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Most Dreamcast Online Servers Halted

Posted by simoniker on from the end-of-an-era dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to the official Sega announcement that most of their Dreamcast game servers will be shut down starting this month. According to the site, "Effective June 2003, the only Dreamcast titles that Sega will continue to support online are Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Online ver. 2. No other Dreamcast titles will be playable online after this time." This means that titles such as Alien Front Online (which pre-dated Xbox Live with a headset feature), the Sega Sports titles, Quake III, and even the classy Chu Chu Rocket will no longer be online-compatible, admittedly long after their prime. Perhaps someone could find a homebrew solution?

38 comments

  1. Uhh...? by bl4nk · · Score: 1

    I didn't think anyone used the Dreamcast anyway, so why find a homebrew solution to a problem that simply does not exist?

    1. Re:Uhh...? by Painaxl · · Score: 2, Informative

      I'm not trying to flame or anything, but the DC has what is probably the largest homebrew communities around. Check out DC Emulation or BOOB! Dreamcast Development. A lot of people still use the Dreamcast (I still do, even though I've got a PS2 and Xbox). It still has it's supporters, especially in the homebrew, emulation and open source communities.

    2. Re:Uhh...? by Baron_911 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually, the Dreamcast isn't quite dead yet! The hacker community has been writing all sorts of emulators and various trinkits for the DC for a while after it 'officially' died, so there will probably still be some demand for at least a Chu Chu rocket server. :P

      Links:
      Dreamcast Programming
      Dreamcast Emulation(much more than emulation there...)

      --
      Polaroid. See what develops!!
    3. Re:Uhh...? by iainl · · Score: 1

      Actually, stuff emulators and pointless trinkets, I'm looking forward to the DC release of the latest King Of Fighters game (2002?), which is released soon.

      --
      "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
    4. Re:Uhh...? by RevAaron · · Score: 1

      I use mine DC a fair bit. Like others have mentioned, I use mine for emulation. For $30 it can't be beat- cheaper than buying even just another NES with a bunch of the games I wanted. Also cheaper than buying a TV out card and a gamepad for my iBook.

      Heck, I didn't even own any real DC games until a month ago, when I picked up "Caution: Seaman." It was just NES, SNES, and GB up until then....

      --

      Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
    5. Re:Uhh...? by analog_line · · Score: 1

      I use mine...and have a spare waiting for when this one dies, and probably will pick up a second spare.

    6. Re:Uhh...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How high is the DC mortality rate? I love being able to play with the homebrew stuff (even modifying some of the open source projects) and if there is a high chance of this one dieing I would like to get a backup before they are all gone.

    7. Re:Uhh...? by ragingmime · · Score: 1

      I've had a Dreamcast since the end of 1999, and it's doing just fine... just be nice to it, don't block the cooling vents, and it should last you quite a while. Come to think of it, I've got an NES that's still alive and kicking... the only things that went were some controllers. So if you're going to buy any extra hardware, you may want to grab some controllers and memory cards. If you're not gentle with systems, though, it might be worth investing in a backup... I have a friend whose Dreamcast died a while ago, but he bought it used and he might not have been too careful with it after he got it. But yeah, I'm with you... homebrew software is really cool, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of Feet of Fury!

      --
      I produce electronic music and write little games. Have a look.
    8. Re:Uhh...? by analog_line · · Score: 1

      I'm gentle with the system, I just invested in a lot of good Dreamcast games that I don't want to become coasters.

      I don't bother much with homebrewing. Nothing still beats the Dreamcast for bringing over to a party for some fun. 4 player sports games without having to carry around a multitap. Powerstone 2. All the best 2d fighting games ever, and of course SoulCalibur. Only the Cube has that kind of potential with Super Monkey Ball 2 (for which the mini games are almost worth the price). And even just playing games it's great. Jet Set Radio, Skies of Arcadia, Record of Lodoss War, Wacky Races, Crazy Taxi.

    9. Re:Uhh...? by betelgeuse68 · · Score: 1

      What are you talking about dude.... I have a Dreamcast and still use it.

      It had a lot of bytchin' games and some of these are still readily enjoyable. I got the European import version of Shenmue II for the Dreamcast and I would rather hear Japanese and the heinous voice acting in the XBox version. Then there's "Metropolis Street Racer" still quite pleasant to play today (the predecessor of the Platinum hit "Project Gotham Racing" on the XBox). Then there's "San Francisco ush 2049" and "Sega Rally Championship"

      Not to mention that I can game on a VGA monitor with the Dreamcast affording a level of crispness that requires an HDTV on the contemporary consoles. I'm not ready to drop $3K on an HDTV yet (the one I want).

      Then there's the fact you can put the Dreamcast to use in ways not originally envisioned:

      http://dcphonehome.com
      http://linuxdc.sourcefor ge.net/
      http://netbsd.org/Ports/dreamcast/

      And here's a very practical use of a Dreamcast with a broadband adapter (Ethernet):

      http://www-public.tu-bs.de:8080/~y0018536/dreamc as t.htm

      I'm glad I cleared up your ignorance....

      -M

  2. I, for one, will be very sad... by SynapseLapse · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is just another nail in the coffin of system that died way too fast. The homebrew scene has been a wonderful source of continual innovation. Despite what the troll said above, there are some of us who still play some classic DC games. It has so many titles that are absolutely wonderful that were all but completely ignored by the mainstream buyers. (Bangai-o anyone?) Oh well, I still have four controllers for some Bomberman/Chu Chu Rocket fun.

    1. Re:I, for one, will be very sad... by Mike+Mentalist · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You arent the only one sad to see the DC go - its a sad state of affairs when a console with so many quality games can just sink into the ground like this. I really hope that the DC homebrew scene keeps on going, as it can be fascinating stuff.
      I am still baffled as to why people bought into the PS2 hype so much - the DC had plenty of quality games by the time Sony's console launched, and it was months before it had its own high quality game.

      Given that hardly anyone plays PSO on the DC anymore, I wonder if the games are still full of tossers 'player killing' everyone? I can never understand people who would rather go around spoiling a game for other people rather than playing a game properly. Even when the online games are a subscription service like Xbox Live, it doesnt stop morons driving backwards in MotoGP. Its utterly pathetic.

      --
      I put my books on Amazon, Smashwords, Demonoid, ISOHunt and Pirate Bay. Search for 'Michael Cargill'
    2. Re:I, for one, will be very sad... by simoniker · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I was _really_ enjoying Phantasy Star Online for the Dreamcast up to the point I started playing alongside players who 'suspiciously' had the best weapons on the game, despite not being _THAT_ levelled up. When asked where they got them, they mumbled something about 'a friend' giving it to them. Just say no to item cloning, kids - it really does ruin the user experience :(

    3. Re:I, for one, will be very sad... by mugnyte · · Score: 2, Interesting

      its a sad state of affairs when a console with so many quality games can just sink into the ground like this

      In the uber-competative world of console + PC + handheld gaming , it may be tragic to some, but is this really unexpected? I mean these companies want you to buy a new one every two years. Should I have any sympathy when they start dying off just as quickly?

    4. Re:I, for one, will be very sad... by C0LDFusion · · Score: 1

      I am still baffled as to why people bought into the PS2 hype so much - the DC had plenty of quality games by the time Sony's console launched, and it was months before it had its own high quality game.

      Here's the thing, though. I recognize that DC had great titles, but the "killer app" for PS2 was the backward compatability to a system that had dominated much of the market prior to its upgrade release. If Saturn hadn't been killed by Bernie "Can't find his ass with both hands" Stolar, and if third party support was fostered for Saturn...and perhaps, if DC had backward compat with Saturn, DC coulda been a contenda.

      I love my Saturn and I love my DC.
      I also love my PS2 and my PC! (I'm a poet and I don't know it!

      --
      Only in slashdot are posts of solidarity modded at -1 Redundant, while posts of antagonism are modded as -1 Flamebait.
    5. Re:I, for one, will be very sad... by ronfar · · Score: 1
      Actually, that's a myth. The game companies would very much prefer that you didn't have to buy a new console every two years. The truth is that according to most reports the companies lose money on the consoles and make money on games. At best their console profits are nothing compared to their profits on actual game licenses. Actually, the longer a console is in production, the more likely it is that a company will make money on both the games and the console.

      Why would they want you to buy a new console? When you go out to buy the new console is when you are most likely to switch to a competing brand! Companies work hard to try and prevent this.

      SEGA, in fact is often critized for coming out with two upgrades for SEGA Genesis. These were the SEGA CD and the SEGA 32X, they were over-priced and poorly supported, and ultimately horrible mistakes on SEGA's part. I sure don't think that SEGA intended them to be colossal, brand destroying failures so people would have to go out and buy Saturns(but would usually opt for Playstations, anyway), I think they just didn't have a clue what they were doing.

      The Playstation was originally supposed to be the CD add on for Super Nintendo. For various reasons the partnership between Sony and Nintendo broke up, but the point is that Nintendo didn't want people to go out and buy a new system. They resisted moving from 8-bit to 16-bit as long as they possibly could, until they realized SEGA was going to eat their lunch.

      Playstation II retained backward compatibility with PS-one, and I think new PS-one games are still coming out. The point is that instead of offering upgrades, which have historically done poorly, Sony offered a new console that had more capabilities but that would allow you to retain your old library.

      The Gameboy is the Holy Grail of consoles. If you bought an original Gameboy, it lasted for years. You could even play some Gameboy Color games on the original Gameboy, just without enhancement. Think of how glorious it must have been for Hiroshi Yamauchi to watch every competitor over the years fail pitifully to make any dent in the Gameboy market. "Lynx, Turboexpress, GameGear, Wonderswan, Nomad, Neo Geo Pocket? All of them are nothing now, all of them are dust!!!" (Apologies to Lord Garth, "Whom the gods destroy," Star Trek:TOS)

      It is the common people, Joe Twelve-Pack, who decides to go out and by the "latest, greatest" console. Sure, they couldn't do it if competitors didn't offer it, but it is the only chance competitors have to break the hold of the dominant player on the market. Heck, SEGA doesn't want you to buy a new console every two years, the Dreamcast was the last one they will ever make! People went out and bought their competitors consoles and drove them into the ground.

      --
      All the creatures will die, And all the things will be broken. That's the law of samurai. (Jubai, 1605)
  3. Anyone know for certain about Quake 3? by iainl · · Score: 1

    As far as I remember the Dreamcast Quake 3 could play against PC owners; does this mean that the "central server" part of the online game was just a GameSpy server list? I suspect it shouldn't be too difficult to get that title speaking to a standard PC Q3A server.

    --
    "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
    1. Re:Anyone know for certain about Quake 3? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      They said that would be a feature, but it never happened. Quake 3 DC only supports 4 players at a time.

  4. The reason: by breon.halling · · Score: 4, Funny

    They've probably all been turned into Linux routers. =)

    --
    "Yeah, well, Dracula called and he's coming over tonight for you and I said okay."
  5. It only makes sense! by Domini · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Since most Dreamcasts will now become Linux routers, it only makes sense that games will suffer... -grin-

  6. bleh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Drop Packet, Drop Packet, ACK, ACK, Reject, Reject, Port Forward, Port Forward.

    I can't wait to play that game.

  7. Not to bad. by Quicksilver31337 · · Score: 1

    I guess I have to give props to Sega on this one. As noted, it is long after the prime of the games and the system, and it is very impressive that they endured the expense of maintaining the servers this long, and that they continue to support the servers for PSO, despite the recent releases for todays systems. Kudos Sega.

    --
    _______
    Death wish, n.:

    The only wish that always comes true, whether or not one wishes it t
  8. Attention Sega: Release the server source by saladpuncher · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Sega could pull off a huge public relations coup by releasing the source code to their servers so that the development community that has grown up around the Dreamcast can continue to grow. Sure, they wont make any money but it will go a long way towards making people trust them enough to buy their next console...if they ever make one.

    1. Re:Attention Sega: Release the server source by Kris_J · · Score: 0, Troll

      When they started releasing games on the Xbox, Microsoft probably had them sign something that said they wouldn't do this.

    2. Re:Attention Sega: Release the server source by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Plus, Sega also license the use of their online libraries so while it would be nice, I doubt it would happen.

      Shame really...

  9. Online PC games last longer... by LazyBoy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    IMO, the type of online PC games that are hosted by users will last longer because they're hosted by users. Typically, someone has to host a central server info server, but that doesn't cost them much. The new MMP environments won't fit this model...

    --

    If Chaos Theory has taught us anything, it's that we must kill all the butterflies.

  10. PSO Server Emulator/Lobby emulator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I think somebody on the DCEmulation forums started a PSO server emulator. He claims to have broken the encryption used for the protocol.

    It is -kindof- believable, because he was/is known for other hacks on PSO. But he never followed up with information or a proof, and it went quiet after a short while.

    It looks like in most cases the SEGA servers provide only a lobby, to start games and get the IP addresses of all players interchanged, from then on it's peer-to-peer with UDP messages.

    I think this is the chance to break out your packet-analysers and capture a few sessions.

    It should be quite easy with an Action Replay or a private name server to cheat the DC into using a different server. And it would definitely be a nice open-source project. And it would open up the possibility for LAN games...

    1. Re:PSO Server Emulator/Lobby emulator by JensR · · Score: 1

      heres the thread:
      http://www.dcemulation.com/phpBB/viewtopi c.php?t=1 9540

  11. Sega? by Sick+Boy · · Score: 1

    I haven't been able to connect to the sega sports servers ever (though I was trying 2k1 games in 2002-2003). Were they accessable at all after 2001?

    --
    Does narcissism count as a hobby? --Shawn Latimer
  12. a modest proposal by toothfish · · Score: 1

    Sega could score big points if they open sourced the server software-- I doubt it'll happen, but it would enable people to keep using their Dreamcasts, and wouldn't cost Sega any money. Of course, if there are too many similarities between the games that they're continuing to support and the ones that they're not, it'd be even less likely to happen.

    still. maybe a petition is in order?

  13. Good idea for sega by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    people have been pirating their dreamcast games yadda yadda, they don't want to support it anymore... But there's still such a huge underground community. Why doesn't Sega embrace that and promote the dreamcast as an open-source platform?

  14. Shenmue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    FYI, if you have a Shenmue Passport disc, it's been worthless for online use for a few months now. They shut down the lobby server so you can't trade minigame high scores or view the online help guide any more. It's a shame since the online portion of the Passport disc had some catchy BGM tunes that are now lost forever.