Shenmue Beta Builds

[neoblast]

I'm retrieving all the possbile info on the shenmue betas in order to make an article about the main differences about the shenmue builds from all the old footage and images around, having more videos from EARLY Shenmue 2 might help a lot in this research as this is one of the games ( and betas ) that fascinates me the most.
And as I get some more moeny I'll try to look for some beta discs for further research and documentation, if you have any info on the location of these or would like to sell please PM me. Correct me If I am wrong in any of this as I don't have all the info and I'm human so I can make mistakes lol.
I'd say there are 4 builds/betas of the shenmue engine, the first one, being almost like a graphically upgraded port of the saturn version with Ryo's colored wrist hand and no jacket, and saturn version like animations, White Ryo's bag, etc. The second build features Ryo's jacket as well as an overall upgrade of graphics and animation, Ryo's bag is brown. Places are a bit more detailed but yet they look "empty" compared with newer versions, old choice selector is on this build but green and red colored for YES/NO options. Next build has some minor changes from the second one, more graphical upgradings but animations remain the same and a different choice selector, shenmue 1 would be made from this one ( since shenmue 1 uses this selector ) This is the build showed too on the Bailu Village images and that "R" button action similar to the way shenmue 1 handles those events ( just before attacking charlie on shenmue 1 ).
Builds 2 and 3 are most likely the ones showed on elder screen and the shenmue premier video. Build 4 is the last one which is pretty much the same as the retail versions, and "old-man" conversation ( form shenmue ) is from this build

[wombat]

Fatalist has a few Shenmue (1, 2 or both) GD-R discs. Maybe he is able to assist you?

[neoblast]

I asked him about it a few times but or either he won't reply or just won't show anything. Another Thing I forgot to mention is that there were less "standalone" quarters as there were less detail it all fit with just one load, or at least a few.

[Yakumo]

I have a few videos on my site that may help you. Enter the Movie Vault to see them. My site is www.segagagadomain.com

Yakumo

[neoblast]

Heh yeah I've known your site for a long time, good old yakumo's site :)

I'd like to write a detailed article about this, I find it interesting you know.
But there's not that much info...

[Badxil]

If people are interested it will be cool if we can buy one or more of these builds (raise funds + dump + release...) :nod:

Look like the shenmue 3 beta builds is a fake :-(
http://blogs.sega.com/usa/2008/08/07/

Real picture : http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/2742924572/
Fake Shenmue 3 picture : http://pgfree.free.fr/gamekyo/shenmue3.jpg

[neoblast]

Too bad, but there has to be indeed some shenmue 3 alpha build or extended shenmue 2 ones... , hence the pics guilin village pictures, and the conversation with an old man in a chinese house.

[neoblast]

someone ban this damn bot

[dj898]

one of rolling demo shows the intro where the ship arriving at HK except it's at night?


Also when Ryu first encountered the two scums right after his bag got stolen he appeared to be sitting at the table?


p.s. Sorry for the blurring pictures. I used my ancient digicam on the PDP with no flash. _ _;

[Badxil]

Where do you take this pictures ??

[Yakumo]

I've seen the table section but I don't think i've seen the ship arrive at night. Interesting :nod:

[Badxil]

So we need to know who own such beta
I will be interested to give some money in order to dump the GD-R (I doesn't want to buy, and I understand owner doesn't want to sell these beta)
So if someone here have some beta GD-R or know some people....
Contact me it's a really serious offer