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:
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.
The RF Generation forms is a place where amazing things happen if you lurk long enough. Boys grow into men, and there are stories of achievements and failures, love and loss.
Tucked away at the very bottom of the forum directory is a lonely board with a short name that is rarely visited by many gamers. I'm talking about The Gym, and that's where I posted the story of my endeavor(s) this month.
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?
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.
Not everyone was able to see the trailer leaked earlier this year for Mad World. With Platinum Games as the developer, Sega is not pulling any stops in this cell-shaded, black-and-white, highly stylized gorefest. Better yet, it's for the Nintendo Wii. It is refreshing seeing a bit more variety added to the console's lineup. With that having been said, we present the new trailer on behalf of the mature Wii gamers out there, who had empty Wii libraries until edgy titles like No More Heroes satiated our bloodlust.
Face it, Sonic has had some serious ups and downs. The originals from the Genesis (Mega Drive) days had us going GaGa over Sega. They were fun and extremely fast, two gameplay elements that have eroded over the years. Despite the glory, a number of spinoffs and additional characters crowded out the franchise and a sad serious of spinoffs ensued. Sonic R, Sonic the Fighters, etc. The series got a jump start in 1998 with new freshness that was known as Sonic Adventure. It properly brought the core of the series into the 3D era, and tapped into the heart of the game. Sonic Adventure 2 was no letdown either, delivering the same standard of gameplay.
Of course, we all know what happened from there. A crowded and highly competitive hardware market forced Sega to give the Dreamcast an untimely end. Ports of Sonic Adventure and other classic compilations helped them assume their new role as a third-party developer, but once again the quality began to slide. The Sonic franchise took the blow in stride too. Sonic Heroes, meh; Shadow the Hedgehog, WTF!?; Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), fail, Sonic and the Secret Rings, meh. Hidden gems like Sonic Rush became overlooked as fans lost faith in the series.
Another year, another game. Sonic Unleashed is slated for a 2008 release, and the debut trailer shown earlier in February failed to impress. Recently a new trailer with more gameplay footage has been circulating, and its changing a lot of opinions.
The gameplay switches from 2D to 3D, and the camera transitions are unobtrusive. It's still too early to pass judgement, so we'll have to wait for more news. For now I'll say things aren't looking worse the blue blur.
The "bigger is better" corporate mentality has struck the video game industry recently. Activision is in the process of merging with the games division of Vivendi Universal, and just last month, and Electronic Arts made a less-than-stellar offer to purchase Take 2 Interactive. Simon Jeffrey, CEO of Sega of America, reassures us "That's not an area we want to play in right now. We have no interest in being acquired, we are very happy with our position right now."
Currently Sega is the sixth largest games publisher in the US. "There is plenty of room for smaller companies to be successful and profitable in this business. You don't have to be number one or number two. You can be number six very happily," Jeffrey said. Sega recently scored a hit on Nintendo's Wii and DS systems with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games selling over 5 million copies in the first three months. Not many non-Nintendo published games have seen much success on the Wii. Compared to other "hardcore" games like Halo 3 that gain a large burst early on, but soon fade in sales, Mario & Sonic have enjoyed a longer steadier sales period as perpetual word of mouth keeps consumers coming back for more.
Sega is offering a good mix of franchises this year including licenced games for "Iron Man" and "Hulk" movies, a Sonic RPG for the DS, and a remake of Sega classic "Golden Axe". "We really think this year we've hit our stride getting that portfolio mix just right," Jeffrey said.
For his 15th birthday in 2004, Mega Man (or Rockman, if you prefer) recieved the special treatment and had all 8 of his original games bundled up and re-released with some special extras on the Xbox, PS2, and GameCube. Fortunately (or unfortunately) each version has unique exclusives, making no version inferior to the others (that includes you, GameCube). If you're a hardcore Mega-Maniac and that still isn't enough, there's always Mega Man X Collection gathering up all the other titles.
Whatever you call him, the blue bomber always delivers the right technique, and should he defeat you... he will assimilate your specialty move into himself, further expanding his arsenal. Just look at the lineup of bosses little Rockman conquered in Mega Man 2, he means business.
There are few "Mega" things that can rock as hard as Rockman himself, but Sega knew how. Affectionately called the Mega Drive in Europe and Japan, this 16-bit system ushered Sega into the golden age of gaming in the early 90s; with an edge that showed even mighty Nintendo that the stakes were raised.
Finally, we acknowledge a collector with fairly even-spread numbers for most of his consoles. All games in silentscythe's collection are childhood favorites, and likely get some play every once in a while. A healthy helping of RPGs and adventure games always catches my eye, and are a welcome addition to any collection.
That's all for now. Check out chat tonight, and tune in to channel 3...
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.
Dreamcast "new" releases... 2007
Triggerheart Exelica
Karous (last commercial release)
Last Hope 2008 Wind and Water: Puzzle Battles 2009
DUX Last Hope: Pink Bullets Rush Rush Rally Racing
Irides: Master of Blocks 2010 Fast Striker 2012 Gun-Lord 2013 Sturmwind
DUX 1.5 2014
Redux: Dark Matters
Neo XYX by NG.Dev Team 2015
Alice's Mom's Rescue
James & Watch 'Arm'
Elansar & Philia
The Ghost Blade
Pier Solar HD 2016
James & Watch: Tooth Cracker
Leona's Tricky Adventures
Orion's Puzzle Collection
Xia & The Goddesses of Magic 2017
Escape 2042 - The Truth Defenders
Rush Rush Rally Racing: Reloaded
Alice Dreams Tournament
Breakers
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.
, 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.
The "bigger is better" corporate mentality has struck the video game industry recently. Activision is in the process of merging with the games division of Vivendi Universal, and just last month, and Electronic Arts made a less-than-stellar offer to purchase Take 2 Interactive. Simon Jeffrey, CEO of Sega of America, reassures us "That's not an area we want to play in right now. We have no interest in being acquired, we are very happy with our position right now."
For his 15th birthday in 2004, Mega Man (or Rockman, if you prefer) recieved the special treatment and had all 8 of his original games bundled up and re-released with some special extras on the 
With a year of 
it's thinking