Latest news with #Dreamcast
New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The Sega Dreamcast Was the ‘What if?' Console
GD-ROMDreamcast1999 – 2001 Photo illustration by The New York Times; Sega Supported by Most Xbox games are also available on the PlayStation these days, and Nintendo has long since stopped trying to compete directly with Sony and Microsoft. But in 2000, the video game console wars were cutthroat, and about to produce their biggest casualty: Sega. The Dreamcast was the earliest entrant in a generation of video game consoles that would eventually include the GameCube, the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. The first console with a built-in modem, the Dreamcast was ahead of its time in some ways. But it was behind in others (it could not play DVDs), and by spring 2001, with Sega losing hundreds of millions of dollars a year, it was discontinued. Sega has been out of the console business ever since. To look back at the Dreamcast 25 years later is to see a collection of paths not taken and possibilities deferred. It is an alternate version of what 21st-century gaming might have looked like, had things gone differently. Sega had long defined itself in opposition to Nintendo, presenting itself as the edgier alternative. 'Genesis Does What Nintendon't,' its ads promised in the early 1990s, when its console outsold the Super Nintendo for several years. But its follow-ups, the Sega CD and Sega Saturn, struggled to break through, and by the Dreamcast era, the company was dabbling in the genuinely weird. The Dreamcast's novelty controllers included a motion-sensitive fishing pole and a pair of electronic maracas, and its primary controller incorporated its own oddity: the V.M.U., or Visual Memory Unit, a removable memory card that had its own tiny LCD screen and buttons. When plugged into the controller, the V.M.U. provided each player with a secondary screen. When removed, it functioned as a tiny GameBoy-like hand-held system capable of playing simple games — as if the console were sending spores into the world. Like so many aspects of the Dreamcast, the V.M.U. never quite worked out — too small to use comfortably, too limited to play anything interesting — but it was certainly the most experimental choice in the design of any of that generation's consoles. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Metro
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: Does it matter that physical video games are dying?
The Tuesday letters page asks how quickly Call Of Duty can change, as one reader asks for help speccing out his custom gaming PC. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Old argument Reading about the super rare Xbox game going for £1,000 the only thing I can think of is… it's not even a very good game. I doubt anyone that's thinking of paying that much for it is doing it because they love the game but just because they enjoy collecting rare things. Which is fine, it's not hurting anyone, but I don't think that's a very normal motivation for most people. I get that people don't want physical copies to go away, and everyone likes collecting something, but the relevance of physical copies went away the second that patches came to consoles. So… somewhere around 2000? After that, what's on the disc became irrelevant, because it's never the final game. In some cases there never is a final game. So really all you're collecting is a keepsake. Personally, I'd just collect posters or action figures or something of the games, at least they're more fun to have in your room. But all this complaining about Switch Game-Key Cards… the argument was lost two decades ago, for better or worse. Cranston Time delay As much as I'd like to see Call Of Duty get some serious competition, I really can't see Battlefield 6 outselling Black Ops 7 straight off the bat. We'll see I guess, but I think the problem is that by the time Activision get round to acknowledging the coemption, which will probably take a while because they're so comfortable, how quickly can changes be made? Call Of Duty games used to take three years to make but I don't think there is any set limit now and that's why everything's got out of order – it's just a rush to get whatever they can out of the door. That's the sort of attitude that Battlefield 6's success might help to prevent but that still means we're talking 2028 at the most before there's any shift in attitude. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Will there ever be a year where there isn't a new Call Of Duty, because Activision thought it needed more time in the oven? I doubt it, they'll just puff up some DLC instead, like they did with Modern Warfare 3. Focus The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long RE: Big Boy Bent. I didn't realise the Dreamcast had such a short lifespan either. I remember selling my console to a friend, then a fortnight later he said to me that Sega had stopped making games for it, which I was genuinely unaware of but at least I'd only charged him £50 for it. It's a shame, as it was a great console with some terrific games. I remember being blown away by the fabulous graphics of the arcade port of the boat racing game Hydro Thunder, but if I had one niggle with the Dreamcast it was the control pads, they were especially poor for beat 'em-ups. Adams6Legend Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Accurately named Will you get the chance to review Earthion? It looks amazing, Ancient made some of the best Mega Drive games and this looks like it's following that tradition. Considering how much you liked Gradius Origins I hope this is right up your street. Thanks again for everything, you're always a great read. Beastiebat (PSN ID) Currently playing: Nothing, haven't really got the time, just working through Parks and Rec for the first time with the 20 minutes I can find at the very end if the day… bloomin' school holidays. Tell a lie, I played Game Boy Tetris on my Switch for eight minutes yesterday. GC: Good heavens, how have Ancient been going so long? We may have missed our chance with this but at the very least we'll include it in our end of year catch-up. La Leyenda de Zelda Speaking from the gorgeous island of Tenerife. It's been a few days of sunshine, water park mayhem, and unfortunate sunburn. But when in Spain the sun always shines. Speaking of shining, I mentioned beforehand I'd be buying Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom for Switch 2, as soon as I could. GAME just so happened to spawn at the nearest shopping mall. It's truly unique to have brought a Spanish copy of the game that will actually work in the UK, due to Nintendo being region free. £60 for the title, but you get what you pay for. The privilege of paying top dollar to Nintendo. But at the end of the day, how many consumers can say they own a Spanish region copy, especially in the UK? That's something quite rare actually. Shahzaib Sadiq GC: We hope you don't already own the Switch 1 version, because the Switch 2 upgrade is only £7.99. Simple desires I'm going to be so upset when EA finally shut down BioWare. Let's face it, we all know it's coming and I'm amazed they've lasted this long to be honest. For EA they've been very patient with them and I'm already surprised they didn't get shut down after Anthem. Maybe EA felt guilty for pushing them into making a live service game. What I'm hoping is that Mass Effect is easier to make into game that non-fans will make, since the originals were pretty good third person shooters, amongst other things. I'm still not really clear why Dragon Age: The Veilguard was such a flop. The trailers were bad but I can't imagine they were the only reason people stayed away, because the combat was the best thing about the game. Which I guess undermines my point about Mass Effect. Maybe people are just getting tired of action role-players that aren't Soulslikes. I don't really understand that either, as you'd think people would appreciate the alternative an a game that wasn't ultra hard, but here we are. I wouldn't mind if Mass Effect had a bit of a Soulslike about it, but I don't think anyone has really made that concept work with a sci-fi game based on ranged combat before. Perhaps this could be the first but for me, personally I just want it to be like the old Mass Effects but with better graphics. Does that make me shallow? Gifford Semi-portable Regarding the Nintendo Switch 2. Despite being a long on the making, Nintendo did not even consider at all the ergonomics of the device. This is baffling. It is so uncomfortable to hold. I would have preferred a much smaller handheld to be fair, as well. Sheel Don't ask us I am planning to get a custom gaming PC from PC Specialist and I was wondering if other GameCentral readers could advise me on what parts to buy? As this is a lot of info to take in and I need advice for someone new (me) to buying my custom build. I would like a PC tower with 2TB SSD hard drive (a fast one, within my price range), at least 32GB RAM (fast as I can afford), i7 CPU, graphics card obviously. My budget is £2,000. I will pay for the delivery and warranty separately to that. I have a £15 off voucher from Edge magazine for PC Specialist. I want to target 1080p at 60fps, as that is what Simundo in the Inbox said he would do with his gaming PC when he buys it. I have a 1080p Phillips PC monitor and a 4K LG 60 inch TV. I will run the computer on one screen at a time. My friend is going to put my mechanical 8TB hard drive bought in July 2023 in the new PC and the Blu-ray writer both from my old PC. I don't want a fancy case, just one that does the job and does not fall apart, like the one I bought in 2004 from a different PC vendor. Do I need to buy bays for the 8TB hard drive and Blu-ray writer when I buy a tower from PC Specialist? I have to get a new PC by October 2025, as my current PC will not upgrade to Windows 11. I do use the PC for gaming but I also use it for using office programs, printing, email, web surfing, any other task I need it for. Could a GameCentral reader or unboxer advise me please? Thank you in advance. Andrew J. Inbox also-ransI fully endorse the idea of a Lego Batman v Superman, they'll have great fun mocking how terrible it is, I think. Xris Another great Switch 2 game deal from Very. Mark Matthews Email your comments to: gamecentral@ More Trending The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: What's the best way to play Nintendo Switch 2? MORE: Games Inbox: When will Switch 2 get a new 3D Mario game? MORE: Games Inbox: Do adults still play Fortnite?
Metro
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The video game that made me fall in love with gaming - Reader's Feature
A reader reveals how Shenmue on the Sega Dreamcast completely changed his attitude towards video games, after growing up with a Mega Drive. Gaming has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Like many kids in the '90s, I grew up in the middle of the great console wars. I had the SNES, my best mate had his Mega Drive, and we'd visit each other, playing our favourite games. I truly got to experience the best of both worlds. How could it get better than this? October 1999 comes along and Sega releases the much-anticipated Dreamcast. At this point, I have been paying attention to its release, but it wasn't doing anything to make me look away from my Nintendo 64. Sonic Adventure looked great (for the time), Sega Rally was always a winner, but I could play that in the arcades. So I thought there was nothing for me here, and I looked forward to the upcoming Perfect Dark. Then suddenly everything changed, something caught my eye. What is this strange game with its even stranger name? What even is a Shenmue?! A weird name, a mysterious vibe, and visuals that looked like nothing I had ever seen before. The story sounded like an old-school martial arts movie (which I loved watching, thanks to my dad) and they were introducing so many new technical advancements into the game that it was, at the time, the world's most expensive game. I just had to play it. My sister and I joined forces and we bought ourselves a second-hand Dreamcast, and soon I was gifted a copy of this mystifying game. This… this is the moment that changed everything for me. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Sat in front of my small 14' TV, I was transported to 1986 Yokosuka, Japan. I was no longer playing a game, I was Ryo Hazuki. On the search for the murderer of my father, I wandered the streets; chatted with strangers about a black car; wasted money on capsule toys, hoping to finally complete the set; and hung around vending machines buying cans of drink, hoping in vain to finally win that prize. I never did. None of this made any sense. This is meant to be an action game, so why, when I'm meant to be chasing the man who killed my dad, am I playing in the arcade and feeding this homeless cat? Alright, so I need to speak to somebody about sailors, but nobody during the day has a clue, right, I'd need to waste some time before night settles. I know, I'll just pop to the local park and practice my moves. And yet, the more I played, the more it all started to click. What first felt confusing, became oddly compelling. With every small action, every quiet moment, I was being pulled deeper into its world, into Yokosuka, into Shenmue. Shenmue wasn't about rushing or trying to beat high scores. It made me slow down, be observant, and immerse myself in a living, breathing world. Even now, after all these years, Shenmue still stands out. Games have come a very long way since 1999, but very few have drawn me into its world like Shenmue did. All of this combined to be something special, something unique, that truly captured my heart. More Trending It didn't just entertain me. It made me fall in love. By reader Mike Wilson The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Sony should stop making PlayStation consoles while they're still beating Xbox - Reader's Feature MORE: Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor is the best game that's never getting a remake – Reader's Feature MORE: Nintendo has got as arrogant as Sony and it's hurting the Switch 2 - Reader's Feature
Malay Mail
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Sega sets sights on global revival with Sonic remakes, movie hits, and a ‘Super Game'
TOKYO, July 17 — The big-screen success of 1990s video game speedster 'Sonic the Hedgehog' has brought new fans to Japan's Sega, which says it is poised for a comeback after two tough decades. This year all eyes have been on Nintendo, whose Switch 2 recently became the fastest-selling console in history. But unlike its former arch-rival, Sega has not sold gaming hardware since its Dreamcast console was discontinued in 2001, instead focusing on making games for other platforms. Now, as record tourism to Japan helps boost global appetite for the country's pop culture, the company sees a chance to reinvent itself — including through nostalgic game remakes and movie adaptations like the hit 'Sonic' series. Sega opens its first flagship merchandise store in Japan on Friday, having launched a similar shop in Shanghai in May. 'Opportunities are expanding,' chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi told AFP. 'We've been struggling... for a while, but now we are coming back.' The company aims 'to expand our business globally rather than focusing on the Japanese market', he said. Sega was a top industry player in the 1980s and 1990s, its name synonymous with noisy arcades, home consoles and game franchises, such as beat-em-up 'Streets of Rage' and ninja series 'Shinobi'. But it struggled to keep up with intense competition, falling on hard times financially as multiplayer online titles from US publishers, such as 'World of Warcraft', took off in the 2000s. 'Persona' movie? After Sega quit the hardware business, its game offerings 'got a little stale', said David Cole of the US-based games market research firm DFC Intelligence. But 'the kids who grew up in the 1990s are now in their 30s, 40s, even older, and really like those franchises' — and are introducing them to their own children — he told AFP. 'It's untapped value' that Sega — just like its Japanese peers including Nintendo — is trying to capitalise on through new movies, stores and theme park rides, Cole added. Last year, the film Sonic the Hedgehog 3 starring Jim Carrey as the villain zipped to the top of the North American box office in one of the best December openings in years. It followed the first live-action Sonic movie in 2020, as Sega cashes in on a video-game movie craze that saw The Super Mario Bros. Movie, based on the Nintendo characters, become the second-highest grossing film of 2023. 'Shinobi' is also being turned into a film, while Sega's 'Yakuza' game series has been adapted for television. When asked if cult franchise 'Persona' could be next, Sega's Utsumi said fans should 'stay tuned'. 'We are talking to a lot of interesting potential partners. So we are under some discussions, but I can't say too much about it,' he said. Sega — just like its Japanese peers including Nintendo — is trying to capitalise on through new movies, stores and theme park rides. — AFP pic Super Game Sega bought Finland's Rovio, creator of 'Angry Birds', in 2023, seeking to expand into the mobile gaming market. 'Gamers' behaviour has been changing' since Sega's original heyday, going beyond TV-connected consoles, Utsumi said. But Cole said that in the long run Sega should concentrate on 'high-end' gaming: larger-scale, more involved titles that encourage brand loyalty. Sega is working on what it calls a 'Super Game' with big-budget international ambition and a scope that is 'not only just a game — communication, social, maybe potentially AI', Utsumi said. 'The competition in the game market is very fierce,' he cautioned. 'It's important to really have a fan base close to us. But at the same time, when we develop a great game, it takes time.' Sega's parent company Sega Sammy also makes arcade and gambling machines, including those used in Japanese 'pachinko' parlours, whose numbers are in decline. That makes Sega's entertainment business 'really the growth opportunity for the company', Cole said. Sega Sammy said in May its 'Sonic' intellectual property 'has contributed to an increase in both game and character licensing revenue'. Young tourists in Tokyo shopping near Sega's new store ahead of the opening seemed to confirm this. 'I've always liked Sega. I kind of grew up around their games,' said 19-year-old American Danny Villasenor. 'They're pretty retro. But I think they've evolved with time pretty well.' William Harrington, 24, who lives in Los Angeles, said his father 'put me on to a lot of the older games back in the day', and so to him, Sega 'feels like childhood'. — AFP
Toronto Sun
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Japan's Sega eyes return to 1990s gaming glory
Published Jul 17, 2025 • Last updated 33 minutes ago • 3 minute read Sega opens its first flagship merchandise store in Japan on Friday. Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP Tokyo (AFP) — The big-screen success of 1990s video game speedster 'Sonic the Hedgehog' has brought new fans to Japan's Sega, which says it is poised for a comeback after two tough decades. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account This year all eyes have been on Nintendo, whose Switch 2 recently became the fastest-selling console in history. But unlike its former arch-rival, Sega has not sold gaming hardware since its Dreamcast console was discontinued in 2001, instead focusing on making games for other platforms. Now, as record tourism to Japan helps boost global appetite for the country's pop culture, the company sees a chance to reinvent itself — including through nostalgic game remakes and movie adaptations like the hit 'Sonic' series. Sega opens its first flagship merchandise store in Japan on Friday, having launched a similar shop in Shanghai in May. Sega has not sold gaming hardware since its Dreamcast console was discontinued in 2001. (Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP) Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP 'Opportunities are expanding,' chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi told AFP. 'We've been struggling… for a while, but now we are coming back.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The company aims 'to expand our business globally rather than focusing on the Japanese market', he said. Sega was a top industry player in the 1980s and 1990s, its name synonymous with noisy arcades, home consoles and game franchises, such as beat-em-up 'Streets of Rage' and ninja series 'Shinobi'. But it struggled to keep up with intense competition, falling on hard times financially as multiplayer online titles from US publishers, such as 'World of Warcraft', took off in the 2000s. 'Persona' movie? After Sega quit the hardware business, its game offerings 'got a little stale', said David Cole of the US-based games market research firm DFC Intelligence. But 'the kids who grew up in the 1990s are now in their 30s, 40s, even older, and really like those franchises' — and are introducing them to their own children — he told AFP. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Opportunities are expanding,' Sega's chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi says. (Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP) Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP 'It's untapped value' that Sega — just like its Japanese peers including Nintendo — is trying to capitalize on through new movies, stores and theme park rides, Cole added. Last year, the film 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' starring Jim Carrey as the villain zipped to the top of the North American box office in one of the best December openings in years. It followed the first live-action 'Sonic' movie in 2020, as Sega cashes in on a video-game movie craze that saw 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie', based on the Nintendo characters, become the second-highest grossing film of 2023. 'Shinobi' is also being turned into a film, while Sega's 'Yakuza' game series has been adapted for television. When asked if cult franchise 'Persona' could be next, Sega's Utsumi said fans should 'stay tuned'. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We are talking to a lot of interesting potential partners. So we are under some discussions, but I can't say too much about it,' he said. Super Game Sega bought Finland's Rovio, creator of 'Angry Birds', in 2023, seeking to expand into the mobile gaming market. 'Gamers' behaviour has been changing' since Sega's original heyday, going beyond TV-connected consoles, Utsumi said. But Cole said that in the long run Sega should concentrate on 'high-end' gaming: larger-scale, more involved titles that encourage brand loyalty. Sega is seeking to reinvent itself through nostalgic game remakes and movie adaptations like the hit 'Sonic' series. (Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP) Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP Sega is working on what it calls a 'Super Game' with big-budget international ambition and a scope that is 'not only just a game — communication, social, maybe potentially AI', Utsumi said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The competition in the game market is very fierce,' he cautioned. 'It's important to really have a fan base close to us. But at the same time, when we develop a great game, it takes time.' Sega's parent company Sega Sammy also makes arcade and gambling machines, including those used in Japanese 'pachinko' parlours, whose numbers are in decline. That makes Sega's entertainment business 'really the growth opportunity for the company', Cole said. Sega Sammy said in May its 'Sonic' intellectual property 'has contributed to an increase in both game and character licensing revenue'. Young tourists in Tokyo shopping near Sega's new store ahead of the opening seemed to confirm this. 'I've always liked Sega. I kind of grew up around their games,' said 19-year-old American Danny Villasenor. 'They're pretty retro. But I think they've evolved with time pretty well.' William Harrington, 24, who lives in Los Angeles, said his father 'put me on to a lot of the older games back in the day', and so to him, Sega 'feels like childhood'. Celebrity Columnists MMA Canada World
