Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture
Ok everybody, gather round- it’s time to open the old mailbag. Today’s letter is from Josh Howard:
Hey DesertEagle! I just wanted to save I love your reviews, especially when you include a bit of history or personal nostalgia about games. One question- what is or was your favorite game console? Keep the reviews coming.
Josh, you’re timing is impeccable; just last week, I rekindled a romance with an old (digital) flame. After leaving the Los Angeles Game Convention with SeanNOLA, I began musing over the innocuous period before marketers were trying to monetize every facet of gaming. After leaving the show, we perused the neighboring Best Buy and Target stores, before stumbling into a dingy used game store tucked into the corner of a check-cashing store.
Before me, just behind a glass barrier, was an assortment of hundreds of Dreamcast games. A quick look at the titles created a wave of pensive contemplation within me- I had reluctantly sold my system after the console was prematurely abandoned by Sega. Parting with my collection of 2D fighters and shmups proved to be a flawed decision as subsequent hardware generations focused on polygonal, three-dimensional diversions. With little deliberation, I purchased a unit, and made my way home.
Fanboys be damned, a console is only as good as its game. While the Dreamcast had an array of shovelware and shoddy PC ports, its software library also had a number of gems. Chief among these is one of the best games ever designed- Bangai-O. A synergistic amalgamation of shooter, maze game, and firework show, the game deviously bends hours into minutes, creating interludes of pure videogaming bliss. Despite its slightly pixilated delivery, the title has lost very little in the past eight years since its release.
With a number of arcade accurate shmups, a handful of fighters from Capcom’s golden era (PowerStone 2 still captivates), and the best 3D Sonic games ever released, the Dreamcast represented a renaissance in gaming. The console took chances with unique titles like Jet Grind Radio, Samba de Amigo, and Seamen, making the system a haven for innovation and vision.
While some may say that obsequious comments will get you nowhere, in Josh’s case they landed him a copy of Gardening Mama for the Nintendo DS. One of the features we’re adding to Tech-Gaming is a weekly feature called “The Games of Our Lives”; look for it in the coming weeks. If you have a topic you’d like to see explored or an anecdote you’d like to share send it here. Let the nostalgia commence.
DE, you remind me of the guy who does that A Life Well Wasted podcast. Have you ever listened to that?
Awesome idea. New games are cool and all, but retro love is always welcome.
No Dreamcast discussion is complete without acknowledging Shenmue. I’ll be writing a letter, so check your in-boxes.
Great idea, I can’t wait for the column. DC forever, baby!
I still have my DC. Your love for it made me want to open the closet and hook that sucker up.
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 coming out is one less reason to put the DC on a pedestal. and BTW- The controller sucked.
The Dreamcast painting is cool. I need one for me wall.
Take off the retro googles, please
I still think the Genesis was the best system of all time. It has sooo many great games.
Letter sent, I’m awaiting goodies.
I just did a websearch on “bangai-o+dreamcast” in google images. Congrats!
Yep, you got it- Shenmue deserves it’s own article.
Chu Chu Rocket with three friends FTW!
Since I listened to that I have a hard time listening to other game-related podcasts. Listening to people pontificate about soft drinks and food just bores me now.
Sound too much like a Soap Opera. Get something more manly.
You guys are too cool for the new school.
Im pretty sure that just a Photoshop filter. You could do it yourself in 15 seconds with the right filter settings.
PS1=Best system ever.
Sounds like a good idea. I have some stories to share.
Yep, Capcoms fighters were the best part of the early 2000s.
Ok, the next Thinkgeek.com sale, I’m getting one.
Thats another game that deserves it own roundup.
Agreed. Shenmue transcends simple Dreamcast discussion and finds itself more at home within an overall Sega article, or even its own article altogether. It saw a humble beginning on the Saturn and petered out on the PC and XBox. Shenmue was a big turning point for Sega, and that might be why it is still one of my favorite games. I worried for a while that not getting Shenmue 3 would ruin games for me forever! I rebounded though (obviously).
Look at me trying to write this article in the comments thread!
Never really got to enjoy the DC. What a good price on a used one?
Aw, Dreamcast, we had suck wonderful times together. Why did I give you away? Hopefully, you are being played right now, and not in someone’s attic.
Hahaha, SeanNOLA almost blew his wad early. Shenmue was good fun, though, once you got used to it’s pace.
No 2600 love, that where many of us cut our teeth.
Yep, it had a lot of RPG’s; We can thank FFVII for bring the genre to the US.
I loved the Dreamcast. I always wanted to know why Sega dropped it.
Can’t wait for some Shenmue love
Great. I sent an email. Please read it.
I got some ideas cooking. I’ll be sending you the recipe this weekend. Look for it.
Always appreciated the Dreamcast games for taking chances and being unlike anything else released at the time.
I really wish i got into the dreamcast earlier than i did, i was a n64 player but there were some great games only for dreamcast that i wanted to play
I love the DC, I sold mine too. Now I want to play it again, I should try to find a used game store too somewhere around here.
There were some great games for the DC. Unfortunately, I never owned the console.
Well now I’m all nostalgic. I reckon it’s time to break out the ol’ crazy taxis and powerstone wars! Lol, maybe I’ll finally get around to finishing RE: Code Veronica.
Never really got into the DC myself, but I did get most of its remade games.
The dreamcast is still one of the greatest systems ever, and Bangai-O was one of its best games.
Good picture for the article. Is it a painting?