Sega Shock - Shenmue Online revealed!
Yu Suzuki's legendary RPG goes online in Asian territories.
Ever since the release of Shenmue 2, spurious rumours regarding a third part in the Yu Suzuki series have been difficult to quell. Fans simply don’t want to believe the story could have been cut short so prematurely, whilst critics just want to titter and chortle as they watch Sega splurge another few million dollars that it doesn’t have.
So when Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported that Sega and JC Entertainment were working in conjunction to produce Shenmue Online, we were slightly incredulous. However, further investigation led us to www.shenmue-online.com which does, in fact, carry an official Sega press release confirming this news.
“Sega Corporation and JC Entertainment Corporation today announced a business alliance to co-develop and co-publish Shenmue Online, a massively multi-player online game (MMOG) for PC platform. Also Sega has the basic agreement with T2 Technology Holdings Inc. to allow T2 Technology to license China online game operation of Shenmue Online.”
Reassuringly, Yu Suzuki will be supervising all ongoing activities, although it’s still difficult to imagine how devoted Shenmue fans will react to this news. Shenmue 3 has been a distant dream for a long time, and to present Shenmue Online - which may not be a true sequel - could prove a tortuous anticlimax for some.
Shenmue Online is intended primarily as a tool to expand Sega’s (and JC Entertainment’s) role in the South East Asian market. Publishers are currently investigating beyond the traditional Japanese focus, with Sega holding a conference in Shanghai later this week to specifically discuss China as a new market.
The game has been in production with Yu Suzuki’s Digital Rex studios since February of last year, and it certainly fits with Suzuki-san’s mission statement to produce cinematic online games. However, it’s not yet been revealed as to how the multiplayer element will operate. Because the earlier games were so closely focused on an individual character, the story for the third instalment may take a much looser role. Indeed, more cynically-inclined observers have already called it ‘just Animal Crossing with sailors’.
One thing is certain, if a financially troubled Sega can afford to get involved in a project that has reportedly cost $25 million so far, and could escalate further as MMORPGs so often do, then there must be considerable confidence in Shenmue Online. Whether or not western audiences will get a look in is still a mystery. The ‘Segaton’ announcement earlier this year suggested that English-speaking markets should be more excited about The Matrix Online, although we have had little news about that so far.
Beta-testing of Shenmue Online is set to commence in November, with a proposed release in 2005. We’ll bring you more news as soon as we get it.
So when Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported that Sega and JC Entertainment were working in conjunction to produce Shenmue Online, we were slightly incredulous. However, further investigation led us to www.shenmue-online.com which does, in fact, carry an official Sega press release confirming this news.
“Sega Corporation and JC Entertainment Corporation today announced a business alliance to co-develop and co-publish Shenmue Online, a massively multi-player online game (MMOG) for PC platform. Also Sega has the basic agreement with T2 Technology Holdings Inc. to allow T2 Technology to license China online game operation of Shenmue Online.”
Reassuringly, Yu Suzuki will be supervising all ongoing activities, although it’s still difficult to imagine how devoted Shenmue fans will react to this news. Shenmue 3 has been a distant dream for a long time, and to present Shenmue Online - which may not be a true sequel - could prove a tortuous anticlimax for some.
Shenmue Online is intended primarily as a tool to expand Sega’s (and JC Entertainment’s) role in the South East Asian market. Publishers are currently investigating beyond the traditional Japanese focus, with Sega holding a conference in Shanghai later this week to specifically discuss China as a new market.
The game has been in production with Yu Suzuki’s Digital Rex studios since February of last year, and it certainly fits with Suzuki-san’s mission statement to produce cinematic online games. However, it’s not yet been revealed as to how the multiplayer element will operate. Because the earlier games were so closely focused on an individual character, the story for the third instalment may take a much looser role. Indeed, more cynically-inclined observers have already called it ‘just Animal Crossing with sailors’.
One thing is certain, if a financially troubled Sega can afford to get involved in a project that has reportedly cost $25 million so far, and could escalate further as MMORPGs so often do, then there must be considerable confidence in Shenmue Online. Whether or not western audiences will get a look in is still a mystery. The ‘Segaton’ announcement earlier this year suggested that English-speaking markets should be more excited about The Matrix Online, although we have had little news about that so far.
Beta-testing of Shenmue Online is set to commence in November, with a proposed release in 2005. We’ll bring you more news as soon as we get it.
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Comments
bbam 3 Aug 2004 10:43
1/7
I hope this does get a European look in. Im a big follower of the series and think thats its a great series due to the rigid yet free exploring storyline. Dont have a clue how this is going to work online thought.
DoctorDee 3 Aug 2004 11:08
2/7
bbam wrote:
>Dont have a clue how this is going to
>work online thought.
Seems like the perfect game to work on-line.
The free-yet-restricted story progression will work perfectly, and an on-line world, giving Sega the possibility of adding new "areas" and characters to the game universe ver time is a superb idea!
I liked Shenmue, and though I'm quite inifferent to the whole MMORPG thing, I could easily be persuaded to shell for Shenmue on-line.
>Dont have a clue how this is going to
>work online thought.
Seems like the perfect game to work on-line.
The free-yet-restricted story progression will work perfectly, and an on-line world, giving Sega the possibility of adding new "areas" and characters to the game universe ver time is a superb idea!
I liked Shenmue, and though I'm quite inifferent to the whole MMORPG thing, I could easily be persuaded to shell for Shenmue on-line.
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ryohazuki-san 3 Aug 2004 11:33
3/7
DoctorDee wrote:
>The free-yet-restricted story progression will
>work perfectly, and an on-line world, giving Sega
>the possibility of adding new "areas" and
>characters to the game universe ver time is a
>superb idea!
I totaly agree with wot u say, the online aspect of shenmue will really exploit the series as a serious contender to other online RPG's depending on how well they do in the far east, however bringing it over our end may do some gud 4 SEGA as der r plenty of Shenmue fanatics in Europe (me being 1 of dem). I have really waited 4 anything shenmue since the second installment and nows about time they really fort about the importance of the series to the gaming world. Come on Suzuki, quit torturing and deliver the goods!
___________________________________
Dnt h8 da playa h8 da game!!!!!!
>The free-yet-restricted story progression will
>work perfectly, and an on-line world, giving Sega
>the possibility of adding new "areas" and
>characters to the game universe ver time is a
>superb idea!
I totaly agree with wot u say, the online aspect of shenmue will really exploit the series as a serious contender to other online RPG's depending on how well they do in the far east, however bringing it over our end may do some gud 4 SEGA as der r plenty of Shenmue fanatics in Europe (me being 1 of dem). I have really waited 4 anything shenmue since the second installment and nows about time they really fort about the importance of the series to the gaming world. Come on Suzuki, quit torturing and deliver the goods!
___________________________________
Dnt h8 da playa h8 da game!!!!!!
Brown Force 3 Aug 2004 12:57
4/7
Yeah I really hope it gets a European release! Though I think its pretty much a certainty. I would be willing to pay anything to play a Shenmue MMORPG. I'm a huge fan of the genre and a huge fan on Shenmue. Europe has always been a big market for Sega (Dreamcast did sell pretty well over here) so it would be stupid not to get the game out over here.
I can definatly see it working as an online title. With online towns with a Arcade, Resteraunts and Bars for meeting places. And parks, car parks and whatever else for Sparing and Combat Practising. Not to mention the collecting and trading and possibility for some multiplayer Sega retro games in the arcades (Streets of Rage and Golden Axe anyone?)
The possibilities are endless...I just hope they can pull it off. Go Sega :)
I can definatly see it working as an online title. With online towns with a Arcade, Resteraunts and Bars for meeting places. And parks, car parks and whatever else for Sparing and Combat Practising. Not to mention the collecting and trading and possibility for some multiplayer Sega retro games in the arcades (Streets of Rage and Golden Axe anyone?)
The possibilities are endless...I just hope they can pull it off. Go Sega :)
Jayenkai 3 Aug 2004 14:16
5/7
oooh, wowie :D
You could buy up all the toy capsules in town, and then sell them for a profit :)
You could buy up all the toy capsules in town, and then sell them for a profit :)
NiktheGreek 3 Aug 2004 14:28
6/7
Absolutely fantastic - if the game does follow a set story still, it can be worked into the online game wonderfully. Helping out a player who's just starting by telling them exactly where they can find what they're looking for...
Well, we finally know what is emerging from Digitalrex (formerly referred to as Cinematic Online Games, which all makes sense now).
Well, we finally know what is emerging from Digitalrex (formerly referred to as Cinematic Online Games, which all makes sense now).
Joji 3 Aug 2004 15:52
7/7
I missed Shenmue on DC unfortunately, but I did like the look of it. An online version would be cool, especially if you could stay for a little and just go in the arcade and paly retro games, or expand into the larger online game on offer. With some cancellations of online rpgs perhaps this is what is needed to take them in a new direction.
Go Sega.
Go Sega.