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Sega Dreamcast

It's time to take a closer look at my Sega Dreamcast, and all the bits that go with it...

Dreamcast

Yes I know, it's a bit yellow now

Here's a link to it's Wikipedia page

Hardware

This is a revision 1 European PAL Dreamcast. Revision 0, and 1 can boot CDR's, There was a revision 2, which can't. The number can be found within a circle on the label on the bottom of the unit, next to the box with the TV standard in it.

Dreamcast

On the unit itself are four controller ports, the disc lid with power and lid open buttons, the port for the fan, the AC IN socket for the power cable which is a standard figure of 8 cable, a serial port, the AV OUT port for the display, and a LINE socket

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast
Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

The drive itself is a GD-ROM, similar to a CD-ROM but with slightly higher storage space (1GB instead of 700MB), it can still read normal CD's and CDR's including audio and "homebrew" games, but some units may need the discs to be burned slow (4x). The AV Out can use a variety of cables to connect to various displays including RF and VGA. The power button is an on/off toggle switch. Open just releases the lid, usually this would reset the Dreamcast as well, but this can be overridden by software. The power supply is built into the unit, this is rated at 220~240 volts at 50/60Hz using 0.27 Amps, at least it does in the UK.

The LINE socket is for a dial-up modem, the modem is removable and can be replaced with a broadband adaptor if you could find one. The modem cable is a standard phone cable, mine came from a Sky TV box. Many games had online functions.

Dreamcast Dreamcast
Dreamcast Dreamcast

The four ports on the front could connect controllers (I have four official and one 3rd party controllers), and other devices like light guns, keyboards and mice .

Dreamcast Dreamcast
Dreamcast Dreamcast

Each controller has two ports, so either two memory units (VMU), or one memory unit (VMU) and a rumble pack can be connected at the same time. As you would expect, the sockets are proprietary

Dreamcast Dreamcast

I have two light guns, these have selected buttons on the rear, and one memory card slot, the rumble pack does not fit here. The warning on the side makes me chuckle.

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast
Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

The keyboard and mouse look like the keyboard and mouse you would have on your PC of the time, the mouse is a ball mouse, but it has a scroll wheel and a side button.

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast
Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

The VMU (Visual Memory Unit) held game save data in blocks, these were different to other systems as they had a LCD screen which could display text and simple animation relating to the game being played, they could also, with the help of two CR2032 batteries, work while unplugged from the controller and manage saved files and play very simple games. You did not need the batteries to save game files, which was a relief as the batteries did not last long. You could also connect two VMU's together and transfer files and data.

Dreamcast Dreamcast
Dreamcast Dreamcast

The rumble packs have no controls, they just plug in and work if the game supports them.

Dreamcast Dreamcast


Powering up the unit

If the console hasn't been switched on for a while you'll need to set the time and date, also note the Dreamcast logo is blue in PAL regions

Dreamcast Dreamcast

Once set, providing you don't have a game disc in the drive, you'll be greeted with a short animation and then the menu screen, the icons dance around when selected. If a game disc is in the drive, the game will start. The unit itself is quite loud with the fan running and the disc spinning.

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast
Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

The disc spins in the CD player, which is a bit boring, and not like the space ship in the Sega Saturn. If you put a game disc in and select the CD player, the disc has game related artwork on it instead.


Software

Dream Key 3.0

This is the disc that you would use to set up the internet connection with, the settings were saved on the VMU. Earlier versions forced you to use Seganet, whereas with this version you could use any ISP

Dreamcast Dreamcast
Dreamcast Dreamcast

The House of the Dead 2

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

ChuChu Rocket

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

UEFA Dream Soccer

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Soldier of Fortune

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

MSR (Metropolis Street Racer)

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Crazy Taxi

This game has succumbed to disc rot and now won't boot

Dreamcast Dreamcast

Dreamcast Dreamcast

Re Volt

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Mortal Kombat Gold

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Virtua Fighter 3tb

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Jet Set Radio

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Roadsters

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Sega Rally 2 Championship

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Sonic Adventure

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Sega GT

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

South Park Rally

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Dino Crisis

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Shenmue

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast


As is common with modern games, you have to sit through various developer logos and warning messages

Dreamcast Dreamcast

Dreamcast Dreamcast

Then you would usually get options to run at either 50 or 60Hz, and to test your display for 60Hz

Dreamcast Dreamcast Dreamcast

The online functions were in a separate menu, and would read your settings from the VMU and attempt to connect. Obviously, it won't work here.

Dreamcast Dreamcast

Updates

This recently came in the post...

Dreamcast Dreamcast

And that's my Sega Dreamcast collection done!

Thanks for reading, and for the rest of my collection, click here

© 2020 IWH Software (Ian Hill)