Shenmue Dojo

Staff member Ryudo has compiled a collection of published articles surrounding Shenmue. These are based on various multimedia and gaming publishing outfits. More findings are in the midst of being scanned and added. We also welcome any submission, simply post the links in this feature discussion.

Thanks for putting them up.

Ryudo wrote:Thanks for putting them up.

No problem, honestly thank you for taking the time to scan and submit. Great stuff, looking to add to the collection soon.

No clue what the misc. magazine was? That had some of the best media imo, great early screens!

Awesome. I have an article to send in, I'll put it up ASAP.

Ryudo wrote:Gamers Republic.

Oh and yeah I pmed you about one pic you can't enlarge.

Good stuff, I remember that magazine.

Oh and fixed the link.

Thats cool! I have some but aint got no way of scanning them. But they are only reviews from ODM magazine etc. But still, nice work!

Awesome. It's always interesting reading articles from before the game was released.

It becomes rather apparent that Shenmue I & II were being developed at the same time, almost as one game. In fact, most of the pre-release screenshots are from the second game's levels and scenarios, which poses questions as to when they started fleshing out Chapter 1 and deciding it should be its own game.

orient wrote:Awesome. It's always interesting reading articles from before the game was released.

It becomes rather apparent that Shenmue I & II were being developed at the same time, almost as one game. In fact, most of the pre-release screenshots are from the second game's levels and scenarios, which poses questions as to when they started fleshing out Chapter 1 and deciding it should be its own game.

Yeah, I saw so much more Shenmue II gameplay before Shenmue itself. Especially the AT&T disc when I bought my US Dreamcast. I have to wonder how the series would have faired if it did start off with Shenmue II, only with a small prologue in Yokosuka (playable of course). Obviously I prefer it the way it is, but it would be interesting nonetheless.

Ryudo wrote:Shenmue 1-2 were going to be one game but at some point to make the deadline to release it they split it up. I remember the article and think I still have it somewhere.

Interesting stuff. I'd imagine Shenmue itself was to be much shorter then, makes me think a lot of it was added on top of the original storyboard and such.

If you watch the Saturn footage it just shows how much of the game was made. I really find it hard to think Shenmue III was very far in development and maybe some work was done on SIV.

the ship would be good to see

Oppy wrote:I have always wondered about chapter 2. If they were both released in one game would chapter 2 still be present? And did any parts (maps, models, dialogue) from chapter 2 get made? or was shafting it a very early decision?.. I am hoping that one day our modders will find some leftovers from chapter 2 somewhere.

I always figured the comic (should have been a cut scene) took it's place accordingly. Even Shenmue II's beginning ties in without any plot holes, which is a good thing. Like you though I wonder if there is anything at all that shows it was in production as a playable sequence or cut scene.

Great stuff. Interesting that one article claimed 1,200 rooms to a castle will be accessible. I think they simply got the info a little confused. You guys might find this link interesting, too: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread. ... ion+dollar