Newsletter: Sega World Weekly issue 119 (then Dreamcast Weekly)
From Video Game Morgue File
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D R E A M C A S T W E E K L Y M A G A Z I N E
~~ Issue No. 119 Feb 4th 2001 ~~
http://www.DreamcastWeekly.com/
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-- Editors Comments Page 1 --
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> Dreamcast Weekly is best read in the Courier New font,
and past issues are at http://www.DreamcastWeekly.com/
> For daily game news, over 300 Prima Fast Track Guides
online, codes, downloads, and contests every day, be sure
to visit Primagames.com Prima is the #1 source for game
strategy in the world! - http://www.PrimaGames.com
> For the latest game news, reviews and previews visit the
premier video games site TotalVideoGames.com With over
300 archived news articles & the greatest game reviews.
- http://www.totalvideogames.com Then check out The
Junction, the best place for Teens to chat.
- http://www.the-junction.com
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-- Editors Comments Page 1 --
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Over the past two centuries gamers have grown up with Sega.
Their hardware has spanned generations, from those who
picked up the Sega SG 1000, to the kids of today playing
Sonic Adventure on their Dreamcasts. But with the
announcements made this year, unfortunately it's the end
of the road for hardware boasting the familiar "SEGA" logo
on the front. So it's time to take a look back at the
consoles of gaming past that Sega brought to the industry
over the years. Presenting our cover feature, the history
of Sega consoles.
But as for the Dreamcast, it's still full of life, and
Phantasy Star Online proves it. Never have the Sega.net
servers been so busy! Even though our website is still down
at the moment, the PSO Clan lives on, and page 3 contains
details of where to meet and what to include in your name
to join.
Then if your still in need of a Free ISP for your
Dreamcast, we've got you covered. See page 4 for full
details including signup instructions. The ISP has been
tested this very week and works like a charm.
Finally Page 7 brings cheats for Phantasy Star Online,
giving you access to secret artwork, costumes, game modes,
and animation to use in-game. Until next week then, Happy
Gaming everyone, and keep enjoying those Sega games!
- Graham "Tails" Parker (Editor)
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|| C O N T E N T S ||
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|| 2 - Cover Story ||
|| 3 - PSO Clan - Update ||
|| 4 - Free ISP's ||
|| 5 - Prima Games Corner ||
|| 6 - Question & Answer ||
|| 7 - Cheats ||
|| 8 - Our Support Sites ||
|| 9 - Credits ||
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HOT QUOTE this issue: "Two weeks ago we promised more
information on free ISPs and this week we deliver."
-- Free ISP's - Page 4
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-- Cover Story Page 2 --
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<<.>> Sega Consoles: 1982 - 2001
Over the past two centuries gamers have grown up with Sega.
Their hardware has spanned generations, from those who
picked up the Sega SG 1000, to the kids of today playing
Sonic Adventure on their Dreamcasts. But with the
announcements made this year, unfortunately it's the end
of the road for hardware boasting the familiar "SEGA" logo
on the front. So it's time to take a look back at the
consoles of gaming past that Sega brought to the industry
over the years.
<<.>> Sega SG 1000
The very first Sega console, released in 1982 never made it
very far. The console was sold in Japan, and also in very
limited stocks across Australia, New Zealand, and some of
Europe. Never the less it gave gamers the chance to
experience Sega's popular arcade games at home. Monaco GP,
Flicky, Zaxxon, and Hang-On II come to mind. Also if
you've ever played Safari, the bonus game in the
Dreamcast's Dynamite Cop 2, the game was also released on
the SG 1000.
The console was sold for 15,000 yen in Japan, and to
compare the Dreamcast is now selling for 9,900 yen.
<<.>> Sega SG 3000
Released at the same time as the SG 1000, the 3000 model
was a PC from Sega. Selling for 29,800 yen, it came packed
with a keyboard, joystick, monitor, plotter printer, and a
data recorder. Gamers could program their own titles
through Basic, not unlike the Saturn Basic kit released a
few years ago for the Saturn, and create songs through
Sega's Music Editor.
Very few actual games were released for the SG 3000, but
the SG 1000 had the power to run almost everything you
built on your SG 3000.
<<.>> Master System (Mark III)
Now we're into familiar territory with Sega's 8-bit Master
System console. The machine was released in 1987 and was
the first to be able to hold it's own against Nintendo and
their NES.
When released in America, the original Master System came
with an variety of pack-in games. From Hang On and Safari
Hunt or Astro Warrior, to Missile Defence 3D. Also upon
entering a secret code during start up, a hidden 3D Snail
Maze game could be played.
Later the Master System II was released with Alex the
Kidd in Miracle World built-in, and then finally replaced
with Sonic The Hedgehog.
The original Master System was most famous for it's 3D
glasses, which despite bringing groans today, the glasses
actually worked very well. Unfortantly with the Master
System II these 3D games were wiped out, as the card port
these games used was taken out in the sequel console.
Sega's 8-bit machine also brought the start of games
that later spawned sequels on the Genesis, and even today
on the Dreamcast. From Phantasy Star to Alex the Kidd, to
the Wonderboy games. For many, including myself, it
introduced people to the world of games. Unfortunately for
most of America, the NES proved far more popular, but for
Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the Master System II
thrived.
Sega Innovation: the 3D glasses
<<.>> Genesis (Mega Drive)
Now after Sega's experience with the Master System, and
Nintendo's 3rd party rules forbidding developers from
releasing their games on other consoles gone, the Genesis
took the world by storm. Truly the greatest years for
Sega, they had 55% off the videogame market under their
wing.
In 1989 the machine was launched in America for $249.95,
but it wasn't really until 1991 with the arrivial of a
certain spiky blue hedgehog that Sega really took off.
Thus the golden years began, and the classic games just
kept on coming. From the Shining Force series, to the
Streets of Rage games, the Phantasy Star legacy, to
countless others like Micro Machines, Street Fighter II,
Ecco the Dolphin and Mortal Kombat.
Sega Innovation: the Sega Channel
<<.>> Game Gear
Launched to compete with Nintendo's Gameboy, the Gear Gear
was light years ahead in terms of technology, packing a
full color screen and the power of the 8-bit Master
System. The only drawback however was it's apatite for
batteries, meaning it wasn't so cheap to run.
Over the years the Game Gear continued to have a place in
the industry against Nintendo, and despite losing in the
end, enjoyed a very successful life span from 1991 to 1997
when the very last title was released. Add-on's such as a
TV tuner were released over the years, and helped pump
life into the console.
Most notable games included Aladdin, Earthworm Jim, Micro
Machines, Sonic, Streets Of Rage, and even Baku Baku
Animal and Virtua Fighter Mini.
<<.>> Sega CD (Mega CD)
Back in 1994 the Sega CD was released for $299, which was
a lot better than the $700 Nintendo planned to charge for
their upcoming SNES CD-Drive (which later became the
Playstation).
The system got off to a good start, but soon gamers
realized the future for the Sega CD wasn't looking good,
and instead looked like a grainy small windowed FMV
interactive movie. They were right, because riding the buzz
words of the mid-90's like multimedia and full motion
video, developers put graphics above gameplay and fell
short of players expectations almost every time.
While some titles like Sonic CD used the power of the Sega
CD to up the level count, and others like Ecco The Dolphin
used the CD quality sound, these gems were sadly far and
few between.
The only really notable FMV adventure was Night Trap, and
that's because of the controversy it stirred up with the
press. Old quotes like the "The manufacturers are evil"
spring to mind, and as a result the ESRB (Entertainment
Software Rating Board) was finally formed.
<<.>> 32X
The 32X was launched in 1995, at $179.95 with some
impressive titles like Doom, Virtua Racing and Star Wars.
Despite a great start though, the system didn't receive
enough support from developers, including Sega, and never
made it to the mass market.
The launch titles were arguably the best the console ever
saw, although some games like Knuckles Chaotix provided
a reason for the hardcore Sega fans to buy the system.
<<.>> Sega CDX
With it's compact design, the Sega CDX combined the
Genesis and Sega CD into one slick console that even
doubled up as a portable CD player.
Originally released for $399 in America, it can now be
found for between $60 and $100 on Ebay. The perfect buy
for those wanting a Genesis and Sega CD.
<<.>> Neptune
Later a console which combined the Genesis, Sega CD, and
32X called the Neptune was produced, but saldy never
released beyond Sega's internal departments.
<<.>> Sega Nomad
Imagine a portable Genesis, a a line up of hundreds of
games already available, and you pretty much have a Sega
Nomad.
The handheld console allowed you to play any Genesis title,
including the 3D Virtua Racing, plug in a second controller
to go two-player, had a good backlit screen, and even let
you use the Nomad as a real Genesis through your TV.
Unfortunately all this power came at a price, and as with
the Game Gear, the Nomad ate batteries for breakfast, lunch
and tea. Even with a whopping six AA batteries you only got
two hours of gameplay out of the system, and that combined
with the fact no new games were being released for the
Genesis meant the Nomad never took off on a large scale.
Still despite that many Sega fans enjoy their Genesis
titles on the move thanks to the Nomad.
<<.>> Sega Saturn
The Sega Saturn was a console plagued with problems from
the word go, from an early rush release, to the hardship of
developing titles on it compared to the easy Playstation.
It had the full support of Sega, unlike some previous
consoles such as the 32X, but without all the 3rd party
support it was doomed never to go mass market.
The 32-bit console had a very loyal following of gamers
around the world that ensured the classic games wouldn't
go totally un-noticed. Games like Guardian Hereos, NiGHTS
Into Dreams, Dragon Force, Panzer Dragoon, and of course
Capcom's 2D fighters gave the machine life.
Games like Sonic R, Duke Nukem 3D, and Quake showed the
machine had the power to compete with the Playstation, but
unfortunately it didn't have the support, nor the
advertising budget of Sony. Finally during the Saturn's
last breath came some very noteworty titles, including
Panzer Dragoon Saga and Shining Force III.
Sega Innovation: built-in saving space, and the Netlink.
<<.>> Dreamcast
In 1998, the Dreamcast was revealed, and by the end of the
year released to a complete sell out of all 150,000 units
in Japan. The system received the same impressive welcome
in America and Europe, and has seen a line up of AAA
titles not many can claim to have ever matched.
It's already archived success beyond their last console,
the Saturn, but ultimately it couldn't take off with the
boom Sega needed to survive. Perhaps if the Saturn had been
a good success there would have been acceptance in the
market for the Dreamcast, but we'll never know what could
have saved this console.
Honestly one of the greatest systems in Sega's history,
but one that will only live for another year.
Sega Innovation: Sega.net, and the VMU.
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-- Phantasy Star Online Clan Page 3 --
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<<.>> Dreamcast Weekly Phantasy Star Online Clan
-- Weekly Update #1 by Ross Fisher
We have received over 15 e-mails from readers stating their
support for the DCW PSO Clan. Until we sort out the web
site issues, anyone who wishes to join can simply email
zondaro@usa.net with your PSO name, and character type.
Don't forget to add a "DCW_" before your name when creating
a new character.
In order to keep together online, we're asking members to
please stick to the Ariel ship on decks 1-5. Show your
support! Ross will be online as time permits and all games
with a DCW in front of them will be havens for members
looking to lvl up.
Also, on a final note next week will bring hints and tips,
and as soon as the website situation is dealt with we will
be bringing you a .beat time chart. For now you can look
to www.swatch.com -> internet time -> download for a handy
little program for your PC that shows you the current .beat
time.
DCW_ZOndaro
zondaro@usa.net
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-- Free ISP's Page 4 --
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<<.>> Free ISP of the Week: dotNow!
-- Written by Ross Fisher
http://www.dotnow.com
Two weeks ago we promised more information on free ISPs
and this week we deliver. dotNow! has been tried and
tested, and with a bit of help from our 3rd favourite
reader Smikwily, it worked like a charm.
The mode of sign up for dotNow! is just the same as it was
for startfree.com, sign up and get an access number for
your area. You should not download the program. On your
Dreamcast, enter the dial-up number, and for your login
name it must be put in as myname@dotnow.com and don't
forget the password. For the DNS entries put 0.0.0.0 for
both one and two.
The best part is that dotNow! also serves parts of Europe,
Australia, and New Zealand on top of the USA!
While we can't say how good this service is for games,
for stuff like JGR and MSR's uploading and downloading of
data it should be fine.
http://www.dotnow.com
<<.>> Tips for getting ISPs to Work with your Dreamcast:
1. Sometimes you need to put an @nameofservice.com after
your login name for it to accept you when you try to
log in.
2. Other services, like MSN, will work if you put a MSN/
before your name.
3. NetZero does not support the Dreamcast at this time.
However, there are ways of getting around their barriers
look for more information next week.
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-- Prima Games Corner Page 5 --
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<<.>> Prima eGuides
- http://eguides.primagames.com/
Streaming video. Interactive maps. 3D VR rooms. Voiceover
instruction. Online training. You haven't seen anything like
this before. Using multimedia goodies like Flash and
QuickTime, Prima's new multimedia training modules will
make you a better player, whether you like it or not. Check
out these tasty free demos while they're still free and
behold the future of gaming guides...
-- Tomb Raider Chronicles
-- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
-- Tribes
http://eguides.primagames.com/
<<.>> 20,000 Cheats
- http://www.primagames.com/strategy/codes/
Prima Games, the company responsible for those brilliant
strategy guides launch their cheats database... and they
feature more games than you can shake a stick, no a whole
danged tree at!
<<.>> 300 Fast Track Guides
- http://www.primagames.com/guides/pftg.php
Remember, Primagames.com has more than 300 Prima Fast Track
Guides online for you to check out right now. For the best,
fastest, and most up-to-date game strategy you'll find,
Prima's the ticket.
<<.>> Hot games that Prima Official Strategy Guides cover:
Shenmue - http://www.primagames.com/strategy/book/4901/
Quake 3 PC - http://www.primagames.com/strategy/book/4296/
NFL 2K1 - http://www.primagames.com/strategy/book/5096/
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-- Question and Answer Page 6 --
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Do you have a question for your Sega know-it-all? Simply
e-mail in your questions to Ross at zondaro@usa.net and
look for the answers soon in an issue of Dreamcast Weekly.
We are unable to personally reply to all emails.
Next week: More Fallout from Sega
<<.>> Take Two Racers and Call Me in the Morning
Q) Is there any hope of getting Daytona USA 2, Scud Race,
or any other top notch Model 3 games on the Dreamcast?
Thanks a lot! - Alex
A) Sadly, is there no hope of getting those games exact
games, but Daytona USA Online is coming. It is suppose
to be a best of collection. All the greatest tracks and
cars, and enhanced graphics. I don't think we'll see
Scud Race though. One out of two isn't to bad.
<<.>> A Simple Sonic Question
Q) Do you know the release date for Sonic Adventure 2?
Thanks. - Kathy-Lu
A) Late 2001. Look for more release date info after e3.
<<.>> Quake with a Mouse for Best Performance
Q) Hallo, Can you tell me when DC gamers and PC gamers can
play Quake3Arena on the same servers? I heard that there
was going to be a patch for the PC version. Thanks.
- Murat
A) The release date on the patch is unknown. Someone did
manage to hack one but its been taken offline already.
Sega wanted to give DC gamers some time to get good
before releasing the patch. I can't see them holding on
to the patch for much longer.
<<.>> Sega Online Play Wanted Dead or Alive
Q) Hi Zondaro, I've been reading this newsletter for what
must be a year now, and since then to now you have
provided a great service, cheers.
With Sega pulling out of the hardware war, will it
still support it's Dreamcast online games? Living in
England I'm just about to get my hairy mitts on PSO and
what I want to know is will this change effect the games
online options. Also, do you have to use DreamArena to
play online features? My deepest thanks. - Adio
Sebastian UK.
A) Nothing is written in stone, but it sounds like Sega
will be running all of their servers as long as people
keep playing on them. I've been playing PSO from my
dorm room using a local dial up company without any
problems, so no DreamArena/Sega.net is not required.
<<.>> Final Word: Surround Sound vs 5.1 Digital Sound
I just want to say that this is the final word on this
issue, consider it answered now. I also want to give a
big round thanks to all of the readers who sent in essay
length reports on why the Dreamcast can't do 5.1 Sound. I
think some of us were confused on whether we were talking
about Dolby ProLogic Surround or 5.1 Sound. For the record
the DC can do Dolby ProLogic Surround and Quake3 is one of
a few games that supports it. Lets hope developers add more
support for it in the future.
An informative link: http://www.dolby.com/ht/surr-age.html
Thanks to Anthropic!
Keep the questions coming - zondaro@usa.net
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-- Cheats Page 7 --
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<<.>> Phantasy Star Online
-- Hidden artwork:
As has become somewhat of a tradition in Sonic Team games,
placing the Phantasy Star Online disc in a PC compatible
CD-ROM drive will give you images from the game in the
"Extra" folder.
-- Extra difficulty settings:
Successfully complete the off-line version of the game to
unlock the hard difficulty setting. Successfully complete
the off-line version of the game on the hard difficulty
setting to unlock the very hard difficulty setting. You get
more experience and better items under these new difficulty
settings.
-- Alternate costume colors:
Start a new game and select a character. Enter one of the
following character names to unlock two additional colors
at the costume selection screen:
Character Name - Password
Fomarl DNEAOHUHEK
Fonewearl XSYGSSHEOH
Fonewm ASUEBHEBUI
Hucast RUUHANGBRT
Humar KSKAUDONSU
Hunewearl MOUEOSRHUN
Racaseal NUDNAFJOOH
Racat MEIAUGHSYN
Ramar SOUDEGMKSG
-- Special Character Animations:
If you're sick of your character just standing around like
a motionless robot, you can use this handy little trick if
you have a keyboard to make your character perform some
different animations. On your Dreamcast keyboard, hold down
the "Alt" key and then press any of the function keys (F1
through F12) and you'll see a new animation. Now your
character will have a little more life!
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-- Support Sites Page 8 --
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Dreamcast Weekly goes out to over 40,000 gamers every week.
How did we get so many people signed up? With the help of
these websites, that's how.
<<.>> Sega X - http://www.segadreamcast.net
A website with plenty of news, and always the latest game
reviews, but also a IRC Java chat room where you can chat
about all the latest Sega topics. Sega content for each and
every day.
<<.>> DC-United - http://dc-united.com
The Premiere Dreamcast Community, DC-United.com gives you
the ability to view members online, build your own
homepage, send messages, read in-depth reviews, and much
more. DCU Network Members are also eligible for various
monthly prizes.
<<.>> Absolute Sega - http://www.absolutesega.com
One of the first Sega sites out there with the most up to
date news every 24 hours, 7 days a week. Absolute Sega is
not jus famous for it's news, but also it's reviews and
previews. Want to talk about games, then go to our forums
or you can talk in our IRC chat room.
<<.>> PSY Online - http://www.consolereviews.net
PSY Online is a multiformat reviews website specialising in
the Sega Dreamcast console. With 24/7 updated news, forums
and chat, its a great place to hang out for Sega fans.
<<.>> System Zero - http://system-zero.com
As game music goes well beyond the beeps and bleeps of the
past and into the soundtrack quality tracks we hear today,
Perfect Zero becomes one of THE most important sites for
game fans. Hosting hundreds of MP3s from different games,
turn up those speakers and click that link.
<<.>> The Next Level - http://www.the-nextlevel.com
The Next Level is a multi-platform gaming magazine focused
on current and upcoming next-generation systems. We provide
up-to-date news, in-depth reviews, reader reviews,
intriguing editorials, and more.
<<.>> Future Gamez - http://www.futuregamez.net
What ever console your looking for, Future Gamez have them
all. From Dreamcast to GameCube, and X-Box to Playstation
2. So get your news, reviews, previews, and more at Future
Gamez, and stay on top of all systems.
<<.>> Gaming Central Starpath
- http://www.startpath.com/gamingcentral
This site contains hundreds of links for anything a gamer
might be interested in, no matter what format, including
some game specific links.
<<.>> The Sonic Zone - http://www.suneet.com/soniczone/
Updated daily with a HUGE amount of Sonic content that is
sure to blow you away! From Fan Fiction to Chatting, and
even Fan Created Games, this is your one stop Sonic site.
<<.>> Dreamcast Weekly - http://www.DreamcastWeekly.com
The official website for the Dreamcast Weekly is right
here. It includes our history, back issues, and more. Then
in the future... well all I can say at the moment is that
an HTML version is on it's way, and hopefully we'll be a
print magazine one day (hint to any publisher that may be
reading this, heh )
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-- Credits Page 9 --
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O Editor: Graham "Tails" Parker - Madcow@ihug.co.nz
O Question & Answer: Ross Fisher - Zondaro@usa.net
O Red Hot Rumors: Michael Monahan - Mikelad1@aol.com
O Red Hot Rumors: Paulo Santos - Paulo@sega2000.net
<<.>> http://www.DreamcastWeekly.com/ - Official Website
<<.>> http://www.PrimaGames.com/ - Our Sponsor
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Copyright 1998-2001 Graham Parker - Madcow@ihug.co.nz
No parts may be copied without prior permission or correct
credit where due. There should probably be a pile of other
legal lines here, but please just play nice and don't
steal, lol! Thanks for reading Dreamcast Weekly!
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