Unfortunately what Spaghetti said is very true, and a lot more of a tempered response than I had originally typed. Negativity and contempt to the OP attitude will get me nowhere, so I will take a deep breath and try to be more friendly and coherent in my response. Emphasis on the try there, I can't make any promises.
First off, I am not going to pretend to understand the life that someone like Yu Suzuki lives, as he is many things I am not; more experienced in life, a games creator, business man, a husband, a father.... But I have spoken with him on all of these issues at some levels, as well as having a relatively normal education, some life experience and common sense, so I feel like I can at least have a stab at some relativity here.
As a games creator.... No..... As an artist, whose livelihood is based on that, it's his life. It's what he wakes up for in the morning, it's what he breathes, it's what he lives for. To even understand what that's like, look inside your own life. What you do when you wake up, what job you go to when you do, and how much of your 7 day week that takes up. If you are like me and have a bog standard 9-5 job then that's cool, but I would bet it's boring. It's mundane. It pays the bills, and most of all, it's routine.
A creator, or an artist such as Yu Suzuki does not share a single attribute with that type of world. His mind is always working, even when he sleeps. What programming language best to use, what character designs are, storyline structures, character development, backstories, environment geometry, cutscene direction, in game mechanics, musical themes, title concepts and designs.... I could go on and on. When our normal life jobs end at 5pm, his doesn't stop. He will sit with a pen in hand until 2am until he passes out.
That is just the creative process!! Also understand that since Sega, he is his own boss now. Responsible to himself, where every mistake and error costs him both personally and professionally. There's no faceless company to hide behind and take the heat. He not only has to design and build new ideas from scratch, but he has to sell it too. He has to sell his concepts, his ideas, his designs, and even has to sell his company and himself.
Why does he do this? Many reasons you could throw down, but like I said this is his life. A man's gotta eat. Got to put a roof over his and his wife's head. Take care of his young daughter, and make sure she is ok in her own life. Not only is it his life, but it's his job and what brings home bacon. Whilst I am sure you don't own any Ferrari's or a big fancy house, could you imagine being quietly let go from the huge company you helped build, and watch your bank balance shrink to the point where you had to sell off your prized possessions. Watch your entire life downsize, and have your worries chance from satisfying the gaming masses out there, to worrying about your own loved one. I sincerely hope not, and that no one reading this is ever in that position.
Any comment I have read today criticizing his involvement in a new game honestly disgusts me, and demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt the sheer short sightedness, stupidity and downright arrogance of some so called "Shenmue" fans. People literally want him to work on Shenmue and that's it. Like leeches feeding off of him, and once Shenmue 3 is released, no doubts the demand for Shenmue 4 cry out. No regard for his age, lifestyle, stress levels, family sacrifices.... It's the same with George RR Martin, and comments I have read where people wouldn't give a fuck if he died tomorrow, or how his loved ones would feel in regards to their tragic loss.... They would just be concerned about how much he had completed for the next Game of Thrones book, and be pissed off it wasn't finished.
We truly are living in the era of self want, greed and lack of humility. Wait... Greed?? But hang on Peter, this was a Kickstarter! It was OUR money we gave! Yep, you are absolutely right. But, if I thought for one second that this said Kickstarter would represent 70,000 whips cracking off of Yu Suzuki's back day in and day out for the last 3 and a half years then I would gladly.... GLADLY give every cent back in a heartbeat, and live the rest of my life without ever playing a third instalment of the Shenmue franchise. That alone is shameful in itself, but criticizing him for doing his job... At his age... doing what he was born to do, doing what he lives for, where he has come from, gone through, and trying to get back to???
I respectfully say get the absolute fuck out of my sight and go look in the mirror to see if you would place as much criticism on yourself for doing the exact same thing. The age of the keyboard warrior, where the idiotic ramblings now are easily typed into a post for the world to see, rather than just kept inside people's minds like they were before the days of social media and the internet. Typing up a hissy fit at someone doing their job. I have to wonder if that same logic that goes into a futile comment like the ones I've read today, would apply to that person when they are lifting a tin of Asdas own brand beans down off the shelf instead of Heinz, because they can't afford it with being off sick for 10 years. Or does that logic kick in when they have to call the mortgage broker in to sell the house because they were made redundant last month. Type up all the negativity you want on a message forum, or social media, but the notion of a human being being discussed, with a family and loved ones went flying out the window, further and further each day the internet continues to exist. Hopefully one day, people begin to remember humanity again.