4/21/01 - Import Delays, Dreamcast Clans, and Black
and White
- by RaptoR
Remember me? I'm the guy who's always messing up news posts
and POTD images on the main page. When reading the crap below,
remember that this is my first mailbag ever, and so if it
sucks then hold off sending that mailbomb just yet.
Welcome to the PDC Mailbag. Every week we toss in a bunch
of letters from our readers and do our best to dazzle you
with wit and wisdom. Roughly, that translates to copying/pasting
your emails and writing the first thing that comes to mind.
But hey, you take what you can get. If you have something
you want to contribute to the Mailbag, send it to this
address!
From: Shane Gleeson
Subject: Bangai-O in Europe?
Please tell me Bangai-O is being released in Europe. It
has been a long time since I bought a 2D shooter and this
looks like one to get. Cheers for the review but hopefully
I can buy it without having to import.
Shane
Like most games, Bangai-O will appear in Europe, it just
takes a little time for the developers to change the game
from NTSC to PAL format. Rest assured, you will get Bangai-O
sooner or later. Importing is relatively cheap these days,
and most major cities have some sort of games importer.
From: Kevin Mohanan
Subject: Beat-em-ups
I've read several of your reviews on "beat em up" games
and you seem to think that they are all bad. Can you recommend
a good one of these games for Dreamcast?
Thanks.
Nope, we don't think all Dreamcast beat-em-ups suck,
we just point out the good points as well as the bad ones.
If you're looking for the best fighter on Dreamcast, then
you'll want Soul Calibur. Other top DC fighters include Power
Stone, Dead or Alive 2 and Fighting Vipers 2. If you're looking
for the best a genre has to offer, then check out our Best
Dreamcast Games section.
From: Don Schilling
Subject: Manuals
Is there a site you know of where game manuals can be found
for download? There's a local store with good prices on
used games, but a lot are w/o manuals.
Usually, you should check the game manufacturer's website
for info on a game. As far as I know, there are no websites
which allow you to simply download manuals. Why not ask someone
at the store if they have a copy of the game's manual when
you buy the game?
From: Brian
Subject: UT for DC
I want to put together a game between two clans that play
on DC, how can I specify which map to meet at. Rather than
just saying "everyone meet at the Lava Giant @ 8," and have
the possibility of others joining in. I would relay like
to find out how to designate an address, then set some kind
of password or something. Any help would be so appreciated.
Thank you. Also, I've noticed a "Seganet" map that is locked
in my map selection area, how do I unlock that little nugget.Please
send your response to the below address, thanx again.
Brian
[Question forwarded from hal
at PlanetUnreal,
thanks, d00d]
While the Dreamcast does rock, it's not the
best machine for clanning. Nevertheless, if you're still determined
to play organised games of UT on your Dreamcast, then this is
what I recommend you do. In the server browser, select a server
name, rather than a map name, then mail everyone who will be
playing in the match with the details (name, IP, etc.) of the
server. It's far from perfect, but it's a way of making sure
everyone turns up in the right server at the right time.
From: Andy
Corsaro
Subject: DC Browser CD
Is there any way to get ahold of the DC browser with mouse
support (version 2.6)? I know that ODCM released it with
their holiday issue, but they're no longer releasing demo
disks with their magazines (which, by the way, really stinks).
Thanks for your time,
Andy Corsaro
You should be able to get hold of a copy free of charge
by contacting PlanetWeb, the guys who make the Dreamcast browser
software. Mail [email protected]
for more information.
From: Jason Parker
Subject: NEWSFLASH
It's called Daytona USA, there is no "2001" you f*ckin
morons. Jesus Christ, you couldn't get a name of a game
right?? Your site reeks with amateurity...
We love you too, Jason. :)
From: evan sharenow
Subject: Black and White??
Any idea if Black and White is still coming to the Dreamcast?
Hope so...
Yes, Black & White is definately headed for Dreamcast.
It's still now quite out yet, but it's certainally on the
way, and we'll keep you posted on any future developments..
For more B&W info, check out our sister site, PlanetBlackandWhite.
From: Ask Ask
Subject: Error, Skies Of Arcadia
Indeed there was an error in skies of arcadia...I CANT
FIND ENOUGH GOLD TO PAY OFF A DEBT THAT I OWE TO THIS FREAK
ON MY HEADQUARTERS
hehe
That's nice... Next!
From: Jerry Collins
Subject: Dreamcast Connection
Hello, I'm a BroadBand using Canadian and I was wondering
since the BBA will cost over $100 here and is not guaranteed
to work with PSO is it worth it to get a Phoneline ISP to
play online DC games? I'd use a free ISP and rent an online
game to see for myself, but most of the ones I have tried
say Newfoundland dosen't exist and neither does my Area
Code.
Also, since Sega is pretty much abandonning DC hardware
and stuff will the Networks for PSO and other games still
stay? It would really piss me off to spend the money to
play online and find out I can't. Well thats all I have
to say, keep up the kick ass job on the site! Jerry Collins,
An annoyed Canadian Broadband user
There is absloutely no need to buy a BBA simply to play
PSO. PSO runs like a dream on 56k, with very little lag or
slowdown. You're right, getting a free dial-up ISP is probably
cheaper in the long-run than paying over $100 for something
which might not even work with PSO.
Sega is not abandoning the Dreamcast at all. I'd
imagine the PSO servers will stay up for at least another
year, PSO is a top title which will keep on selling, and Sonic
Team know that.
From: Edward Myers
Subject: questions...
On your site, you claim that "if your Dreamcast has a
blue swirl, then you can look forward to these titles".
Then under that you have a game list. Are there Dreamcasts
out there that have a blue swirl besides the ones with the
original red swirl? If so, do the blue swirl units play
games that the red swirl units don't?
Also, I thought the game "Half-Life" was supposed to be
released on the Dreamcast awhile back. I don't see it in
your reviews section. Did it ever get released at all? Has
any game console going to release the game "Unreal"?
Dreamcasts that have blue siwrls are European, the list
was of Dreamcast games which would be released in Europe within
the next few months. Blue-swirled Dreamcasts can play only
PAL European games, while red US ones are limited to NTSC
titles. Half-Life isn't reviewed yet because it isn't out.
It's due out on April 30th, and we should have a review for
you to read within a week or so of the game's release. The
original Unreal didn't ever appear on a console, but its multiplayer
sequel, Unreal Tournament, is currently available on the PS2
(but we'll forget about that) and Dreamcast. Go read our review
of it here.
From: georgette slaughter
Subject: pics@planetdrreamcast
seen me more infor.on game spy
While Babelfish didn't make any sense of that statement/question/comment,
what I think you're asking for is more information
on GameSpy. If you're looking for info on their top-notch
server browser porgrams, then go here.
If you're not, then check out the GameSpy
Portal Page, you'll probably find links to what you want
there.
From: PhatOne66
Subject: (no subject)
hey, i was hoping to get a dreamcast for my birthday.
But my dad won't get me it because he thinks they won't
make anymore games. If you know, could you please tell me
if they are going to still make games.
Thanx a lot. -- PhatOne66
Even though Dreamcast production has stopped, there is
still a massive backlog of unsold units that will be sold
over the next year. DC games will continue to be sold far
into 2002 and 2003. If you're looking to buy a DC, now's the
time, the little white box has several quality titles already
available, and many more to come.
From:
Nelson Nieves
Subject: UT Review
About your Unreal Tournament review, I think it was very
good and detailed. However, one of the thing you may have
forgotten to mention in the "Bad" section is that UT for
Dreamcast is missing the "Assault" game mode (my personal
favorite) from the PC version. I guess they didn't have
room for it, but it would've rocked if it was implemented,
'cause there's no other way I like to relax than to storm
the beach in "Overlord".
Nelson Nieves
Yes, in hindsight, we probably should have mentioned
the lack of Assault mode in our review of UT, although Assault
was one of the less popular modes of the PC version. There
was no real incentive to go back and play the map once you
had completed it, and multiplayer Assault was generally laggy
and poor. Secret Level couldn't have implemented it simply
because the Dreamcast doesn't have sufficient memory to store
and play the large Assault maps. A shame? Yes. A great loss?
Not particularly.
From: DarkLance
Subject:
Any chance of seeing a US hundred swords? Thanks.
It's not likely. If you want to play Hundred Swords in
the US, you'll need to get hold of an import copy.
From: PLATANOX
Subject: A QUESTION........................
HEY DO U KNOW WHEN SHENMUE 2 IS COMING OUT?........LET
ME KNOW ASAP...I REALLY WANNA PLAY THAT IM TIRED OF BEATIN
PART ONE......... THANX & BYE
First, fix your cAPS lOCK key. Done that? Right. Shenmue
2 is due to appear in Japan around November 2001, so if you
can read Japanese, you might want to get hold of an imported
copy. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until Early 2002 like
the rest of us.
That's it for this Mailbag. Have a burning question? First
extinguish the damn thing (get it!?), and then send it to
this handy address.