Release Date:
Japan: November 27, 1998
North America: September 9, 1999
Europe: October 14, 1999
Australia: November 30, 1999
Features:
-4 controller ports for awesome multiplayer action.
-The VMU, the Dreamcast's official memory card equipped with a screen, D-pad and buttons.
-Outputs a outstanding resolution and beautiful image quality for its time when equipped with a VGA box. (640x480)
-Contains massive doses of hype, its just all over it. Just look how fucking beautiful the thing is.
-Uses GD-ROM format for its game discs, these can contain up to 1.2Gb and these are a unique kind of disc that are only usable on a Dreamcast.
-Loads of arcade-ish awesome games, many games running at 60FPS.
-Shenmue
Why should I emulate?
-Pretty much for the same reasons you would emulate any other console: making it look better on nowadays HDTVs and monitors with upgraded internal resolutions.
-Play these games with a better controller, while I love the controller itself, a 360 controller will just be so much better.
-One day your dear Dreamcast won't work anymore, finding replacements will be more than a hassle and it won't cost just a few dollars.
Best emulator available at the moment:
NullDC (Click here to download the lastest version.)
I'd like to add that it is a shame that, since its an open source project, it doesn't get any more work done on it. Well, maybe one day we'll get to have a better version. :)
So if I want to go into the emulation scene, how do I rip my games?
Since the Dreamcast have its unique kind of disc format, you have to rip your own games with the console itself, just like only the Wii can rip Wii/GC games. Except this time, there's not even some rare brands of PC disc drives that can read those, only the Dreamcast.
There are only two ways to rip your DC games:
Using a broadband adapter and transfer the disc's data to your computer via internet. You don't want to use the default line connection, it'll go at 40k/sec and it'll make your Dreamcast work for way too long (24h a game compared to 20 minutes with the BBA.).
-You'll have to use a program httpd-ack (Click here to download) and burn the CDI file on a CD-ROM
-You'll need an official (or burned CD) version a DC Web Browser to configure your DC's static IP. XDP recommended, this is the one I used and I didn't had any problems.
-You'll need CDMage as well to verify if your 'track 1' data from each games are correct. (Click here to download)
Click here for the complete tutorial for the Broadband adapter method.
You will also be able to get the DC_BOOT and DC_FLASH files you need to run NullDC with the BBA method. These are available to take from your console each time you're ripping a game.
There is also the SD card ripping method, with which you will need an SD card adapter that will go in the back of the dreamcast. You can easily find those on Ebay for 10 times cheaper than the BBA.
(Thanks to darcagn from the Dumpcast forum who made a tutorial you can find here.)
Pro tips:
-When you start your Dreamcast and then hear an intense and loud 'BEEEEEEP' sound, you gotta change your VMU's battery.
I do not support piracy, every game pictures I'll be showing come from games in my personal collection. Piracy talk won't be tolerated.
Here's a little Dreamcast HD tribute, for those who don't know what to expect out of this little gem.
www.youtube.com
Other Retro-ERA threads
Nintendo 64 |OT| Appreciation and Emulation Thread
Nintendo Gamecube |OT| Appreciation and Collecting Thread
Sega Saturn |OT| Appreciation and Emulation Thread
Sony Playstation (PS1) |OT| Appreciation Thread - Worse Image Quality than your Kid's First Drawing
PS2 Appreciation Thread | The Greatest Sequel Ever Made
Game Boy / Color / Advance Collecting |OT| Now you're playing with power; PORTABLE POWER!
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive |OT| Blast Processing with the GOAT
Sega CD/Mega CD Appreciation Thread of Welcome to the Next Level
RetroEra IOTI 40 years of Classic Backlog
The Ripping Thread |OT| How to build your own legitimate ROM library
Share the love, ERA! :D
EDIT: I got my thread locked and got my thread priviledges removed after making this thread exposing ERA's new owner.
www.resetera.com
It was fun while it lasted, but I'm not supporting this place anymore.
Japan: November 27, 1998
North America: September 9, 1999
Europe: October 14, 1999
Australia: November 30, 1999
Features:
-4 controller ports for awesome multiplayer action.
-The VMU, the Dreamcast's official memory card equipped with a screen, D-pad and buttons.
-Outputs a outstanding resolution and beautiful image quality for its time when equipped with a VGA box. (640x480)
-Contains massive doses of hype, its just all over it. Just look how fucking beautiful the thing is.
-Uses GD-ROM format for its game discs, these can contain up to 1.2Gb and these are a unique kind of disc that are only usable on a Dreamcast.
-Loads of arcade-ish awesome games, many games running at 60FPS.
-Shenmue
Why should I emulate?
-Pretty much for the same reasons you would emulate any other console: making it look better on nowadays HDTVs and monitors with upgraded internal resolutions.
-Play these games with a better controller, while I love the controller itself, a 360 controller will just be so much better.
-One day your dear Dreamcast won't work anymore, finding replacements will be more than a hassle and it won't cost just a few dollars.
Best emulator available at the moment:
NullDC (Click here to download the lastest version.)
I'd like to add that it is a shame that, since its an open source project, it doesn't get any more work done on it. Well, maybe one day we'll get to have a better version. :)
So if I want to go into the emulation scene, how do I rip my games?
Since the Dreamcast have its unique kind of disc format, you have to rip your own games with the console itself, just like only the Wii can rip Wii/GC games. Except this time, there's not even some rare brands of PC disc drives that can read those, only the Dreamcast.
There are only two ways to rip your DC games:
Using a broadband adapter and transfer the disc's data to your computer via internet. You don't want to use the default line connection, it'll go at 40k/sec and it'll make your Dreamcast work for way too long (24h a game compared to 20 minutes with the BBA.).
-You'll have to use a program httpd-ack (Click here to download) and burn the CDI file on a CD-ROM
-You'll need an official (or burned CD) version a DC Web Browser to configure your DC's static IP. XDP recommended, this is the one I used and I didn't had any problems.
-You'll need CDMage as well to verify if your 'track 1' data from each games are correct. (Click here to download)
Click here for the complete tutorial for the Broadband adapter method.
You will also be able to get the DC_BOOT and DC_FLASH files you need to run NullDC with the BBA method. These are available to take from your console each time you're ripping a game.
There is also the SD card ripping method, with which you will need an SD card adapter that will go in the back of the dreamcast. You can easily find those on Ebay for 10 times cheaper than the BBA.
(Thanks to darcagn from the Dumpcast forum who made a tutorial you can find here.)
Pro tips:
-When you start your Dreamcast and then hear an intense and loud 'BEEEEEEP' sound, you gotta change your VMU's battery.
I do not support piracy, every game pictures I'll be showing come from games in my personal collection. Piracy talk won't be tolerated.
Here's a little Dreamcast HD tribute, for those who don't know what to expect out of this little gem.
DREAMCAST HD TRIBUTE Longplay Version (PART 1 & 2)
HIGHER VIDEO QUALITY VERSION OF THIS VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8q9yB68PpAThis is a video compilation of some of the best Sega Dreamcast games pr...
www.youtube.com
Other Retro-ERA threads
Nintendo 64 |OT| Appreciation and Emulation Thread
Nintendo Gamecube |OT| Appreciation and Collecting Thread
Sega Saturn |OT| Appreciation and Emulation Thread
Sony Playstation (PS1) |OT| Appreciation Thread - Worse Image Quality than your Kid's First Drawing
PS2 Appreciation Thread | The Greatest Sequel Ever Made
Game Boy / Color / Advance Collecting |OT| Now you're playing with power; PORTABLE POWER!
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive |OT| Blast Processing with the GOAT
Sega CD/Mega CD Appreciation Thread of Welcome to the Next Level
RetroEra IOTI 40 years of Classic Backlog
The Ripping Thread |OT| How to build your own legitimate ROM library
Share the love, ERA! :D
EDIT: I got my thread locked and got my thread priviledges removed after making this thread exposing ERA's new owner.
I believe there is a conversation to be had about ERA new owners and affiliations details.
Hey all, Most of you are probably aware, thanks to the warning up there, that ERA is no longer owned by a solo member of the community and was sold for 4.5M$ to MOBA Network by Cerium. Which, understandably after this deed, seemingly ran off with the money to never return again, for obvious...
www.resetera.com
It was fun while it lasted, but I'm not supporting this place anymore.
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