Shenmue III - Interviews with Yu Suzuki @ Magic Monaco

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

Some interesting details have come out.

https://gamersflag.com/article/interview-quelques-questions-a-yu-suzuki-lors-magic-2018/

GamersFlag: Reactions about the technical aspect (including facial expressions) during the publication of the trailer of August 2017 have they touched you? Did you expect such a virulent reaction and such a definitive judgment when Shenmue IIIwas still in an intermediate phase of development?

Yu Suzuki: We can not do anything about it because people do not know how production is going. For example, what you saw today [ NdR: the extended trailer of Gamescom 2017, which we add below ] is different from where we are today. [In the context of MAGIC 2018 ] this trailer was an opportunity to promote the game. The plan continues as planned on our side. I would like to show other things but for the moment ... Indeed, there were negative returns last year but in 90 seconds, we can not show a game, images do not show everything. You really have to play [ NdR: certainly also in the sense of "see gameplay" ] to get an idea. That's why I would like to show other things as soon as possible.
GamersFlag: We know it does not depend entirely on you, but did you hear from Sega about an HD remaster of Shenmue and Shenmue II ?

Yu Suzuki: It's something I can not talk about for the moment.

GamersFlag: Now that Shenmue III is well advanced, can you tell us, without much detail, of course, if the end of the game is likely to be open and suggest a Shenmue IV ? Is it a possibility that you left yourself?

Yu Suzuki: Yes, the end will be open for a sequel. It will not be possible to finish with this third episode.

GamersFlag: Yes, basically, you had planned more than three episodes.

Yu Suzuki: Yes, and it would not be possible to finish here without ripping off.

http://www.gameblog.fr/dossier_1128_shenmue-3-systeme-de-combat-developpement-version-switch-yu-

Can you tell us how it is new and different? In terms of handling for example.

YS: I can not give you too many details for the moment, but I can tell you that there will be books to learn techniques. Recovering these books will teach new attacks. The game will always offer real-time battles, but it's a system that is more geared towards narration. There is more fighting issues focusing on timing and that require pressing a button at a specific time. Unlike a classic Beat'em All, the Shenmue fights will benefit from a staging close to what can be found in the cinema. They will have that unique touch that only a Shenmue game can have and that the fans will surely recognize. You can use some old techniques and make some combos, but it will not be as difficult as in Virtua Fighter.

Since the release of Shenmue II, SEGA has marketed the Yakuza series which is often compared by players in Shenmue. What do you think of Yakuza?

YS: Yakuza and Shenmue have a lot of similarities but ... I should not have said that. Yes the games are similar. But Shenmue was the first truly open world game of this type and SEGA appreciated and supported it. Subsequently, Yakuza continued this momentum and allowed SEGA to be the precursor of the Open World at the time with (Toshihiro) Nagoshi-kun (the suffix "kun" is used as a mark of affection and of proximity, editor's note) as the director of the Yakuza project. And I think it's good that SEGA has continued in that direction. I am very happy that this happened because major titles such as Grand Theft Auto could see the day thanks to all this.

At the latest news, Shenmue III is scheduled for 2018. Do you think this is an achievable goal? Is it good for this year?

YS: I'll try my best to make that happen.

TheIdiot · Feb 28, 2018

There is more fighting issues focusing on timing and that require pressing a button at a specific time

Hmm, lots of QTEs I'm guessing?

SharpX68K · Feb 28, 2018

Hopefully Shenmue III gets released Winter 2018-2019 meaning December-February. Or Spring 2019 at the latest.

And Shenmue IV on next-gen consoles.

Romain · Feb 28, 2018

That wasn't translated corrrectly from French (it's my interview). He said that there is less of a focus on precise timing. He wanted to say that combat will be less like a hardcore fighting game that requires precise timing à la Virtua Fighter. I hope that clears that up.

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

TheIdiot said:
Hmm, lots of QTEs I'm guessing?

I'm guessing QTEs and 'Heat'-styled actions a la Yakuza, but with control parallels to the original fighting engine.

That wasn't translated corrrectly from French (it's my interview). He said that there is less of a focus on precise timing. He wanted to say that combat will be less like a hardcore fighting game that requires precise timing à la Virtua Fighter. I hope that clears that up.

I enjoyed the interview!

Romain · Feb 28, 2018

bell wood's jet cola said:
I enjoyed the interview!

Thanks! Too bad he couldn't talk more about Shenmue III. I also wish I had more time. But it's always great to get to talk to someone like Yu Suzuki.

Shenmue-is-life · Feb 28, 2018

Romain said:
That wasn't translated corrrectly from French (it's my interview). He said that there is less of a focus on precise timing. He wanted to say that combat will be less like a hardcore fighting game that requires precise timing à la Virtua Fighter. I hope that clears that up.

Yu Suzuki said the same thing in June 2000 about Shenmue 1. People shouldn't read too much into it, indeed. Shenmue 3 will surely get Virtua Fighter vibes again but with a more suited design, for the better.

IronicSonic · Feb 28, 2018

Romain said:
That wasn't translated corrrectly from French (it's my interview). He said that there is less of a focus on precise timing. He wanted to say that combat will be less like a hardcore fighting game that requires precise timing à la Virtua Fighter. I hope that clears that up.

Nice.

Great interview btw. Thanks!

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

Shenmue-is-life said:
Yu Suzuki said the same thing in June 2000 about Shenmue 1. People shouldn't read too much into it, indeed. Shenmue 3 will surely get Virtua Fighter vibes again but with a more suited design, for the better.

Yes. He was always focused on making Shenmue accessible to children and older folks. He and Miaymoto seemed to share that design philosophy. That's one of the main things I remember about the lead-in to Shenmue back in the day.

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

Romain said:
Thanks! Too bad he couldn't talk more about Shenmue III. I also wish I had more time. But it's always great to get to talk to someone like Yu Suzuki.

He seems to be very good at evading any substantial questions about the game, so I think you got a pretty decent answer to your battle question. I like that you asked for for more information after his first response.

Romain · Feb 28, 2018

I should have done the same thing when he gave me the "originality" answer but I knew I didn't have a lot of time left and there was still some things that I wanted to ask.

Maligna · Feb 28, 2018

Really sounds like they are going to change all the fights to just QTEs. (But they were very careful not to say those actual words)

seiki · Feb 28, 2018

Nice interview! I feel like the combat will be more cinematic and more redefined than Shenmue 1-2 but still retain the same feel. I'm pretty sure it'll be easy to pull off these moves in the game as Yu Suzuki stated.

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

I'm imagining the combat will be really close to Yakuza's combat. That's my take on it. Perhaps a QTE prompt will pop up after an enemy executes a special move; or maybe Ryo's special moves will be tied to QTEs.

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

The development of Shenmue III had to be done with the permission of SEGA, because the license and the characters still belong to him. Regarding Shenmue III, what kind of relationships do you have with SEGA today? Do you need to get validation of some things?Or do you work in total autonomy?

I have good relations with SEGA. I am always a counselor for SEGA in parallel. We are in regular contact and everything is going well. I keep them informed when we pass capes, milestonesimportant. SEGA knows very well that a Shenmue can only be created by Yu Suzuki. It's my creation. They are not behind me to check each item. We are SEGA licensed but I am the one who runs things.

Kodama · Feb 28, 2018

I guess capsule toys are probably history, eh?

Has Bean · Feb 28, 2018

Nice interview. I'm going to take that non-answer on Shenmue I & II HD as a good sign.

ianpm31 · Feb 28, 2018

Great interview. Hope there are more interviews to come

Rodjer · Feb 28, 2018

There is more fighting issues focusing on timing and that require pressing a button at a specific time

Please, tell me this won't be a QTE-only game?

Deleted member 7148 · Feb 28, 2018

His response to Shenmue HD is interesting. I think he knows something is happening. Fingers crossed for E3!

Shy · Feb 28, 2018

Congrats on the interview, Romain. That's some good stuff.

Romain said:
That wasn't translated corrrectly from French (it's my interview). He said that there is less of a focus on precise timing. He wanted to say that combat will be less like a hardcore fighting game that requires precise timing à la Virtua Fighter. I hope that clears that up.

That's just as depressing to hear, as if it were increasing the amount QTEs. I love the fact i could play the game like VF. *sigh*

This is a real let down for me. And has dampened my expectations for the game.

Kodama · Feb 28, 2018

FaintDeftone said:
His response to Shenmue HD is interesting. I think he knows something is happening. Fingers crossed for E3!

It's the same response everyone has given for years now... Don't get excited just yet...

breakYODAy · Feb 28, 2018

Rodjer said:
There is more fighting issues focusing on timing and that require pressing a button at a specific time

Please, tell me this won't be a QTE-only game?

There my be some hybridization, similar to battles at the end of Shenmue 2, but the battle system will be different than the QTE system. Based on the answers he's given on the battle system in the past, he wants the player to focus more on picking the right move for the situation, rather than simply button mashing.

ShinobiOfTheWind · Feb 28, 2018

Nice interviews, both of'em. Thanks. So, he's expanding the lore, even more than the pre-planned 16 chapters from the beginning? Very interesting. Also, now that him as well as Ys Net are quite familiar with UE4 (and it's revisions) Shenmue IV and V shouldn't take as much time.

Oh and one more thing...

GamersFlag: After finishing your work on Shenmue III , is there a project you would like to work on? Whether it's a new episode of an existing franchise or a new idea that you would like to see take shape.

Yu Suzuki: There are things (smiling) ...

*VIRTUA FIGHTER 6 INTENSIFIES*

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

It's brutal he hasn't been able to make any other games in years. Imagine all the Yu Suzuki greatness we've missed out on.

Shy · Feb 28, 2018

bell wood's jet cola said:
It's brutal he hasn't been able to make any other games in years. Imagine all the Yu Suzuki greatness we've missed out on.

Yeah :(

I feel the same about Kojima being shackled to MGS for all those years.

Shaneus · Feb 28, 2018

ShinobiOfTheWind said:
*VIRTUA FIGHTER 6 INTENSIFIES*

Nuh-uh. Out Run 3 motherfuckers!

Romain · Feb 28, 2018

ShinobiOfTheWind said:
Nice interviews, both of'em. Thanks. So, he's expanding the lore, even more than the pre-planned 16 chapters from the beginning? Very interesting. Also, now that him as well as Ys Net are quite familiar with UE4 (and it's revisions) Shenmue IV and V shouldn't take as much time.

Thank you all for the kind comments.

I don't think he's thinking about expanding the lore as he said during the conference earlier that day that the story hasn't changed since he wrote it originally. He just confirmed once again that the story won't end in Shenmue III.

Dooble · Feb 28, 2018

Shaneus said:
Nuh-uh. Out Run 3 motherfuckers!

You mean a new IP and something different? This is Yu Suzuki we are talking about.

Altough I do wonder what he does at Sega offces "consulting"? He spent all these years there not getting a single title out.

Danthrax · Feb 28, 2018

I love how he lowkey attributes Grand Theft Auto 3's existence to Shenmue, haha

///PATRIOT · Feb 28, 2018

GamersFlag: We know it does not depend entirely on you, but did you hear from Sega about an HD remaster of Shenmue and Shenmue II ?

Yu Suzuki: It's something I can not talk about for the moment.

So you are telling me there is a chance :)

TylersProphecy · Feb 28, 2018

SharpX68K said:
Hopefully Shenmue III gets released Winter 2018-2019 meaning December-February. Or Spring 2019 at the latest.

And Shenmue IV on next-gen consoles.

Even if it is, i can almost guarantee you the graphics will stay the same thematically. It's obviously a design choice to make this game look more like the other two so a fourth would probably follow that trend. Also, i think its strange to want a series of games on different platforms but oh well...
If this post has nothing to do with graphics, then the statement still stands though, just for others who expect uncharted 4 faces in shenmue 3.

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

4 isn't going to work if it needs to rely on crowdfunding, so I will assume sales of Shenmue 3 will be strong enough to make a game with a bigger budget when 4 comes around

Sectorseven · Feb 28, 2018

bell wood's jet cola said:
4 isn't going to work if it needs to rely on crowdfunding, so I will assume sales of Shenmue 3 will be strong enough to make a game with a bigger budget when 4 comes around

Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but at least they would have a lot of the infrastructure in place.

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

I definitely don't think they'll be able to raise another $6 million from fans. Lightning won't strike twice. I'm still convinced 3 will sell on hype and name alone; better if it's actually good. Helps that we aren't limited to one console this time.

super moustique · Feb 28, 2018

ShinobiOfTheWind said:
So, he's expanding the lore, even more than the pre-planned 16 chapters from the beginning?

Nope, he's just staying true to his original vision.

Shenmue-is-life · Feb 28, 2018

bell wood's jet cola said:
I definitely don't think they'll be able to raise another $6 million from fans. Lightning won't strike twice.

Depends of the critical success of 3. The non-hardcore fans won't put money into this but new freshly converted fans may give a strong hand to the affair.

bell wood's jet cola · Feb 28, 2018

Shenmue-is-life said:
Depends of the critical success of 3. The non-hardcore fans won't put money into this but new freshly converted fans may give a strong hand to the affair.

If it's successful, they should be able to get a good deal with a publisher and not worry about crowdfunding. I seem to recall Shenmue iV being the "inward journey," so it might not even require a big budget.

Sumio Mondo · Feb 28, 2018

Maligna said:
Really sounds like they are going to change all the fights to just QTEs. (But they were very careful not to say those actual words)

Nah, they're still differentiating between Fight QTEs and Free Battles (or whatever this new system will be called).
Well, he talks about how it won't require complex button combinations like in 1 and 2 (->, ->, <- + A/B/X, to pull off the more complex moves, for example).
So they may have just simplified the button combos and maybe finish up some fights with a Yakuza style "finisher" what locks some moves to said QTE finishers, not that different from how in Shenmue 1 in one of the many fights in the warehouse, Ryo finishes off Smith with either the Double Blow or a hard punch to the lower part of the rib cage. I'm guessing it may be something like that. Better integration between Free Battles and Fight QTEs would be cool actually. Just my theory what he's meaning anyway.

ianpm31 · Feb 28, 2018

Shenmue-is-life said:
Depends of the critical success of 3. The non-hardcore fans won't put money into this but new freshly converted fans may give a strong hand to the affair.

I will say there's definitely a good amount of interest in Shenmue 3. Hopefully Yu can deliver and I have no doubt he will.

I think Yu means the combat won't have complicated button inputs to pull off moves like a fighting game but instead will be more streamlined with heat action qte's. At least that's what I got.

bell wood's jet cola · Mar 1, 2018

I did some snooping around and discovered the partner in Shibuya Productions seems to be some sort of nuclear physicist inventor. I am assuming Shibuya has provided more funding than we realize. I guess we should've assumed as much considering they're based in Monaco.

* The snooping I did consisted of just looking at the Magic Monaco website before anyone thinks I'm a freak. I just never thought to look at their site until today.

KOSTA YANEV
CHAIRMAN

Kosta Yanev is the inventor of Activbody's exercise system and the company's founder. Kosta is a nuclear physicist and holds a PhD in computer science. He has worked at CERN in Switzerland and has founded and launched numerous successful businesses including FTSAM (airport development), Great Bear (GTBR), Company for Energy Saving (JV with RWE – Germany), DONTNOD Entertainment (Paris), Shibuya Productions (Monaco) and now Activbody.

Shenmue-is-life · Mar 1, 2018

That explains why Rocky IV's Drago was there lol.

bell wood's jet cola · Mar 1, 2018

I wonder if any other interviews were done. Two seems kind of light.

Romain · Mar 1, 2018

I interviewed Cedric Biscay as well. It should be up soon.

EDIT: Here it is: http://www.gameblog.fr/dossier_1129_shenmue-3-cedric-biscay-y-a-joue-et-il-nous-en-parle

Ghost_Messiah · Mar 1, 2018

Romain said:
I interviewed Cedric Biscay as well. It should be up soon.

EDIT: Here it is: http://www.gameblog.fr/dossier_1129_shenmue-3-cedric-biscay-y-a-joue-et-il-nous-en-parle

Merci pour la nouvelle interview. Vous êtes génial. Mais pourrions-nous obtenir l'interview en anglais?

Romain · Mar 1, 2018

Don't have time to translate it sorry. Google will have to make do. If you have questions about what he said, I'll help you out.

bell wood's jet cola · Mar 1, 2018

Is the part about a sailing mini game an accurate translation? I'm using Google. Don't want to post the Google Translate without your permission.

Ghost_Messiah · Mar 1, 2018

Romain said:
Don't have time to translate it sorry. Google will have to make do. If you have questions about what he said, I'll help you out.

Ah okay. Meant no disrespect - I think these interviews you're doing are genuinely awesome. That's cool, I'm sure Shenmue-Era will jump in to get this translated. No questions as of yet, just waiting on a good translation. Cedric is always quite the open and candid guy so I'm very interested to see what he said. You're doing excellent work.

Romain · Mar 1, 2018

bell wood's jet cola said:
Is the part about a sailing mini game an accurate translation? I'm using Google. Don't want to post the Google Translate without your permission.

Where did you see that? He didn't talk about something like that.

bell wood's jet cola · Mar 1, 2018

Section where you talk about actually playing the game. That's the trouble with machine translation! He's discussing playing mini games.

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