We Took Shenmue III on a Dobuita Tour. Plus Sacred Spot Map Give-away Celebration!

November 19th, 2019: what a special day this has been, marking the successful release of Shenmue III and is true testament to years of hopes, dreams and coordinated efforts to bring about something that was widely dismissed as something that would never happen. It is amazing to see social media such as Twitter exploding with the reactions of delighted fans.

And this all came about because of you, the community who believed in and supported the vision of a continuation of the saga that first started 20 years ago. So a hearty congratulations to everyone, from those who run social fan sites, forums, YouTube channels and podcasts, to those who have tirelessly organized ongoing campaigns to promote the franchise, and to each individual fan who kept the dream alive.

To commemorate the occasion, enjoy a small photo gallery showing Shenmue III on location in Ryo Hazuki's hometown of Yokosuka, where his journey began so long ago. The images were taken at various locations on Dobuita Street and the surrounding area.

But first, an announcement: we will be giving away a Shenmue map set to one lucky person. Here are the instructions on how to enter.

Phantom River Stone's Shenmue "Sacred Spot Guide Map" Set Give-away!

On Dobuita Street we picked up a pair of Shenmue maps from the friendly Kakita military surplus store, as a lucky give-away prize.

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Yu Suzuki & Shenmue III at MAGIC Kyoto 2019: Details

As previously announced by Cédric Biscay, Yu Suzuki will be participating in the upcoming MAGIC Kyoto event, and an update today gives further details about what to expect.

• MAGIC Kyoto will take place on November 6th at the ROHM Theater, Kyoto. 
• Yu Suzuki will be on stage to talk about Shenmue III from 8:15 pm to 9 pm. 
• Joining him will be co-producer Cédric Biscay, Esra Krabbe (IGN Japan) and Shenmue fan Satsuki, to "play Shenmue III, talk all things Shenmue."
• An autograph signing will be held. Update: the autograph session will be for 30 minutes within the period of 5.10 pm to 6.10pm.

Note that entry to the event is free, but pre-registration is required.

Links:

• Update: MAGIC Kyoto Participation Info
• MAGIC Kyoto website (English)

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Yu Suzuki Confirmed for MAGIC Kyoto 2019

The co-producer of Shenmue 3 and CEO of Shibuya Productions, Cedric Biscay, has been visiting Tokyo and recently shared this photo of his visit with Yu Suzuki at the YS Net development offices. 

Cedric Biscay, controller in hand, with Yu Suzuki at YS Net (Twitter). 

His text with the photo reads:

"We just realized during our meeting today that we are exactly 2 months before the release ! So exciting !"

Cedric also joined a live-stream with IGN Japan yesterday where he made an announcement regarding the upcoming MAGIC Kyoto event in November that is of great interest to Shenmue fans: Yu Suzuki will be attending the conference this year, which takes place on November 6th.

Cedric Biscay announcing Yu Suzuki's attendance at MAGIC Kyoto on the IGN Japan live-stream

While the details of Yu Suzuki's schedules are still being finalized, Cedric did confirm that there he will be participating in an autograph session at the event.

With the event taking place less than two weeks before the release of Shenmue 3, we're excited to see what will be in store for the game's promotion!

MAGIC Kyoto

Date: 6 November 2019 (Wednesday)
Venue: Rohm Theater, Kyoto

More information on the event is promised "soon".
Follow MAGIC Kyoto on Facebook here.

The Rohm Theater in Kyoto

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Enter to Win a Shenmue III T-Shirt! | Multiple Fan Sites Participating

Win a Shenmue III T-Shirt from Phantom River Stone

There are now under three months to go until the release of Shenmue III on August 27, and what better way to celebrate than with an exclusive Shenmue III T-shirt thanks to co-producer Cedric Biscay and his company Shibuya Productions!

How to Enter

We are running two separate T-shirt give-aways: one on Twitter and another on Facebook. The T-shirts are available in M or L.

Click the links below for entry by following the simple conditions that are posted:

• Competition 1 (Twitter): Link to the PRS T-shirt give-away on Twitter 
• Competition 2 (Facebook): Link to the PRS T-shirt give-away on Facebook 

Shenmue III T-Shirt Competitions On Other Fan Sites

What's more, several Shenmue fan sites are running separate Shenmue III T-shirt give-away draws, and fans are welcome to enter them all. Be sure to give them a follow on social media too!

• Shenmue Forever (Twitter and Facebook)
• Shenmue 500K (Twitter and Facebook)
• Shenmue Dojo (Twitter and Facebook)
• Shenmue Master (Twitter and Facebook)
• SEGA Saturno (Twitter and Facebook)
• Team Yu (Twitter and Facebook)

Winners for all competitions will be announced on June 3rd, which is of course Shenmue Day (which takes place each month on the 3rd). Good luck!

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Exclusive Shenmue III T-Shirt at MAGIC 2019

Images have been revealed of the limited-edition Shenmue III T-shirt to be made available exclusively at the MAGIC 2019 event in Monaco on March 9th where Yu Suzuki will be holding a Shenmue 3 presentation. The announcement was made by Shenmue III co-producer Cédric Biscay, who is also president and CEO of Shibuya Productions, the company behind the annual MAGIC Monaco event.

The T-shirt has a black base, with a small white MAGIC logo on the front, and a large illustration also in white on the back, showing Ryo Hazuki with his back to the viewer, the tiger motif on his jacket visible. Overlaid at the bottom of the illustration is the Shenmue III logo, with some copyright text beneath.

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Shenmue III New Images: Lan Di, Ren and a Riverboat | MAGIC Monaco Local Press Conference

Yesterday three new Shenmue III images were shared by the game's co-producer. Cédric Biscay, as part of a local press conference for MAGIC Monaco 2019. This was separate from the earlier global press conference on February 8th at which new images were also shared (see Yu Suzuki Confirmed for MAGIC 2019 + Two New Shenmue 3 Images)

We will recap the images in this post, commenting on some of the smaller details.

First Image: Lan Di

First image: Lan Di (tap to enlarge)

The detail, lighting and textures in this image are exquisite, from the fine patterning in his silk sleeves to the ornate surroundings. The ceiling decorations, wall scroll and lanterns match those of the room in which Lan Di was standing in the Gamescom 2018 trailer (see Shenmue III Trailer "The Prophecy" Dissection [Part Two]).

Finely-detailed patterning on Lan Di's sleeves.

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Yu Suzuki Confirmed for MAGIC 2019 + Two New Shenmue 3 Images

Some exciting information on Shenmue III was revealed at yesterday's press conference for the upcoming MAGIC 2019 event in Monaco on March 9th. And we were even treated to two new images from the game!

In this post we recap what was shared by Shenmue III's co-producer, Cédric Biscay.

Cédric Biscay at the MAGIC Monaco press conference. Photo credit: Raptoror via Twitter

Yu Suzuki's Attendance Confirmed for MAGIC

First and foremost: Yu Suzuki's presence at the event is confirmed with a presentation on Shenmue III. This will be a fantastic opportunity to hear Yu speak more about the game and the latest progress, Autograph signing sessions are also promised.

Yu Suzuki will be at MAGIC Monaco! Photo credit: Pascal Parol via Twitter

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Cédric Biscay Visits Yu Suzuki in Tokyo | Photos

Earlier this week, Shenmue III co-producer Cédric Biscay of Shibuya Productions shared a few photos taken at Yu Suzuki's development studio YS Net, during his visit to Tokyo for the Shenmue III project.

Yu Suzuki with Cédric Biscay. On the wall behind is the Guiness World Record certificate for "the most money pledged for a Kickstarter videogame" achieved by the Shenmue III Kickstarter in 2015.

The tweet text is as follows:

"We are working hard with Yu san ! #shenmue3 #tokyo #Japan" (link to tweet)

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Recap: Yu Suzuki at MAGIC 2018

MAGIC 2018 is over, and Yu Suzuki is on his way home again.

In this post we recap the three main Shenmue III related sessions for which Yu was on stage: the opening ceremony, the Shenmue III conference and "Crazy Time" at the end of the day; with a brief mention of the separate autograph-signing session.

Opening Ceremony

The first event of the morning was the opening ceremony, which was attended by all guests. Yu Suzuki was introduced by Shenmue III co-producer Cédric Biscay (Shibuya Productions) and welcomed on stage enthusiastically by the audience.

Video clip courtesy of Geek Rebelde (Twitter: @Agente_Requejo). Thanks to Shenmue Forever (Twitter: @ShenmueForever) for the captions.

Yu remarks "I'm looking forward to the conference."

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Shenmue 3 at MAGIC 2018: Schedule Summary

The MAGIC 2018 event is almost upon us! As promised in the January Kickstarter Update, this Saturday (24th February) Yu Suzuki will be attending to tell - and show - the latest on Shenmue III.

I felt an extra jolt of excitement to see the photo below which was tweeted today on the MAGIC Monaco Twitter account, evidence of Yu Suzuki's arrival at the event venue, the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco (source tweet).

At the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco: Shenmue III co-producer Cédric Biscay with creator Yu Suzuki.

The main Shenmue III conference is scheduled for the morning at 10:40 am CET (Central European Time).

There are also some other times of interest to take note of:

• An opening ceremony at 9:30 am CET which will include all the conference guests, hence Yu Suzuki should also be present at this.
• An autograph-signing session held with Yu at 3:00 pm CET for those fans lucky enough to be in attendance.
• At the end of the day at 5:10 pm CET there is a Shibuya Productions "Crazy Time" with Cédric Biscay. While the exact content is undisclosed, with Shibuya Productions co-producing Shenmue III we may be treated to some additional material; after all it was at this very session at MAGIC 2016 where three new Shenmue III videos were revealed.

The latest schedule information can be found at the MAGIC website.

Below is a summary of the times mentioned above. Remember that all times should be converted to your local timezone:

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Examining the 3 New Shenmue III Screenshots | MAGIC Press Conference

Three fabulous new Shenmue III screenshots have been released at the recent press conference for the MAGIC 2018 event (to be held in Monaco on February 24th) and they have got the community buzzing with their highly-polished appearance.

The press conference took place on January 16th, 2018 at the embassy of Monaco in Paris, France. A photo of the conference in progress is shown here:

The press conference in progress (from the official MAGIC Monaco twitter account).

In this post, we'll do our usual comb-through of the images to point out any items of interest to be found.

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IGN Japan Interview with Cédric Biscay | Shenmue III

Today's post is a translation of an interview with Shenmue III co-producer, Cédric Biscay, that was recently published in Japanese on the IGN Japan website on the topic of Shenmue III (hence it is an English translation of a Japanese translation of his original comments!).

While for obvious reasons Cédric does not reveal specific details about the game, he has an upbeat message to fans on the state of the in-progress game - having tried out the latest version when he visited the development studio in Japan last month - and also takes the opportunity to encourage SEGA regarding remasters of the first two games in the Shenmue series.

Translation note: Cédric talks about a feeling of "reassurance" on playing the most recent version of Shenmue III. It could also be translated as feeling comfortable, or feeling at ease. To me this is wonderful to hear as it indicates that Shenmue III has the right "vibe"; a feeling of being a Shenmue game.

Date of article: 3 January, 2018.

The interview begins below.

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Cédric Plays Shenmue III: "So Cool" | Photo

Shenmue III co-producer Cédric Biscay has met with Yu Suzuki at the development studio in Tokyo, and tried out the latest build of Shenmue III, with an upbeat verdict.

In his tweet he describes the game as "so cool" and has attached a photo of Yu Suzuki posing at his desk with a PS4 controller in his hands, smiling cheerfully.

The tweet message reads:

"We are playing The game and it is so cool ! #Shenmue3"

It is heart-warming to see Yu showing a relaxed and confident face, in what must be a hectic development period for the game.

Also posted was a group photo:

Group photo (from left: executive producer Harry Morishita, creator Yu Suzuki, co-producer Cédric Biscay).

The tweet reads:

"What a pleasure to play the latest version of #Shenmue3 today.
Yes we will really have the game we are all waiting for ! @YSNET_Inc @yu_suzuki_jp  @ShibuyaProd"

Many thanks to Cédric on behalf of fans and backers for this brief, but uplifting, informal update.

Source: tweet #1, tweet #2

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Cédric Biscay in Tokyo | Photo

Shenmue III co-producer Cédric Biscay of Shibuya Productions has shared a photo of himself with Yu Suzuki, during his visit to Tokyo.

Cédric is pointing at what looks like two rooster ornaments on the table - souvenirs to Yu? Or perhaps a new kind of Chawan sign...

Yu Suzuki with CédricBiscay

The tweet text is as follows:

"Amazing time with my friend @yu_suzuki_jp ! #Shenmue3 cc @ShibuyaProd @YSNET_Inc" 

Although no special information can be gleaned (still working on decoding the rooster message), it's good to see Cédric and Yu Suzuki looking relaxed and catching on the Shenmue III project.

Source: Twitter

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Seven Interesting Details from the Shenmue III Teaser | Gamescom

The Shenmue III teaser video that was unveiled at Gamescom contains several scenes and images, many of which flash pass by in an instant.

In this post we'll pause and take a closer look at seven points within the teaser which hint at promising depths beneath the surface of the game.

1. Masks on Display

Shortly before the camera sweeps down through the main road of the riverside town of Choubu, a line of colorful and distinctive masks is shown -  presumably merchandise for sale at one of the shops Ryo will be able to visit. Masks of other designs can be observed in the background.

Masks on display in Choubu.

It turns out that the design of these particular masks, which are carved from wood, originates from the Indonesian island of Bali.

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Video Interview with Cédric Biscay by Team Yu | Gamescom

Interview in progress (via Cédric Biscay on Twitter)

While in Cologne for Gamescom last week, Team Yu spoke with Cédric Biscay, President and CEO of Shibuya Productions and co-producer of Shenmue 3.

In the interview, Cédric talks about topics such as Shibuya Productions' role, the new Shenmue III teaser video and why Shenmue I and II remasters need to be released by SEGA ahead of Shenmue III.

Watch the 10-minute interview video below, or read Team Yu's summary write-up on Facebook here.

For information on how to participate in the #SaveShenmueHD Tweetathon on the 3rd of every month, head over to the Team Yu website.

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Shenmue III at Gamescom 2017: What We Know So Far

At the end of last month, we received the happy news through a Kickstarter Update that Shenmue III would be making a presence at the Gamescom 2017 games event in Cologne, Germany.

Since then, there have been two further short updates related to Gamescom (in the form of Kickstarter Updates #70 and #71, the latter being issued yesterday) about what to expect.

Let's consolidate the information we have received so far.

Gamescom 2017 Venue & Dates

Gamescom 2017 will be held at the Koelnmesse convention center in Cologne.

There are two designated areas for the event: the business area (Halls 2-4), to which access is restricted to trade visitors & the media, and the entertainment area (Halls 5-10), for the general public.

The dates of the event are as follows:

• Tuesday August 22nd: this day is reserved for trade visitors & the media.
• Wednesday August 23rd - Saturday 26th: on these days the entertainment area will be open to general-admittance visitors from the early morning (8:00 am on Wed/Thu, and 9:00 am on Fri/Sat) until 8:00 pm. The restricted-access business area will remain in use on Wednesday and Thursday. 

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Interview with Cédric Biscay at MAGIC 2017 | Famitsu.com [Mar 9, 2017]

Co-producer of Shenmue III, Cédric Biscay, was recently interviewed by Japanese magazine Famitsu at the MAGIC 2017 event.

The interview covers Cédric's background and reasons for starting his company Shibuya Productions, and he talks about some of the guests and goals of the MAGIC event.

And of particular interest for Shenmue fans, at the end of the interview Cédric is asked about Shenmue III and he replies positively regarding the current development progress.

I have translated the article from the original Japanese, starting below.

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Shenmue's Absence From PSX 2016

The two-day PlayStation Experience (PSX) 2016 event took place over the weekend, and while there had been some anticipation among the Shenmue community for something new on Shenmue III to be revealed, in the end this turned out not to be the case.

I was among those who been hoping that Shenmue III would get a mention. There was the tweet from Cedric Biscay suggesting the possibility of something being shown in December, together with various other factors in the weeks and days before the event that all appeared to point to a reveal at PSX (confirmation bias!).

Furthermore, PSX seemed to "make sense" as it would have provided a high level of public exposure for the game, and timing-wise would have slotted in nicely ahead of the release of the trial version due some time in 2017.

However while the outcome is somewhat disappointing, the absence of Shenmue III from PSX was always within the realm of possibility.

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Cédric Biscay hints at Shenmue III material for the PSX event

Shenmue III co-producer Cédric Biscay of Shibuya Productions has tweeted out a promising comment regarding the possibility of something Shenmue related being revealed at the upcoming PlayStation Experience event at the start of December.

PlayStation Experience 2016, December 3-4

His replied to a query posed by user Spaghetti from the Shenmue Dojo / NeoGAF as follows:

Cedric: "If we are ready on time, we will show something next december. I cannot confirm at this stage."

While being at pains to point out that this should not be taken as a definite confirmation, it is still a great indication that something is in the works for showing off Shenmue III - perhaps a trailer? - with a chance of it being revealed at the PSX event itself. And if not at the event, then hopefully soon after it.

We shall know more in a few weeks' time!

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