Tipsters: don't f*ck with me, and please don't throw words like "Dreamcast" and "Saturn" around carelessly. When I hear those words, I instinctively think of my bank balance and begin calculating if I can afford to buy what I am about to hear of. Fortunately, I'll be able to save some of my money here, as I don't think I'll be buying one of these.
I will grant the creator an "A" for effort, though. But it's not production-ready yet; think of this portable Dreamcast as a prototype. The soft-spoken creator says that this portable runs off a 12-volt battery, has a 5" screen, two speakers, and even some green and pink marshmallow-looking trigger buttons. The back door flips open to expose a heap of Dreamcast innards under the GD-ROM drive unit, where the game disc is loaded.
Unfortunately, almost half of this video is load times. But we'll blame the Dreamcast for that. In the end, this is a good prototype, and I've become giddy imagining the possibilities.
It's almost stupid to ask this, but would you be interested in a slimmed-down, production-ready version of this portable Dreamcast?
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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If they put the game discs on memory sticks or a iPod HDD and you loaded them from there... that would be so sweet. Need a bigger screen though and better triggers and more ergonomic design. For what it is... it's pretty decent.
I really don't like how the disc goes directly where the innards are, then hangs there above the flimsy looking magnet door. And the controls seem awkward, but it's only a prototype...
I give the guy lots of credit for being more skilled and industrious than I... A "slimmed-down, production-ready version"? I'd probably be there, yeah...
This is a great example of how lots of blogs are making a mistake by using videos in lieu of photos. A year or two ago, the portable Dreamcast would have had a picture above this post which loaded quickly, required no interaction and actually worked on every device I read this blog with AND in my RSS reader. Now, we've got some silly low quality GT video which is temperamental at the best of times and which doesn't appear on anything but a full computer.
Dale North -- Those load times can be attributed to the fact that the game being played is Slave Zero, not to the quality of the handheld, or even the quality of the Dreamcast. I bought that disc-of-shit back when I had my Dreamcast, and I remember the load times and controls were horrendous.
But then again, I never want to blame a DC for anything. It brought me too much joy.
That thing's a lil bulky, but fuck yeah, I'd want a portable Dreamcast! I'm been waiting for someone to develop an NOT emulator for the PSP but I don't think that'll be happening considering NOT SNES game run like shit on that...
Dreamcast is most likely my favorite console of all time. The ability it gave to use games from "anywhere", the VMU and controller make it something you can't forget. However a portable one?? Not so sure if it was this bulkly, but friggin sweet none the less.
portable dreamcast would be amazing, unfortunately most gamers would have to travel back in time 8 years to pick up some games for it. well, those who dont have a DC anyway
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Contest:
9:33 AM on 05.13.2008
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If they put the game discs on memory sticks or a iPod HDD and you loaded them from there... that would be so sweet. Need a bigger screen though and better triggers and more ergonomic design. For what it is... it's pretty decent.
Also, and this goes without saying, but REGION FREE that bitch
I give the guy lots of credit for being more skilled and industrious than I... A "slimmed-down, production-ready version"? I'd probably be there, yeah...
Infuriating? Yes.
But then again, I never want to blame a DC for anything. It brought me too much joy.
Seriously, is that even a question?
fap fap fap!
Anything to get new Cast games made ;)
I don't know how comfortable it would be to play for a long period of time.
A magnet near precious Dreamcast innards makes me uneasy. :(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treamcast