Sega Dreamcast Advice Needed!

[JP]

I bought a UK Dreamcast at launch but it died within a day. I had it replaced by the shop for it to happen again.

This happened three times so I just decided to give up in the end!

I've been thinking of buying one again but I really don't know anything about them so I have a few questions.

1. Are they still worth getting?
2. What sort of price should I be paying for a mint machine?
3. Were they region locked?
4. Was the UK model just 50 or 60htz compatible?
5. Can they be chipped?
6. What about Limited Editions, I've seen different coloured machines before but I'm not sure what the differences are or if there are any apart from the colour?
7. Which games do I really NEED to be playing on it?
8. What peripherals can I not do without getting hold of?
9. Where is reliable & trusted place to buy these things?

I'm not really going to give any info on what type of games to suggest as best games. I'd rather suggested all genres and I'll perhaps be more specific when I know more about what the hell I'm after here.

[rmoxon]

1. Yes the dreamcast is deffinitley worth getting, some of its arcade ports (Crazy taxi, house of the dead 2 ect) were excelent and most Pal games can be picked up pretty cheaply.

2. Probabaly about 20-30 pound

3. Unlike most machines, you could just use a bootdisk to play import games or even just use a backup CD of an import game if you wanted. Though only certain bootdisks boot games in 60hz it should be noted.

4.The UK model was 60hz compatible as most UK games have a 6ohz option.

5.Thy can be modded yeah, though there is less point than most other consoles considering the boot disk thing.

6. No difference besides the colour

7.The two I mentioned already, plus id recomend Sonic adventure, Ikaruga, Jet Set Radio, Border Down, Space Channel 5 and Bangai-o for starters, there are plenty more great ones too. Chu Chu rocket is great fun for the 99p you'll probabaly be able to pick it up for these days.

8.A few vmu's and an arcade stick are the only major prepherils you will need, though obviously the official light gun too for House of the dead 2 and confidential mission is also a game thats worth a look if you do.

9.Well I got my last dreamcast from ebay... though make your own mind up wether thats a reliable place or not.

[JP]

Cheers!

What cables does it use to output the AV? I'm using a HD TV so is there a component lead available for it and is that the best lead to use?

[Pavey]

No component mate, vga is the best pic available.

They generally come as a box which you plug your vga and audio cables into.

And get Under Defeat, an up the screen heli shooter.

I'll compile a list now of must haves.

TTFN!

[MarioMark]

Sounds like you were way unlucky with your launch day cast's mate. Still a great machine today. PSO, Sonic Adventure 1, Shenmue, etc, etc all great games in their day. One of my favourite consoles ever.

For HDTV set-up I recommend using a DC VGA cable, it gives you PC quality image quality, better than 480p through component on say... a PS2 for example. Really crisp and clean image quality, it makes game like Crazy Taxi look arcade perfect.

[rmoxon]

Some dreamcast games are VGA compatable and to get these running the best you need a dreamcast VGA adapter and the cables ect.

[Pavey]

The majority are mate, only a few aint.

[JP]

To be fair, I've not heard of anybody having problems like I did with mine! You'd have thought it was a 360 or something!

I'm a big fan of 2D shooters so any of those would be a good recommendation for me!

I notice by looking online that it was able to output in Progressive scan which I didn't know before, that has to be a good thing but robably isn't available in all games.

Is there any point at all in getting a modem now?

EDIT:
How do you tell if they are or aren't VGA compatible? I'm guessing it'll say on them? Not that it really matters.

[Pavey]

Shenmue
Shenmue 2

Psyvariar 2
Border Down
Under Defeat
Mars Matrix
Zero Gunner 2
Ikaruga
Bangaioh
Gunbird
Gunbird 2
Gigawing

Soul Caliber
Capcom vs Snk
Capcom vs Snk 2
Marvel vs Capcom
M vs C 2
Power Stone 1 & 2
King of Fighters 98, plus maybe the others.
Street Fighter 3 3rd strike

Crazy taxi
Jet Set Radio
House Of The Dead (guns won't work on a HDTV )
Skies Of Arcadia

F355 Challenge

Virtual On

[Pavey]

There are plenty more, but my memory fails me now. The only ones i have come across that aren't vga compatible, are UK Skies Of Arcadia, and that's it i think.

Oh, and SF Zero 3. There is a matching service one that does run though (Matching Service was the online game).

[Pavey]

Forgot Rez. (To get)

[dogen]

I, incidentally, have a PAL Dreamcast sitting waiting to go in the Trading forum if you're interested. Good condition, boxed, 2 controllers, memory unit, rgb cable and 5 games. See what you think, pm me if you're keen.

[rmoxon]

How do you tell if they are or aren't VGA compatible? I'm guessing it'll say on them? Not that it really matters.

Yeah says on the box, most of the big titles are I think, though Powerstone isnt, which is one I remember becuase Ive played it alot. Though I only have the Pal version, which is only 50hz too, maybe the NTSC version is VGA? dont know.

[JP]

Are there any problems with 50 and 60htz via VGA or will both run fine using it?

Back to games...

I've got PS2 Rez so is there any reason to get the Dreamcast version instead? Wasn't the PS2 version supposed to be very slightly better?

I notice that some of those games that you mention Nicholas I so already have on the PS2 ( Psyvariar, Gunbird etc). Does the Dreamcast run them better as I seem to remember that it handled 2D better than the PS2?

I've also got Ikaruga, again is it worth getting?

What other 2D shooters can people recommend? Wasn't there a couple released quite recently too or have I just imagined that?

[rmoxon]

The Dreamcast version of Ikaruga is arcade perfect, the cube version has the slowdown removed so its actualy more difficult than it perhapse should be. But unless youre a massive fan probabaly not much point, unless its the PAL cube version you have as that is pretty bad to be honest.

All the other games are arcade perfect on both versions really.

Radilagy was relased recently which is worth a look, and Under Deafeat, which I think someone mentioned already is really good and probabaly the best of the new releases.

i wouldnt bother with Last Hope or karous or Triggerheart Excelcia though, didnt find any of them that compelling to be honest.