMaster Gamescom interview now has an English translation.
We've also got a neat feature from Switch's Phantom Riverstone blog where he interviews the co-creator of the recently released Shenmue Yokosuka Guidebook.
Other than that, it's Shenmue silence for the moment, until the new Dev Room video eventually drops.
We've also got a neat feature from Switch's Phantom Riverstone blog where he interviews the co-creator of the recently released Shenmue Yokosuka Guidebook.
Other than that, it's Shenmue silence for the moment, until the new Dev Room video eventually drops.
New Kickstarter update with video:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ysnet/shenmue-3/posts/2070230
Then, Now and Tomorrow
Dear Backers,
On June 16th, 2015 this project began on Kickstarter. It has been two and a half years, but at the top of 2016 we were able to bring our team together to begin development in earnest, so it has been about two years now since things have really started moving.
For the development team that time has flown by, although with the many comments and questions we have received from you, the time may have felt more drawn out for some backers.
Next year is a very important year for Shenmue, so with that, we would like to bring you a conversation with Yu Suzuki and Hiroaki Takeuchi on how far we have come and where we are going from here.
About Hiroaki Takeuchi As an animation producer, he has contributed to an abundance of works that have helped bridge Japan with the rest of the world. His exemplary works include "The Animatrix", "Tekkon Kinkreet" and "Berserk". He acts as the CG animation producer for the Shenmue series. For more information on Hiroaki Takeuchi and his work, we invite you to his website.
https://ksr-video.imgix.net/assets/019/689/369/f8ff09f9781bf6635e2e8007e8c75556_h264_high.mp4
Thank you for all of your support here on the updates and at the events throughout the year!
Have a wonderful holiday season and New Year!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ysnet/shenmue-3/posts/2070230
Then, Now and Tomorrow
Dear Backers,
On June 16th, 2015 this project began on Kickstarter. It has been two and a half years, but at the top of 2016 we were able to bring our team together to begin development in earnest, so it has been about two years now since things have really started moving.
For the development team that time has flown by, although with the many comments and questions we have received from you, the time may have felt more drawn out for some backers.
Next year is a very important year for Shenmue, so with that, we would like to bring you a conversation with Yu Suzuki and Hiroaki Takeuchi on how far we have come and where we are going from here.
About Hiroaki Takeuchi As an animation producer, he has contributed to an abundance of works that have helped bridge Japan with the rest of the world. His exemplary works include "The Animatrix", "Tekkon Kinkreet" and "Berserk". He acts as the CG animation producer for the Shenmue series. For more information on Hiroaki Takeuchi and his work, we invite you to his website.
https://ksr-video.imgix.net/assets/019/689/369/f8ff09f9781bf6635e2e8007e8c75556_h264_high.mp4
Thank you for all of your support here on the updates and at the events throughout the year!
Have a wonderful holiday season and New Year!
Some take aways from the YU Suzuki interview:
- He's at a point where he's happy with the current Shenhua model and is now working on perfecting her facial expressions.
- Says the graphics are starting to come into their own and are better than he envisioned despite not being what you might expect from a AAA title in some aspects.
- This month (December) there are about 100 characters in the game. Some look fun and like they have personality.
- Says he wants to take a different approach to battles. Something that's more focused on choreography and hopes it takes form in a puzzle-like way. "Not a game like Virtua Fighter that is about the timing".
- When asked if it will be incorporated into cutscenes he says "That's right" and fight scenes may play out differently depending on if you have picked up certain items. Along with QTE's and other things. Emphasises the puzzle element again.
- They cast Shenhua voice actress 2 days ago from when this was recorded. Voice recording begins in 2018.
---
Well. Not sure how I feel about that battle excerpt. That worries me to be honest. Was looking forward to traditional fighting but guess we'll see how this plays out. Didn't expect something on the level of Virtua Fighter but this honestly sounds like they may be removing that style of combat all together. Hope I'm wrong and it's in conjuction with that style of combat.
- He's at a point where he's happy with the current Shenhua model and is now working on perfecting her facial expressions.
- Says the graphics are starting to come into their own and are better than he envisioned despite not being what you might expect from a AAA title in some aspects.
- This month (December) there are about 100 characters in the game. Some look fun and like they have personality.
- Says he wants to take a different approach to battles. Something that's more focused on choreography and hopes it takes form in a puzzle-like way. "Not a game like Virtua Fighter that is about the timing".
- When asked if it will be incorporated into cutscenes he says "That's right" and fight scenes may play out differently depending on if you have picked up certain items. Along with QTE's and other things. Emphasises the puzzle element again.
- They cast Shenhua voice actress 2 days ago from when this was recorded. Voice recording begins in 2018.
---
Well. Not sure how I feel about that battle excerpt. That worries me to be honest. Was looking forward to traditional fighting but guess we'll see how this plays out. Didn't expect something on the level of Virtua Fighter but this honestly sounds like they may be removing that style of combat all together. Hope I'm wrong and it's in conjuction with that style of combat.
The battle stuff sounds like how it was implemented in the Baihu fight in II. End-of-round QTE finishers that would change depending on your moveset.
I think maybe you're taking it a bit literally when he talks about a puzzle game there, especially considering the comments made during the Gamescom interviews.
I think maybe you're taking it a bit literally when he talks about a puzzle game there, especially considering the comments made during the Gamescom interviews.
There seems to be a clear emphasis on battles being less skill-based than before -- single buttons to trigger moves you've learned as opposed to intricate combos -- and a more cinematic presentation with the heavy suggestion of QTEs being involved. This is still fairly vague and it's hard to know exactly how it will work at this stage.
I know there were some people out there still holding out for VF battles (even though it was pretty clear from the beginning this wasn't going to happen) and some even had hopes of transferring moves from the Dreamcast, which was...wishful thinking to say the least.
I try to keep in mind that by the time Shenmue 3 comes out, Shenmue 2 will be 16-17 years old and that not everything is going to be the exact same as it once was.
I know there were some people out there still holding out for VF battles (even though it was pretty clear from the beginning this wasn't going to happen) and some even had hopes of transferring moves from the Dreamcast, which was...wishful thinking to say the least.
I try to keep in mind that by the time Shenmue 3 comes out, Shenmue 2 will be 16-17 years old and that not everything is going to be the exact same as it once was.
Less skill based is maybe not the accurate term. Less reliant on hammering out combos perhaps, but Yu seems to want to employ judgement and strategy skills. Those quick with their fingers but hasty and brash with their approach to enemies may end up getting their ass kicked.
Makes me wonder how health is going to be handled in Shenmue III's combat... Ryo could be less durable than previous titles to balance out his expanded offensive capabilities, while hitting home to the player that blindly attacking will get you beat.
I'm recalling what Yu said early in development about being heavily interested in the possibilities of animation blending and intelligent systems in the combat.
Now knowing Ryo has a 360 degree offensive capability, I'm wondering if a lot of moves may end up being context sensitive now. Like say, a standard kick is like the crescent kick in the previous games and will activate as the default kicking attack in a clear environment, but if the enemy is in range of a wall or physics objects like some pots or a cart, Ryo will perform the trample kick to force the enemy back into the wall or object.
Similarly other kicking attacks like horseshoe kick or holdagainst leg could activate based on Ryo's spacial orientation, rather than a fighting game style button combo.
Makes me wonder how health is going to be handled in Shenmue III's combat... Ryo could be less durable than previous titles to balance out his expanded offensive capabilities, while hitting home to the player that blindly attacking will get you beat.
I'm recalling what Yu said early in development about being heavily interested in the possibilities of animation blending and intelligent systems in the combat.
Now knowing Ryo has a 360 degree offensive capability, I'm wondering if a lot of moves may end up being context sensitive now. Like say, a standard kick is like the crescent kick in the previous games and will activate as the default kicking attack in a clear environment, but if the enemy is in range of a wall or physics objects like some pots or a cart, Ryo will perform the trample kick to force the enemy back into the wall or object.
Similarly other kicking attacks like horseshoe kick or holdagainst leg could activate based on Ryo's spacial orientation, rather than a fighting game style button combo.
What you're describing sounds very similar to the combat in Arkham/Mordor, but a bit heavier on context-sensitive moves. That'd be fine by me, but again, I wouldn't describe that type of combat as skill-based. More streamlined, flowing, cinematic...pretty much in line with what Yu Suzuki's described so far.
I like the VF-style combat but it's important to remember that not everyone did. Changing it could be a smart move.
I like the VF-style combat but it's important to remember that not everyone did. Changing it could be a smart move.
As a huge fan of the Arkham games I think something like that would be highly inappropriate and borderline insulting for Shenmue. A more simplistic combat system would be nice, but Shenmue III needs to keep it's arcadey DNA to some degree.
If Yu Suzuki has studied those games or something like Sleeping Dogs at all I think he would still go in a fairly different direction. Like on the scale of Virtua Fighter's differences from Street Fighter II. He just views all games in a different light from people like us.
If Yu Suzuki has studied those games or something like Sleeping Dogs at all I think he would still go in a fairly different direction. Like on the scale of Virtua Fighter's differences from Street Fighter II. He just views all games in a different light from people like us.
Combat is one area where i have almost complete faith Yu Suzuki will not disappoint us. That is his wheelhouse.
https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/the-20-biggest-games-to-play-in-2018/2900-1704/18/
Shenmue 3 is one of GameSpot's 20 biggest games to play in 2018
Shenmue 3 is one of GameSpot's 20 biggest games to play in 2018
Huh, that's interesting. I didn't figure Shenmue would end up on that kind of list from a major outlet.
Anyway, back on the subject of combat, the game design, etc;
I know we need to fill the time waiting for the next info dump somehow, but I get the feeling that ultimately, predictions about it are moot when you consider Yu tends to think unconventionally; and comes up with ideas from outside the game design "box". We all like to play armchair game dev occasionally on forums like this, but at the end of it, Yu is the 30+ year veteran of the industry and rightfully hailed as one of the true geniuses of the industry. He knows what he's doing better than any of us, that's for sure.
Likewise with hand-wringing about "it'll be too much like ____" and comparisons to other games. Yu doesn't play games himself, and even though there are almost certainly people in the development team who do, Shenmue III is going to be built on the back of Yu's game design ideas. I mean, he's said enough times that he wants a selling point for Shenmue III to be uniqueness. Whatever we get in the end could be a lot different than any of us ever expected.
Anyway, back on the subject of combat, the game design, etc;
I know we need to fill the time waiting for the next info dump somehow, but I get the feeling that ultimately, predictions about it are moot when you consider Yu tends to think unconventionally; and comes up with ideas from outside the game design "box". We all like to play armchair game dev occasionally on forums like this, but at the end of it, Yu is the 30+ year veteran of the industry and rightfully hailed as one of the true geniuses of the industry. He knows what he's doing better than any of us, that's for sure.
Likewise with hand-wringing about "it'll be too much like ____" and comparisons to other games. Yu doesn't play games himself, and even though there are almost certainly people in the development team who do, Shenmue III is going to be built on the back of Yu's game design ideas. I mean, he's said enough times that he wants a selling point for Shenmue III to be uniqueness. Whatever we get in the end could be a lot different than any of us ever expected.
My general thoughts on the combat are:
* that team (Yu Suzuki and the other am2 alumni) should be able to make a great combat system
* modern controls (i.e. analog stick for movement) may have inspired them re-examine the combat system for 3.
* I'm not really that worried
My real takeaway from that interview is what I wrote in the other thread: I think these are details -- important details -- but just details. Which is good, it should mean that the core of the game has begun to take shape and that the team has begun filling in the gaps to make it feel like shenmue.
* that team (Yu Suzuki and the other am2 alumni) should be able to make a great combat system
* modern controls (i.e. analog stick for movement) may have inspired them re-examine the combat system for 3.
* I'm not really that worried
My real takeaway from that interview is what I wrote in the other thread: I think these are details -- important details -- but just details. Which is good, it should mean that the core of the game has begun to take shape and that the team has begun filling in the gaps to make it feel like shenmue.
Yu Suzuki even when designing Virtua Fighter mentioned he wants to focus on strategy, not execution (when you really think about it, VF probably has the lowest execution barrier to any fighting game on the market right now).
I wouldn't mind seeing simple execution in Shenmue III if the main challenge is instead using the right moves at the right time or making correct reads etc.
Rather than putting in combinations to do a move it might just be a case of 'he's attacking from the left, evade right and counter-attack', or 'He's going to kick, I should sweep the legs when he does'.
I'm cautiously optimistic.
Switch is on the case.
Although just passing it through Google translate, it's nothing of much substance.
Yeah, nothing special. He doesn't really play games but likes the look of Horizon and thinks Animal Crossing Pocket Camp looks fun. He really enjoyed Beauty and the Beast and sees it as an inspiration for Shenmue 3 (especially wrt "platonic love" whatever that means in this context). Finally, they will be working on Shenmue 3 with a lot of vigor through 2018 and he thanks everyone for their support.
R.E: the platonic love bit.
That's something Yu has mentioned before in talking about Ryo and Shenhua's relationship. I think last time he cited Roman Holiday as an example. It's probably something that plays into the Affinity System (I think that's what they've renamed the Rapport System to now, right?) and the Cooperative Quests.
I'm hesitating likening it to a romance option like in other games. Mainly because Yu seems to want to portray a totally different type of relationship, but also because it's solely focused on one character so it should have more weight in terms of consequence, choice, whatever end result of Shenhua's like/dislike towards Ryo will be.
Actually speaking of choice, I had a bit of a brainwave based on the description given at Gamescom of the new QTE system.
Yu showed/talked about something that included traditional button presses, but also would utilise stuff like sound, colours, Chinese characters, etc. The traditional button press prompts are something that's easy to understand because you've got it on the controller right in front of you, and you know that anything other than the correct button will result in a fail state (in theory, this was already subverted in II but stay with me).
But what about the other examples? How do you know what colour, sound, or symbol is the right one? Maybe it's not a case of hitting the right marker, but making the right choice. Yu has talked a lot about wanting greater emphasis on decision making in Shenmue III, so maybe the new markers are for Ryo to make a decision (about what to do next during a fight or a chase) rather just failing to react/going the wrong way/etc? If YSnet wants to continue the branching quest design of Shenmue II, this could work out pretty nicely.
That's something Yu has mentioned before in talking about Ryo and Shenhua's relationship. I think last time he cited Roman Holiday as an example. It's probably something that plays into the Affinity System (I think that's what they've renamed the Rapport System to now, right?) and the Cooperative Quests.
I'm hesitating likening it to a romance option like in other games. Mainly because Yu seems to want to portray a totally different type of relationship, but also because it's solely focused on one character so it should have more weight in terms of consequence, choice, whatever end result of Shenhua's like/dislike towards Ryo will be.
Actually speaking of choice, I had a bit of a brainwave based on the description given at Gamescom of the new QTE system.
Yu showed/talked about something that included traditional button presses, but also would utilise stuff like sound, colours, Chinese characters, etc. The traditional button press prompts are something that's easy to understand because you've got it on the controller right in front of you, and you know that anything other than the correct button will result in a fail state (in theory, this was already subverted in II but stay with me).
But what about the other examples? How do you know what colour, sound, or symbol is the right one? Maybe it's not a case of hitting the right marker, but making the right choice. Yu has talked a lot about wanting greater emphasis on decision making in Shenmue III, so maybe the new markers are for Ryo to make a decision (about what to do next during a fight or a chase) rather just failing to react/going the wrong way/etc? If YSnet wants to continue the branching quest design of Shenmue II, this could work out pretty nicely.
I mean, I get the affinity system. I just don't understand how platonic love relates to Beauty and the Beast. I didn't see the new live action version so maybe I'm missing something. I'm looking forward to building a relationship with Shenhua.
As for QTEs, Shenmue 2 handled QTEs really well. I imagine that this is something Yu has spent a lot of time thinking about this over the years. I hope you're right about branching quests resulting from it.
As for QTEs, Shenmue 2 handled QTEs really well. I imagine that this is something Yu has spent a lot of time thinking about this over the years. I hope you're right about branching quests resulting from it.
Ahhhh. I haven't seen the new one either, but I guess the point is about two people thrust together by circumstance learning to get along?
I'm keeping my fingers crossed regarding the branching quests. I swear it was something Yu mentioned last year he wanted to do, so hopefully it made the cut when the game moved into full production. Budget might determine how deep they go with it, but if it's tied in with core mechanics like the new QTE and combat systems I suppose they can justify spending the time to create the extra content quest branches require.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed regarding the branching quests. I swear it was something Yu mentioned last year he wanted to do, so hopefully it made the cut when the game moved into full production. Budget might determine how deep they go with it, but if it's tied in with core mechanics like the new QTE and combat systems I suppose they can justify spending the time to create the extra content quest branches require.
Sorry for the double post, but Switch posted the short 4Gamer interview here, but also another short one from Famitsu here.
The Famitsu one is the more interesting of the pair, IMO.
Apparently Yu's keyword for 2018 is immersion. Coupled with his comments at the end of the Special Interview update about how important the daily lives of the characters are to Shenmue, I think he's talking about the NPC schedules. Seeing how he expressed doubt about being able to do that in a few previous interviews, I think the situation may have changed and they'll be able to beef up the simulation aspects of Shenmue III over the next year. So good news, hopefully.
He also talks about finally being happy with Shenhua's face and how the small differences can make a larger impact on the impression of a character model. There's also some comments about physically based rendering and needing to "foster" Shenhua's model rather than just "make" it. Incremental change, devil in the details, etc. He's not wrong, I've been looking into character creation in UE4 and it seems like an incredible amount of work to get a character looking right even if you're not aiming for AAA quality. It's a lot more complex than 20 years ago.
I know not everybody agrees, but I think they've definitely been on the right track since we saw the new models at Gamescom; even if they were ultimately unfinished. Keep at it, YSnet.
The Famitsu one is the more interesting of the pair, IMO.
Apparently Yu's keyword for 2018 is immersion. Coupled with his comments at the end of the Special Interview update about how important the daily lives of the characters are to Shenmue, I think he's talking about the NPC schedules. Seeing how he expressed doubt about being able to do that in a few previous interviews, I think the situation may have changed and they'll be able to beef up the simulation aspects of Shenmue III over the next year. So good news, hopefully.
He also talks about finally being happy with Shenhua's face and how the small differences can make a larger impact on the impression of a character model. There's also some comments about physically based rendering and needing to "foster" Shenhua's model rather than just "make" it. Incremental change, devil in the details, etc. He's not wrong, I've been looking into character creation in UE4 and it seems like an incredible amount of work to get a character looking right even if you're not aiming for AAA quality. It's a lot more complex than 20 years ago.
I know not everybody agrees, but I think they've definitely been on the right track since we saw the new models at Gamescom; even if they were ultimately unfinished. Keep at it, YSnet.
I always thought what Shenmue did with combat was fine:
It's not exactly hard besides a few fun boss fights, but it's fun enough that you can delve into it with your own personal play style. I always liked how you could go as deep as you want in Shenmue's combat and still get by. It was never trying to be a hard, difficult game or anything like that. And yet fights like the Izumi fight felt rewarding. It struck a nice balance if you looked for it, and keeping to the spirit of the series I think that's what's most important.
It's not exactly hard besides a few fun boss fights, but it's fun enough that you can delve into it with your own personal play style. I always liked how you could go as deep as you want in Shenmue's combat and still get by. It was never trying to be a hard, difficult game or anything like that. And yet fights like the Izumi fight felt rewarding. It struck a nice balance if you looked for it, and keeping to the spirit of the series I think that's what's most important.
So i just had to comment on this screen. I love it. It oozes Shenmue. The model in particular. It got some detail and it has all of the stylized realism of the Dreamcast era games. It's probably the image that has gotten me the most hyped in a long time.
Yes they did. I think surveys were supposed to be given out (they probably will be soon) where backers can confirm their platform of choice. They get delivered to the addresses that were given on Kickstarter.
Thanks for letting me know! Good to know that I'm not behind on anything yet. I feel like an idiot by ignoring the kickstarter updates - especially since I pledged a bunch of money on it.
It happens, over such a long time it's easy for it to fall to the back of your mind. I think you'll be okay. I had the same thing with Double Fine Adventure, it took years before getting the actual physical copy of that game and I was nervous because I changed addresses in the interim.
I am most likely going to check online to see the update/ announcement(s) then post them on ResetERA and start arguing with the negative individuals on the internet like usual :P
Fight the good fight! Shenmue is worth it in abundance! The games are certainly dividing for the love it, hate it split you get on here but I wouldn't change the games for anything. I hope we get a nice new video at Monaco but just seeing Suzuki in person, should be enough reason to go. Yoji Shinkawa (Metal Gear artist) and Jordan Mechner (Price of Persia creator) are also attending, so some nice other reasons to go.
Speaking of MAGIC, IGN Japan has published a two-part interview with Shibuya Productions' Cedric Biscay. The second half of the interview is specifically about Shenmue III, with a few bits about what it was like for Cedric to play the game last month. The Google translated version is quite messy, so I'd recommend waiting for Switch to post his version on the Phantom River Stone blog.
My Shenmue AM2 Podcast cohost Andrew recently confirmed a long suspected Shenmue related easter egg in ESPN Football for the original Xbox.
Ryo Hazuki as a playable character! We just recorded an episode where we talked about his method for doing it. As far as we could find this is the first photographic evidence of this.
Ryo Hazuki as a playable character! We just recorded an episode where we talked about his method for doing it. As far as we could find this is the first photographic evidence of this.
Last edited:
I was always curious to see the various SEGA characters in ESPN Football. I have long heard of them, but there was never any evidence of them online because most SEGA fans could seriously not care less about those games.
Still kinda disappointed SEGA sold off Visual Concepts. I think they had loads of untapped potential and as is they are just going to be stuck making samey sports titles forever.
Still kinda disappointed SEGA sold off Visual Concepts. I think they had loads of untapped potential and as is they are just going to be stuck making samey sports titles forever.
Yeah, it doesn't really look like him.
The one of Beat from Jet Set Radio looks like a monster.
No. just Moo.
Though thinking about, i can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.
Much like Porsche and Nike I will mis-pronounce Shenmue forever. Shen-mew over here!
I've been so close to buying that ESPN game over the years to add to my Ryo collection.
Seems like he on-pitch model is just a generic Asian male though...?
Isn't there also a Ryo cameo is Segagaga?
I've been so close to buying that ESPN game over the years to add to my Ryo collection.
Seems like he on-pitch model is just a generic Asian male though...?
Isn't there also a Ryo cameo is Segagaga?