Thinking about getting a Dreamcast

[+Ransom]

But which one should I get? And where should I be looking for one?

 

Looking at the list of released games, it seems like it would be best to have a Japanese console. Is that right?

 

Anything to be aware of/careful about when buying a Dreamcast?

[Algus]

I never did get a fully working console because of laser issues. Be very careful with the seller. It is worth spending extra money to buy from a seller that has a confirmed working unit.

[AtariLeaf]

I never did get a fully working console because of laser issues. Be very careful with the seller. It is worth spending extra money to buy from a seller that has a confirmed working unit.

 

That's a little personal to ask a seller don't ya think?

[Taskmaster99]

Go japanese. Some of the best games came out in Japan ( Just like the Saturn). Dreamcast is also a fighting game fans dream.

[+Gemintronic]

Remember that you can get SD card readers for Dreamcast now. Plently of homebrew goodness without wearing out your GD-ROM drive

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_trksid%3Dm570.l3201%26_nkw%3DDreamcast%2BSD%2BCard%2BReader%26_sacat%3D0

[Blazing Lazers]

If you do get a Dreamcast, make sure you get a keyboard for Typing of the Dead and a fishing controller. You can thank me later

[cimerians]

Remember that you can get SD card readers for Dreamcast now. Plently of homebrew goodness without wearing out your GD-ROM drive

http://rover.ebay.co...Reader&_sacat=0

 

What? Thats possible now? Whoa...I need to check that out. Thanks for posting.

 

Will it take ISO's and do you need a loader program or something on the SD card?

[Hatta]

Don't those have speed issues due to the dreamcast's serial interface?

[+Gemintronic]

What? Thats possible now? Whoa...I need to check that out. Thanks for posting.

 

Will it take ISO's and do you need a loader program or something on the SD card?

 

Some Dreamcast can be flashed to auto enable the SD card reader. If not the sellers usually include the loader CD. You can make your own Dreamcast ISOs. You can also find pre-patched ISOs. The load time some for titles is noticably slower than GD-ROM.

[AtariBrian]

I just got a dreamcast recently for 1 game ... Gunlord . awesome homebrew !

[cimerians]

Some Dreamcast can be flashed to auto enable the SD card reader. If not the sellers usually include the loader CD. You can make your own Dreamcast ISOs. You can also find pre-patched ISOs. The load time some for titles is noticably slower than GD-ROM.

 

Great thanks!

[the.golden.ax]

I'll hook you up with whatever you need dude.

[+Gemintronic]

Sometimes finding SD ready homebrew can be a pain. theisozone.com is your friend.

[Algus]

That's a little personal to ask a seller don't ya think?

 

I know what the sellers like

[cimerians]

I'll hook you up with whatever you need dude.

Sometimes finding SD ready homebrew can be a pain. theisozone.com is your friend.

 

Thanks I think I got it all figured out.

 

[Greg2600]

You need SD2ISO files. However, be aware that many of the import games you may want have not been converted. Also, any games with FMV movies and/or CD audio background music will skip quite a bit. I've also not had the greatest luck in getting the homebrews to all work without crashing, and you need to use Sandisk SD cards to be sure of compatibility.

[shadow460]

If you're getting launch titles like Ready To Rumble Boxing and Hydro Thunder, bear in mind that some of the initial presses were bad. Hydro Thunder comes blue or orange ink on the disc. The badly pressed discs all have blue ink. Their boxes will lack the "Hot! New!" sticker.

[Austin]

DON'T go Japanese. Unlike the Saturn, a lot of quality Japanese releases saw the light of day over here. All you are going to do is make life more annoying by using boot discs every time you want to play your US games (which you are likely to have many more of).

[Satoshi Matrix]

Sorry to butt in, but if curious, I have a Dreamcast I'm looking to sell, along with a bunch of other items.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/207566-sms-2013-sales-thread-games-accessories-beadsprites-goodies/

 

Dreamcast is in many ways the spiritical successor to the Neo-Geo - the game libraries of both mainly consist of shoot em ups, fighting games, sports and bazarre offerings. The Dreamcast doesn't really serve the all-genres array that systems like the SNES or Playstation do.

 

That being said, is a Dreamcast worth owning? Absolutely! It has some of my favorite games ever made, plus really out there games like Shenmue, and the ultimate in so bazaare its cool - The Typing of the Dead.

 

In case you don't know, Typing of the Dead is House of the Dead 2 with typing using the Dreamcast keyboard or a standard PS/2 keyboard with an adapter. This means it an edutainment game....however, since it was a GAME turned into edutainment, the whole focus is still on fun, not education. It is one if the only education games you'll ever play that's actually a good time.

[RickR]

Remember that you can get SD card readers for Dreamcast now. Plently of homebrew goodness without wearing out your GD-ROM drive

http://rover.ebay.co...Reader&_sacat=0

 

Woah! Cool. Is it hard to burn your own boot disk?

[NinjaWarrior]

Nope

 

 

Woah! Cool. Is it hard to burn your own boot disk?

[0078265317]

I have a dreamcast. I burned a cd with a bunch of nes games. I finally heard of the sd readers. But never knew about flashing. How do you flash the dreamcast to load the sd card right away without a cd??

[Atariboy]

If you're getting launch titles like Ready To Rumble Boxing and Hydro Thunder, bear in mind that some of the initial presses were bad. Hydro Thunder comes blue or orange ink on the disc. The badly pressed discs all have blue ink. Their boxes will lack the "Hot! New!" sticker.

 

I'd have to check my Hydro Thunder disc, but did the bad copies do anything when inserted into the console? Or did they just refuse to play?

 

Mine looks just fine but never went beyond the introduction scene. Never bothered buying another copy because of Midway Arcade Treasures 3 including it.

[xDragonWarrior]

Why do you have to think about getting a Dreamcast,itsa fu***** Dreamcast!

 

[the.golden.ax]

 

 

I'd have to check my Hydro Thunder disc, but did the bad copies do anything when inserted into the console? Or did they just refuse to play?

 

Mine looks just fine but never went beyond the introduction scene. Never bothered buying another copy because of Midway Arcade Treasures 3 including it.

 

It doesn't help that someone was bulk eBay selling copies of the recalled version (hundreds of them) for real cheap... so they got back out on the market. They should have been stamped in some way. I understand collecting, but that crap ends up unbeknownst, trying to be played.