Sega "hints" at Shenmue on XBLA

[Let's Get Sweaty!]

I'm not buying into the hype yet, but people seem to be getting very excited by this story about Sega's "brand manager" opting not to confirm or deny whether they might be working on Shenmue for Xbox Live Arcade:

thegamingliberty.com/index.php/2012/03/13/shenmue-coming-to-xbla-sega-hints-at-development/

As evidence goes, it's about as flimsy as anything that Shenmue fans have embraced before, but if it gets people talking about the franchise then it can't be a bad thing.


Edit: To hear the comments in context, they're right at the end of this interview about Jet Set Radio: www.gamereactor.de/grtv/?id=27471 - Sounds very much like a standard PR "don't leave them disappointed" fluff answer to me, but watch and make up your own mind.

[mue26]

Yep it could mean nothing, but at the same time it does certainly seem possible that is in the works, all things considered. However, as I've said numerous times, I not getting excited or putting my faith in Sega until we hear something official.

[Let's Get Sweaty!]

The way people are reacting in the Shenmue 500k Facebook group, you'd thing Sega had taken out a double page ad in the LA Times announcing the game's release. It's getting to the point where I just cannot bear to watch, let alone try to be the dissenting voice in the delirious crowd.

[ShenmueAddict]

LOL they are just doing the exact same thing that fans over on Shenmue Dojo forums used to do about 8 years ago, getting waaaay to excited over nothing and setting themselves up for disappointment, like when Sega had a massive annoucement to make at E3 one year, and it turned out to be the License for Matrix Online WOW

I wont be personally indulging in wanking over that interview tidbit

[Chris]

It'll probably happen.

Sega rep lips are notoriously tight about Shenmue, and this guy blurted it out without any prompting.

Expect it to be announced after Jet Set Radio releases.

[mue26]

If it does happen, I would seriously buy it so many times. I never do crazy shit like that, but a successful Shenmue re-release would increase our chances of seeing Shenmue 3 by about 70% (I like using random percentages). There would just be no way that Sega could ignore it any longer.

[Let's Get Sweaty!]

I agree with that. There's always been merit in the argument for Sega to test the waters (and raise funds) for Shenmue 3 by re-releasing 1 & 2 as downloads. It's sound business strategy. I've just never had faith that it will happen, but I'd love for them to prove me wrong.

One thing I've been wary of when speaking out against the overreactions by so many over this so-called hint, is that it might seem as if I'm just grumpy that a Shenmue re-release would undermine and indeed possibly shatter the basis of the Team Yu campaign. But I long for the day when Team Yu isn't necessary. Whether Suzuki takes the license elsewhere or Sega finally makes Shenmue 3 themselves, all I want is for that game to be released - it just happens that I see Team Yu as the more likely method of pressuring that result.

All that does annoy me about the misreading of these off-the-cuff comments at GDC is that people may now be letting Sega off the hook and holding back on their demands, adopting the belief that all is now right with the world and Sega's got everything well in hand, when in reality that may not be the case at all. And when that eventually becomes clear by the non-appearance of Shenmue on XBLA and PSN, it will be another false dawn to dampen the spirits and weaken the will of those who should be continuing the fight right up until something concrete is finally announced.

[mue26]

They are absolutely valid points, and lets not forget that even if Sega is currently working on a Shenmue re-release or whatever without having official announced it yet, Team Yu still not a waste of time as it's continuely displaying to Sega that demand for the game is high.

I share the same mentality as you, as in, if Sega really are planning to continue the series behind closed doors, then that's bloody amazing, but until the day it's concrete that this is the case, I'd rather be proactive in taking the most sensible action possible based off of the information we do have.

But right now, it seems as if a lot of Shenmue fans feel that either it's all already been planned out behind closed doors and all we need do is wait for the imminent announcement, or it's all completely and utterly hopeless and a Shenmue 3 will never ever happen. Personally, I think taking a proactive pragmatic stance is the most beneficial.

[Let's Get Sweaty!]

Have a gander a this:

www.gamerzines.com/xbox/news-xbox/shenmue-xbla-hd-real-finished.html

If this site, and its anonymous source, are to be believed, then a high definition re-release of Shenmue has been waiting in a completed state for the past year, with Shenmue II HD also ready to go.

According to the article, Sega has held back the Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network releases while deciding on the future of the Shenmue series.

What do you think?

[mue26]

www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-16-shenmue-1-2-hd-to-launch-on-psn-xbla-report

Eurogamer's coverage. Sega replies to EG by saying pretty much the same thing the first guy said.

As for the 'anonymous source', well really what am supposed to make of that? It's just another unsubstantiated Shenmue rumour to come from a mysterious source, and how many of those have we had? If it true though, then that's great.

The best thing to come out of all this fuss though, is that it's got some decent coverage in the online gaming press. And that will only add more pressure on Sega to actually do something. Check out the number of comments on the EG article; it has 115, and check out the number of comments in the other articles on the list. That's pretty good if you ask me.

[JoePesciAddict]

I read the article on IGN. Regardless of whether it is true, the fact that Shenmue is still receiving all this positive press after 10 years since the last true game was released in the series, that is pretty substantial. I hope it is true.

[mue26]

Update: A Sega employee (apparently the man in charge of the 'digital stuff') has responded to the 'anonymous tipster' story via a tweet in which his words were "What bollocks "

link twitter.com/#!/mikeck

Charming stuff as ever, but unfortunately his word does currently carry more weight than the anonymous tipsters does

[Let's Get Sweaty!]

Maybe he's seen Mr Anonymous in the communal showers, and was expressing his amazement at the mystery man's testicular endowment.

[mue26]

exalted.

[GinfnersAddict]

Is this the same thing as that guy that recently got asked what are the most requested sega titles for remake and he said Shenmue and Skies? I'm much to lazy to click the link and see for myself but if so it doesnt read like much to get excited over

[Let's Get Sweaty!]

In the first post? Yes, same thing.

[mue26]

Mar 19, 2012 5:03:36 GMT GinfnersAddict said:

Is this the same thing as that guy that recently got asked what are the most requested sega titles for remake and he said Shenmue and Skies? I'm much to lazy to click the link and see for myself but if so it doesnt read like much to get excited over

You take laziness to a whole new level, my friend. But yeah, check the Dojo, everyone's going nuts over this, even more so than the recent Yu TGS interviews (which were much more substantial). In fact, it was considered such good news that it was given two ongoing threads on exactly the same topic, which have now thankfully been merged into a sizeable 27 page thread.

At least it's good to see old members of the community resurfacing, though. This piece of news certainly seems to be doing the job.

[ShenmueAddict]

Mar 20, 2012 22:58:09 GMT mue26 said:

Mar 19, 2012 5:03:36 GMT GinfnersAddict said:

Is this the same thing as that guy that recently got asked what are the most requested sega titles for remake and he said Shenmue and Skies? I'm much to lazy to click the link and see for myself but if so it doesnt read like much to get excited over

You take laziness to a whole new level, my friend. But yeah, check the Dojo, everyone's going nuts over this, even more so than the recent Yu TGS interviews (which were much more substantial). In fact, it was considered such good news that it was given two ongoing threads on exactly the same topic, which have now thankfully been merged into a sizeable 27 page thread.

At least it's good to see old members of the community resurfacing, though. This piece of news certainly seems to be doing the job.

LMFAO how pathetic has the Shenmue community become? i dident know they were going Nuts at the dojo, that comment from that Sega rep is nothing to get excited over IMO but the words from the great man himself from the last 2 interviews is much more substantial

What people also need to realise is Sega might very well re-release the 2 games with absolutly no intention of making a 3rd game, because they love to milk their franchises like that for every penny!!! (SONIC series step forth!)

I think people need to place faith in Yu and ignore Sega, he cares about the series, they dont.

[Let's Get Sweaty!]

Mar 20, 2012 23:11:03 GMT ShenmueAddict said:

I think people need to place faith in Yu and ignore Sega, he cares about the series, they dont.

It's like you've already seen the video I'm working on right now, that's spooky. ;D

[ShenmueAddict]

Mar 20, 2012 23:13:41 GMT Let's Get Sweaty! said:

Mar 20, 2012 23:11:03 GMT ShenmueAddict said:

I think people need to place faith in Yu and ignore Sega, he cares about the series, they dont.

It's like you've already seen the video I'm working on right now, that's spooky. ;D

lol indeed, great minds think alike