Misc. Info

September 18, 1998

What about the Dreamcast? What do I think about it? Well, that’s easy! It’s the best thing Sega has done since the MegaDrive, and it will revolutionize console gaming. I’m glad Sega has finally done some serious innovation as far as design goes, and not some half-hearted effort like the Saturn. (Remember the Saturn originally had only one CPU, it was only when they learned about the PlayStation that they added another.) This time around, they’re breaking new ground. It must be heaven to develop on coming from either the PlayStation or the Saturn. 200MHz processor, 16MB of RAM, 8 MB of Video RAM, 12 speed CD-ROM etc. Let’s do a quick compare to our baby:

Now relax, I haven’t gone all pro Sega, anti Sony, bear with me for a sec. Think of games like I mentioned yesterday, Gran Turismo, Tekken 3 and Wipeout XL. To me stunning games and a great show of what developers are able to do with the PlayStation. Now peek over at the right column and imagine what developers will be able to do when they really get to know the Dreamcast hardware. The sky is no longer the limit! Lets think for a sec about what Sega has done right this time around:

• RAM. A whopping 16 MB for the games, and 8 for textures. Some might say that this is far from enough and that you need 32 or even 64 to make a game run better on PC’s. Still, it is many times what developers are used to as far as memory in consoles go. And games on the console won’t need as much memory as they do on the PC. (Forsaken runs great on the PS with 1/8 of the RAM you need on the PC to run it...) (Of course, when the PlayStation 2 is released with 32 MB...)
• Operating System: Another smart move by Sega. Coming from hell on the Saturn as far as developing goes, you can even use Windows to develop for the Dreamcast. Expect some excellent PC conversions in the year(s) to come. Of course, the hard core developers will skip Windows CE and go closer to the metal with Segas own OS. When did ever developers have a real choice from the start?
• CD-ROM. Excellent move by Sega. What better way to combat pirates than to make a format no CD recorders out there supports? And giving developers an extra 400MB to play with? 12 speed is fine. Whoever says nothing less than 32X will do is clueless.
• Timing. Maybe as long as a year lead time on Sony and even more on Nintendo. People are getting used to serious PC graphics and is starting to expect the same performance/graphics out of consoles. Only the Dreamcast can really deliver. This product launch should be much less turbulent than with the Saturn, hopefully (for Sega and us). And serious 3^rd party companies are on board.

Some say Sega will mess it up again, that they have no games, that their destiny is to fail. Well, they have certainly screwed up over and over, but maybe they have finally learned? They have new people on board, they have a stellar console coming up, people are lining up to develop for it. I for one, think they will do great, and wish them good luck. They will need it, because once again, they have a serious disadvantage. They are the first to release the next generation. And guess who’s next! We are!!! That is why I in the beginning of this rant say I'm glad Sega as finally done some serious innovation. Because it means Sony will have to take it even further. More on that tomorrow or soon anyways...