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Shenmue Online Canned!

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:57 pm
by Henry Spencer
Being a long time fan of the Shenmue series, I am sad to inform those of you who felt the same way as I, that Shenmue Online has been (unsurprisingly to me) cancelled. Along with the Shenmue franchise, I might add, according to Kikizo writer, Adam Doree (who is a long time fan, himself).

Let me run down the events which took place recently.

Shenmue was a game that, for a long time, I believed was the greatest of them all. In
fact, I still do believe it is one of the best, although recently the series was going through a tough time, here is my overview of the events;

A) Shenmue Online was announced, showcasing a new fresh start for the series, showing us bland graphics, especially compared to the likes of the console series.

B) No new news regarding the project had surfaced for about a year and a half. (Many members of our forums believed it to be canned, and there were plenty of rumours, believe me...)

C) Shenmue Online failed to be shown at ChinaJoy, the biggest gaming event of China. Which was...strange, especially since what audience it was catering for (fans of MMORPGs, which were mainly from Korea and China, hence the release in only those two countries and nowhere else).

D) A few days ago, the site webmaster of Shenmue Dojo received a reply to his e-mail sent to Adam Doree many eons ago regarding Shenmue Online's status, since it had gone quiet for a long time.

E) Adam told us that SO has been confirmed by a contact in SEGA itself (whom is said to have worked on ALL of the Shenmue games, a person said to be, that not many know of), to be cancelled. SEGA aren't even considering Shenmue now, this may be thanks to Sammy's recent silent takeover strategy and need for 'change' in the organisation. Either way, Shenmue has become less and less likely to reappear, and this is the final nail in the coffin.

http://shenmue.planets.gamespy.com/foru ... sc&start=0

So there you have it, my favourite games shall never have a conclusion. I'm rather upset about it, but what I'm more upset about is how SEGA have left us in the dark for so long now (seven years in total) only tell us it's never coming.

Sorry if this upset anybody else. But all I can say to those of you who enjoyed Shenmue; move on and remember the game well, for it is worth remembering as a great game for many years to come. :)

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:09 pm
by 87th
I'm not terribly surprised. I never saw Shenmue Online much more than a spin-off, so I'm not very disappointed, either. I'm still optimistic enough to believe that Shenmue 3 will come someday. It took 8 years for MetalGear 2 to get a sequel, but it was certainly worth the wait. I trust that there's much more interest and enthusiasm in a sequel to Shenmue 2, so I still hold hope for one.

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:49 pm
by Henry Spencer
Sammy have recently been taken over SEGA though, therefore, Yu Suzuki's standing within the company is now, officially, notwithstanding. Adam Doree's contact said Shenmue will be on hold for a long time now. Personally, I don't see Shenmue being released, it bombed, and we were lucky we got even Shenmue II. Shenmue online was a way of reimbursing the pockets of SEGA, who had made the most expensive game ever made at the time (total cost was $70 million US), they once told us, that they would have to be in the top three publishers before making a risky project like Shenmue III. I can never see this happening. They are currently in position nine or ten, and with competition against Konami, Capcom, Namco, Rockstar there's no chance really...

It's safe to say I've given up. Finally.

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:07 pm
by 87th
I think the most likely outcome is there will be a growing online demand for Shenmue 3 over the next few years. If gamers are denied something good, they will not shut up about it. Eventually, when the industry is in a very different state someone may see about pleasing all the vocal fans and make a new Shenmue game. It may sound unrealistic, but so many series (not just games) have come back in the same way. I don't think Shenmue is over, yet.

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:58 pm
by Artemio
I believe downloadable content, although I wouldn't like it that way, would be a vey promising release platform for it.

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:23 am
by Artemio
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/ ... 286027.php

That list is too good to be true...

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 1:46 pm
by Henry Spencer
Did you honestly, for a moment, even believe that list? We got that over at our site, was proved to be discredited.

It was just some guy's dream list from China:

http://www.segachina.com/viewthread.php ... a=page%3D1

See?

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:25 pm
by Artemio
That's why I posted it like that =)

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:05 pm
by jcgamer60
Shenmue Online i don't really give a shit about, but the Shenmue series never getting a conclusion is what really upsets me.

Shenmue is my favourite series of all time, yet, this news of there not being a conclusion, sadly, is not unexpected..

:sad:

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:14 pm
by Snake700
Snatcher wrote:http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/ ... 286027.php

That list is too good to be true...
I wish it weren't. I loved Shenmue, so i'm extremly unhappy, that the story won't come to a conclusion :(

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:33 pm
by Squallidus
Jet Set Radio for Wii, please.... :)

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:33 pm
by Snake700
It's a rumour, but hopefully it's true, even though the chances are slim. :(

SEGA TGS Lineup:

Alien Syndrome (Wii, PSP)
After Burner: Black Falcon (PSP)
Beijing 2008: the Official Videogame of the Olympic Games (PS2, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, DS, PC)
ChuChu Rocket! (XBLA, PC)
Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars (PSP)
Fighters Megamix 2 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Ghost Squad (Wii)
Happy Tree Friends False Alarm (XBLA, PC)
Jet Set Radio Next (Xbox 360, PS3)
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii, DS)
Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms Visit (PC)
Nights: Journey of Dreams (Wii)
Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus (PS2, Xbox 360, PC)
Samba De Amigo Fever (PSP)
Sega Classics Collection 2 (PS2,PSP)
Sega Rally Revo (Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, PC)
Sega Superstar 2 (Wii)
Shenmue 3 (Xbox 360)
Shenmue I & II Plus (Xbox 360)
Skies of Arcadia 2 (Wii)
Sonic Rivals 2 (PSP)
Sonic Rush Adventure (DS)
Sonic the RPG (Xbox 360, PS3)
Space Channel 5 Part 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Space Channel 5 Showtime (Wii, DS, PSP)
The Club (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
The Golden Compass (PS2, PC, DS, Xbox 360, PSP, PS3, Wii)
The House of the Dead 4 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Universe at War: Earth Assault (Xbox 360, PC)
Virtua Fighter 5 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Virtua Fighter Kids 2 (Wii)
Worldwide Soccer Manager Live (Xbox 360, PC)
Yakuza 3 (PS3)

Source: Gamereactor.dk

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:57 pm
by Henry Spencer
That's the exact same list as before. :???:

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:47 pm
by 87th
They wrote that silly a list and didn't bother listing a Sonic game that actually might be worth playing? That's oversight for ya.

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:47 pm
by jcgamer60
That list is such BS its pretty hilarious lol. What a perfect world it would be if :

Shenmue 3 (Xbox 360)
Shenmue I & II Plus (Xbox 360)
Skies of Arcadia 2 (Wii)

were true....

:P

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:24 am
by seraphssavior
Are the Shenmue games worth it? I've never played them, but heard they were pretty cool...are they games that you remember forever, like Zelda, MGS?

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:20 am
by 87th
Virtua Fighter Kids 2 made me laugh the most.

And, yes. Shenmue is very good, but it's certainly not to everyone's taste. If your judgement of a game isn't affected by hype, I would highly recommend that you give it a try.

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:54 am
by Snake700
seraphssavior wrote:Are the Shenmue games worth it? I've never played them, but heard they were pretty cool...are they games that you remember forever, like Zelda, MGS?
They have a good story, and likeable characters. Gameplay however isn't something everyone's gonna love, but for those who stick with it, they are gonna find a good gameplay.

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:22 am
by jcgamer60
Shenmue is defintely a love or hate it type of game.

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:26 am
by Snake700
jcgamer60 wrote:That list is such BS its pretty hilarious lol. What a perfect world it would be if :

Shenmue 3 (Xbox 360)
Shenmue I & II Plus (Xbox 360)
Skies of Arcadia 2 (Wii)

were true....
Yeah.