Shenmue
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'Shenmue' anime premieres February 5th on Crunchyroll
The Shenmue anime series is almost here, over a year after it was announced at the Virtual Crunchyroll Expo.
Humble’s You Can Pet The Dog bundle is exactly what it sounds like
Good. Doggos. Petting. Charity. What more do you need?
A 13-episode 'Shenmue' anime series is on the way
'Shenmue' is back, this time as a new anime series destined for streaming on Crunchyroll and cable TV via Adult Swim.
Epic will cover refunds for unhappy 'Shenmue 3' backers
You might be less inclined to panic the next time a game you've crowdfunded becomes an Epic Games Store exclusive -- particularly if you're a Shenmue fan. Ys Net has informed Shenmue 3 backers that it will (with Epic's financial support) accept refund requests from those unhappy that the PC version won't be available through Steam until a year after its initial release. How much you'll get back will depend on whether or not your rewards have already been implemented, but you won't have choose a PS4 copy just to signal your displeasure.
'Shenmue 3' will be an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC
Surprise! The PC version of Shenmue 3 is now an Epic Games Store exclusive. That means the crowdfunded sequel, which was originally unveiled as part of Sony's E3 press conference in 2015, won't be sold through Steam or any other PC-centric storefront. "In looking for the most enjoyable experience on PC, it was decided together with Deep Silver after much discussion that the Epic Games Store would be the best distribution platform option," developer Ys Net said in a Kickstarter update. For now, it's unclear if backers who wanted the Steam version will be offered any kind of refund, or forced to accept the Epic Games Store version. The Epic deal doesn't affect the game's PlayStation 4 version, however. Still, the move is bound to rile some players who dislike the Epic store and its ever-growing lineup of exclusives -- some temporary, others permanent -- including The Division 2, Metro Exodus and Outer Wilds. If none of that bothers you, good news -- Ys Net also released a new gameplay trailer today. It shows series protagonist Ryo Hazuki practicing his martial arts and, later, battling a group of drunken thugs. Shenmue 3 is currently scheduled to come out on November 19th. The game been delayed many times, however, so we wouldn't be surprised if it slipped into early 2020.
'Shenmue III' delayed -- again -- until November 19th
If you've been waiting patiently for the arrival of Shenmue III, you'll have to temper your excitement a little longer. The long-awaited third installment in the classic series has been delayed yet again. Ryo Hazuki is now expected to return to your screens November 19th.
Sega started and cancelled a 'Shenmue' remake
Did you play the remastered versions of the Shenmue games and wish that Sega and d3t had done more than port the titles largely unchanged? So did the developers, apparently. Digital Foundry has discovered that the team had originally been working on remakes that included dramatically improved graphics. While the characters and locations were extremely familiar, virtually everything had much more sophisticated geometry and higher-resolution textures -- flat roofs and blocky people suddenly popped with detail. There were also more advanced lighting effects, such as ambient occlusion (how objects interact with ambient light), more realistic reflections and shadow maps.
'Shenmue III' makes its long-delayed debut on August 27th, 2019
The long-awaited, crowdfunded Shenmue III was originally supposed to arrive by December 2017, but that clearly never came to pass -- delays have pushed it back two years. The developers at Ys Net appear ready to hold their ground, though. They've announced that the third installment in Ryo's martial arts saga will launch on August 27th, 2019. The studio hasn't shed much more light on the story in the process, but the accompanying trailer (below) reiterates the prophecy that Ryo and Ling Shenhua would join together on a "rocky path."
‘Shenmue’ returns August 21st
With the third chapter in the Shenmue saga delayed yet again until 2019, fans (and newcomers) can keep themselves busy in the meantime with the first two games on their fancy modern consoles and PCs. Sega is re-releasing Shenmue I and II on PS4, Xbox One and Steam August 21st. Pre-orders are now open, and the console editions of Ryo Hazuki's revenge story are getting physical copies, with a double-sided poster tucked into the case.
'Shenmue 3' will apparently arrive in 2019
At this point, it seems like driving a forklift in the world of Shenmue again is even more of a pipe dream. Development on the third entry in the groundbreaking series kicked into gear in 2015 after a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign; after the last postponement, Shenmue 3 was scheduled to drop in the back half of 2018. However, another delay means you'll have to wait until 2019 for the next part of Ryo Hazuki's story.
'Shenmue' I & II return on PS4, Xbox One and PC this year
Die-hard Shenmue fans don't just have the crowdfunded Shenmue III to look forward to anymore. Tonight at the Sega Fest event, Sega announced the first two games in the series will be re-released later this year for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Fans can expect both physical and digital releases, while the games promise a "definitive version of these all-time classics." Relive Ryo Hazuki's quest for revenge with the classic or updated controls, options for either Japanese or English voiceovers and an updated UI. You can check out the reveal trailer with some pre-release footage after the break.
The first ‘Shenmue III’ teaser is comfortably familiar
There's plenty of big news flowing out from this year's Gamescom. Although the Xbox One X has dominated the headlines thus far, some other fan-favorite games are also vying for space at the event. Among them, the long-awaited Shenmue III. Today, eager gamers are finally being treated to actual footage from the title.
'Shenmue 3' delayed by up to a year
The third part of the Shenmue saga has been delayed, developer Ys Net revealed in a Kickstarter update today. Shenmue 3 was supposed to ship this December, however that always seemed unlikely given how little we've seen of the game through screenshots and gameplay snippets. In a video, series creator Yu Suzuki broke the news that the title will now be released in the second half of 2018. "By utilizing new technologies, we have been able to discover new possibilities and expressions," he said. "In many ways, the game has become bigger and more beautiful than I initially expected. We do, however, need more time to deliver the game to you."
This forklift simulator is basically 'Shenmue' VR
Shenmue's forklift truck sequence was effectively my first job. I was 15 when Sega's open-world adventure came out and truly captivated by the game. After two discs of mystery, adventure and capsule toys, I can still remember dropping disc three into my Dreamcast, full of anticipation. Infamously, the third and final disc of Shenmue involves the protagonist, Ryo, getting a job at the docks as a forklift truck driver. After the first day of moving crates around, I expected we'd soon be uncovering information about the gang Ryo was tracking down. Instead... I went back to work the next day. And the next. And the next. Moving crates was just part of life now. The story does unfold along the way, and you're eventually treated to perhaps the game's best fight sequence. Jumping forward some 16 years, while at Gamescom I spotted a strange machine in the corner of one of the business centers. It was Sanlab's SimPro 3, a hydraulic platform with controls of several real-world construction vehicles including... a forklift. I had to try it. With only my Shenmue experience and some brief explanations on how the controls work from a Sanlab representative, I donned an HTC Vive and got started.
Sega is 'investigating' a 'Shenmue' HD remaster
Shenmue fans may have some significant announcements to look forward to from Sega if all goes well. The company, when responding to a recent fan question about possible HD remasters of the Dreamcast's seminal 1999 role-playing game Shenmue and its 2001 sequel, expressed that it's "currently investigating" the idea.
New 'Shenmue 3' screenshots give you a glimpse of the game
If you need any more proof that Yu Suzuki really is making a new Shenmue game two decades after the last one, look above and below the fold. Yes, these are actual Shenmue 3 screenshots (and even a little video) that Suzuki's team showed off at the Monaco Anime Game International Conferences. They're still just a work-in-progress, true, but they're enough to give you an idea of what the sequel will look like. Suzuki started working on the classic franchise's third entry after his Kickstarter campaign last year breezed through its $2 million goal. It ended up raising over $6 million, enabling the team to go through with the game's development for both PS4 and PC. Shenmue 3 won't be out until December 2017 or later, but the team will likely release more tidbits of info (and more photos!) to tide us over until then.
Some 'Shenmue III' backers won't get their rewards after all
After breaking records with their Shenmue 3 Kickstarter campaign, the developers at Ys Net are taking an... interesting stance toward fans of the project. You see, as a result of the wildly successful crowdfunding campaign for another entry in the cult classic franchise, not everyone who wanted to get in on the action was able to before it ended. So Ys opened up a "slacker backer" period where folks could pledge their support (and dollars) via Paypal, adding to the $6 million already promised to the developers from Kickstarter backers. All good, right?
This is how 'Shenmue 3' raked in over $6 million on Kickstarter
Records, like rules, were made to be broken. Shenmue 3's Kickstarter campaign recently wrapped and upon doing so it set the bar for video-game projects on the crowdfunding platform by pulling in some $6.3 million in pledges. It's pretty impressive when you consider that just last month the previous record-holder, the Castlevania spiritual successor Bloodstained, raised over $5.5 million in a similar span of time. Both games come from legendary game developers striking out on their own (thanks to risk-averse publishers) and both are more or less the sequels fans have been asking for for years.
Documentary explains why 'Shenmue 3' is a big deal
The Shenmue series represents a milestone in the gaming industry for many fans, a point where console experiences truly took off. The first Shenmue, released in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast, was an immersive, emotional, cinematic role-playing game that expanded the definition of an action experience and pushed existing technology to its limits. A new documentary from filmmaker Adam Sipione and Fauxpop Media, A Gamer's Journey: The Definitive History of Shenmue, dives into the franchise's history and explores the recent announcement of Shenmue 3. Series creator Yu Suzuki revealed Shenmue 3 and its $2 million Kickstarter on-stage during Sony's E3 2015 press conference, and nine hours later, the project had cleanly smashed that goal. Check out the teaser for A Gamer's Journey, including footage direct from Sony's E3 showcase and accompanying fan reactions, below.
'Shenmue 3' creator Yu Suzuki is taking questions live on Twitch
Whether you've already eagerly thrown money at the Shenmue 3 Kickstarter or are skeptically viewing the explanations, you can hear more directly from the man in charge tonight. Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki will hop on Twitch live at 10PM ET to talk about the upcoming PC and PS4 game in a Q&A. While you wait, the project recently revealed its list of stretch goals, which to this point are already filled to the tune of $3.6 million. Suzuki and Sony's plan is either a fantastic way to breathe life into a long-dormant franchise, or everything that's wrong with big companies using crowdfunding for publicity, but if you're a fan of the series, we'll see you back here in about half an hour.
