Gaming Remembering the Sega Dreamcast

The Dreamcast could run games programmed using Windows CE but it wasn't the Dreamcasts OS.

 

The Dreamcast has a GDROM drive which reads both GD-ROMs and CDs. SEGA provided support for Audio CDs and what it named MIL-CD. The whole point of MIL-CD was to add multimedia functions to Audio CDs but hackers found a loophole using this that allowed the Dreamcast to boot unsigned code. GD-ROM games were copied to CD using a crude cable linking the Dreamcast to the PC which either used the modem or the Broadband adapter. Larger games could be split onto multiple CDs also. The Utopia boot disc was released which allowed booting the copied games which was the main method until Kalisto (not to be confused with the old games company) perfected self-booting games.

A lot of people believe that if SEGA didn't provide this MIL-CD feature then piracy for the Dreamcast would have been a lot lower. However I personally believe it ended up being a lifeline for the Dreamcast as it allowed the console to remain popular even in 2009 due to the large homebrew community (which use the MIL-CD exploit to create bootable games).

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil-CD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_bootdisk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalisto

and if you are interested in creating Dreamcast games, check out http://gamedev.allusion.net/softprj/kos/

 

yes it was - the Dreamcast ram an optimized WinCE OS with DirectX bolted on.

 

The Dreamcast was compatible with Windows CE (hence the 'Compatible with Windows CE' sticker). Some games, like Sega Rally 2, were written using Windows CE libraries.

"The operating system used by some Dreamcast titles was developed by Microsoft after 2 years of work with Sega. It was an optimized version of Windows CE supporting Direct X"

Note that it says some. Only some games used Windows CE as it was found to be a lot slower than using the Dreamcast development kit and eventually developers stopped using it.

So if the game was written with Windows CE then the Dreamcast would be running Windows CE (as it would be on the game disc) but it doesn't run on Windows CE.

 

How can u do a Dreamcast retrospective without Capcom's Power Stone?

 

Still have mine, I look at it every day Just waiting on a VGA Box to connect it to my LCD and have many hours of fun...
One great console...
...that still lives...

 

IIRC, the crazy taxi soundtrack was mostly comprised of tracks from The Offsprings Ixnay on the Hombre album, and some Bad Religion tracks.

 

Or Shenmue, MSR, Jet Set Radio, Sonic Adventure....

 

I really wanted one just for Shenmue, but after using the controller, no, no, no

 

I know MSR, the precursor to PGR, I spent weeks on this trying to win a Vx220 but it wouldn't upload my bloody time

 

I remember playing some of those games on PS1/PS2 lol. Looking at that the dreamcast doesn't seem as bad as when I first touched it in toys R us. It was released after the N64 if I remember correctly. I got the N64 instead. It was really those 2 consoles that turned me into A playstation Fanboi, N64 had golden eye and mario but game prices where too high and I don't remember anything else releasing for the 64 worth getting. In the end I built up my playstation collection. I didnt see the point of the dreamcast as all my friends had playstations and I didn't want to risk getting another dud console that would waste a christmas present lol.

Did anyone here ever console swap? I remeber doing it with the megadrive NES and SNES. got to play loads of great games without buying every console lol. Now a days its easier to just swap games, especially with less exclusives.

 

MSR is a brilliant game! And, thanks to Makaron & nullDC you can play it on your PC

 

This I needed to know !! : )

 

How can you do a Dreamcast retrospective without Virtua Tennis?

It *still* looks good even today. Looks even better with a VGA box and plays brilliantly with DC adapters for the X-Arcade controller.
Biggest downfall with the DC controller was the A button which turned to mush after 10 minutes. :^(

 

The dreamcast was well before it's time, it even had a VGA output cable (I belive it would output 800x600 but it was a long time ago i might be wrong). Whilst everybody got excited when the Wii with motion controller came out, they all seemed to forget Samba De Amigo with the Marracas controller for the dreamcast. It had a built in modem which (if you could find them) could be upgraded to a network port. I think I had most of the add on controllers, the excellent quality arcade joystick, steering wheel and maracas. :/
It was a great little console (pops on rose tinted glasses).

 

I remember so many people raving about them when I was working at Computer Exchange, although that was 2000~'01.. back when CEX was still decent, if anyone recalls that.

I'm actually tempted to get one now, but I don't think the missus will appreciate yet MORE "computer junk" around the place.. ¬_¬

 

What a great game that is! Even if you can't help looking a prat whilst playing (like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJJZAnoSvfA lol).

 

Theres still 4 Sega rally 2 arcade machines lined up at our local go-cart raceway. They rock at some fast multplayer action

 

I love how you could go mouse and keyboard for shooters. (cost $100 for the360 add-on that does that). I saw a few months back that thinkgeek.com was selling new systems that they 'found' lol.

 

Shenmue was originally 16 chapters. They did not have a set amount of games. The first game was chapter 1 and they decided the sequels would have varying amounts of chapters in them. Of coarse that all changed when the game didn't even come close to breaking even on its dev costs. A real shame. Apparently the story for the third and final game was written, but no one wants to fund a game which isn't going to sell.

I personally think if they made a new game on different mechanics and released it bundled with the other 2 they would make their money. But I doubt it will ever happen. Their was even a Shenmue MMO in the works, but that never made it past early stages.

Skies of Arcadia is still my favorite game of all time. I bought my Gamecube simply to play Legends.

Sonic Adventure is still the best 3D sonic game around. I also have the GC version of that.