Shenmue was released by Sega for the Dreamcast in 1999, directed by Yu Suzuki and starring Ryo Hazuki searching Yokosuka for his father's killer, Lan Di. Because Lan Di and his organisation are linked to China, Ryo constantly questions townspeople for leads, producing earnest but repetitive dialogue. Clips of those exchanges spread online as fans highlighted the game's stiff voice acting and Ryo's single minded questioning, turning lines about sailors and Chinese people into enduring jokes about early open world investigation games.