Shenmue 3 - Community Interview and Update

On a Tumblr fan page for Shenmue 3 a community interview with Yu Suzuki (with some really short answers) can be found including pictures and an (apparently) exclusive piece of art,

Team Yu asks:

1) How has the revival of Shenmue after fourteen years affected you personally, and your outlook on life?

YS: The continued support of fan’s heartwarming messages and videos over the past 14 years have been one of the most moving experiences of my life. As a game designer I couldn’t be more proud.

Shenmue Dojo asks:

2) Will we be seeing any aspects from Shenmue Online in Shenmue 3 and what exactly?

YS: We do not expect to. We consider Shenmue 3 a sequel to the Shenmue series in the purest respect.

3) There is a cinema (theater), in the game named “New Yokosuka”, was there any time during development to make this cinema accessible to the player?

YS: Honestly I don’t remember since I made the game around 17 years ago. But if we did make a theater, I think someone naturally requested being able to enter.  

And there is also this Kickstarter progress report, about map testing:

n this phase of the development, the major work being done is the map testing. Map testing will define the different areas to make sure they are neither too big, nor too small to get to that Goldilocks zone. This consists of looking at the layout of a certain space, and experimenting to make necessary alterations. For example, an outside area may feel too open. That space may be reduced by 20%, and the number of people there increased from 10 to 16, to affect the proper consistency and density of the area.

All elements in the following screen shots are still in testing. Objects are being used as place holders, like the men in black suits, and Ryo is also an older model. Backgrounds and buildings are also still in the development stage and will see reworking. Shots for the two battle scenes were taken at angle to avoid spoilers as much as possible.

Thanks Eye.