Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!news
From: "Robert Shand" <shand@globalnet.co.uk>
Newsgroups: scee.yaroze.freetalk.english
Subject: Re: S*ga Dreamc*st
Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 16:40:18 +0100
Organization: PlayStation Net Yaroze (SCEE)
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Message-ID: <6ketkj$lev1@chuka.playstation.co.uk>
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Dreamcast does look good, but show me some future hardware that doesn't.

As far as I can see Dreamcast has several problems/difficulties that it will
have to overcome.

1.    The legend of the Saturn will continually hang over the head of
Dreamcast.  Sega are going to have a hard time overcoming the problems it
had with the Saturn.  Here's a suggestion, get some good games for the
release, get some good games to follow up and maybe they should try some
marketing?  Just a thought.

2.    The modem is only 33.6 kps.  The V90. standard has recently been
finalised, why not use that.  True it is more expensive, but think what the
gamers want.  We all know how slow the Internet is.

3.    I think they are using a power VR chip for the 3D graphics.  If there
aim is easy conversion from PC -> Dreamcast and vice versa they may have a
problem.  3Dfx are the market leaders on the PC, which we all know has it's
own API.  Hopefully DirectX 6/7/8 and finally Fahrenheit will merge all of
the API to enable easy cross development.  Until then I think we will end
up with second rate conversions.

4.    Proprietary  CD format?  What are they playing at?  DVD is here, and
the newer high spec versions of DVD are just around the corner.  Why
increase the cost of development?

5.    Windows CE, need I say more.  We all now that the reliability and
performance of Windows stuff is second to pretty much everything.  Yes it
will enable the quick and easy conversion of games, but I won't be convinced
until I see a STABLE version of Windows.

I wish good luck to all at Sega.  Hopefully they will get it correct this
time.

Nick Ferguson wrote in message <3569980E.51FC@saqnet.co.uk>...
>Hiya all,
>
>Yeah, so we're all Sony cadets but this IS freetalk, y'know :-)
>
> Anyway, I have to say I'm fairly impressed with the "Dreamcast" specs,
>from what I understand of them, and I don't think the name is *that*
>bad... The logo is quite funky, too. What do you guys/gals reckon?
> If you haven't really been fussed to look it up, try going to
>www.seganet.com or www.fgnonline.com for some info. The highlights seem
>to be a proprietary 1 Gig CD format, a 33.6 modem as standard and 16 MB
>of system RAM, along with a v. natty-looking "PDA" which slots into the
>machine's pads (a cross between the Saturn analogue pad and the N64's)
>but also works "on the hoof". It also has 4 pad slots a la N64. Launch
>titles include VF3tb, Daytona 2 and probably Sega Rally 2 as well as
>some new Sonic game and probably D2. Launch date is 20th November in
>Japan, with US and European dates set for a year (WTF?!?!) after. So,
>who'll be importing one, then? :-/
> I think things look promising for the Dreamcast. If it gets some decent
>games (that aren't straight arcade ports) and if the modem aspect takes
>off, Sony are going to really have to pull something nifty out of their
>hat for the PS 2...which I'm sure they will (*slurp*).
>
>Nick "saving the pennies" F