[Team Yu]

Yesterday we posted our thoughts on the recent poll for Kickstarter backers of Shenmue 3. Today we want to address a surprisingly common misinterpretation of the poll question that appears to have panicked a number of PayPal backers, thanks in part to some equally (and typically) confused media coverage.

To clarify, all existing PayPal Slacker Backer rewards remain unaffected by the poll, which was only to decide whether rewards that had been omitted (but previously available through Kickstarter) should be added to the line-up.

That's it. That's all. If you've already backed through PayPal, you'll still get your rewards. If you haven't yet backed through PayPal, you still have the choice of all the same rewards that have been available to Slacker Backers since the option was launched in September.

The only rewards that Slacker Backers don't have access to, and this has always been the case, are those that were never carried across from Kickstarter in the first place. They were never listed on the Slacker Backer page, and now thanks to this poll, they never will be.

So nothing has changed. There is nothing to panic about.

We made our feelings known yesterday about the outcome of the poll, but that has nothing to do with this misconception about PayPal rewards disappearing. They're not. Everything's just as it was a week ago.

Despite whatever the gutter press might think.

For more on the media's history of misrepresenting any and all news connected with Shenmue 3, we discussed a few examples with SEGA Nerds in October: tinyurl.com/SEGANerdsTeamYu

[jameswalker85]

Really disappointed with the outcome, on two different fronts.

1. How can people be so selfish as to say that they don't want anyone who backs Shenmue III to get certain rewards?

2. How can the answer with the least number of votes be the the one that gets picked?

By that logic, all you Americans should get voting for Trump so he doesn't get in.

*sigh*

[Team Yu]

They say to never put down to malice that which can be explained by incompetence. And if that's the case, then the gaming media must be brimming with more incompetence than a dyslexic bedwetters' convention.

The scare stories about PayPal backer rewards are continuing to circulate, from all the usual suspects, throwing uninformed fans into various states of confusion. So we'll say it again:

Nothing has changed.

Every reward that has ever been available through PayPal is still available through PayPal. The outcome of the recent poll only means that certain other rewards, which had never been included amongst those carried over from Kickstarter, will still not be added as options.

So if you see one of the many headlines touting the outright lie that PayPal backers won't be receiving their rewards, take a moment to wonder what other garbage these sites might be feeding you about other games without you ever realizing, and consider doing yourself the favor of never reading them again.

[Team Yu]

A hearty pat on the back to Adam Pavlacka of WorthPlaying for this properly researched article pulling up some of the more clickbait-focused media on their recent misreporting of the PayPal backer rewards poll:

http://worthplaying.com/article/2016/1/6/news/98060/

It's a shame that this level of journalism isn't the base level we can expect from the sites that garner the most traffic. But then, that will only happen if lazy and dishonest methods ever cease to be the most effective in attracting said traffic...

[Team Yu]

Thumbs-up also for Sega Scream, providing another sensibly researched debunking of the misinformation being peddled by sections of the gaming media this week:

http://segascream.com/mainstream-media-continues-to-mislead-public-on-shenmue-iii/

Please continue to help notify your fellow gamers and fans that what they've read on lowbrow websites about PayPal backers losing their existing rewards is simply untrue.

Nothing has changed as a result of the recent Kickstarter poll - everything that's been available on the Slacker Backer site since its launch in September, including a physical copy of Shenmue 3 for PS4, remains available now: shenmue.link/order

[Team Yu]

Belatedly, one of the gaming news sites responsible for spreading misinformation regarding the recent Kickstarter backers poll has contacted Ys Net's crowdfunding team for clarification on facts that any journalist worth their salt would have checked before publishing their article.

Here is the response they duly received from Ys Net:

"There apparently was a miscommunication concerning the poll in the previous update.

Both the Kickstarter Backers and the Slacker Backers will all be receiving their rewards as listed on the Kickstarter and Slacker Backer pages respectively. Nothing is changing with the currently offered rewards.

The poll from the previous update was asking whether additional Kickstarter Exclusive rewards like the Dice Dude Capsule Toy etc. would be added to the Slacker Backer PayPal page. This point was not made clear enough.

We apologize [for] the misunderstanding. All PayPal purchased rewards will be delivered as promised per the Slacker Backer page information."

For more on the handling of this story by Polygon and other websites, we recommend this summary on NeoGAF: http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1167066

[agamil]

Really disappointed with the outcome, on two different fronts.

1. How can people be so selfish as to say that they don't want anyone who backs Shenmue III to get certain rewards?

Exactly!!! What does it matter if the PayPal donators get the same rewards? It's no skin off my nose. In fact, I'd be happy for them! I was completely shocked.

[jameswalker85]

I've spent the last week replying to ill-informed commenters about the whole thing. One guy even made a YouTube video to say he voted no because he wants his $500 reward to be more of a limited edition. Once I told him that the $500 reward is available to PayPal backers, he then got angry and started messaging me about YSnet lying about the results; he honestly thought that anyone who had pledged $500 via PayPal should get nothing in return! :/

[agamil]

That is so sad.