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Hello RF Gents and Jens,
A few new variants have been discovered recently. Variant collecting isn't as clear as we thought it was! Anyways, all game variants known to date are detailed here. The somewhat new ones are UPC stickers on Fighting Force 2 and Monaco Grand Prix, as well as misprints for Marvel vs Capcom and ChuChu Rocket.
Recently I made a few purchases on ebay, and they include some curious items that are poorly documented online. Much appreciation would be given to anyone who can clarify some of these mystery items. So, show-and-tell time!
First off are the Web Browser discs that we know and love.
a) Are any more browser discs out there besides the ones pictured?
b) Did Web Browser 2.62 ever have a case or sleeve?
I've seen a few copies of Web Browser 2.62 floating around recently, and it is always loose. Here's a pic for comparison with 2.0
Now here's a new find. I found what seems to be Web Browser 2.0 in a sleeve. The sleeve version (II) also has demos listed on it.
...and a back view.
Surprise! The disc in sleeve II isn't Web Browser 2.0, but is actually the Dreamcast Magazine vol. 6 GD-Rom demo. It makes sense, the demos printed on the sleeve are a perfect match.
Pictured here is a third version of the Web Browser 2.0 packaging. III is also in a sleeve.
... and a back view
I don't wish to reveal what is inside because I would like to confirm with other collectors if it is the correct disc. So here's another question concerning item III pictured above.
c) Does anyone else have the Sega/Net version of the Web Browser 2.0 sleeve? What is inside?
That's all for browser discs. It is time to move on to the next find. For reference our colorful buddies, the Generator demo discs, are pictured here.
These discs have an annoying tab that makes it difficult to get inside.
The exception is when that tab goes missing.
At first I thought someone cut it off. But then I examined it closer. The front is identical, and the back is all text.
When you see it...
...you'll do the Sega Swirl!
That's all for the picture show. I think I've found a new alternate sleeve for Dreamcast Magazine vol. 6 GD-Rom and Generator vol.1 demo disc. Once again, I would appreciate any help on my browser disc questions. Please comment below or on the DP forum thread.
a) Are any more browser discs out there besides the ones pictured?
b) Did Web Browser 2.62 ever have a case or sleeve?
c) Does anyone else have the Sega/Net version of the Web Browser 2.0 sleeve? What is inside?
October has come and gone, but Halloween continues to haunt my mind.
I've previously mentioned I've spent a good portion of the past month reading up on the history of Sega, as well as putting my body to the test by running in two marathons. Yet, I've remained silent on my acquisitions for October, with the final one being held up in the postal system, thanks to a certain cyclonic storm system.
After three months, it should be no surprise by now that I collect Dreamcast stuff, so here's the photo roll:
Imports
Continue reading Dreamcast Mania! October 2012 ed.
 Before video arcade games, there was SEGA. This arcade amusement company already had stakes planted in both the US and Japanese markets before Atari revolutionized video entertainment, both at the arcades and at home. After the collapse of the home game market, Sega tried to enter only to be locked out by Nintendo. First to market for the 16-bit generation the Genesis (Mega Drive) took Sega to the #1 position in the game market, and marked the first significant console war with Nintendo. Everything went downhill from there. The Sega CD and 32X add-ons ate away at the profits generated by the Genesis and arcade divisions. The Saturn released early at a high price point and few hit games, setting Sega up to get steamrolled by the new kid on the block, Sony. Sega threw a hail-mary with the Dreamcast, and it was everything fans could want in a console, but it was too little, too late. In a period of 5 years, Sega had gone from being #1 to being 7 billion dollars in debt. It's a real miracle they haven't gone under like Atari, Midway, or SNK.
This book takes everything into account. The hardware and technical specs, the competition, business (mis)management, marketing, and the hit games... nothing is missed. The author is most certainly a gamer and a Sega fan, and I think that is the only point of view that is easiest to relate to in this historical account. It contains many quotes from the industry published in magazines of the time, and gets right down to the complex relations between developers, sometimes on a personal level.
Here's just a sample of topics covered in the book. If you don't know about them, it's time to get schooled.- The SG-1000 home computer system
- The coolest ads ever. Pirate TV (Europe), and the Sega scream (USA)
- Sega vs. Accolade
- the origins of EA sports games
- Why the 32X failed
- Why developers favored the PlayStation over the Saturn.
- EA, Visual Concepts, and 2K Games
- Saturn's 5-star game policy and the lack of imports
- the impact of piracy on the Dreamcast's software sales
- Sega's relations with Microsoft leading up to the Xbox launch
The book is structured by console, and generally completes the lifecycle of one system before backtracking to start with another overlapping system. It sounds confusing, but is well organized considering this is ultimately a history tied together of anecdotes and the author's long history of research. I do have a few complaints about the book. The biggest is a lack of editorial review. There are a number of typos towards the end, as well as an entire page-long passage copy/pasted in an awkward place. I think the omissions of the Game Gear, and advertising icons Segata Sanshiro and Yukawa-Senmu will certainly be missed by hardcore fans.
Sam Pettus calls it like it is. He does a great service to readers by refraining from fanboyism where it counts, and isn't afraid to acknowledge when the competition has some killer apps like Donkey Kong Country and all the Square RPGs. He keeps the enthusiasm in regards to fan loyalty as many felt repeatedly betrayed by a number of events over the course of Sega's downfall. My only big complaint is that a handful of points become redundant. The repetition chokes the flow of the story, and give more emphasis on certain factors than is deserved. The author also points a big finger at Hayao Nakayama of SoJ on a number of occasions for the East-West internal conflicts that really ruined the Sega CD, 32X, and Saturn in turn.
Service Games is a book I would recommend to anybody interested in the history of the games industry, or to anybody who's favorite console just happens to be made by Sega. I can't understate the wealth of information recounted. It's thick and informative, but at least the weight is softened by the trademark attitude adopted by both fans and Sega Corp. itself. The book is a cheap buy, and is available in print and as a PDF on many online retailers. For all the complaints, I've noticed the author is taking comments and is in the process of revision for an upcoming second edition. I'm compiling my list of corrections to email him, but am certainly eager to buy it again.
SEGA!
Wow. September started off strong. I picked up a second batch of games from the same Japanese seller I was buying in August. Sorted not in alpha or kana order, but by manliness. Games with IMPACT are on the left, and the ones with hurt feelings to the right.
Question:
What's better than having a Dreamcast hooked up to your TV?
Continue reading Dreamcast Mania! September 2012 ed.
Wow, so many things crammed in the mailbox this month! It's one thing to just buy-buy-buy which I did  , but it is another to take a collecting habit to an entire new level. I'm talking about living the lifestyle of a Sega fan.
Continue reading Dreamcast Mania! August 2012 ed.
July was a good month to be a Dreamcast fan. A new indie game, a classic standby, and some other goodies made this month all worthwhile.
Continue reading Dreamcast Mania! July 2012 ed.
 With a year of speculation and anticipation, a Wii version of this Dreamcast classic has made its rounds in the rumor mill, and last month's announcement in Nintendo Power only caused more head scratching. Now comes news straight from Sega themselves confirming that this title is indeed coming to Wii. Developed by Gearbox Software (makers of Brothers in Arms and the PC Half-Life expansions) this title will be Wii exlusive with a release date of Spring 2008.
Recently Sega and Nintendo have made all buddy-buddy, producing big license titles for Wii titles like Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, Sega Superstar Tennis, Alien Syndrome, and Sonic the Hedgehog's appearance in Super Smash Bros.: Brawl.
Source: Sega Europe
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it's thinking