Make the Most of Your Sega Dreamcast
The Sega Dreamcast is quite possibly one of the most versatile console of all time. They also happen to be quite affordable and plentiful. If you don’t already have one, you need to pick one (or two) up. If you already have one, take a look at some hardware and software that will maximize your experience with the White Box.
Hardware:
One of the best ways to increase your overall Dreamcast experience is to make some hardware enhancements/modifications. Most of these are quite simple and inexpensive, but once you try them out, you many wonder how you ever lived without them.
VGA Cable
With the growing demand for high-definition displays and optimal picture quality, classic gamers may have a hard time getting their older consoles to look good. There are also people (especially college students) that are staying away from traditional TV and opting to have their entertainment piped through their computer monitors. Fortunately, the Dreamcast has native VGA support that will accommodate both of these demands. With an affordable VGA cable (which replaces your traditional AV cables) you can connect your Dreamcast to any VGA-compatible computer monitor or HDTV. It results in extremely clear picture quality that is only rivaled by an XBox 360 with an HDMI cable.
broadband Adapter
This puppy will set your wallet back quite a bit, but if you want to be able to connect your Dreamcast to a high-speed internet connection, or just want to experiment with hooking your Dreamcast to your local LAN, you will need a Broadband adapter. This expensive add-on replaces your Dreamcast’s modem with a LAN connection. While most of Sega’s servers have been taken down, there are still ways of getting your Dreamcast online.
Play Imports
By now, most Dreamcast owners have learned that nearly every Dreamcast can play ripped backup games. However, it isn’t quite as easy if you have official retail versions of games you imported (and their are a lot of good games to import). In order to play games of a different region, you can check out this guide which will show you a couple different options on booting games from a different region.
Quieter Fan
If I had to pick one main disappointment about the Dreamcast, I would have to complain about the noise the console makes when running. When compared to some beautiful hardware creations such as the Sega Saturn or Nintendo Gamecube, the Dreamcast is downright noisy. Both the GD-ROM drive and the system fan combine efforts to force you to turn up the volume of your game a bit higher. While we can’t do much about reducing the GD-ROM’s noise, you can take a look at this guide for putting in a quieter system fan.
Extension Cables
While its quite a shame that there is not any high-quality wireless controllers available for the Dreamcast. That disappoints me just about as much as the noise level. Our one work-around is a set of controller extension cables. The cables will essentially double the length of your controllers cords so you can have your console tucked away and have your seating further away from your system.
Arcade Stick
This little addition will probably only apply to you if you enjoy old-school arcade games like fighters and shooters, but I know I could never live without my trusty Arcade Stick. I’m a big fighting fanatic, and in case you never noticed, the standard Dreamcast controller really sucks for fighting games that benefit from a six-button layout and require quick and precise joystick movements. Personally, I own an Agetec arcade stick (mine has a green joytick) which was promoted as the “official” Dreamcast arcade stick. However, racketboy member, Jemsic has made a number of high-end arcade sticks specially designed for the Dreamcast. He uses real arcade parts in order to have the best durability, comfort, and control in addition to adding custom artwork.
Software:
Once you have your ideal hardware setup configured, you may want to work on building the ideal software library for your gaming and entertainment needs.
The Essential Games
Sega’s creativity really showed through with a number of exclusive games. To get you started, check out The Games That Defined The Sega Dreamcast. If you have some more specific tastes, you may be interested in the Dreamcast impressive 2D Fighters and 2D Shooters libraries. And finally, if you need something a little more exotic, check out the best of the Dreamcast imports. There is something to please everyone.
NesterDC
There are a number of emulation projects for the Dreamcast (see DCEmulation.com), but NesterDC is at near perfection in terms of both actual game emulation and its simple and enjoyable interface. With NesterDC its so incredibly easy to have all the best NES games on a single self-booting disc and switch between games with very little effort. It works so well, there is little reason to own an actual NES instead of a Dreamcast other than to experience the true NES “feel”. If you like boxy controller and blowing into your cartridges, keep your NES. Otherwise, look into NesterDC running on a Dreamcast.
Neo4All
When the existing Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo emulators for the Dreamcast were still struggling to run the majority of the games perfectly, Dreamcast enthusiasts scoffed at the idea of the Dreamcast being able to run larger Neo-Geo games well at all. However, you should never underestimate the creativity and skill of the best Dreamcast homebrew developers. Neo4All is a remarkable emulator that manages to run quite a few Neo-Geo games surprisingly well. As you can tell of my review of the Neo4All emulator, it is not perfect, it is a great solution for playing a lot of my favorite SNK titles. Not only is the emulation excellent, but the developers actually produced an interface that models itself after the best aspects of NesterDC.
Beats of Rage
There have been homebrew games for the Dreamcast for quite some time. However, once Beats of Rage hit the Dreamcast scene, a whole new burst of development took off. The original Beats of Rage game modeled itself after Sega’s side-scrolling brawler series, Street of Rage, but inserts SNK character sprites into the game. Overall, Beats of Rage has a very professional feel to it and plays quite well. Not only was the original Beats of Rage game good, but it also allowed other developers and enthusiasts to easily create their own mods for the game. The result is a number of additional brawlers featuring a variety of characters and settings. You can find a collection of Beats of Rage games over at DC Evolution.
Changing Game Music
Are you getting tired of constantly listening to The Offspring while playing Crazy Taxi? Would you rather listen to trance music instead of Marvel vs Capcom 2’s elevator music? You’re not alone. Some games have really great gameplay, but sometimes the music just irritates you or bores you to tears. Fortunately, with certain Dreamcast games (primarily Capcom titles), you have the opportunity to take a ripped version of the game and replace the music with something you actually enjoy. The process can be a tad complex and the results can be hit or miss, but when it works well, you will be some much happier. I don’t have complete documentation of editing every game, but here’s a look at Marvel vs Capcom 2.
Similar Information:
System Hacks and Guides Collection
What Should I Add?
We’ve already started the discussion of our favorite uses for the Dreamcast over in the forums. What are yours? (You can also use the comments section below)
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Sega, Dreamcast, Hacks
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Can you give any more info on buying or making arcade sticks for Dreamcast? I’m such a huge fighting game fan and yet I have never ever had the opportunity to even use a stick in this genre. The damn things are always so expensive. If I have to make one in order to spend half as much money, I’ll do it. I just need instructions, and links on where to buy the buttons.
Actually Jemsic wrote me a guide a while back, so I’ll have to post that soon…
This article delivers. 😀
Still gotta find a video cable for my Dreamcast, then I’ll be in with you cool kids.
Another great Dreamcast article there Racket Boy. I’m pretty surprised you didn’t mencon MAME4ALL though. That emulator can run most games from the 80s and 90s arcades, although currently you cant use the arcade stick with it due to how you insert coins with it. I usually insert as many coins as I can then swap the controllers, then I can play Ninja Turtles in arcade stick glory.
Actually, I’ve been meaning to try MAME4All. Is it that much of an improvement over the Single Game Arcade releases?
I have an image sitting on my hard drive. I need to burn and play it soon, I guess 🙂
I’ll probably add a bit to the list as I get more time
Mozgus, I had your same problem a while ago. I was really looking into what the best option for an arcade panel for arcade-style games is. I looked at what the cost of building one would be, what the cost of buying a prebuilt, and I found the X-Arcade to be the best value. When I tried to add up the price of building one, it always came out to cost more than buying a prebuilt X-Arcade, which is usable on PC (any OS really, it uses PS/2 keyboard interface), Mac (has a USB cable for use as a USB keyboard), XBox, Gamecube, PS2, PS1 and of course Dreamcast. I don’t actually own the Dreamcast adapter (there’s individual adapters that allow it to work on different platforms) but the button layout they show on the site is exactly what it should be. I highly recommend an X-Arcade, especially the 2-player version for twin-stick arcade games in MAME, or playing with your friends.
80 bucks for a USED one? That’s not an option for me. Can’t do it.
Great article!
I was just wondering if you knew of any good Genesis emulators for the DC?
thanks!
A good Genesis emulator would be GenesisPlusDC.
I need a Döner-Gyros-Expansion-Set for my Dreamcast, where can i buy it?
Dudes, I’m very new to the elumation thing. I have a Dreamcast and I want to “create” or “download” the NesterDC for it. Is there a step-by-step instruction on how to do this? I have no clue where to start. Sorry dudes, I’m a rookie.
Can’t find a guide right this minute, but you might want to post the question in the forum…
Great Article. Thanks!
If anyone is knowledgeable and knows how to do what I am requesting below please let me know. I am willing to pay or barter for what I need.
I need someone who is smart to make me a self-booting mame4all for the dreamcast with a couple games on it.
the simpsons arcade
x-men arcade
tmnt arcade
tmnt turles in time arcade
mk3-ultimate
*any other side scrolling beat em up’s
I just built a custom arcade cab and love playing my dc games on it but would LOVE to have the above games as well. If you can do this please email me directly at JDFedor@hotmail.com
Is there any EMU that allows you to use your PC as a VMU hooked to the controller of a DreamCast? I want to see and hear what is going on on my EMU while actually playing the game on my DreamCast.