Why the retextures and graphical changes for Shenmue IIx?

[Taren Fox]

I was browsing the Shenmue Dojo page showing screenshots comparing both versions. Why are there so many unnecessary changes?

Like vending machines use yen some some reason. I understand them removing glass due to performance issues, but why did they feel the need to change textures for the worse?




My only theory is maybe Microsoft was given a beta source code or something.

[Supa]

Who knows? I've always wondered about that as well.

[ShinChuck]

I always wondered if they just felt like they needed to do something with that year in between Dreamcast and Xbox releases beyond a photo mode and English VAs, and so did all sorts of unnecessary tweaks out of a need for busywork.

Only half-joking!

[BlueMue]

It's possible they used source material from the production phase of the DC version instead of directly from the finished game. And then happened to pull out older files wich were just wrong.

The texture changes definately dont make any sense.

[Brian SII DC vs Xbox]

My only theory is maybe Microsoft was given a beta source code or something.

I also think Microsoft was given an earlier version because some of the textures were wrong on Xbox:

I can't believe I just quoted my own images . Can't believe that was back in 2004, but it was fun checking for differences on my CRT tv and both consoles plugged into my VCR. With the news of Shenmue III I've been spending some time back on Shenmue II only this time comparing the differences on split-screen mode on my flat screen:

I've even found some more differences that I missed back then.

[Miles Prower]

Yeah, some of the changes are so spectacularly pointless that it'd make sense that they may have been using an older version as a reference. I remember looking at your site back in the day and just thinking, why in god's name did they change half of this stuff