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SD Adapter For Dreamcast Released
YokimaSun writes "The Dreamcast was the last console by Sega that had innovations that today's consoles have taken on board, i.e. broadband online gaming and innovative gaming controllers (such as the fishing controller). The console still lives on today, thanks to the support of the homebrew community that still churns out games and emulators and also the odd commercial release for the console by independent developers. Today the spark has been ignited by the fascinating release of an SD adapter for the Dreamcast that allows homebrew games to be played without the need to burn to disc. It's time to dust off those Dreamcast consoles and get back into free gaming. The same company have also released a Dreamcast modified with VGA support and a front-loading SD slot and its own BIOS. Awesome to relive some of those Dreamcast classics."
Dreamcast came stock with a 56k but there was a rare "broadband adapter" that would swap the 56k for an ethernet socket. They are probably still a pretty hot item on ebay.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcast_Broadband_Adapter
The inclusion of the modem at least brought /online/ gaming to consoles if not broadband gaming. They did make a not-widely-available Ethernet interface for it, however.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcast_Broadband_Adapter
"The same company have also released a Dreamcast modified with VGA support"
The Dreamcast always has had VGA support.
Dreamcast VGA
SEGA is allowed to got batshit insane IF they are using Sega's code in their custom BIOS. they could also freak out about them calling it "Dreamcast" but unless its being sold as a NEW system instead of a used one that has been modified then they wont have an issue. Sont still has alot of IP tied up in their dreamcast library. the last thing they want is to seem soft on piracy. Hopefully this will be more of an enthusiast item the n setting a new market (thus attracting more attention...because i REALLY want/need one of those SD adapters)
they say it is often more relevant then the comment above, all we know is its called the Sig!
FWIW the SD card modification was invented back in 2008 by a Japanese guy here:
http://f17.aaa.livedoor.jp/~takotako/dcserial_ft232bm.php#sdcard
It's an internal mod as the serial port connector is very hard to come by. All this company did was make an external version and package it with (I'm assuming) a CD-R packed with emulators and ROMs without the respective author's permission.
It's a cool product, but it would have been cooler if the original guy who did the hardware hack (and the emulator authors who are getting ripped off) could somehow have been compensated for their hard work which made this product possible.
I know I'm dreaming, console products out of China are all rip-offs so they have zero R&D expenses.
This is based off a free mod from this site
Why go to all the trouble of hardware hacks and improvements on technology that is that old?
Because it's a console. Advantages of consoles over PCs include SDTV output as a standard feature, a guaranteed minimum performance level of the hardware, and a culture of actually using the two to four controller ports for local multiplayer gaming. The Dreamcast just lacks the disadvantage of a lockout chip.
I've got nice big hands, and the PSX controller sucks. I liked it at first, but the more I use it the more it cramps my hands. It's essentially an SNES controller with handles hanging off. But the handles mean I can't rest the controller on my fingers like I used to, I have to grasp the handles. I've tried not grasping the handles, it requires sustained concentration, not natural at all. Problem is, the handles on the PSX controller are thin and straight. So I end up really curling my fingers around it, cramps right up.
The Logitech Dual-Action, now there's a nice controller. See the nice big grips, those fill up all the space in my palms. I can play forever with that thing. It has an actual d-pad too. It's superior to the PSX controller in every way but one, the square holes around the analog sticks. I mean, wtf.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
True, you could do all that... or you could pick up a working used one for like $20 at your local used game store/ebay. :)
Personally, I grabbed 3 partially busted DCs at a local thriftshop for $5 apiece and then combined them into a single working unit. Took about 30 minutes and all I needed was a screwdriver.
Any plan which depends on a fundamental change in human behavior is doomed from the start.
I would have to agree Atari 5200 controllers ranked right up there with Intellivision controllers, those things died all the time.
Because it's fun?
Compact Flash card for Apple IIs: http://dreher.net/?s=projects/CFforAppleII&c=projects/CFforAppleII/main.php
(I have no connection, though a friend has written some of the drivers)