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Exactly how Shenmue 3 is being funded has been one of the major talking points since the game’s Kickstarter was announced during Sony’s E3 press conference.
Of particular interest to gamers is why fans should offer their money when the game has the backing of Sony? Ys Net founder and Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki has issued a statement in an effort to clarify the situation.
“There have been many questions concerning Shenmue 3’s budget and what outside sources will be added to the money collected through Kickstarter. I apologize for not having been more forthright in this area and would like to take this opportunity to help clarify the situation,” opens the statement posted to Kickstarter.
“Ys Net and I have been putting in many long years trying to find a way to bring back a sequel that so many fans have waited so long for. After learning of Kickstarter, I knew it would be possible to get Shenmue 3 started. Wanting to make the best game possible, I also knew that I would have to look to more traditional means to obtain all the funds that would be needed to create the game I had envisioned.
“Sony and Shibuya Productions have been wonderful partners because they believe in Shenmue and want to see the best for the fans and the game. Their investment in (and support of) Shenmue have helped to realize a sequel that will stand proud with its predecessors.”
Suzuki added: “While it is not business practice to discuss the specific details of such arrangements, I can say that with their assistance on the production and marketing end, and in Sony’s case with some publishing support as well, Ys Net is able to use more of the money we collect through Kickstarter purely for Shenmue 3’s development. It is also important to note that your funds are going strictly to Ys Net for development of Shenmue 3 – Sony and Shibuya Productions are not seeing a cent of your Kickstarter dollars.”
Suzuki is confident that even at the game’s current funding level it will deliver a “sequel true to name, and one we can all be proud of,” but continues to push the $5 million and $10 million funding milestones if you want his full idea for the game to be realised.
“Additional funding will only help us make a better game,” he explained. “On top of everything Shenmue 3 will already bring, the Stretch Goals that I have laid out will add extra quests, events, and new gameplay systems that will make the game even more immersive and take the series to the next level. At the $5 million mark, there will be an all new gameplay feature I would be excited to be able to add to the Shenmue legacy. If we should make the $10 million Stretch Goal, a much larger, completely open world will be yours to explore.”
Suzuki concludes: “I understand this statement may by late in coming. Going forward, we wish to be as open as possible concerning the game’s development. I would like to again ask for your cooperation and support in helping make Shenmue 3 the best that it can be.”
At the time of writing the Kickstarter total stood at $3.62 million with 22 days to go.
The problem with the statement is that Sony’s role – in particular how much money has changed hands – remains a mystery, and a such leaves gamers uncertain over why Ys Net requires their money.
Source: Kickstarter
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