A portable Dreamcast could well be a reality. Sure it would eat up battery power like hell but so does the PSP. All Sega have to do is not go for such a wide screen and use cartridges like some Naomi arcade games. That would save on a shit load of power. Yakumo
See, this isn't actually a "dreamcast-on-a-chip". This is an updated architecture, with a different CPU and VPU. The components may or may not be compatible individually, but as a whole this new chip is very unlikely to be backwards compatible with the Dreamcast (especially given the claim of a 64-bit memory interface). It simply shares some of the same tech. Just because some DVD players have M2 tech inside of them doesn't mean they play M2 games.
Umm, Cartridges? That means current software isn't compatible, so therefore its NOT a dreamcast!!! Plus, carts to store those games would be huge and expensive!!!
Im shocked this is new, dc was already put into one chip when it was still a contender, however is this chip newer and updated that makes it more significant?
DC put in one chip? I thought they kept the SH4, PVR and audio circuitry in separate packages, but then I don't know much about DC board revisions (were there any to speak of except for the change of cooling?)
Ummm, quite cool. But for a dreamcast rebirth, i think we should stop to dream :smt022 ... I better think that this factory created a dream on a chip for inboard "autonome" systems like: In fact, its a bit like the 68k, it was used in MANY MANY military systems / other things like that (SuperH are used too). Because the dream is a cool system and its vdp is quite powerful. (I repeat that some mesurement systems require a lot of calculation power, thats probably why the dream was chosen) Bye Fonzie
No it's actually true, in fact it was used in this hardware that was never released in europe that would have allowed a user to download a a dc game to a set top box( cant reember what it was but i got an old isssue of egm that discusses dc into a chip, i'll see if i can find it).
All of the official DCs have more or less the same hardware in them. Certainly no system-on-a-chip stuff. There was a set-top box announced, but nothing came of it. There was also to be a DC PC card, rather like the Creative 3DO Blaster, which would probably have either the hardware condensed onto a card, or contained within the CD drive. I don't remember much on what was said about these things, I'm sure someone will be able to link something more substantial.
I thought the Pace set top box came out?? Either way it wasnt gonna have a media drive, would prolly have only played Digital tv style games.
I have a handheld Iriver PMP-120 divx/media player. The battery lasts about 6 hours and is the size of a lipstick container, and has a backlit LCD. I don't see how power would be a problem, just expense. This seems like a good idea for in-flight and hotel applications. Remember it runs windows CE so it'll probably wind up in Kiosks instead of game machines. Pachinko machines and slot machines are also another good idea.
Difference being, the hardware inside a mobile device has been designed for low power consumption, the DC's wasn't. Add the GD-ROM being accessed more or less constantly and you've got very low battery life.
My player has a 20GB hd it is constantly using as well as the video screen. It can be done, just look at the handheld palm devices. Screen, processor, wireless. Lasts hours.
or check for the archos av series 300 and 400 this are mpg4 videoplayers (mp3...) they can run videos from a hdd for 2-3hours which is one of the most powerconsuming things today like already stated its only a mather of money but maybe next or the generation after that will use one of the dc chips or a handy who knows its all just in the beginning who would have thougt when tombraider 1 came out that it would run only a couple of years later on a mobile phone
