dreamcast lcd screen factory

Sega may have long since left console manufacturing behind, but the Dreamcast remains one of the longest-lived games consoles going, with fans ever so occasionally putting out new Dreamcast releases. The system has a cult following - the Dreamcast never dies.

The latest new development in Dreamcast technology is now available to be backed on crowd-funding site Indiegogo - and it’s a curious upgrade to one of the system’s most unique features - its VMU memory cards.

For those of you who aren’t rapidly hurtling towards their forties or indeed already there, the VMU (Visual Memory Unit) was a fascinating take on the memory cards of the time, making them interactive and fun rather than simply a slab of plastic that held your save data. Original VMUs contained a little LCD screen that could display information from the game you’re currently playing - providing a very rudimentary two-screen experience years before the Nintendo DS would do the same with far more utility.

Unplug the VMU from the controller, where its screen stares at you even when docked, and it had simplistic game controls meaning you could download mini-games from your disc-based, full-fat Dreamcast games and then play them on the go. The VMU also shipped with a Virtual Pet game built-in.

This new crowdfunded project is aiming to offer players an upgraded version of the VMU, improved by modern technology. Despite the improvements, this ‘VM2’ device retails all compatibility with the original Dreamcast.

Among its features, it offers a higher screen resolution, a high-capacity battery, the ability to stream the VMU LCD games to a PC via a Micro-USB connection, and a huge 128kb of storage - that’s 200 ‘blocks’, in Dreamcast parlance.

You can find all sorts of strange tech on Indiegogo, but this fundraiser for an improved version of the virtual memory unit (VMU) for the Sega Dreamcast is one of the zanier gadgets I’ve heard about this year (via Notebookcheck). The company, Dreamware Enterprises, is in the process of developing the VM2, which it calls a “next-gen VMU for the Dreamcast.” It’s a one-to-one recreation of a niche accessory made for a failed console that it plans to release in black or white in the summer of 2023.

Some of the improvements seem great, like a higher-resolution LCD screen with backlighting, microSD card storage for offloading and injecting saves, a rechargeable battery with USB-C charging, and mini-game support. It’ll ship with PC connectivity, with its own GUI for Windows. The firmware and software of the VM2 are being developed by a single person named Chris Daioglou. The Indiegogo page states that production will take place in Greece.

It costs a whopping $114 to place an order for one, and I mightjust do it. Why, exactly, do I really want one of these? Because I’m one of those people who still has a Dreamcast in their entertainment system. I guess that I have an obsession with dead gaming gadgets.

Enough about me. I could see the VM2 being very popular among the Dreamcast’s surprisingly active player base. There are those who still play it for the enjoyment of some of the finest fighting games. And then there are the more involved fans who have figured out ways to host or join dedicated servers for online games that have been officially out of commission for several years. Not to mention, some indie developers are still making games for the Dreamcast. So, yeah, there’s an audience for this thing. And that audience has spoken with its cash. The campaign has 18 days left, yet it has sailed past its goal of raising $89,119.

I might get one because I also just really dig the original concept. In case you missed the too-brief Dreamcast years before it was squished by the PS2, the VMU stood out because, unlike other memory cards, it had a screen that could display contextual info on a per-game basis through a window on the console’s controller. It could display your health, your next football play, or just show off the game’s logo recreated in pixelated fashion as you played. And notably, you could yank it out of the controller and trade saves by linking up with another VMU. You could also play solitaire on it with its D-pad and two face buttons, take care of Tamagotchi-style pets, or play other mini-games installed from some of the Dreamcast’s titles. Look, it was a different time.

Sega"s famous World Series Baseball franchise makes its debut on the Dreamcast console with this 2000 offering. Endorsed by Pedro Martinez, the game offers an arcade-style slant on the sport with a control system designed to be user friendly. As with other games in the series, real players and teams are included thanks to an official license from Major League Baseball and the MLPBA.

The action is played from a view behind the batter until he makes contact, at which point the screen will switch to the diamond or outfield, depending on the ball"s location. It is important to note that users cannot control infielders or outfielders in the game -- only the throw to the appropriate base.

Batting involves aiming a cursor over the plate and pressing the button to initiate the swing; if the cursor is positioned over the ball, contact will be made, the result of which is partially based on the batter"s real-life abilities during the 1999 season. Pitching in World Series Baseball 2K1 involves choosing one of six types of pitches and then pressing a button at the height of a vertical meter to determine speed, control and the ball"s movement.

Modes of play include Exhibition (you choose two teams and the ballpark), Quick Start (computer selects teams), Season (52, 104 or a full 162 games), and Playoffs. Also featured is the ability to edit pitching staffs, starting lineups, or create up to 25 custom players. Options include five difficulty levels, adjustable innings (3-9), instant replays, and the ability to toggle stereo or monaural sound. A VMU with 120 blocks of space is required in order to save game data and created players.

The Dreamcasthome video game console released by Sega on November 27, 1998, in Japan; September 9, 1999, in North America; and October 14, 1999, in Europe. It was the first sixth-generation video game console, preceding Sony"s PlayStation 2, Nintendo"s GameCube and Microsoft"s Xbox, and it was Sega"s final console, ending the company"s eighteen years in the console market.

The Dreamcast was developed by an internal Sega team led by Hideki Sato. In contrast to the expensive hardware of the unsuccessful Saturn, the Dreamcast was designed to reduce costs with "off-the-shelf" components, including a Hitachi SH-4 CPU and an NEC PowerVR2 GPU. Sega used the GD-ROM media format to avoid the expenses of DVD-ROM technology and a custom version of the Windows CE operating system to make porting PC games easy. The Dreamcast was the first console to include a built-in modular modem for internet access and online play.

Though released in Japan to a subdued reception, the Dreamcast had a successful US launch backed by a large marketing campaign. However, interest steadily declined as Sony built anticipation for the PlayStation 2. Dreamcast sales did not meet Sega"s expectations after several price cuts, and the company suffered significant financial losses. After a change in leadership, Sega discontinued the Dreamcast on March 31, 2001, withdrew from the console business, and restructured itself as a third-party developer. 9.13 million Dreamcast units were sold worldwide.

Despite its short lifespan and limited third-party support, reviewers have celebrated the Dreamcast as one of the greatest consoles. It is considered ahead of its time for pioneering concepts such as online play and downloadable content. Many of its games are regarded as innovative, including NAOMI arcade system board.

As early as 1995, reports surfaced that Sega would collaborate with Lockheed Martin, The 3DO Company, Matsushita, or Alliance Semiconductor to create a new graphics processing unit, which conflicting accounts said would be used for a 64-bit "Saturn 2" or an add-on peripheral.IBM"s Tatsuo Yamamoto to lead an 11-person team to work on a secret project in the United States with the codename Blackbelt. Accounts vary on how an internal team led by Hideki Sato also began development on Dreamcast hardware; one account specifies that Sega tasked both teams,Hitachi SH-4 processor architecture and the VideoLogic PowerVR2 graphics processor, manufactured by NEC, in the production of the mainboard. Initially known as Whitebelt,metallic female fighter from Sega"s

Knowing the Saturn had been set back by its high production costs and complex hardware, Sega took a different approach with the Dreamcast. Like previous Sega consoles, the Dreamcast was designed around intelligent subsystems working in parallel,Pentium II 200 in mind would run on the console.Isao Okawa, to include a modem with every Dreamcast under opposition from Okawa"s staff over the additional US$15 cost per unit.modular.GD-ROM media format;Yamaha, the GD-Rom could be mass-produced at a similar price to a normal CD-ROM,DVD-ROM technology, which was still fairly new at the time.Microsoft developed a custom Dreamcast version of Windows CE with DirectX API and dynamic-link libraries, making it easy to port PC games to the platform,

Sega held a public competition to name its new system and considered over 5,000 different entries before choosing "Dreamcast"—a portmanteau of "dream" and "broadcast".Kenji Eno submitted the name and created the Dreamcast"s spiral logo, but has not been officially credited by Sega.Ryuichi Sakamoto.PlayStation, but Irimajiri"s management team decided to retain it.US$50–80 million on hardware development, $150–200 million on software development, and US$300 million on worldwide promotion—a sum which Irimajiri, a former Honda executive, humorously likened to the investments required to design new automobiles.

With massive losses on the Saturn, including a 75 percent drop in half-year profits just before the Japanese launch of the Dreamcast, Sega was confident about the Dreamcast with significant outside interest and many pre-orders.PowerVR chipsets caused by a high failure rate in the manufacturing process.¥29,000, and the stock sold out by the end of the day. However, of the four games available at launch, only one—a port of 200,000–300,000 Dreamcast units could have been sold with sufficient supply.

Sega had announced that Sonic the Hedgehog, would launch with the Dreamcast and promoted it with a large-scale public demonstration at the Tokyo Kokusai Forum Hall,installed base sufficient to protect the Dreamcast after the arrival of competition from other manufacturers.¥19,900, effectively making it unprofitable but increasing sales. The reduction and the release of Namco"s

Before the Dreamcast"s release, Sega was dealt a blow when EA, the largest third-party video game publisher, announced it would not develop games for it. EA"s chief creative officer Bing Gordon said that Sega had "flip-flopped" on the hardware configuration, that EA developers did not want to work on it, and that Sega "was not acting like a competent hardware company". Gordon also said that Sega could not afford to give them the "kind of license that EA has had over the last five years".US$10 million purchase of the sports game developer Visual Concepts. While EA"s

Let"s take the conservative estimate of 250,000 Dreamcast units at presage—that"s a quarter of a million units at $200. We"ll have a ratio of 1.5 or two games for every Dreamcast unit sold. That"s half a million units of software. We think we"ll be .5 to one on VMUs and peripheral items such as extra controllers and what have you. This could be a $60 to 80 million 24-hour period. What has ever sold $60 to 80 million in the first 24 hours?

Working closely with Midway Games (which developed four launch games for the system) and taking advantage of the ten months following the Dreamcast"s release in Japan, Sega of America worked to ensure a more successful US launch with a minimum of 15 launch games.Hollywood Video in the months preceding its September launch.Peter Moore,Foote, Cone & Belding and Access Communications to develop the "It"s Thinking" campaign of 15-second television commercials, which emphasized the Dreamcast"s hardware power.

The Dreamcast launched in North America on September 9, 1999, at a price of $199, which Sega"s marketing dubbed "9/9/99 for $199".$98.4 million in what Moore called "the biggest 24 hours in entertainment retail history".fighting game Visual Concepts" football simulation

Sega released the Dreamcast in Europe on October 14, 1999,football clubs: Arsenal F.C. (England),AS Saint-Étienne (France),U.C. Sampdoria (Italy),Deportivo de La Coruña (Spain).

Through the regional distributor Ozisoft, the Dreamcast went on sale in Australia and New Zealand on November 30, 1999, at a price of A$499.first-party software included, and additional peripherals were not available in stores.

The Ozisoft representative Steve O"Leary, in a statement released the day of launch, explained that the Australian Customs Service had impounded virtually all the supplied launch software, including demo discs, due to insufficient labeling of their country of origin; Ozisoft had received them only two days before launch, resulting in few games that were catalogued and prepared for shipment in time. O"Leary also said that the Dreamcast"s high demand in other markets had reduced the number of peripherals allotted to the region.Telstra the day before launch. The online component was not ready until March 2000, at which point Ozisoft sent the necessary software to users who had sent in a filled-out reply paid card included with the console.

Though the Dreamcast launch was successful, Sony held 60 percent of the overall video game market share in North America with the PlayStation at the end of 1999.PlayStation 2 (PS2), which Ken Kutaragi claimed would allow video games to convey unprecedented emotions.DVD-ROM format, which could hold substantially more data than the Dreamcast"s GD-ROM,GameCube, would meet or exceed anything on the market, and Microsoft began development of its own console, the Xbox.

Moore became the president and chief operating officer of Sega of America on 8 May, 2000.SegaNet, the Dreamcast"s internet gaming service, at a subscription price of $21.95 per month.MTV Video Music Awards that day, which Sega sponsored for the second consecutive year.$149 (compared to the PS2"s US launch price of $299) and offered a rebate for the full $149 price of a Dreamcast, and a free Dreamcast keyboard, with every 18-month SegaNet subscription.

Moore said that the Dreamcast would need to sell 5 million units in the US by the end of 2000 to remain a viable platform; Sega fell short of this goal, with some 3 million units sold.¥17.98 billion ($163.11 million) loss, with a projected year-end loss of ¥23.6 billion.¥58.3 billion,¥51.7 billion ($417.5 million).PSone, a remodeled version of the original PlayStation, became the bestselling console in the US at the start of the 2000 holiday season.

We had a tremendous 18 months. Dreamcast was on fire - we really thought that we could do it. But then we had a target from Japan that said we had to make x hundreds of millions of dollars by the holiday season and shift x millions of units of hardware, otherwise, we just couldn"t sustain the business. Somehow I got to make that call, not the Japanese. I had to fire a lot of people; it was not a pleasant day. So on January 31st 2001 we said Sega is leaving hardware. We were selling 50,000 units a day, then 60,000, then 100,000, but it was just not going to be enough to get the critical mass to take on the launch of PS2. It was a big stakes game. Sega had the option of pouring in more money and going bankrupt and they decided they wanted to live to fight another day.

Nevertheless, on January 31, 2001, Sega announced the discontinuation of the Dreamcast after March 31 and the restructuring of the company as a "platform-agnostic" third-party developer.$99 to eliminate its unsold inventory, which was estimated at 930,000 units as of April 2001.$49.95.$500 million in 1999, died on March 16, 2001; shortly before his death, he forgave Sega"s debts to him and returned his $695 million worth of Sega and CSK stock, helping Sega survive the transition to third-party development.

The Dreamcast measures 190 mm × 195.8 mm × 75.5 mm (7.48 in × 7.71 in × 2.97 in) and weighs 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).CPU is a two-way 360 MIPS superscalar Hitachi SH-4 32-bit RISC,kB instruction cache and 16 kB data cache and a 128-bit graphics-oriented floating-point unit delivering 1.4 GFLOPS.NEC PowerVR2 rendering engine, integrated with the ASIC, can draw more than 3 million polygons per seconddeferred shading.

The Dreamcast can supply video through several accessories. It came with A/V cables, at the time the standard for video and audio connectivity. Sega and various third parties also manufactured RF modulator connectors and S-Video cables. A VGA adapter allows Dreamcast to connect on computer displays or enhanced-definition television sets in 480p.

Sega constructed numerous Dreamcast models, most of which were exclusive to Japan. The R7, a refurbished Dreamcast, was originally used as a network console in Japanese pachinko parlors. Another model, the Divers 2000 CX-1, is shaped similarly to Sonic"s head and includes a television and software for teleconferencing. A SeamanToyota also offered special Dreamcast units at 160 of its dealers in Japan.

The Dreamcast has four ports for controller inputs, and was sold with one controller. The controller is based on the Saturn 3D controller and includes an analog stick, a D-pad, four action buttons, start button and two analog triggers.1Up.com"s Sam KennedyGame Informer"s Andy McNamara.Hall effect sensors, which requires less calibration and leads to fewer issues with joystick drift.

Various third-party controllers, from companies such as Mad Catz, include additional buttons and other features;light guns in the US,motion controller and a keyboard for text entry.Soulcalibur is playable with the fishing controller, which translates vertical and horizontal movements into on-screen swordplay; IGN cited it as a predecessor to the Wii Remote.Activision, opted not to release it in the US.SNK"s Neo Geo Pocket Color, predating Nintendo"s GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable.

Sega also produced the Dreameye, a digital camera that could be connected to the Dreamcast and used to exchange pictures and participate in video chat over the internet. Sega hoped developers would use the Dreameye for future software, as some later did with Sony"s similar EyeToy peripheral.Motorola the development of an internet-enabled cell phone that would use technology from the console to enable quick downloads of games and other data.

In contrast to the Sega CD and Sega Saturn, which included internal backup memory,memory card, the VMU, for data storage.LCD screen, audio output from a one-channel PWM sound source,non-volatile memory, a D-pad and four buttons.NFL 2K or raise virtual pets in Sonic Adventure.

Sega officials noted that the VMU could be used "as a private viewing area, the absence of which has prevented effective implementation of many types of games in the past".force feedback,Iomega announced a Dreamcast-compatible zip drive storing up to 100 MB on removable discs,

The Dreamcast library consists of over 600 games across all regions,regional lockout, only playing games released within its predetermined region; however, this is circumventable via modchip installation, boot discs, or cheat discs such as Datel"s Action Replay.July.indie developers were released later, an example being 2007"s Last Hope, developed by German studio NG:Dev.Team.

Sonic Team"s Sonic Adventure, the first fully 3D platform game starring Sega"s mascot Sonic the Hedgehog, was considered the "centerpiece" of the Dreamcast launch."s style of gameplay to appeal to console audiences.

UGA created the music game Crazy Taxi, an open-world arcade racing game known for its addictive gameplay with more than one million copies sold;inline skaters, is cited as a major example of Sega"s commitment to original concepts during the Dreamcast"s lifespan.Jet Set Radio also popularized cel shaded graphics,role-playing game Rieko Kodama,Jules Verne-inspired fantasy world of floating islands and sky pirates, charming protagonists, exciting airship battles and memorable plot.

AM2 developed what Sega hoped would be the Dreamcast"s killer app, Chinese cinema",simulated day-and-night cycle with variable weather, non-player characters with regular schedules, the ability to pick up and examine detailed objects, and introducing the quick-time event in its modern form,Shenmue went over budget and was rumored to have cost Sega over $50 million.Shenmue sold "extremely well", but had no chance of making a profit due to the Dreamcast"s limited installed base.

Before the launch of the Dreamcast in Japan, Sega announced its NAOMISega Model 3.flash ROM board in place of a GD-ROM drive, allowing nearly identical home conversions of arcade games.Capcom and Namco.III processors, allowing a handful of ports of PC games.

To appeal to the European market, Sega formed a French affiliate, No Cliché, which developed games such as Bizarre Creations to develop the racing game Acclaim, SNK, Ubisoft, Midway, Activision, Infogrames, and Capcom supported the Dreamcast during its first year,shoot "em ups, most notably Treasure"s Appaloosa Interactive"s

Dricas was an Internet service for Dreamcast consoles in Japan. The service launched the week of October 28, 1998, with its feature set expanded in the weeks preceding the Dreamcast"s launch in Japan on November 27, 1998.spun-off from Sega on November 26, 1999.GameCube port, on March 31, 2007.

SegaNet was an Internet service for dial-up-based online gaming on the Dreamcast in the United States. The service was created by Sega in collaboration with GTE through its GTE Internetworking division,Genuity.AT&T on August 4, 1999, making the AT&T WorldNet service the preferred ISP for Dreamcast in the United States,Excite@Home as the exclusive portal partner for SegaNet.Microsoft participated somewhat in the development of the service, but they terminated their relationship with Sega just a few months before its launch over differences in its direction.

Dreamarena was a free dial-up-based online gaming service provided for Dreamcast consoles in Europe, launching with the debut of the Dreamcast in Europe on October 14, 1999.ICL, BT and various ISPs.

In December 1999, Next Generation gave its future prognosis three out of five, noting that Sony and Nintendo were both due to release more powerful consoles.Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewers scored the Dreamcast 8.5, 8.5, 8.5, 8.0, and 9.0 out of 10.Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewers scored it 9.0, 9.0, 9.0, 9.0, and 9.5 out of 10.

Reasons cited for the failure of the Dreamcast include consumer excitement for the PS2;Squaresoft, the most popular third parties in the US and Japan respectively;GamePro, Blake Snow wrote of "the much beloved [Dreamcast] launched years ahead of the competition but ultimately struggled to shed the negative reputation [Sega] had gained during the Saturn, Sega 32X, and Sega CD days. As a result, casual gamers and jaded third-party developers doubted Sega"s ability to deliver."

In 2009, IGN named the Dreamcast the eighth-greatest video game console, praising its software and innovations, including its online play.PC Magazine"s Jeffrey L. Wilson named the Dreamcast the greatest console and said that it was "gone too soon".Edge named the Dreamcast the tenth-best console of the last 20 years, highlighting innovations including in-game voice chat, downloadable content, and second-screen technology through the use of VMUs. Edge wrote that "Sega"s console was undoubtedly ahead of its time, and it suffered at retail for that reason... [b]ut its influence can still be felt today."JFK. A progressive force in some ways, perhaps misguided in others, but nevertheless a promising life cut tragically short by dark shadowy forces, spawning complex conspiracy theories that endure to this day." He wrote that its short lifespan "may have sealed its reputation as one of the greatest consoles ever", as "nothing builds a cult like a tragic demise".IGN"s Travis Fahs, "Many hardware manufacturers have come and gone, but it"s unlikely any will go out with half as much class as Sega."

If ever a system deserved to succeed, it was Dreamcast. Dreamcast has a hell of a library. It"s dying now, 18 months old, with a larger library than the 5-year-old Nintendo 64. It"s a better library than the Nintendo 64. Dreamcast was a wonderful system.

The Dreamcast"s game library was celebrated.triple-A stuff like Soul Calibur, NBA 2K, and soon Crazy Taxi to kick around, we figure you"re happy you took the 128-bit plunge"."s Jeffrey L. Wilson referred to Dreamcast"s "killer library" and said that Sega"s creative influence and visual innovation had been at its peak.Edge agreed with this assessment of Dreamcast games, including Sega"s arcade conversions, stating that the system "delivered the first games that could meaningfully be described as arcade perfect".Crazy Taxi in the arcade knowing full well that a pixel-perfect conversion (and not some cut-down port) was set to arrive on the Dreamcast is an experience gamers are unlikely to witness again."

Nick Montfort and Mia Consalvo, writing in Loading... The Journal of the Canadian Game Studies Association, argued that "the Dreamcast hosted a remarkable amount of video game development that went beyond the odd and unusual and is interesting when considered as avant-garde ... It is hard to imagine a commercial console game expressing strong resistance to the commodity perspective and to the view that game production is commerce. But even when it comes to resisting commercialization, it is arguable that Dreamcast games came closer to expressing this attitude than any other console games have."1Up.com"s Jeremy Parish favorably compared Sega"s Dreamcast output, which included some of "the most varied, creative, and fun [games] the company had ever produced", with its "enervated" status as a third-party.Steven L. Kent, "From Sonic Adventure and Shenmue to Space Channel 5 and Seaman, Dreamcast delivered and delivered and delivered."

Representatives from Ozisoft had different answers for the delay from October 25; one responded to Telecom New Zealand for both the console and the Internet access disc.ARN, that the delay was caused by high demand for international shipping along with chip manufacturing problems resulting from the then-recent earthquake in Taiwan; he also noted that Sega reallocated 50,000 Dreamcast units meant for the November 30 launch out of Australia due to heavy demand elsewhere.

Fahs, Travis (September 9, 2010). "IGN Presents the History of Dreamcast". Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.

Perry, Douglass (September 9, 2009). "Features - The Rise And Fall Of The Dreamcast". Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.

Hagiwara, Shiro; Oliver, Ian (November–December 1999). "Sega Dreamcast: Creating a Unified Entertainment World". 19 (6): 29–35. doi:10.1109/40.809375.

Borland, John (June 30, 2000). "Hackers break Dreamcast safeguards, distribute games online". Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.

Langan, Matthew (July 26, 1999). "Famitsu Weekly Reviews Latest Dreamcast Games". Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.

Gantayat, Anoop (September 9, 2008). "IGN Classics: Dreamcast Launch Guide". Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.

Langan, Matthew (October 22, 1999). "More On The Dreamcast Delay In Australia And New Zealand". IGN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.

Norsa, Gerard (November 3, 1999). "Dreamcast delayed as retailers buy up". ARN. IDG Communications. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.

"Toyota to market Sega"s Dreamcast". Kyodo News International, Inc. January 28, 1999. Archived from the original on August 2, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014 – via The Free Library.

"Sega Dreamcast Launch Titles and Peripherals". BusinessWire. September 2, 1999. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.

Oliveira, Otavio Dias de (September 11, 1999). "Sega Dreamcast estoura nas lojas". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). Vol. 79, no. 25728. São Paulo: Grupo Folha. pp. 5–3. ISSN 1414-5723. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.

Montfort, Nick; Consalvo, Mia. "The Dreamcast, Console of the Avant-Garde". Loading... The Journal of the Canadian Game Studies Association. 6 (9): 82–99.

Justice, Brandon (March 7, 2000). "Chu Chu Rocket". IGN. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014. cf. Jay (May 2, 2000). "Chu Chu Rocket-Dreamcast". Game Informer. Archived from the original on December 5, 2000. Retrieved November 4, 2014. I consider it the best and most original puzzle game since cf.Nutt, Christian (December 13, 1999). "ChuChu Rocket! Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 15, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2014.

"Samba de Amigo (Dreamcast)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2014. cf. Justice, Brandon (October 18, 2000). "Samba De Amigo". IGN. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014. cf. Gerstmann, Jeff (June 16, 2000). "Samba De Amigo Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.

"NFL 2K1 (Dreamcast)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2014. cf. "NFL 2K2 (Dreamcast)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014. cf. "NBA 2K1 (Dreamcast)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2014. cf. "NBA 2K2 (Dreamcast)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2014.

cf. "Toy Commander-Dreamcast". the original on December 3, 2000. Retrieved October 24, 2014. cf. Justice, Brandon (November 4, 1999). "Toy Commander". IGN. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014.

Kamishima, Masaaki (November 30, 1998). "メールやチャットも楽しめるDreamcastのインターネット機能". Internet Watch (in Japanese). Impress Corporation. Retrieved June 17, 2021.

"「PHANTASY STAR ONLINE」 ドリームキャスト版およびゲームキューブ版 終了記念キャンペーンに関するご案内" [Information on "PHANTASY STAR ONLINE" Dreamcast Edition and GameCube Edition End Commemorative Campaign] (Press release) (in Japanese). ISAO Corporation. February 8, 2007. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007.

Parish, Jeremy (September 13, 2014). "What if Dreamcast Had Won?". USgamer. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2015.

Deeper into the DreamcastAt 100MHz, the Dreamcast’s graphics architecture used 10 million transistors on a 25 micron (25,000nm) process like the Saturn’s SH4, which could generate 7 million polygons per second, and could address up to 32MB of memory.

However, Sega shipped the Dreamcast with just 8MB of video memory because the output resolution was limited to 640 x 480, leading to the Dreamcast being able to render more polygons per second than it could actually store. In comparison, the previous Saturn could only muster 200,000 polygons and a fraction of the shadow, fog and texture effects.

Here be PiratesWhile the Dreamcast’s hardware specifications were impressive for the time, possibly the biggest downfall for Sega was piracy. While the PS1 had also suffered it on a grand scale and survived, the Dreamcast was a lot less lucky and soaring piracy was a serious issue for Sega.

The ControllersThe Dreamcast controllers were the poster boy of innovation for the company when the console first hit the market. Each gamepad had space for two plug-in memory cards that featured little dot matrix LCD screens to tell you what was on them and displaying simple graphics. Incredibly, the memory cards (VMUs) even had little games of their own on them, though they were rudimentary at best and only supported by some titles.

Ultimately though, the VMUs were an unnecessarily expensive addition, especially since at least one was required to save games. Sega’s forward thinking idea that each pad would be differentiated by its LCD screen was quickly abandoned as most gamers would only buy one memory card.

The controller design was, on paper, ergonomically excellent, but in practice quite atrocious. Whoever thought a cable that comes out towards you before connecting to the console on the other side of the room was a good idea? Also, the controller naturally forces the wrists and elbows together uncomfortably, while the competing PlayStation controller let your hands and arms sit in a more natural position splaying outwards. The saving grace for the Dreamcast was that size-wise, Sega nailed it in our opinion, and the analogue stick is still one of the best you’ll ever use.

In the end, Sega managed to ship 10.6 million Dreamcasts. Not an insignificant number, but compared to the 130 million PS2s Sony eventually shipped from “the same generation” and 100 million original PlayStations in the previous gen, the Dreamcast was entirely eclipsed. Even the N64 shipped nearly 33 million, while the Saturn only managed 9.5 million units. This indicates that Sega gambled and lost big when it came to the Dreamcast.

Not everything is a hardware-based problem though, so next we take a look at some of the most popular and well-known games on the Dreamcast (plus a few unknowns). We found it was all-too-easy to let our memories of the games get skewed with nostalgia, so we decided the only way to properly talk about the games was after having set up a recently unearthed Dreamcast in the labs and play a few games. We have no idea where the beer and pizza came from.

control ports of the Sega Dreamcast. To return to the title screen at any point during the game, simultaneously press and hold the A, B, X, Y and Start

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The Dreamcast was released in 1998 by SEGA but would sadly be the last console released as it failed to catch the attention of the gaming world. SEGA abandoned the hardware business turning into a games developer / publisher, licensing out their icons to other developers leaving the consoles wars to Nintendo, Sony and the newcomer into the console wars at the time, Microsoft.

The Dreamcast is considered by some to be a console that was a pioneer in the gaming world and was too much technology in a world that just jumped to 3D and wanted to see how far graphics could be pushed. The Dreamcast had a large array of extra features, some were generic such as the light gun and rumble pack, but also had support for more obscure things such as microphone, keyboard and mouse. There was even a fishing rod controller for the Big Bass fishing game. The Microphone allowed for voice chat in certain online browsers but was also used games like Seaman, a game where you raised a strange fish who would ask you questions. Keyboard and mouse were nothing new, but was mainly used for basic games such as Mario Paint. The Dreamcast implemented the keyboard and mouse support into games such a Quake III, which could also be played online. Probably the most well-known was the Dreamcasts ‘visual memory unit’ which could be slotted into the controller port giving the player a second screen on the controller. While only having a basic monochrome LCD screen, it could display information such as ammo, health or even a basic mini map. What’s more mini games could be downloaded onto the device and taken out and about like a small game boy. The games were nothing amazing, but it was something that added more to the gameplay, very similar to companion apps on phones today. The device could also copy game data to other VMUs without the need of a Dreamcast as they could be plugged directly into each other.

it’s most innovative feature however was the built in modem, that allowed for web browsing, online play, web chat and calling. This was at a time when online play was purely a PC gamers thing, with the very few attempts beforehand being region specific or just for simple email and online gambling services. All Dreamcasts were fitted with a 56K modem via an ADSL connection which allowed connection to the ‘DreamArena’ (SegaNet in USA / Japan), an online service which let users browse the web, voice call, play online games, and even download game data which would change certain aspects of the game, such as level themes. This wasn’t a mass overhaul for the game or comparable to DLC packs we have today, but it was impressive for the time.

I think was about 11 years old when I got my Dreamcast and every day I would boast about how amazing it was to my friends with other consoles. I was so in awe at this new console and I have fond memories of games like Power Stone, Chu Chu Rocket, Trickstyle and of course Sonic Adventure. It was an early period of my gaming life where I was aware of what I liked and could brag about a console for, instead of just playing my friends and liked it because it had cool games. I was the only person I knew with a Dreamcast so I couldn’t really talk to many people about it, especially as the competition rose from other companies, but I didn’t care. It was my Dreamcast and I’d always defend it and think no matter what, it had features that no other console had and I was sure it would stand triumphant in the end.

Back in 1998 Sega were sure this console was going to be a hit due to its list of features, and amount of solid games such as Sonic Adventure and Soul Calibur, and it was a relatively promising start for the Dreamcast. It was in a class of its own providing features that no other console could even compare to with graphical power that had not been seen on a home console before. But less than 2 years later sales started to stagnate, and Sega were in trouble. Sales were falling and they continued post losses at the end of the fiscal years following the Dreamcast release. They just couldn’t make the sales and on January 31st 2001, it was decided they would drop out of the hardware business and the last consoles left the factory on March 31st of the same year. Within 3 years Sega had gone from showing us the future of video gaming with a fresh innovative console, to dropping out of the hardware market entirely. With such a promising start, what happened?

The Playstation 2. Now while it’s standard practice for new hardware to outdo others in the tech world, the PS2 release loomed as a behemoth to the Dreamcast. The PS2 had tremendous power at the time and while it lacked the features the Dreamcast had (although netplay did some later) it had features that were much more appealing to the market, mainly its ability to play DVDs and backwards compatibility with the already immensely popular back catalogue of original Playstation games. This wasn’t going to be a fair fight no matter what way you looked at it. The original Playstation performed so well upon its release beating the Sega Saturn to the point that people forget the Saturn was an actual contender in the first place. But it’s not all about hardware right? These are consoles, and what matters are the games… which comes to my next point. Although the Dreamcast did have a strong library of games, and many of them I truly did enjoy, none of the games had the holding power that the PS2 had.

Sega were an arcade company at heart, it’s where they began and it’s where they continued to thrive even when the console market started failing for them, for that reason many of the games released for the console were very ‘arcade like’. Take Crazy Taxi for example, most people you would ask, even people who never owned a Dreamcast will have played it and say how much fun it is. But if you actually got them to play it again they’d be bored within 10 minutes. Many of the games were still based in arcade style tropes, you play a game (here are the ladder golf rules and use it to play wisely), bash it out for a couple of minutes then start a new round. Prime examples of this are the aforementioned Crazy Taxi, Virtua Figher, Soul Calibur and Sega Rally. Now compare this to PS2 games released within the Dreamcasts time and there’s GTA 3, Metal Gear Solid 2 and Kingdom Hearts. I’m aware that there were some gems released for the Dreamcast such as Skies of Arcadia and Shenmue, but in the long term these games just could match up to what the PS2 had to offer.

The Playstation 2 went on to become the best-selling console of all time with 155million+ sales in its 13 years on the market with games being released as late as 2014. While I feel the PS2 is the sole reason for the Dreamcast’s demise, other reasons such as Segas poor management, lack of commitment from company heads, lack of support from publishers such as EA and Square, and Segas poor track record of consoles in the years preceding the Dreamcast are usually cited. Sega still continue to this day and generally perform quite well due to mobile games, online games and digital game sales to name a few. But I know I’m not alone when I saw I wait for the day for Sega to get back into the hardware market. Will it happen? Extremely unlikely, and probably a massive mistake for Sega to risk it all just to relive its heyday, but we can all dream.

My Dreamcast still sits on under my TV as one of the three consoles that are always plugged in, the other 2 being my Mega Drive and my PS4. The legacy of the Dreamcast often gets cited as being way too ahead of its time with features that the console world just wasn’t ready for. The Xbox was released soon after with its Xbox live service, but it wasn’t until the launch of the Xbox 360 and PS3 that online play would become a staple of home consoles. The controllers VMU screen was the first of its kind, and while I don’t think directly influenced ideas such as the Wii U or the second screen utility for the PS4, I feel it played a part for companies to look outside the box on how to make games more fun. It holds a special place in many gamers hearts, as it stands for what was lost in console development in the years that followed. It was innovative and trying new things, while graphics were important they looked for new ideas and new ways to play. It wasn’t until 2006 that Nintendo showed us the Wii and made us all very confused, but Segas old rival were now carrying the torch of innovation, and that torch made one small underpowered box with a tv remote for a controller outsell both its power house rivals.

The Dreamcast is long gone, but I have no doubt it influenced developers to start looking for new ways to play, something that has become huge with peripherals such as the Kinnect, VR headsets, touch controls, motion controls and companion apps. I won’t say it started it all, but the Dreamcast definitely thought outside the box, which we can see in all areas of the gaming world today.

Crazy cool thing I just discovered: The LCD TV has a Picture-in-Picture feature, so if I was to plug to Dreamcast"s into the TV via different types of connection (Aerial and RGB, or something). could play two games at the same time! Even better, get out two copies of the same game, and compete against each other to see who can beat it first! I had a go at playing Sonic 1 with a Mega Drive and a Saturn at the same time and struggled on my own, but once a mate comes over..

As for your "grey box" with composite in (yellow cable) and VGA out, that"s not a DC VGA box. That"s a composite to VGA converter. And those suck, which is why you aren"t getting a good result. Get an official or officially licensed VGA cable or box made for Dreamcast (and only Dreamcast). You"ll see a huge difference.

That"s another thing: the article keeps mentioning the VGA box as a "converter". VGA boxes for DC (officially licensed for Dreamcast) don"t "convert" the signal. The DC outputs VGA natively. All the box or cable (there"s a VGA cable as well for DC that plugs directly into the console, so no need for a box) is carry that signal. Again, the DC outputs that signal on its own.

If you take A DAMN SECOND TO LOOK AT THE PICTURE...you will see that the VGA box IS directly hooked up to the Dreamcast. You can switch outputs on the box from VGA and Composite for games that don"t work with VGA.

If it was just a composite converter like you say the VGA box wouldn"t be hooked up directly to the Dreamcast. The composite would go from the Dreamcast into the VGA box Not Directly out of the VGA bo TO composite and VGA

I bought a VGA Cable for my Dreamcast to hook up to my 19inch LCD. And as i thought the picture looks horrible! LCD"s look crap if there not run in there native res. Luckily i have an old CRT so i used that instead and the picture quality is Amazing!

I guess you need an LCD TV for it to upscale from 480p? I"ve looked at all my Monitors options and there is no "Game Mode" or anything along those lines to upscale.

I got a VGA box but it doesn’t work with my LCD so I"m looking into a VGA to HDMI scalar. Anyone tried the lkv351? Comparison pictures of these also would be really handy to see how the Dreamcast looks scaled to 720p!