Shenmue 3 Kickstarter

[BogusMeatFactory]

BTW has anything been said regarding Shenmue 3 and the worst part of Shenmue's legacy... Quick Time Events? Do people really like those?

Little known fact about Shenmue. It isn't Quick Time Event. It is Quick Timer Event, something that everyone, including myself mispronounce unendingly.

As for Quick Timer Events in general? I do not feel they are a bad thing, with context. Their popularity sprung up when games wanted to create a more cinematic experience. Although Shenmue wasn't the first, it was definitely the one that popularized them. Many games, like the God of War series, use them in a poor way, using them to break up the beat-em-up action and making the buttons you press arbitrary. What separates the X button from the O button in a QTE in God of War? There isn't.

With Shenmue, the QTE does serve some purpose. The game has a huge focus on the cinematic approach and utilizes buttons that are intuitive to the action. You see a guy punching and Ryo will throw, so the button you press is the throw button. When chasing someone, you use the direction buttons to dodge. These are specific events that happen that can't be easily replicated with gameplay at the time.

In Shenmue II, QTEs open up and are utilized in different ways. Chase scenes with branching paths, and anti QTEs that throw you in a loop, making you NOT push the button it tells you to.

Current games still use QTEs in horrible ways like the infamous Call of Duty Advanced Warfare, "Press x to Pay Respects."

Still, there are games that use them in great ways. Games like Heavy Rain utilize QTEs in a way that are nailbiting and exciting. You wouldn't think it, but they can be done right and elevate an experience. It just has to have button presses and movements that make sense in context to the game and do not break up the gameplay.

A great BAD example comes from....Shenmue II!? SHOCK!!! WHAT?!!! "But Bogus," you may ask, "Don't you love Shenmue II?" True! But there are some Free Battles late in the game that include QTEs in the middle of the fight, without any notification, meaning you are attacking and BOOM QTE GO! Bad design.

[Luke]

A lot of the QTE's in Shenmue are like winning a game in Blitz Ball in FFX; fun if you get them right, little consequence if you do not.

At least that's how I remember it.

[BogusMeatFactory]

A lot of the QTE's in Shenmue are like winning a game in Blitz Ball in FFX; fun if you get them right, little consequence if you do not.

At least that's how I remember it.

Yeah with Shenmue I, that was very much the case. The worst case scenario is that you lose a day by failing. In Shenmue II, there are some branching paths and change in story based on the success, Failure or decision made in the QTEs. They put a nice spin on them that was fun and interesting and had a bit more weight to them in comparison to the first game.

[Nemoide]

If I remember correctly, the "anti-QTE" in the barbershop of Shenmue II set me back at least a month in game-time before I figured it out...

EDIT: I guess I'll begrudgingly spoiler-tag this reference to a certain puzzle.

[Blu]

If I remember correctly, the "anti-QTE" in the barbershop of Shenmue II set me back at least a month in game-time before I figured it out...

It's sooooo good! Such a great moment in the first game. Spoiler that Nemoide!

[MrPopo]

I think Penny Arcade managed to completely capture the Shenmue experience and the reaction of everyone else who doesn't feel that experience.

[ninjainspandex]

A lot of the QTE's in Shenmue are like winning a game in Blitz Ball in FFX; fun if you get them right, little consequence if you do not.

At least that's how I remember it.

Yeah with Shenmue I, that was very much the case. The worst case scenario is that you lose a day by failing. In Shenmue II, there are some branching paths and change in story based on the success, Failure or decision made in the QTEs. They put a nice spin on them that was fun and interesting and had a bit more weight to them in comparison to the first game.

That's another reason I prefer the Xbox version of 2, you can save anywhere.

[Luke]

Yeah with Shenmue I,

Pet peeve. It's "Shenmue", no I. But, "I, Shenmue" sounds cool.

I could be wrong, but doesn't Shenmue II start off with a series of QTE events including some jerkwas kid that stole a backpack or dufflebag? I think you can even screw that one up and still not have negative consequences other than having to play the mission a bit longer.

I do know the games include QTE's that could "end" the game, but not many.

[BogusMeatFactory]

Haha! That Penny Arcade comic sums things up PERFECTLY! My 12 year-old brother-in-law is 100% puzzled by my excitement. He doesn't get it.

Also, what do you think the odds are that the success of the Shenmue 3 kickstarter will spur a Shenmue 1 & 2 HD re-release from Sega? You would think so, thanks to the awesome publicity and exposure the kickstarter has caused. SO many people would buy that up!

I could be wrong, but doesn't Shenmue II start off with a series of QTE events including some jerkwas kid that stole a backpack or dufflebag? I think you can even screw that one up and still not have negative consequences other than having to play the mission a bit longer.

I do know the games include QTE's that could "end" the game, but not many.

Yeah that initial QTE doesn't start up right away, but is VERY early in the game. You can still do some stuff like the arm wrestling and explore some other areas to kind of circumvent the event for a little bit.

[ExedExes]

QTEs were the best for one reason only.

QTE Title. That is all. When I played both games, I got over 300K on each one I encountered. Normally that gets you the mini-toy of the game you beat, but it also had special bits of conversation thrown in. The best example would be the QTE Title that was at the orphanage in Shenmue II.