The "w" is from the Japanese sentence - it's used to indicate a smile or laugh.
I've also done a translation in this post (so there is slightly different wording for Yu's responses):
https://www.phantomriverstone.com/2022/12/yu-suzukis-keyword-for-2023-light-ai.html
Thank you very much for explaining its significance to me and my apologies to every japanese citizen. \[^w^]/*
It's amazing the shut response now given at your linked interview. He goes for 2022 when asked for 2023... It raises my suspicions about some deal/s falling in the crumbling market. I have to understand that talking in public about a project with problems to get funded consequentally adds unpopularity and don't-touch aura, but its a bit frustating.
Facts (leading nowhere?):
- He is gotten by behaviour algorithms. First the AI research declaration and now he points Vampire Survivors for its management of many processes at execution time.
- Even if he always has been more of a game mechanics designer, than for example a visual artist type of director (Fumito Ueda), he seems more "meta" than ever. Again the AI, masses behaviours, breaking rules/game conventions (bug exploits), a journey.
I believe he is at personal crucial moment.
- He still has many cultural curiosity, in touch with nowadays anime and everything.
- He spare time to enjoy simple life, Shenmuesque pleasures, like a calmed and relaxing billiard play.
Also, my personal opinion, I get from his attitude and responses that he is not unaware of polemics surrounding him or claims over his secretism. Maybe he even has read some of the "damned Yu Suzuki! Say what I, who pays you, deserve!" kind of posts, he's reacting cocky and that makes me happy he not allowing anyone putting boots on his neck. Very well done. I like Terminator Suzuki. Nobody should take shit at his 60s.
Sorry to be one of those fans guys, but with no word on a sequel and even the anime getting canceled, there's zero reason to believe Shenmue will continue, let alone end.
I'll continue to be part of the dojo, not for any shred of hope of a future release for Shenmue, but simply to continue being part of the great community here. And hey... we got to ride a hype wave that has never been seen before... the resurrection of a dead franchise, for however short a time, and even be part of it... some of us even getting our names in the credits of the successful Kickstarter continuation.
I see just a nice unbiased description of the situation right now. Brain over guts. You're not being doomer there at all. And I like how you put it at the bright side. I couldn't back the KS campaign back at the day and I'll be eternally grateful to all those backers for helping into getting me the best Shenmue episode so far: Shenmue, the Third.
And I appreciate a lot both feet-to-ground "expect nothing" spud style and call to hope ShenSun flavour.
I got hope on the strange and uncertain YS+Sega (Oasysx)+Virtua Fighter eSports collusion of events crystalizing into something with good taste for us.
I've just wrote a book here , glups
www.famitsu.com
