Multiple Dreamcast Questions

[Pantechnicon]

Had my Dreamcast for a few months now. Still love it. And I'm trying to come up with new things to do with it. Perhaps someone can help with all or one of these issues either through providing links or direct knowledge:

1) Is there a way, either through PC or the DC itself, to transfer mini-games to VMU without going through tha "hassle" of playing the main games? In other words, let's say I found an online archive of VMU files. Could I burn them to a DC-readable disc and copy them to the VMU that way or is there some hardware solution someone has rigged up to do it via something like PC serial bus?

2) "Powered by Windows CE". These words emblazoned on my DC taunt me daily. I know that CE served as a development platform for the console, but what about the viability of using CE as an OS?. I don't think it's embedded in the hardware, but what about CE on a disc? Has anyone tried this yet?

3) I'm pretty much resigned to the idea that the modem in my DC will never be used. So I look at the ethernet adapter and wonder if it's worth it to buy one? Can I plug into my router and connect to my broadband ISP? Or if I had two adapters (as I have two DC's) can I plug into the router for some P2P gaming goodness with things like Q3 Arena, or is the whole idea pointless without the all-powerful Sega owned servers?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help on these topics.

[Biohazard]

Had my Dreamcast for a few months now. Still love it. And I'm trying to come up with new things to do with it. Perhaps someone can help with all or one of these issues either through providing links or direct knowledge:



2) "Powered by Windows CE". These words emblazoned on my DC taunt me daily. I know that CE served as a development platform for the console, but what about the viability of using CE as an OS?. I don't think it's embedded in the hardware, but what about CE on a disc? Has anyone tried this yet?



Thanks in advance to anyone who can help on these topics.

The WinCE software is not embedded in the system... Some games that make use of WinCE files have the WinCE library files on the game disc. Games I can think of that have the WinCE library on it: Resident Evil 2, Sega Rally 2. I'm sure there's more...

[Ze_ro]

1) Is there a way, either through PC or the DC itself, to transfer mini-games to VMU without going through tha "hassle" of playing the main games?

I think there's something like this, but I forget what it's called.. you might want to check this site (http://homebrew.dcemulation.com/), if it's anywhere it'll be there.


2) "Powered by Windows CE". These words emblazoned on my DC taunt me daily. I know that CE served as a development platform for the console, but what about the viability of using CE as an OS?

I think Win CE was just used as base libraries for programs that were written on the Dreamcast (Most games don't use it... ones that do will show a Win CE screen when they start up)... Pirated versions of the Win CE development utils are out there, but it's illegal to be using them without Sega's permission I believe. As for using Win CE as an OS... do you mean you want a desktop with icons and such? As far as I know, that hasn't been done yet.

If you DO want an OS on your Dreamcast, NetBSD and Linux have both been available for it for a while now, although there's not much point other than to gain nerd points.


3) I'm pretty much resigned to the idea that the modem in my DC will never be used. So I look at the ethernet adapter and wonder if it's worth it to buy one?

Probably not... As far as I know, all Dreamcast games that used networking did so specifically through servers on the internet, so I don't think you can do LAN Quake III or Unreal Tournament games without a LOT of trickery and computers in between the Dreamcast and the network.

However, it is entirely possible to connect your Dreamcast with a BBA to your network and gain internet access that way... although I don't have a link to give, there are instructions on how to do this around the internet. Even once this works though, you'll likely be limited to using the web browser though (unless you feel like messing around with Linux/NetBSD, in which case you might be able to do some interesting things).

(Edit: You can do the "internet tunnelling thing" with a modem as well... you basically just set up your computer as an ISP, run a phone line between the Dreamcast's modem and your PC's modem, and tell each side to pick up the line and route traffic accordingly. It's more complicated, but this information is around the 'net too.)

--Zero

[Pantechnicon]

The WinCE software is not embedded in the system... Some games that make use of WinCE files have the WinCE library files on the game disc. Games I can think of that have the WinCE library on it: Resident Evil 2, Sega Rally 2. I'm sure there's more...

Right, but that's not the same thing as the OS itself. I'm wondering if there's any viability to using the CE as a desktop operating system a la an older PDA like the Philips Velo? Even just getting a desktop and file manager to display would be kind of cool, methinks.

[Tom61]

3) I'm pretty much resigned to the idea that the modem in my DC will never be used. So I look at the ethernet adapter and wonder if it's worth it to buy one? ... Or if I had two adapters (as I have two DC's) can I plug into the router for some P2P gaming goodness with things like Q3 Arena, or is the whole idea pointless without the all-powerful Sega owned servers?


It seems they're now going for a decent price on Ebay now, so it might be worthwhile to pick one up. I know you can do Q3 against other DCs or PCs (PCs require a map patch if I remember right) without needing to get online or do any 'tricks'. Q3 is the only one I'm sure of that can do it.


Can I plug into my router and connect to my broadband ISP?

Yes, you need to find a copy of PlanetWeb 3.0 or download a hacked/translated verion of the BroadBand Passport for a broswer.

Are you interested in Dreamcast homebrew? It's handy to have to try stuff you don't want to burn (like simple demos). It's very handy if you want to start developing Dreamcast homebrew yourself. Plus, cramming stuff at 900+KB/s into your DC over ethernet is cool. 8-)