Yu Suzuki Mini-Interview: "Similarities with Shenmue" | 30th Anniversary of Virtua Fighter Video

Together with the announcement of a new Virtua Fighter game at The Game Awards, Sega released a mini-interview with Yu Suzuki to commemorate the "30th anniversary" of the Virtua Fighter franchise.  As part of this, a short video interview with Yu Suzuki was released.

(Technically, Virtua Fighter premiered in the arcades in 1993, with the December 1994 timing most closely tying in to its release on the Sega Saturn console in November 1994). 

Within the interview, in which Suzuki recalls development of the original Virtua Fighter, Shenmue also gets a mention in relation to the background graphics:

"The backgrounds in particular are a variety of Asian themes, which I like. The detailed renditions were quite noteworthy to me. I faintly* feel some similarities with Shenmue".

- Yu Suzuki (official subtitles)

*Note: Suzuki's words don't actually imply "faintly"; a closer translation would simply be: "I feel some similarities with Shenmue". 

In a past interview with 4Gamer in 2017, Suzuki declared "Going forward, I'm aiming for graphics you can smell". And so we can take his comment about the background and scenery graphics seen for the new Virtua Fighter as high praise:

"They've grown more and more realistic, so much that you can almost smell them."

Suzuki praises the realistic background graphics (image grab from the new Virtua Fighter trailer)

Suzuki is also impressed by the battles seen in the footage for the new Virtua Fighter game, especially its collision detection as seen by the following line. Note: this is a full translation of his words; the video subtitles are incomplete:

"[In particular,] when your punch lands on your opponent, there's a moment where the hit is absorbed by the flesh, and then the power is transmitted, sending them flying".

Achieving this level of detail into battles echoes something Yu-san mentioned he wanted to achieve himself (and demonstrated with a slow-motion punch to his own face!) during the Shenmue community interview by the Shenmue Dojo and Phantom River Stone earlier in the year. 

View the Video

A transcript of the interview subtitles follows below.

Video Transcript: Sega Mini-Interview with Yu Suzuki

Q: Now that Virtua Fighter is looking at its 30th anniversary, could you say a few words?

Yu Suzuki: Happy 30th anniversary! I'd like to thank everyone for these 30 years, building the Virtua Fighter brand into what it is now. When we developed the world's first full 3D fighting game, I can still remember working on it, and excitedly wondering how it would be received by the public.

Q: Could you share your feelings on Virtua Fighter?

Yu Suzuki: The Virtua Fighter characters back then were built out of what looked like cardboard boxes.

They didn’t look anywhere near human. Internally, we called them names like Robo 1 and Robo 2,  since they looked like robots. Virtua Fighter has evolved since then, and now the characters finally look human. Thinking about it fills me with emotions.

Q: Could you talk a little bit about your thoughts on the announcement of a new Virtua Fighter game?

Yu Suzuki: These are just my feelings after watching the footage, but the backgrounds in particular are a variety of Asian themes, which I like. The detailed renditions were quite noteworthy to me. I faintly feel some similarities with Shenmue.

They've grown more and more realistic, so much that you can almost smell them. That's how believable they look now. The part that leaves the biggest impression on me is the battling. Even just the demo looked really good. I get the feeling this one is going to be a big hit.

The main point of focus is the "collision detection". When your punch lands on your opponent, there's a moment where the hit is absorbed by the flesh, and then the power is transmitted, sending them flying.

It feels incredibly realistic, and I feel like the battle systems have gotten really close to what I've always envisioned.

Q: Could you say a few words about the future of the Virtua Fighter series?

Yu Suzuki: Now that I've heard that the RGG [Ryu Ga Gotoku] team is going to be working on Virtua Fighter, I'm very excited. I hope I can play it soon.

That's all from me!

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Orphan Cat Plush & Other New Shenmue Merch from Limited Run Games

A range of new Shenmue merchandise has just been announced by Limited Run Games, which is available now for pre-order. The most innovative item has to be the "orphan cat" plush which comes with a cardboard box and a (plush) can of tuna!

The site notes that the artwork is subject to change, and that pre-orders close 12 January 2025.

Summary of pricing:

Trading Cards & Accessories:

• Shenmue Trading Card Sleeves ($5.99)
• Shenmue Trading Card Storage Box ($9.99)
• Shenmue Trading Card Binder ($19.99)

Clothing:

• Shenmue Snapback Hat ($31.99)
• Shenmue Logo Shirt ($29.99 - $34.99)
• Shenmue Pullover Hoodie ($54.99 - $59.99)

Various:

• Shenmue Game Case Keychain ($9.99)
• Shenmue Commemorative Coin ($9.99)
• Shenmue Enamel Pin - Tomato Convenience Store ($14.99)
• Shenmue Poster ($24.99)
• Shenmue Orphan Cat Plush ($29.99)
• Shenmue Skate Deck ($74.99)

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Steel Paws: Trailer & Images for Yu Suzuki's New Mobile Game

A new mobile game has just been announced from Yu Suzuki and YS Net! Steel Paws is billed as a "feel-good battle action" game for mobile devices. It was revealed by way of a premiere trailer at the recently-held The Game Awards and is set to launch exclusively on Netflix Games in 2025.

Steel Paws: a "Dynamic Action Adventure Game"

The description provided by Netflix for the trailer reads:

"Embark on a dynamic action adventure game as a girl alongside her Buddy Robots to conquer a mysterious Tower that reappears every century".

The Japanese trailer has a similar description, with some additional detail (translation):

 "A girl sets out on an adventure with her companion robots to conquer the mysterious tower that appears once every 100 years. Master abilities, upgrade your companion robot, and take on the enigmatic tower. Defeat enemies, earn rewards, and fight your way through a world beyond imagination!"

The Game Awards Premiere Trailer

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Yu Suzuki Special Interview (Biography) - Japanese Air Twister Booklet 2023

Following on from its original worldwide release via Apple Arcade for Apple devices in June 2022, Air Twister was subsequently released for consoles & PC in November of 2023.

Air Twister Special Edition (Japan)

One of the physical editions made available in Japan was a Special Edition that included a number of extras, including the soundtrack on double CD, a square card with Yu Suzuki's signature and a "Special Interview" booklet.

This 50+ page booklet (which can be seen near the bottom right in the image below) contains an extensive interview with Yu Suzuki, in which he talks about not just Air Twister but also his own background in the games industry - with one of the games discussed being Shenmue, of course!

Contents of the Air Twister Special Edition set (Japan)

With the set being for the Japan market, the Special Interview booklet was only in the Japanese language.

Air Twister Collector's Edition (Strictly Limited Games)

For the overseas market, the Air Twister Collector's Edition has been announced by Strictly Limited Games, and is to feature a Yu Suzuki Biography booklet with its own unique cover design.

Yu Suzuki Biography booklet cover (Air Twister Collector's Edition from Strictly Limited Games)

While its exact content has not yet been confirmed, presumably this contains a translation of the Japanese Special Interview booklet.

 

However, as of the release of this post, the Collector's Edition has not yet been released. Originally slated to be released in "Early 2024", at the time of this post in August 2024 it is yet to be seen, with the expected release date given on the official website now reading "2024 (exact date TBC)". A brief product status is provided, although this has remained unchanged since the start of the year:

Product Status - Update:

Production files have been approved by licensor and are now with Platform Owners. Once completed, files will be handed to production.

Interview Translation

To ease the pain of the wait for the Collector's Edition to appear and discover Yu Suzuki's thoughts and anecdotes, we have translated the Japanese interview into English - originally, the intention was to translate excerpts of interest, but we've ended up covering the full interview from the booklet!

Thanks to SkillJim for providing scans of the interview pages.

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Poll Result: Patrons' Choice Topic for December 2024

Every month Phantom River Stone holds a poll among our patrons to choose a topic for the blog in the coming month. After tallying the votes (including accumulated votes from previous months), the winning topic that has been voted this time is:

"The Hazuki Residence: Examining details of a traditional Japanese house"

The Hazuki residence: situated at the top of a hill above the residential area, Ryo's childhood home represents a warm, safe haven populated with familiar faces and childhood memories - until that fateful day of the jarring invasion by Lan Di and his black suits.

Part of this reassuring atmosphere arises from the solid construction of the house itself, as described in the official profile (which can be read on the Suka Pass app):

"The house was built in an old traditional style from sturdy Japanese cypress and cedar more than 100 years ago, but its durability is such that no repairs have yet been needed to its roof or tiles, and it conceals within it the construction techniques of the good old days."

From the profiles we also learn that the residence was once part of a temple complex, with the dojo having been converted from the temple's main hall:

"The house was formerly a discontinued temple belonging to the chief priest, and has been built in a traditional, formal style. The grand entrance gate is a remnant of its time as a temple. The rooms inside the house were also at first divided only by Japanese-style sliding doors and screens, but currently a number of the rooms have been renovated to have doors fitted.

During the time of Iwao's ancestors, counting back four generations, the main hall underwent alterations and started to be used as a dojo, with the permission of the chief priest".

In this post, our focus will be on exploring features of interest in and around the house itself - both traditional and "modern" items from 1980's Japan. For example, details such as the floor hatch that can be seen in the kitchen, items of furniture, and some of the many smaller objects that add atmosphere but do not serve as part of the gameplay.

Coming soon to the blog!

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Fill Out the "Shenmue III Prospective Survey" from ININ Games!

Hot on the heels of ININ Games's announcement of taking over the reins of Shenmue III publishing rights, they have set up a survey for feedback from the community. Their message on X reads:

"Hey folks!

We have prepared a quick survey with a couple questions on Shenmue III. Please consider filling it out if you're a fan of Ryo's antics or just familiar with the game. Your feedback will be invaluable to us, as always!"

The survey page itself starts with a brief note acknowledging fans' anticipation for news on their plans:

"Happy birthday, Shenmue!

The 25th anniversary of Shenmue's release in Japan is coming soon, while the 5th anniversary of Shenmue III's release was just celebrated last month. What fantastic milestones for this legendary saga!

We know you’re eagerly awaiting a statement from us, and we deeply appreciate your patience. Our collaboration with YS NET has been very fruitful, but we are carefully reviewing all details. This process takes time, and we thank you for your understanding."

The Survey Questions:

These are the questions for which feedback is being sought:

1. On which platform would you like to see Shenmue III?

• Apple Mac
• Xbox Series X|S
• Nintendo Switch
• PlayStation 5

2. What graphics and performance improvements would you like to see for Shenmue III?

3. What's your favourite moment in the whole Shenmue series?

Comment:

It is very encouraging to see another indication of how much the new publisher cares about the franchise, to the extent of reaching out to gather feedback directly from fans. This bodes well for the future of the series.

Regarding the questions themselves, which are focused on Shenmue III as expected, they hint at what the new plans for the game may include.

Publishing ports to other platforms is something that fits in with their promise from their press announcement to ensure its "accessibility to even more fans around the world".

Graphics and performance improvements suggest that they may be planning to work together with YS Net to address issues and better the experience for players. This might include things like increasing draw distance, removal of the "no running" loading areas or even updates to title screens or menus - let them know!

It is also good to see the inclusion of the question about your favorite moment in the whole series, showing that they are gathering feedback about what makes the Shenmue franchise special. Hopefully this will feed into further plans in the future, and may even find their way back to Yu Suzuki himself. 

I encourage all Shenmue fans to fill out the survey if you haven't already - it only takes a minute to complete!

Survey Link:

Head here to fill out the survey!!

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Must Be Seen to be Believed: Dreams of Saturn 2.0 "First Look" Trailer & Mini Games Trailer

Update: the release date is now scheduled for December 21, 2024

George Kitchen has released a "First Look" trailer for Dreams of Saturn 2.0, a major update and expansion for his initial version of his game from last Christmas which made waves across the community, and it looks jaw-droppingly stunning!

It adds a ton of content, in particular a whole new harbor location which was not present in the original, and allows the whole game to be played with a third-person view of Ryo.

Watch the amazing trailer below:

There is so much packed into just this short trailer! Just a few of the many humorous touches and carefully-choreographed scenes to be seen in this extravaganza of brand-new content:

• A tiny new hero? Ryo's cockroach takes part in the adventure.
• Even from this brief preview, the beautifully-rendered sets and landscapes look incredible: from the sky, object lighting and shadows through the detailed individual character animations and facial expressions.
• Ryo is now rendered in third person, bringing it even closer to the feel of the original game.
• A brand new "ride to the harbor" mini-game has been implemented
• In one QTE interaction the player controls Guizhang.
• Ryo traverses areas that were not accessible in the first Shenmue game, running across the rooftop of buildings and even ascending the structure of the gantry crane to operate it.
• An impressive missile launch from a submarine?!
• Does Santa Maeno save the day?
• A homage to Streets of Rage 2
• A sequence featuring Segata Sanshiro.

According to creator George Kitchen, DOS 2 consists of two separate stories (the original story and the new one). Both will be accessible from the main menu.

The release date is planned for 19th December, 2024.

Update: the release date will now be 21st December.

It is hard to believe this is a fan-made game, let alone one created by a single person. What a treat this promises to be!

Screenshots:

Interview with Sega Lounge

15 December Update : Shenmue Dreams of Saturn 2.0 Mini Games Trailer

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The Shenmue III Publishing Torch Has Passed to ININ Games | Community Video Selection

Although several days have passed since the announcement caused a flurry of excitement in the Shenmue community, we could not let it go unmentioned on the blog any longer: with the blessing of YS Net, ININ Games has assumed publishing rights for Shenmue III!

The YS Net Press Release

It all started with a rather inconspicuous news entry added on 19 November 2024 to the YS Net official site, simply titled "Notice Regarding Shenmue III Publishing Change". This linked to a press release  document that announced the immediate transfer of publishing for Shenmue III to ININ Games, stating:

"Following the previous collaboration on Air Twister, this will deepen the relationship between ININ Games and YS NET. Known for their commitment to celebrating beloved titles, ININ Games is excited to shepherd Shenmue III into its next phase.

This collaboration marks the beginning of a new chapter for Shenmue III, with ININ Games working closely alongside YS NET to honor the series' legacy while ensuring its accessibility to even more fans around the world".

 

The ININ Games Press Release

A couple of days later, an online article by Gematsu quoted a press release from ININ Games. After noting the significance of the transfer date coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Shenmue series and the fifth anniversary of Shenmue III, the release continued:

"We at ININ Games are honored to carry the Shenmue torch forward during such a significant moment in the series’ history. As we reflect on two decades of innovation and passion, we remain dedicated to preserving and sharing the journey of Ryo Hazuki with both long-time fans and newcomers".

 (Note, there had been some initial confusion about whether the rights were for the complete franchise, but it was later clarified to be just Shenmue III).

The timing, on the 5th anniversary of Shenmue III, suggests that the previous publisher, Deep Silver, had publishing rights for a period of five years from its release. In addition, the mention of ensuring "accessibility to even more fans" suggests that the exclusivity to Sony's PlayStation platform has now also ended.

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