Got $150 to Spend? Then These New "Dreamconn" Wireless Dreamcast Controllers Might Be for You! [Archive]

Nz17

07-24-2015, 01:18 AM

It has Bluetooth for wireless, it has VMU functionality, it's from Greece, it costs $150 plus $10 for shipping - it's new wireless Dreamcast controllers, now listed on eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dreamcast-Wireless-Controller-DreamConn-/261970371251)!

This isn't my auction. The maker/seller is wrong when he states that these are the first wireless controllers for Dreamcast. Admittedly, the third-party wireless ones from late in the DC's life are rare, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist whether this guy, "chrisvcpp," acknowledges those controllers or not.

Welcome to my listing of the DreamConn - a world-wide patent of a Dreamcast Wireless Controller!

DreamConn is the first REAL Wireless Controller for the Sega Dreamcast.

As seen in the photos, DreamConn is an original Dreamcast controller that is modified to be wireless. Enjoy your beloved console with no more cables!

Features:

Empowered with Bluetooth technology, delivers a super stable and accurate wireless communication.
Built-in Li-ion battery with up to 3 hrs life-cycle .
Micro-USB port for charging.
LED indication for power-on.
ON-OFF switch.
Controller and base unit are paired - no interference from other devices.
Internal memory emulating the existence of 2 VMUs.
Support of external VMU at Slot1 for LCD screen indications (logo, battery level, game artwork).
Support of Rumble Pack at Slot2.

Memory Function:

The VMU system works as an independent system of 2 VMUs.
DreamConn has an internal memory and emulates the presence of 2 VMUs (like if you had 2 VMUs plugged-in) even when you have nothing plugged in the controller's slots.
These 2 virtual VMUs act like the real ones (you may save, copy, move etc). In case that you want your existing saves to be transferred to/from DreamCon's VMUs,
then you may plug your existing original controller to an other Dreamcast's port and copy saves between the virtual and real VMUs as usual.

LCD Screen Function:

If you plug in a real VMU into DreamConn's Slot 1, then this VMU will be used ONLY as an LCD screen showing :

DreamConn welcome logo : When DreamConn connects to its base unit, it will show the welcome logo.
Game artwork and information.
Battery level: When L+R+START buttons are pressed, DreamConn will show battery level information.
Beeping. When DreamConn connects to its base unit, then it will give a beep informing the user that it is ready to be used (along with the welcome logo screen).

Jumper Pack Function:

Jumper Pack is also supported.
Upon power-up, if a Jumper Pack is detected, then it will replace the 2nd VMU function with vibration function.
To restore the 2nd VMU, simply power-off the DreamConn, remove the Jumper Pack and power-on again.

Included in this listing

1 Dreamcon Wireless Controller.
1 Base unit.
User manual with extra details on usage and features.

Nz17

07-27-2015, 03:28 AM

After conversing with the creator of these things over in the comments section (http://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2015/07/dreamconn-wireless-controller-appears.html) at the Dreamcast Junkyard, I think this Chris guy is a hothead.

In this conversation, I am 8c7855d8-19ae-11e5-8e9b-5bea2ad5fa0b, Tom is the author of the article about the Dreamconn, and Chris Daioglou is the maker of the Dreamconn controllers.

8c7855d8-19ae-11e5-8e9b-5bea2ad5fa0b said...

Tom, what the flibbity wibbits are you on about? These aren't the first Dreamcast wireless controllers, not by far. There have been a handful of admittedly rare, commercially produced, professionally made, third-party wireless controllers over the years. Check out these Digital Press forum threads from 2009, 2006, and 2005.

Tom Charnock said...

Interesting - thanks for the info. As I said, I wasn't aware of any other wireless controllers prior to seeing this one. It's a shame there are no images in those forum threads and naturally all the auctions are long since gone. Still, nice use of the term 'flibbity wibbits' there XD

8c7855d8-19ae-11e5-8e9b-5bea2ad5fa0b said...

Yes, alas, no images. And sadly, eBay prevents crawling and archiving of their site's Web pages by any Web crawler including the Internet Archive, so even archived photos from the auctions don't exist. However, I can tell you that the manufacturers of these earlier wireless controllers were small-timers rather than bigger names like Nyko and Pelican.

If you would like, I know at least one of the people from those threads (the seller of three of the wireless controllers) is still active on the Digital Press forum. Would you like me to ask her for more information and photos of her remaining wireless controller?

Ronaldo Chambers said...

Nice article if the Dreamcast hadn't been discontinued I'm pretty sure sega would have released an official first party wireless controller considering how innovative they were during late 90s early 2000s

Tom Charnock said...

Thanks for reading Ronaldo - yes, I believe Sega would have released an official device had the system lived on. To the guy with the long string of numbers as a name (if that's your actual name, apologies), of course - if you could get pics that would be fantastic! Cheers.

pcwzrd13 said...

Number man, I only know of one brand that made a wireless controller for the Dreamcast and that's Docs. All three of the links you provided are for that brand controller. They don't come up for sale very often and I hear they aren't very good.

Here's a video of the Docs controller for both Dreamcast and N64:
https://youtu.be/eJRrkilXbQU

8c7855d8-19ae-11e5-8e9b-5bea2ad5fa0b said...

Yes, pcwzrd13, the brand is Docs. (You have a nice YouTube channel by the way - I've been a follower of yours there for a long time.) I linked to the multiple threads as a way of showing there was more than one of these controllers which had been spotted and thus what was written wasn't just a fluke or a mistake. Indeed, ReviewStation1's YouTube video which you linked to features the Dreamcast Docs controllers in question.

As far as information about the controllers themselves, I dug up another forum thread from 2006 which has more data for you all. The thread starter, sailorneorune, posted digital photographs back in 2006 of the controllers new-in-bag and the box itself though these devices are older than that of course. These controllers were released very late in the Dreamcast's commercial lifespan in the West, in either 2001 or 2002 as far as I can best tell.

Credit and copyright for the photos belongs to sailorneorune.

-Nz17

Chris Daioglou said...

Hi. I'm the creator of DreamConn. I've been reading for a while so I'd like to make some points:

The meaning of 'first TRUE wireless' means something that is usable and comfortable.So the ONLY wireless controllers ever made for the Dreamcast are the DOC's. These- in contrast with the DreamConn:

1. They were infrared : Means you had to be in certain position and within the visual sight of the receiver.
2. They supported only buttons & vibration. The VMU had to be plugged in the receiver so it was actually wired.
3. They were set of 2. But there are many reports that people never got them to work simultaneously as they were becoming unresponsive.
4. (More technical) The IR is a signal-carrier not a signal-translator. Due to its nature, the controllers had bad response time or random states (buttons pressed-unpressed etc).
5. Were operating with AA batteries.

On the other hand, as all modern wireless controllers (like a PS4):
1. DreamConn is based on Bluetooth - accurate & low-power communication
2. Supports internal memory of 2 VMUs along with buttons & vibration
3. You can use simultaneously as many DreamConns as you can. No interference between them.
4. (More technical) DreamConn operates as a signal translator with signal filtering thus it is like operating an original wired controller.
5. Has built-in battery and micro-USB charging. More cost-effective than spending money on a bulk of AA batteries.

8c7855d8-19ae-11e5-8e9b-5bea2ad5fa0b said...

@Chris Daioglou
1) Are the DOCS controllers then the 'first FALSE wireless'? Why not just say yours are comfortable and usable if that's what you mean by your phrase? That would feel more authentic. Writing they are the 'first TRUE wireless' feels disingenuous.
2) Are there disadvantages to using rechargeable AA batteries?
3) Where can one source replacement batteries for your controllers once the batteries no longer recharge?

Chris Daioglou said...

No my friend. Everyone in the Dreamcast scene understands what I mean. I didn't claim to be the first wireless, just the first DECENT wireless. No matter what, sooner or later there will be a review for the DreamConn and more preferably there will be a comparison review between the DOCS and the DreamConn. So, lets not play with the words nor say that "There have been a handful of admittedly rare, commercially produced, professionally made, third-party wireless controllers over the years" as you claimed, where you only meant the DOCS. This feels disingenuous. Also, posting under no-name at all also feels disingenuous.

2) Of course there are!Commercial AA batteries last less than a li-ion battery + you need more of them in order to match a li-ion + more space needed + more total weight in your hand.

3) Li-ion have a lifespan of some several years. Like the internal Dreamcast's battery which lasts for 5 years minimum.

Tom Charnock said...

@Chris - if you want to send a DreamConn my way for review be my guest! (Obviously I'd return it afterwards) ��

Chris Daioglou said...

Hi Tom. I was indeed considering sending one for review. Thing is that right now I don't have spare components to make one extra beyond the ones that are on eBay. And there is people who have already bought it and many others who want to buy one and I already have some difficulty in serving all of them. But, in the first chance I get, I will send over one for review.
Because I don't really like just talking about 'DreamConn this and DreamConn that'. I prefer someone to have it in his hands and talk about the REAL thing. Thanks.

Tom Charnock said...

Hi Chris, no problem! If you're ever in a position to do so, please let me know. As a side note, we just recorded the latest podcast and discussed the DreamConn on it.

Chris Daioglou said...

Thank you Tom! I'll check it out too. I will surely send one and I will look to it to be as soon as possible. The capital control here in Greece has made it very difficult lately for importing any components but I'll find a way. :-)

Tom Charnock said...

If there's anything you have trouble finding, let me know and I'm sure I'll be able to find and send it to you.

Chris Daioglou said...

OK. Thanks again Tom. Your contribution in this is much appreciated.

And then, when I replied back, the author of the article deleted my comment! Well too bad, because I saved a copy and my comment is going to be published here and now!

Nz17 said...

@Chris Daioglou
"I didn't claim to be the first wireless, just the first DECENT wireless."

No, you claimed to be the first TRUE wireless. There is a large distinction between the meanings of the words "decent" and "true."

"No matter what, sooner or later there will be a review for the DreamConn and more preferably there will be a comparison review between the DOCS and the DreamConn."

Hopefully so. An independent review by a third-party could be quite useful. But I never questioned the quality of your build, just the phrasing used to describe the non-technical aspects.

'So, lets not play with the words nor say that "There have been a handful of admittedly rare, commercially produced, professionally made, third-party wireless controllers over the years" as you claimed, where you only meant the DOCS. This feels disingenuous.'

Um, I was referring to the fact that DOCS made at least hundreds of their controllers which were commercially available on store shelves - thus "controllers" and not "controller."

"Also, posting under no-name at all also feels disingenuous."

That's how AOL does it when you use AOL's OpenID feature to post comments on blogs like I do. That's just how it works. But if you want a name to work from, then see one of my previous posts here in the comments section where I signed it, "Nz17." And if that's not enough, then see my Web site at Nz17.com where you can get my full contact information.

"Of course there are!Commercial AA batteries last less than a li-ion battery + you need more of them in order to match a li-ion + more space needed + more total weight in your hand."

Thank you for answering this question. I was genuinely curious.

"Li-ion have a lifespan of some several years. Like the internal Dreamcast's battery which lasts for 5 years minimum."

As I know from owning multiple Dreamcasts, true. However, these do eventually expire due to their limited charge cycles. With a Dreamcast, its internal CR2032 battery can be replaced with off-the-shelf components available from many major retailers without requiring a purchase from a specialty store nor online. Thus why there are so many simple guides online to direct people in the replacement of their Dreamcasts' lithium ion batteries. So that is why I am curious about what the procedure is to replace the battery in the Dreamconn and what type of battery it specifically uses so that I and anyone else reading this information can use it as a reference in the future.

@Tom
Looking forward to the DreamPod as always.

I think for $150 per controller, you should get to know what type of battery the controller uses and how to replace it! After all, the DOCS controllers use replaceable AA batteries, you get two controllers per box, and current eBay prices list them at only $75 per pair.

How "in demand" can these Dreamconn controllers even be if he has only made 4, has only sold 2 in the first 8 days of his eBay listing, and still has 2 more available on eBay even after this article was published back on July 23?

By the way, these controllers that he is making? More accurately, they are not controllers which he is manufacturing, they are SEGA controllers which he is modifying. That's right, they are actually official SEGA-branded European Dreamcast controllers which he has removed the cables from and inserted wireless gadgetry into. And that bright LED he's inserted into the middle of the controller looks really blinding in the photos of it. I can only imagine how much of an eyesore and a distraction this thing must be at night!