History Trivia / Shenmue

* MovedToTheNextConsole: From the Platform/SegaSaturn to the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast.
* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: After failing to make its release on the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn due to a really difficult development on the project, which itself was started in 1996, ''Shenmue'' saw the light of day through the UsefulNotes/{{Sega Dreamcast}} in December 1999.

** As noted on the main page, the game was originally planned to be released for the Platform/SegaSaturn, but its time in development caused the project to be shifted over to the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast.

* KillerApp: Of the UsefulNotes/{{Sega Dreamcast}}. In fact it was the 4th best selling game in the white console, just after ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'', and ''VideoGame/CrazyTaxi''. Back in the day, playing ''Shenmue'' was one of the reasons alone to go and buy a UsefulNotes/{{Sega Dreamcast}}. It does, however, also hold the dubious distinction of being an example of a Killer App that despite very good sales, ultimately ended up as AcclaimedFlop and contributing to the sinking of the console it was meant to help keep afloat.

* MovedToTheNextConsole: From the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn to the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast.

** As noted on the main page, the game was originally planned to be released for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn, but its time in development caused the project to be shifted over to the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast.

!!General:
* TheWikiRule: [[https://shenmue.fandom.com/wiki/Shenmue_Wiki Shenmue Wiki]].

* DoingItForTheArt: The first game is rumored to be one of the most expensive games ever produced (roughly $70,000,000 in 1999 currency, although that was later revealed to be an embellishment and the real budget was $47,000,000). But there's no way anyone could say it was wasted. Pushing the limits of the Dreamcast's technology to create unbelievable levels (at the time) of facial mapping and reactive AI that adhered to personal schedules for ''every NPC you see''. Loads of tiny details like being able to open desk drawers each with their own unique texture maps and a very accurate (at the time) recreation of Yokosuka, Japan. They even went so far as to gather accurate weather pattern data for the region in the late-1986/early-1987 period over which the game takes place and integrate it (the game has its own weather pattern that it generates but upon beating the game once, you can use the period-accurate meteorological data for Yokosuka on a repeat playthrough).

* NamesTheSame: The hostess in Bar Yokosuka is named Akemi Satō, sharing the name of a voice actress known best as the voice of Shiori in the anime version of ''VisualNovel/{{Kanon}}'' and Nyotengu in the ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' series.

* ActingForTwo: Given the LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters in both games, many of the voice actors for both dubs ended up voicing two or even three characters in a single game. Perhaps the most goes to actress Claire O'Connor, who voiced five characters in the first game's English dub alone.

** Ditto for everyone except for Ryo, Lan Di and Shenhua in the Japanese version as noted below.
* RoleReprise: In the Japanese version, Creator/MasayaMatsukaze and Creator/TakahiroSakurai reprise their roles as Ryo and Lan Di respectively from the original games. Creator/HarukaTerui, who took over the role of Shenhua in ''VideoGame/ShenmueIII'', reprises her role here as well.

** In the first game, it was planned for Ryo to gain access to a bicycle to navigate through the town streets more quickly. Between the foot traffic and the main street of Dobuita not being big enough to warrant it, the bicycle didn't make the cut.

* TheOtherDarrin: Due to the 2022 anime's English dub being recorded in Houston instead of Tokyo, every role was inevitably recast. For example, Ryo Hazuki, voiced in the video games by Corey Marshall, is now voiced by Creator/AustinTindle.

* RoleReprise: In the Japanese version, Creator/MasayaMatsukaze and Creator/TakahiroSakurai reprise their roles as Ryo and Lan Di respectively from the original games and Creator/HarukaTerui who took over thre role of Shenhua in ''VideoGame/ShenmueIII'' reprises her role here as well.