Is this site interested in portable handheld DreamCasts?

[bacteria]

Great!

I will pop some updates here in this topic as they are available, and when the project is done, post a new topic and up the main videos for the projects. I will also post this site in my links to other interesting sites when done too (on my Wordpress site). I wanted to have my project in a DreamCast fan site!

[Favrenation]

Im always intersted in hacked consoles made portable. I have not seens any dreamcast ones even on ben hecks website. Ben heck is awsome he is from wisconsin just like me! Id love to see it.

[bacteria]

Looked into the memory blocks games take on a VMU. A VMU has 200 blocks in it.

Shenmue (80)
Quake 3 (25)
Ecco (24)
Cannon Spike (8)
Cosmic Smash (2)
Ikaruga (34)
Q*Bert (10)
Sonic Adventure (10)
Sonic Adventure 2 (18)
Unreal Tournament (8)

My portable console will only contain one VMU unit, I have several games so far (anyone know how many memory blocks the ones not mentioned above in the list below take please):

Cosmic Smash
Ecco the Dolphin
PenPen
Q*Bert
Quake 3
Sega Rally Championships
Shenmue
Sonic Adventure
Unreal Tournament
Wacky Races
Worms Armadeddon

Are the blocks quoted correct; is that including system files? Some games have small 1-8 block system files that holds option/configuration data as well as the main save data.

Anyone know the answer please?

With the exception of Shenmue, the others only take a sensible amount of memory blocks, so the plan will be to play Shenmue along with two or three other titles initially (eg Quake 3, PenPen and Cosmic Smash) for my final video on this project, then after getting bored of Shenmue, delete it and make space for a few more games!


Update: YouTube

[Dr. Pariolo]

You should use a 4x VMU.

Yep, ill second that.

[bacteria]

I don't have one, too late anyway; also, not many games i'm interested on the DC - quality titles, not quantity! (always the best scenario anyway).

[Dr. Pariolo]

I don't have one, too late anyway; also, not many games i'm interested on the DC - quality titles, not quantity! (always the best scenario anyway).

Well i totally agree that statement. But problem is one of those quality game is shenmue, and bitch takes 80 block. In my case, because of this, i have only SIX games. Shenmue, PSO, Speed Devils, Propeller Arena, Toy Commander and Looney Tunes Space Race. Now, because nowadays theres a bunch a cheap third party memory cards, and there are a couple of ways to transfer/backup saves, it isnt a that big issue. But i think you would agree, 6 games on a memory card is a pretty low number. Anyways, its your project. But you came here to see some users input and mine is i would totally use a larger memory unit. Still an awesome project regardless. Kudos.

[bacteria]

It's almost like a form of courage, although it isn't; like a mixture of fear/excitement/anticipation!

Tested the setup with a normal DC controller, all ok. Great.

Then swapped cable for the controller wired into my portable - shaking a bit, adrenaline....

YAY - all works fine - the memory card binged into action, didn't expect that as it wasn't connected to power, although I knew the VMU works fine without its internal batteries when connected to the controller; giving a pic on the small screen, as you see in the photo. Unlike when I had the other DC controller with no memory pack installed, it gave a message on the screen about needing a VMU for 5 memory blocks, this time it didn't, went straight in - so the VMU works great! Tested the start button, and the red button, d-pad and joystick - all seem to work great!

Have more testing to do, tomorrow or Thursday, however seems to show I did all the wiring right, and system works! YAY



(game BTW is PenPen)

Need to test the other buttons, the orientation of the joystick; rumble pack, other buttons, shoulder buttons (forgot to wire them, will have to do that!).

This thread started as an "anyone interested", as appears to be, this has turned into a mini update thread!

[Dr. Pariolo]

Hey looks great!
Just a question, what are those 4 tiny buttons at the left bottom!?
And also, i assume you located the vmu there because there was no room at the middle bottom, right?

[bacteria]

The 4 buttons on the bottom left are intended as dual function - screen: contrast +- and volume +-; and shifted d-pad to play Q*Bert (diagonals) ideally. Swap functions via the two switches on top of the case, although may need a third switch now as the grounds look different.

Indeed, no space under the screen as space taken by the screen motherboard and would look off-balanced anyway there. Had intended to put "IntoDream" logo under the screen, however would make case look messy, so left as blank instead. Anyway, I rather like it where the VMU is, looks clean.

[Dr. Pariolo]

It still looks awesome regardless