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X Box To Be Dreamcast-Compatible - Updated
palo0019 writes "These are tough times for Sega fans, with rampant rumors of buyouts, sellouts, and every other scenario under the sun. The latest one actually makes sense, Microsoft needs a hot developer, and Sega needs a machine to call home. Gamers.com is reporting that the Xbox will be compatible with Dreamcast games. They are also reporting that that Sega is developing "a" Virta Fighter game, that may or may not be the new Virtua Fighter X. " Interesting rumor - I tried calling both Microsoft and Sega and got a firm "No Comment" from people. Update: 01/26 12:20 PM by H :Microsoft has apparently denied the rumor once more.
The high density area of GD-ROM is really nothing more than a cd with a thinner and therefore longer spiral. A normal DVD-ROM mechanism or a good CD-ROM mechanism with firmware to handle the bizzare physical format of the disc can read a GD-ROM. It's not about the hardware. Use standard hardware. Use special firmware!
/. editors after so many years not yet realized probably around 95% of console game news that originates as rumors is total bullshit?
As far as promoting the sale of games for a competing system, do you really think that M$ wouldn't get a kickback on SEGA's royalties if they made their system compatible.
All that aside, I really wish that slashdot would stop it with the game bunk that they've been pushing out recently. Honestly, have
For a real bit of console news, try that the first 3rd party developed (license-free, reverse-engineered) program that uses the Sega Dreamcast's ethernet adaptor was released yesterday. It is an app that allows you to upload and execute compiled elf binaries using TCP/IP. Shouldn't be too much longer before we can see some homebrew games or other software (like Operating Systems) that take advantage of this.
~GoRK
What is it with the rumors? So many different ones about Sega, lets see:
1. Nintendo is buying Sega
2. Sega is stopping production of the Dreamcast
3. Sega is developing for the PS2
4. The X-Box will support GD-ROM games from the DC
What next?
I also love the rumors about the iPaq handheld.
1. A 64 Meg version will be released any day now. It will be the H3635, H3640, H3660, or the H3670.
2. An iPaq with built in wireless (Wireless what?)
3. An iPaq running at 412mHz and 64MB Ram.
Even better are all the Linux ones involving MS
1. IE is being ported to Linux
2. Office is being ported to Linux
3. MS is making their own Linux
Why do I even bother to read any "news" sites anymore. All it is now is a big social rumor circle, with some saying this is true, others denying it, all while the actual companies sit back and laugh.
This seems unlikely. The Dreamcast uses its own proprietary gigabyte CD standard for games, which AFAIK requires dedicated hardware. X-Box uses DVDs, and a specially made DVD-ROM which could read GB-CD would raise the price of the X-box, as well as promiting the sale of games for a competing system.
"The good die first." "Most of us are morally ambiguous, which explains our random dying patterns." --- MST3K
Xbox is based on Intel hardware. Something like a Celeron 400 CPU and Nvidia geforce video. Dreamcast uses a SH4 and ARM7, respectively. Completely different set of hardware. Even if they were able to read the disc properly (not bloody likely, read above posts, I'll not repeat) they won't be able to do anything with it. They can't do any kind of software emulation; the cpu is not powerful enough for low level full speed emulation of both the ARM and SH4 (the sound interface isn't a DAC you can just ship PCM data to like sound cards; its it completely separate system, with its own RAM that contain binary executable code as well as data. The ARM would have to be emulated as well). The Nvidia works completely different than PowerVR chip in the Dreamcast; again, more emulation done by this one poor Intel CPU.
Sega is looking into selling the chips for use in other components; this is a granted. However, it is very late in the Xbox development cycle to add this major feature to the Xbox. Not to mention OMG the heat this thing would produce. This gives no mention of the hardware needed (How do I play Phantasy Star online w/o a modem? How would I use my Seaman microphone or Samba de Amigo maracas?) This is a pipe dream.
Just cause a rumour is posted on some other website on the Internet doesn't make it any less a rumour, Slashdot. I personally am really curious who at Andover is getting paid off for all of the anti-Sega BS thats been coming down from here in the past week. (Remember the 'Sega dropping the DC' from two days ago?)
Toodles
Toodles D. Clown
** Note: Slashdot is actually a sham, a haven for immature "Linux users" (Windows-using wannabes) who provide flamebait for each other and pageviews for Malda. But Hemos shouldn't tell that the MS or Sega.
Damn, this is some good crack!
All generalizations are false.
--
I like to watch.
It was called the Pentium III because at the time Intel wasn't shipping a Celeron at over 400MHz. If you look at the specifications posted on the web(I'd suggest staring at xbox.ign.com) and look at the specs on the processor, you'll discover that it looks very much like a Celeron (ie, same cache size)
Doh!
"Dreamcast DOES run WinCE"
Incorrect.
"Dreamcast CAN run WinCE"
Correct.
Most DC games don't use WinCE.
Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
a slashdot editor checking ... facts
... must lie down ...
head light
question: is control controlled by its need to control?
answer: yes
This isn't as much "normalization" as it is "don't take so many drugs when you're designing tables."
If MS is smart they'll engineer the Xbox so that nothing unapproved will boot on it. I'd love to see Xbox Linux but I doubt it will be easy to do, if it's possible at all.
(putting on flame-retardant suit...)
1. Dreamcast games work, but, the user must successfully cut the disk into a square first.
2. One of the features included will be the ever popular "gamers assistant" who will pop up in mid game, (usually when you are rolling along quite fine) and ask "May I be of assistance?" The assistant will be quite useless if you happen to get stuck in a game, producing only clickable buttons that take you even further into obscurity.
3. Every game sold for the X-Box will actually contain only a 6 meg coded instruction for downloading the actual game. The rest of the disk will be filled with advertisements on how great Microsoft really is.
4. Hitting all buttons but one brings up a special screen, where you can view all the developers names in better 3D than any game available. It will be called an "Easter Egg"
5. Attempting to save the game will spawn going through 19 different cycles of power on, power off, reload the software, obtain a firmware upgrade, install it, and try the file parameter again.
krystal_blade
It will be easy to motivate our fellow man; there is hardly anything people treasure more than not being annihilated.
MS Tech: Hello, Microsoft technical support.
Hemos: Is Sega going to be making games for the X Box?
MS Tech: Can you hold for one moment. (muzak)
Hello, Microsoft technical support.
Hemos: Is Sega going to be making games for the X Box?
MS Tech: (pages flipping) Have you tried rebooting?
Hemos: Is that a yes or a no?
MS Tech: That sounds like a driver problem. You may have to reinstall Windows.
Hemos: (Hangs up, types "no comment").
Sega Rep: Hello?
Hemos: Are you guys going to be making games for the X Box?
Sega Rep: We make great many games, super good Sonic running bush pig, you buy at store.
Hemos: Yeah, great, but are you going to be making games for the X Box?
Sega Rep: YOU BUY AT STORE! (click)
Hemos: (types "no comment")
Ok, mod me down, I had my fun.