PDA

View Full Version : New Dreamcast Broadband Adapters: $49 USD



Nz17
05-14-2005, 06:22 AM
Think I'm crazy? Damn right I'm crazy, but moreso, I'm determined.

We all know what happened: SEGA underestimated the demand for the BBA, and undermanufactured it. So there were very few and when they were gone, they were gone. Things weren't helped when Dreamcast went belly-up. And now these days the BBA goes for well over $100 on eBay, and fewer are showing up every week.

Yeah, at this point I should probably mention I'd appreciate it if the mods "stickied" this thread.

So what's the solution? Make more Broadband Adapters! While it would be nice if I had the technical prowess, I do not. But CSI, the original manufacturer, does. That's who we go to.

In the past CSI teamed up with NCSX to make a preorder campaign of 1000 units. If this number of preorders was achieved, then CSI would go forward with manufacturing.

But that attempt failed...

Whether the first attempt was unsuccessful because CSI expected too many in the number of preorders or because CSI wanted the full amount of cash up-front, I cannot say. But that's where this new campaign changes everything.

Instead of 1000 $49 USD preorders, we're going to go for 500 $20 preorders. Instead of going through a commercial reseller, our group will approach CSI directly. We will approach CSI with the total amount of $10,000 after all of the funds are collected. If we cannot achieve this goal by June 15th, all money will be refunded.

So if you would, please post about this fundraiser wherever appropriate. We're trying to get as many people to join as possible in the next thirty days. We're also trying to drum up 3rd-party interests from commercial venders such as Lik-Sang and the like. So get out there and spread the word! This time if we fail we can only blame ourselves for not trying hard enough! Keep thinking positive!

https://www.fundable.org/groupactions/dcbba

(P.S. Our next fundraiser will be for wireless Dreamcast controllers to be manufactured by Messiah Entertainment.)

Flack
05-14-2005, 07:31 AM
Whether the first attempt was unsuccessful because CSI expected too many in the number of preorders or because CSI wanted the full amount of cash up-front, I cannot say.

This would be an important thing to know before collecting money from people, wouldn't you think?

Goblin
05-14-2005, 07:35 AM
At this point is there really any use for a BB adapter? I was under the impression that Sega pulled the online servers down (although didn't a group figure out how to get their own up for PSO?). If you are running dreamcast linux then it has a purpose, but how many are doing that?

If you are getting these made for collectors value, then a reproduction would not be worth the same as the original. I love my dreamcast and good luck with the quest, but my money is staying in my pocket.

InsaneDavid
05-14-2005, 07:50 AM
At this point is there really any use for a BB adapter? I was under the impression that Sega pulled the online servers down (although didn't a group figure out how to get their own up for PSO?).

If you're an emulation / homebrew devver the BBA's are extremely useful. Well, that and it makes creating DC game ISOs a hell of a lot faster. I've heard that there was a fan created PSO server up last year that was BBA only but I don't think anything ever came of it.

Usually if you are a homebrew devver and are getting serious you'll fork over the $150+ and pick up a used BBA off eBay or go in with a group of fellow devvers and pass it around.

Cauterize
05-14-2005, 08:06 AM
If anyone got details on that PSO Server, i might be interested...

Julio III
05-14-2005, 12:01 PM
PAL servers for PSO and PSO v.2 are still up!

The following link tells you all the games still online for dreamcast and i think they organise online game times as well if you are struggling to find many people to play against. My dreamcast isn't online at the moment (broadband and no bba) so I haven't tried to play anything.

http://dreamcast.onlineconsoles.com/phpBB2/portal.php


As for the BBA, I would be quite interested in getting one, especially if its cheap and they can ship to Europe

syd
05-14-2005, 01:26 PM
I know that a LOT of developers in the DC scene would be very interested in getting a BBA for $49. I'd probably pick one up too. When the DC scene finds out exactly how the BBA works, then they will start using it in their games/apps. When that happens, expect the price of a BBA on ebay to go up a lot higher than it is right now!

jajaja
05-14-2005, 04:46 PM
Is it still possible to play DC online?

Cryomancer
05-14-2005, 05:43 PM
http://dreamcast.onlineconsoles.com/phpBB2/content_gameslist.php?sid=761ea5193fc14e155703a7f7 956b71d7

nate1749
05-14-2005, 07:05 PM
Get a hold of the guys at dcemulation.com, he'll post your news on his page I'm sure and that's where you'll be able to find out how possible this is. That's like the hub of dreamcast emulation - it amazes me how alive the scene still is. I would put the $ down, I want 2 BBA's and I don't want to drop $2-300.

Nate

Tom61
05-15-2005, 03:37 AM
I know that a LOT of developers in the DC scene would be very interested in getting a BBA for $49. I'd probably pick one up too. When the DC scene finds out exactly how the BBA works, then they will start using it in their games/apps. When that happens, expect the price of a BBA on ebay to go up a lot higher than it is right now!

Err, LibDream (and later on, it's successor KOS) has had support for the BBA since about 2 weeks after the US release of the adapter. What few homebrew that does go online typically use the BBA.

I got my US Broadband adapter less than an hour after Sega.net started taking orders, but I could use a spare and maybe use it for some potential dev'ing.

As far as uses besides homebrew, Quake 3 Arena can LAN against PCs if you install a certain map-pack on the server. Some other games support LANing, at least against other DCs.

Nz17
05-15-2005, 06:59 AM
Well it looks like there is a fair bit of interest on this subject just given the quickly-thrown-together post I made. :) Seems I overestimated that a lot of people actively follow the current DC scene. So I'll have to put together a Web page proper and maybe a blog to go alongside it. But before any of that, I'm going to contact SEGA Monday or Tuesday and find out who I need to contact next to get this happening.