Yu Suzuki and Ys have been promoting a live interaction where fans would be able to submit questions about the highly anticipated Shenmue 3 to Yu Suzuki on Twitter and he would answer some of them. We here at Gaming Conviction just happen to have a transcript of the Q&A and have posted it down below. Some of the details are about Shenmue 3 while others give us a glimpse behind the legend of Yu Suzuki himself.
Were there originally 16 chapters in the Shenmue saga or were there 11? please elaborate as to why some say 16 and some say 11.
It is 11 chapters, but with branched story line, it will be more than 11.
At $5 million, exactly HOW open world will Shenmue 3 be, compared to Shenmue 1/2?
I’m expecting something similar to Dobuita in terms of scale.
Will you be disappointed if the Kickstarter doesn’t raise $10mill for that ‘open world experience’?
No I won’t. I am grateful I have another chance for a new Shenmue. I will do everything I can within the budget.
Will the Tiger scroll translated by Guizang in 1 be in 3?
Great idea! I will look into it.
For Ryo Hazuki’s model and others, are you going to reuse models and generally assets from Shenmue 1 and Shenmue 2?
I don’t plan on recycling them, but will use the good parts as an reference.
Would love to hear Mandarin voice acting alongside Japanese in Shenmue3. Could we make it stretch goal?
Thank you, it is under consideration.
Why do you think Shenmue didn’t appeal to the mass audience back then? Would it need to be ‘modernized’ for today?
One reason may be there were so many new challenges. New challenges this time too. It’s the most important thing.
Can we expect the return of lottery prize in Shenmue 3? May be the first prize can be a figure of Yu Suzuki!
Great idea. Thanks. I will need to think about something more appealing than a figure of me.
Will you research latest tech in AI so you can include it in Shenmue 3 to make it a pioneering game like its predecessors?
Yes. I would like to take on some new challenge in terms of technology.
Is there a possibility to film a production process for example motion capture or dubbing, during development of Shenmue 3?
Yes, we have it and I would like to feature it in an update.
Will Coca Cola join the Party?
I’m considering collaborations with companies like Coca Cola.
What’s the I.Q. score of Fukuhara-san?
Maybe something like 86?
What can you tell me of the three blades?
Jobs using scissors, razor and knife- barber, cook, and sewer. Skills for jobs with steady demand in any era.
My 10-year-old daughter wants to know if she’ll be able to use the phone at will in Shenmue 3 like she does in Shenmue 1.
Look forward to it. There will be many nostalgic scenes. Maybe a tin can telephone as well?
If future installments of Shenmue become a possibility will we have the option to bring over save data from Shenmue 3?
I have not decided it yet.
Can we expect epic fights like in Kowloon in Shenmue 2 and a similar battle fight system?
There is “Battle System Expanded” Stretch Goal. It will enhance the battles, better than Shenmue 2.
Will we start Shenmue 3 with some items/skills/scrolls from Shenmue 1 + 2?
The platform is different, so unfortunately we can’t do it.
Should we expect any Sega related stuff in Shenmue 3 like arcade games or toy capsules?
There is a possibility.
Were there any gameplay elements for Shenmue 1 and 2 that had to be cut due to budget constraints?
Yes. I wanted the ramen noodles to get soggy and yucky, but couldn’t. I wanted to get that real.
Will the “Shenmue Trial” be used for feedback to improve the game like Square Enix have with the Final Fantasy XV demo?
I would definitely want to get feedback, so I’m looking into how to put a system like that in place.
Will there be official Kickstarter Shenmue 3 forums to discuss and give feedback throughout the development process?
I of course would like that and am looking into it.
Will everything be voice acted the same way as 1 and 2? or will budget constraints not allow 100% VO all the time?
Full voice will be possible if we have enough funding.
I was wondering did you get Ryo Hazuki name from Ryudo Uzaki that was a Japanese musician?
Nope.
My question is why is not possible to use Shenmue Passport models for Shenmue 3?
I’m considering about adding some functions from Shenmue Passport.
Can we expect custom clothing for Ryo Hazuki? It would be great feature to able to style Ryo Hazuki as we want.
There’s a feature on the $250 tier and up to change Ryo’s jacket. Other customizing under consideration.
Why was the Dragon Mirror hidden under a cherry tree, a not-so-safe place like the basement?
Iwao [Hazuki] thought the place under Cherry blossom tree was safer.
Where did Ryo get his bandaid?
It didn’t appear in Chp.1, but there was a martial arts event. The scar is from the final match.
What is your favourite movie?
My favourite 3 are: The Hustler, Casablanca, Roman Holiday. I love Billiards, and I still play it sometimes.
Will Shenmue 3 be compatible with the project Morpheus VR headset for the ultimate second life experience?
I feel that VR offers great possibilities.
Will there be a pet dog in Shenmue 3?
Depends on the budget.
Shenmue’s core plot is basically Hamlet. Are you a Shakespeare fan and has that been an influence?
Sorry, but I have not read Hamlet. I know Hamtaro though.
I always wondered how Ryo , being Japanese, could communicate so easily in China. Can Ryo speak Chinese?
Let’s not go there…
Suzuki-san, can you please tell us some little info about Shenhua that the fans don’t already know yet?
The Shenmue tree’s flower is named Shenhua. She is named after that flower.
Will Ryo learn the value of forgiveness in Shenmue 3?
Please play Shenmue 3 for that answer!
Do you have a rough idea how many people will be in the development team for Shenmue 3?
It will vary depending on the [Kickstarter] budget.
Since relationships between characters will be more prominent, will we see something like a multiple choice conversation system?
I am thinking about a dialogue selection system.
Please confirm that guns will never be a part of Shenmue gameplay, not for Ryo or any other playable character.
I am not thinking about including guns as a weapon at the moment.
Will Ryo finally eat and perform other bodily functions?
I don’t have plan on implementing it for Shenmue 3.
Why does Ryo have a Saturn under his TV in Shenmue 1, but no games? Was Iwao using the promise of a game for it to focus Ryo? 😛
That sounds about right. Let’s go with that.
Mr. Suzuki, what is your favorite music to listen to?
I like Jazz and Rock.
