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The Dreamcast. Segas final console. For the time being, anyway.
So what exaclty was wrong with it? Anyone that has one will tell you that it's a fantasic console, with some of the best games around. In which case, how come everyone hasn't got one?
I new it was being released, I'd seen the ads on the television. So many billion players and the like. Robbie Williams playing in the background, etc. what about games though? I never saw any of those advertised alone. Online gaming is more for your 'hardcore' gamers, and advertising the console on this point alone simply did not create any interest in it whatsoever! It wasn't something that interseted me, either. I didn't want to fork out extra on online charges!
So all the general public knew was that it could play games online. Not that there were that many games that could be played online, especially in it's early life!
Games were not advertised in the same way, so the general public, those that you need to buy the console in order to keep it afloat, didn't know what they were missing. The big 3rd party developers were cautious, not wishing to commit to the Dreamcast, and sticking with the successful Playstation. Especially as it's successor had been announced, the PS2. It was generally believed that this would be the future, and not Segas white box of tricks.
The Dreamcast had some innovative and clever titles, such as Samba De Amigo in which you had to shake maraccas, as Sega Bass Fishing, which came with a little rod accessory! What it was lacking, however was all of those games that made them great! Yes Sonic the Hedgehog appeared, and Ecco the Dolphin, but what about all of those other classic Sega characters that gamers know and love? Where was Alex Kidd, Sega's mascott character before the days of Sonic was allowed to die long before the Dreamcast era. Shinobi? Not seen since the Megadrive, even though the games were fantastic, and there was plenty of room to take it to the next level. What about Toejam and Earl? Again popular during the days of the Megadrive, it's only now, too late, that we hear of a sequel! At least Phantasy Star got a decent follow up!
So what am I saying here? Sequels sell a console! Sega would have been in a much better position if they'd have just stuck some of their classic characters into some of their innovative titles. That way there's something immediate for the gamer to hold onto, and make the games, and hence the console, a much more attractive option. A sequel to Nights, for instance, would have surely have intersted anyone that ever played the Saturn original!
Where Nintendo excel is in using it's characters to keep people interested Sega failed miserably. They made some truely great games, but how would you know that it you never even gave them a thought?
I never had a Dreamcast. I see at as a great console, with some great games, but it never had the magic to sell it to the masses. Magic doesn't just come with innovation, it comes with tradition too. One without the other just doesn't work, people don't care and it's a shame. A damn shame.
So what exaclty was wrong with it? Anyone that has one will tell you that it's a fantasic console, with some of the best games around. In which case, how come everyone hasn't got one?
I new it was being released, I'd seen the ads on the television. So many billion players and the like. Robbie Williams playing in the background, etc. what about games though? I never saw any of those advertised alone. Online gaming is more for your 'hardcore' gamers, and advertising the console on this point alone simply did not create any interest in it whatsoever! It wasn't something that interseted me, either. I didn't want to fork out extra on online charges!
So all the general public knew was that it could play games online. Not that there were that many games that could be played online, especially in it's early life!
Games were not advertised in the same way, so the general public, those that you need to buy the console in order to keep it afloat, didn't know what they were missing. The big 3rd party developers were cautious, not wishing to commit to the Dreamcast, and sticking with the successful Playstation. Especially as it's successor had been announced, the PS2. It was generally believed that this would be the future, and not Segas white box of tricks.
The Dreamcast had some innovative and clever titles, such as Samba De Amigo in which you had to shake maraccas, as Sega Bass Fishing, which came with a little rod accessory! What it was lacking, however was all of those games that made them great! Yes Sonic the Hedgehog appeared, and Ecco the Dolphin, but what about all of those other classic Sega characters that gamers know and love? Where was Alex Kidd, Sega's mascott character before the days of Sonic was allowed to die long before the Dreamcast era. Shinobi? Not seen since the Megadrive, even though the games were fantastic, and there was plenty of room to take it to the next level. What about Toejam and Earl? Again popular during the days of the Megadrive, it's only now, too late, that we hear of a sequel! At least Phantasy Star got a decent follow up!
So what am I saying here? Sequels sell a console! Sega would have been in a much better position if they'd have just stuck some of their classic characters into some of their innovative titles. That way there's something immediate for the gamer to hold onto, and make the games, and hence the console, a much more attractive option. A sequel to Nights, for instance, would have surely have intersted anyone that ever played the Saturn original!
Where Nintendo excel is in using it's characters to keep people interested Sega failed miserably. They made some truely great games, but how would you know that it you never even gave them a thought?
I never had a Dreamcast. I see at as a great console, with some great games, but it never had the magic to sell it to the masses. Magic doesn't just come with innovation, it comes with tradition too. One without the other just doesn't work, people don't care and it's a shame. A damn shame.
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The Xbox is the most impressive console technically (mainly because no one can touch Nvidia when it comes to Graphics hardware!!!). The only thing is, will MS have the midas touch in the games industry???
If you look at their forrays (Meka if you would like to fix this I would be much obliged!!) into making games then, they haven't dona all that well, they did publish Age of Empires 2, but Ensemble Studios make it!! What they do do well is marketing, I mean how many PCs have you seen without any MS software on them in peoples' homes?? Not many, I bet.
Although having just checked out the Xbox website mid-post I see they have signed a deal with a top soft drinks company SoBe??? to run joint marketing when the Xbox is released!! This is vintage Microsoft!! They left the hardware up to Intel and Nvidia, so they really haven't taken this lightly.
When it comes to peripherals no one really does it quite as stylishly as MS. I'm sitting in front of my PC and what do I see?? Microsoft Intellimouse with Intellieye technology (the best mouse on the planet!!), a Microsoft Internet keyboard and two Microsoft Sidewinder gamepads!! If you look around many top websites for Microsoft's other peripherals and innovations, you would be truly surprised at what these guys have done!! The first ever proper Force Feedback joysticks and Steering wheels, the Strategic Commander (very good for RTS fans!!), their Headset thingy for talking to people when playing games, motion sensitive pads and an analogue D-pad. Other companies achievents pale into insignificance (except the DC's VMU unit!!). You could take ninty's analogue joystick which was decent and their rumbling pads, (not quite force feedback though, but a fraction of the price) and Sony's pressure sensitive buttons.
What MS also have is a never ending supply of resources, I will guarantee, even if the Xbox flops, they will not suffer the way that Sega has. A new Windows XP, operating system due out and all of the Office type bumff to go with it. They have struck lucrative deals with Konami and Sega, and own massive shares of many telecoms companies (mainly NTL and Telewest over here, so getting the Xbox online will be less of a struggle for them, than it will be for anyone else. By owning Telewest it also gives MS an insight into what Sony are doing for their PS2 online support, because they are partly running the Blueyonder service and Sony have signed a deal to develop and test the system with Telewest.
Whatever anyone says, Microsoft are clever bunnies (monkeys, sorry Goaty!!) and they will not be beaten as easily as everyone is currently stating!!
If you look at their forrays (Meka if you would like to fix this I would be much obliged!!) into making games then, they haven't dona all that well, they did publish Age of Empires 2, but Ensemble Studios make it!! What they do do well is marketing, I mean how many PCs have you seen without any MS software on them in peoples' homes?? Not many, I bet.
Although having just checked out the Xbox website mid-post I see they have signed a deal with a top soft drinks company SoBe??? to run joint marketing when the Xbox is released!! This is vintage Microsoft!! They left the hardware up to Intel and Nvidia, so they really haven't taken this lightly.
When it comes to peripherals no one really does it quite as stylishly as MS. I'm sitting in front of my PC and what do I see?? Microsoft Intellimouse with Intellieye technology (the best mouse on the planet!!), a Microsoft Internet keyboard and two Microsoft Sidewinder gamepads!! If you look around many top websites for Microsoft's other peripherals and innovations, you would be truly surprised at what these guys have done!! The first ever proper Force Feedback joysticks and Steering wheels, the Strategic Commander (very good for RTS fans!!), their Headset thingy for talking to people when playing games, motion sensitive pads and an analogue D-pad. Other companies achievents pale into insignificance (except the DC's VMU unit!!). You could take ninty's analogue joystick which was decent and their rumbling pads, (not quite force feedback though, but a fraction of the price) and Sony's pressure sensitive buttons.
What MS also have is a never ending supply of resources, I will guarantee, even if the Xbox flops, they will not suffer the way that Sega has. A new Windows XP, operating system due out and all of the Office type bumff to go with it. They have struck lucrative deals with Konami and Sega, and own massive shares of many telecoms companies (mainly NTL and Telewest over here, so getting the Xbox online will be less of a struggle for them, than it will be for anyone else. By owning Telewest it also gives MS an insight into what Sony are doing for their PS2 online support, because they are partly running the Blueyonder service and Sony have signed a deal to develop and test the system with Telewest.
Whatever anyone says, Microsoft are clever bunnies (monkeys, sorry Goaty!!) and they will not be beaten as easily as everyone is currently stating!!
Goatboy wrote:
And Black and White. Because you can raise a
> monkey.
And the PS2 is getting it anyway.
Is the PS2 getting B&W?
I was under the impression, that because of Lionheads new MS/X-Box connections (and especially since the X-Box is getting an enhanced B&W titles (now including all the bits they removed from the original :) )) ... that the a PS2 version wasnt on the cards... just a cut down PS version?
(although, I dont own a PS2... so really... what the hell would I really know for? :P)
And Black and White. Because you can raise a
> monkey.
And the PS2 is getting it anyway.
Is the PS2 getting B&W?
I was under the impression, that because of Lionheads new MS/X-Box connections (and especially since the X-Box is getting an enhanced B&W titles (now including all the bits they removed from the original :) )) ... that the a PS2 version wasnt on the cards... just a cut down PS version?
(although, I dont own a PS2... so really... what the hell would I really know for? :P)
And I would like to apologise for the seiousness and normal tone of my reply to the original post.
I shall endevour to remain shallow and purile.
I shall endevour to remain shallow and purile.
Yeah.
I have a PS2, and I'm also looking quietly at the X-Box.
I think the PC has the edge for games, simply because of the variety.
And Black and White. Because you can raise a monkey.
And the PS2 is getting it anyway.
Call me crazy, but I think the X-Box might just deliver.
I have a PS2, and I'm also looking quietly at the X-Box.
I think the PC has the edge for games, simply because of the variety.
And Black and White. Because you can raise a monkey.
And the PS2 is getting it anyway.
Call me crazy, but I think the X-Box might just deliver.
Goaty, you did know that Monkey Island gmanes are being released for the PS2, before you said that, right???
My mate had one and it seemed ok.
I think people just got burned bad with the Saturn and thought "Not again mate" and stayed away.
Self-fulfilling prohecy?
Perhaps.
I think it was the reputation of Sony with the PSX that everyone thought "Cool, I'm getting one" and they did.
Eventually, after many weeks of waiting and buying them for £600 + from other people.
I think you get people sticking with what they know, hence the Ninty fans are waiting for the Gamecube whilst the Sony fans are waiting for MGS2 and GT3 (amongst others)
Sega fans will probably sulk for a bit and buy the PS2 so the can carry on with the games they love, whilst PC owners may wait for the X-Box.
I know, personally, out of all the new consoles coming, it's the X-Box that I'm looking most at.
I think people just got burned bad with the Saturn and thought "Not again mate" and stayed away.
Self-fulfilling prohecy?
Perhaps.
I think it was the reputation of Sony with the PSX that everyone thought "Cool, I'm getting one" and they did.
Eventually, after many weeks of waiting and buying them for £600 + from other people.
I think you get people sticking with what they know, hence the Ninty fans are waiting for the Gamecube whilst the Sony fans are waiting for MGS2 and GT3 (amongst others)
Sega fans will probably sulk for a bit and buy the PS2 so the can carry on with the games they love, whilst PC owners may wait for the X-Box.
I know, personally, out of all the new consoles coming, it's the X-Box that I'm looking most at.
Meka you did mis one amusing point, the console has Microsoft written on the front, do you think this is starting a trend??
The Dreamcast. Segas final console. For the time being, anyway.
So what exaclty was wrong with it? Anyone that has one will tell you that it's a fantasic console, with some of the best games around. In which case, how come everyone hasn't got one?
I new it was being released, I'd seen the ads on the television. So many billion players and the like. Robbie Williams playing in the background, etc. what about games though? I never saw any of those advertised alone. Online gaming is more for your 'hardcore' gamers, and advertising the console on this point alone simply did not create any interest in it whatsoever! It wasn't something that interseted me, either. I didn't want to fork out extra on online charges!
So all the general public knew was that it could play games online. Not that there were that many games that could be played online, especially in it's early life!
Games were not advertised in the same way, so the general public, those that you need to buy the console in order to keep it afloat, didn't know what they were missing. The big 3rd party developers were cautious, not wishing to commit to the Dreamcast, and sticking with the successful Playstation. Especially as it's successor had been announced, the PS2. It was generally believed that this would be the future, and not Segas white box of tricks.
The Dreamcast had some innovative and clever titles, such as Samba De Amigo in which you had to shake maraccas, as Sega Bass Fishing, which came with a little rod accessory! What it was lacking, however was all of those games that made them great! Yes Sonic the Hedgehog appeared, and Ecco the Dolphin, but what about all of those other classic Sega characters that gamers know and love? Where was Alex Kidd, Sega's mascott character before the days of Sonic was allowed to die long before the Dreamcast era. Shinobi? Not seen since the Megadrive, even though the games were fantastic, and there was plenty of room to take it to the next level. What about Toejam and Earl? Again popular during the days of the Megadrive, it's only now, too late, that we hear of a sequel! At least Phantasy Star got a decent follow up!
So what am I saying here? Sequels sell a console! Sega would have been in a much better position if they'd have just stuck some of their classic characters into some of their innovative titles. That way there's something immediate for the gamer to hold onto, and make the games, and hence the console, a much more attractive option. A sequel to Nights, for instance, would have surely have intersted anyone that ever played the Saturn original!
Where Nintendo excel is in using it's characters to keep people interested Sega failed miserably. They made some truely great games, but how would you know that it you never even gave them a thought?
I never had a Dreamcast. I see at as a great console, with some great games, but it never had the magic to sell it to the masses. Magic doesn't just come with innovation, it comes with tradition too. One without the other just doesn't work, people don't care and it's a shame. A damn shame.
So what exaclty was wrong with it? Anyone that has one will tell you that it's a fantasic console, with some of the best games around. In which case, how come everyone hasn't got one?
I new it was being released, I'd seen the ads on the television. So many billion players and the like. Robbie Williams playing in the background, etc. what about games though? I never saw any of those advertised alone. Online gaming is more for your 'hardcore' gamers, and advertising the console on this point alone simply did not create any interest in it whatsoever! It wasn't something that interseted me, either. I didn't want to fork out extra on online charges!
So all the general public knew was that it could play games online. Not that there were that many games that could be played online, especially in it's early life!
Games were not advertised in the same way, so the general public, those that you need to buy the console in order to keep it afloat, didn't know what they were missing. The big 3rd party developers were cautious, not wishing to commit to the Dreamcast, and sticking with the successful Playstation. Especially as it's successor had been announced, the PS2. It was generally believed that this would be the future, and not Segas white box of tricks.
The Dreamcast had some innovative and clever titles, such as Samba De Amigo in which you had to shake maraccas, as Sega Bass Fishing, which came with a little rod accessory! What it was lacking, however was all of those games that made them great! Yes Sonic the Hedgehog appeared, and Ecco the Dolphin, but what about all of those other classic Sega characters that gamers know and love? Where was Alex Kidd, Sega's mascott character before the days of Sonic was allowed to die long before the Dreamcast era. Shinobi? Not seen since the Megadrive, even though the games were fantastic, and there was plenty of room to take it to the next level. What about Toejam and Earl? Again popular during the days of the Megadrive, it's only now, too late, that we hear of a sequel! At least Phantasy Star got a decent follow up!
So what am I saying here? Sequels sell a console! Sega would have been in a much better position if they'd have just stuck some of their classic characters into some of their innovative titles. That way there's something immediate for the gamer to hold onto, and make the games, and hence the console, a much more attractive option. A sequel to Nights, for instance, would have surely have intersted anyone that ever played the Saturn original!
Where Nintendo excel is in using it's characters to keep people interested Sega failed miserably. They made some truely great games, but how would you know that it you never even gave them a thought?
I never had a Dreamcast. I see at as a great console, with some great games, but it never had the magic to sell it to the masses. Magic doesn't just come with innovation, it comes with tradition too. One without the other just doesn't work, people don't care and it's a shame. A damn shame.
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