Source: IGN JAPAN
Suzuki: In the first place, the reason why I decided to make "Shenmu III" was because it was a novel, a manga, and I wanted to tell the story of the story.
Krabbe (Journalist/Author/Interviewer) "I think was true. I was also one of them."
Suzuki : If there are people who think so strongly, I conclude that "Shenmu III" should be a little rather than nothing. "Shenmu Chapter 1 Yokosuka" and I thought that the volume would be much lower than that of "Shenmu II", but some people said that the story alone would be sufficient. "
Kurabe "So, I decided to do it with Kickstarter."
Suzuki: If you don't reach $ 2 million, the project won't start, but if you exceed it, you'll have to take responsibility and you'll have to make it. However, in the end, I found various partners, changed the plan many times, and thought that I could make it a little better, I continued to make it. Now, 0 has increased by 1 (laughs). "
Krabe: “One more zero means it's 10 times bigger than we originally expected.”
Suzuki: Yeah. As a result, considering that we were able to create a full-spec "Shenmu", I thought I did what I did. "
Krabe "No regrets"
Suzuki : I think there is a word that if you just do it, you will not regret it, but it's close to that. Although it may be losing in comparison with other AAA titles, I did my best to do it.
Kurabe "Surely, there were some
unwavering evaluations compared to the open world these days, centered on overseas reviews."
Suzuki: "Shenmu III was completely different from the latest trends, and I thought that people who were used to playing recent games would be quite dissatisfied with it. It's inevitable because I made it for the fans who supported me, and I'm really happy with it because the fans' satisfaction is extremely high. So, next time, I will spend time and money on the demand of casual users, but I was doing my best to make "Shenmu III" for fans. "
Kurabe: "It's a title that really continued from that emotion 18 years ago, and inherited the characteristics of" Shenmu "regardless of recent trends. As a fan, it was exactly what she was looking for. Yo "
Suzuki: This time, I made it really for my fans, but if I had the opportunity to make "Shenmu IV" -I think there is-I know how to satisfy casual users, so that person We want to make it a work that makes us happy. ''
Kurabe “What exactly are you planning to improve?”
Suzuki : There are various things, such as adding quest markers, enhancing fast travel and skipping time functions, and making the user interface easier to understand. We would like to deliver a smoother experience to those who want to progress steadily around the story. If the volume is the same as that of "Shenmu III," we will be able to proceed at about 1.5 times the speed. "
Kurabe "At the same time, is it like maintaining the" Shen Mu "character?"
Suzuki: Yeah ... from those who have fought in racing cars with gears and clutches, it's true that all cars are automatic and have no gear change techniques, but if it's a semi-automatic one can use either one. ? "
Kurabe "Oh, right."
Suzuki: If I make it, I think that even if I make various changes, it will eventually become "Shenmu". I suppose ... I changed "3" variously, but it became "Shenmu" properly? "
Klavet "Yes, it was definitely Shenmue."
Suzuki: In "Shenmu III," I really responded to the fans' voices, so I'm not thinking about making any money. But since I'm running a company, I have to think about what can sell if I continue. I've been seriously talking over and over again. ”
Kurabe "That is the kind of improvement that I mentioned earlier."
Suzuki: From a business perspective, it's better to understand how people who don't know "Shenmu" looked at "Shenmu III." So, after analyzing the complaints of new users I guess it's something like "Is this kind of thing?" And take it sincerely, but it hurts (laughs) Since I'm also a profession in making games, how much "Shenmu" deviated from the current trends , What should I improve, what should I do next to play this type of game, what is old when it is said to be old, just feel old, or is it really old? I want to make it clear. ''
Kurabe “I don't think Yuu usually plays games. Do you research other companies' titles for comparison?”
Suzuki "I did a lot of research and research. There are many inconvenient systems in" Shenmu ", but there are some things to learn even if they do not become" Shenmu "as they are."
Kurabe "For example, what is the element you want to incorporate in the form of" Shenmu "?"
Suzuki: The quest marker can be used to identify the main quest and subquests, where you can exchange money, or where you can battle. I want to make it a system. ''
Klabe "In fact, in recent games I often just pursue the quest marker without looking at the field."
Suzuki: After that, in order to be able to skip the time more freely, it is possible to sit on a bench in the city and wait until it sits so that the time can be advanced. ”
Klavet "Oh, that's good. I think it's just two birds with one stone, because many fans say," I want you to be able to sit down. "
Suzuki : I don't want to give up on which one, I want to cover both. I can see how I can improve it, so I can incorporate the taste of the "Shenmu" series without breaking it. "
Kurabe "I've talked about new user complaints so far, but what else did the fans want and what would you like to do next?"
Suzuki: Everyone says they don't have a throwing technique, so I'll put a throwing technique next (laughs).
Kurabe "Oh, is that true! I'm happy."
Suzuki "I take all user comments once. I want to completely update the facial animation."
Kurabe "Oh, it was said that the character's facial expression was stiff."
A different open world
Suzuki: Also, if there aren't many people, it doesn't look like China, so I'd like to increase the number of characters walking around the city at the same time. "
Kurabe: "Oh, 4x !? I think the bird dance had an unprecedented density. But, somehow, it's an idea like" Shenmu ". Instead of widening it, make it more dense." To go"
Suzuki : I think there is an image that the open world is a magic word and all the gorgeous games are heading towards that, due to the current fashion of games, but then it will be difficult to differentiate in the open world Isn't it interesting that the closed space is interesting instead of sticking to the open world? ”
Klavet "A closed space ... I remember the part of a phantom ship before going to Hong Kong."
Suzuki: I'm an engineer, so I'd like to try something new even if it's sober. For example, moving in a narrow space will be smoother than in previous games. There are always a lot of problems, and there are various problems, so I think that the width of the game is always wide. I think that no studio can move and explore smoothly in a narrow area. ”
Klabe “Sure, there may not be many games like exploring a narrow alley, even if it's used at an event.”
Suzuki "I made" Shenmu III "for my fans, but next time I want to do something new."
Kurabe : That's right. I also want to do new things. That's why I think I'm Yu-san, so I'm really looking forward to that part. ”
Suzuki: After all, I'm an engineer, so I'd like to be able to move in a narrow place without stress than any other game, and have many characters at the same time, so I'd like to say, "This is technology!" I want to make things that are compatible with each other. ''
Kurabe "But it's difficult to create such an innovative technology if you have a limited budget. I wonder if that will always be a problem in this industry."
Suzuki "I have the technology to buy with money, but I don't think I'm proud of that."
Kurabe: "If you have a good idea and skill, you can still make innovative things ... I'm really looking forward to seeing what new things Yu will show next. But as a fan of the series, I am also interested in the continuation of the story.''
Suzuki: Regarding the story, rather than expecting the main story so much, it's an image that makes you entertain one episode at a time, like Tora-san ("Man is hard"). I want to make it thicker. The sub-quest makes the relationship between people in the city thicker.
Kurabe "Surely, the
presence of the people who live there is a very important factor in" Shenmu. "
Suzuki: Of course, as for the main story, I want to understand more and more about the back story, for example I want to understand what kind of person Len's upbringing and Len are like, and I will also solve the mysteries I have made so far.
Kurabe "I'm really looking forward to character depiction. There aren't many other games where you can spend a lot of time talking with Aihana, like Disc 4 of" Shenmu II "and Shirakamura of" Shenmu III. " , You can really see the inside of the character, but it's tough because you have to write the back story and move the story forward. ”
Suzuki: "What do you want? If I approach" Shenmu Ichisho Yokosuka "with the aim of achieving the same degree of perfection, I think that in" Shenmu III "all budgets are devoted exclusively to Shirakamura."
Kurabe "But at that pace, it doesn't quite complete."
Suzuki : Wouldn't it be nice if I could write a novel if it was a novel? If it was a movie, I would just add an image. "
Kurabe : That's right. Even if you get hints from conversation, one scene is good for novels and movies, but if you do poorly with "Shenmu", there are about 100 patterns. "
Suzuki : It's hard to make any hit, whether it's a novel, a movie, or a game. That's true, but if you just make it, the game will be overwhelmingly hard (laughs).
Krabe "I think it's not a couple of times."
Suzuki: Still, it will definitely improve. As a creator, of course, I couldn't make the ideal game from the beginning, and "Virtua Fighter" had "1" and "2". I made it with the flow of "3", and I can't do "Virtua Fighter 5" right from the beginning.Since "Shenmu III" was a new start, naturally "Shenmu IV" With that, I think it will be better in many ways than "Shenmu III".
Krabe: "There may be some drawbacks, but I think" Shenmu III "was a fairly complete game as a start."
Suzuki "I think there are a lot of unfinished good points."
Kurabe "Oh, I really understand."
Suzuki: In an extreme case, for example, an Italian car is prone to breakdowns, but when you're in good shape, there's no car that feels so good. There are some drawbacks, but the appeal is better. I have to fix it. For example, in battle, I want to throw in, improve operability, make it smooth, and put out something that is definitely better. ”
Kurabe "Are there any new battle systems you would like to implement?"
Suzuki: "Shenmu III" made it possible to enjoy collecting a lot of technical books, but next time I would like to devise a way to enjoy one technique more deeply. "
Kurabe "I personally feel that when there is an event to teach a technique, the technique has a narrative effect, and it seems to be very" Shenmu "."
Technique transfer in "Shenmu II".
Suzuki : It's hard to make (laughs). I think I did more than planned in "Shenmu III". At first, my grandchildren's technical training was in a dead state, so I will do my best to add it. It's hard for me (laughs). There is an ideal idea of what the game should be, but it depends on the staff and budget at that time. "
Not only "Shen Mu" Hiroshi Suzuki
Kurabe "In that sense, I've been working on" Shenmu III "for a long time, so I think YSNET has grown significantly as a studio, and the things that can be done have increased significantly." Other than that, why don't you want to make various things? ”
Suzuki : If you say you don't want to make it, you'll be lying (laughs). There is a thing in your life that you should always do "Shenmu" as a single bullshit, and of course I want to continue towards the end of the series. As long as there is a word that I want you to make "Shenmu", I continue to make it, as I said before. "
Kurabe "Good"
Suzuki "But I've always made different things since the days of SEGA, drive and cancer."
Kurabe "Yes, I still want to make something new. I think it's difficult to speak at this stage. What is it like?"
Suzuki "There are various things. From race to fighting, from fantasy to science fiction."
Kurabe "Is it fantasy or science fiction? The impression that Yu-san has made many real games is a bit surprising."
Suzuki "I used to be called" Virtua Fighter "Yutaka Suzuki, and I think the image of" Shenmu "is strong now, but I have made various games."
Kurabe "As a fan of" Shenmu, "I feel like playing" IV "anyway, but I also want to see Yu's other FREE games. I've been making it for arcade all the time, so I'd like to see a game based on Yuu-san's various stories and worldviews. ''
Suzuki "I would like to make that kind of thing, and if I could make a title that could support esports or a title that could be distributed in an episode format."
Kurabe "I'm looking forward to the future of YSNET as a developer who is also at the cutting edge of the game industry, incorporating the latest trends."
Suzuki: Of course, I will continue to make "Shenmu" as long as there are fans' voices. But it may be a matter of ratio, but the fans who have been waiting for 20 years have released "Shenmu III" to some extent. I wish I could be satisfied and reduce the number of voices asking me to make "Shenmu IV" (laughs). "
Kurabe "Please don't worry about that. I'll keep making noise until the story is complete (laughs)."
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