Yeah I remember the Dreamcast-on-a-chip. It was going to be used for new cheaper Dreamcast consoles, DVD-players, digital satellite & cable set-top boxes and PCI cards for PC. I'm not 100% certain if it was released or not, but in Europe there was a PACE set-top box that had the DC-on-a-chip.
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen002.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen001.jpg
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2681885.html
Quote:
Sega and Pace unveil Dreamcast-enabled set-top box
* By Shane Satterfield, GameSpot
* Posted Feb 2, 2001 7:57 pm PT
The set-top box that incorporates Dreamcast technology, digital VCR functions, and broadband cable applications is shown to the press.
At a press conference today in San Francisco, Sega and Pace unveiled the first set-top box to incorporate Dreamcast video game technology. Pace's digital personal video recorder (PVR) incorporates broadband cable applications, digital VCR functions, and Dreamcast video game console technology into one unit. Sega and Pace have been working together on the project for a year and plan to bring it to the European market in the middle of next year. There are currently no plans for a North American release.
The PVR is similar in appearance to a digital cable box and includes four Dreamcast controller ports. The PVR is compatible with cable, satellite, and xDSL. The unit does not include a disc drive. Instead, games will be downloaded, via PVR's broadband connection, to a 40GB hard drive. Pace claims that up to 60 games may be held on the hard drive at once and that each game will take approximately three minutes to download, though this figure seems optimistic. Similar to pay-per-view movies, Dreamcast content will be available on a pay-per-play or pay-per-time basis. Alternatively, a games channel will be made available for a fee of $20 per month that will allow unlimited access to Dreamcast software. The games channel will broadcast 24-hour game previews in the MPEG1/MPEG2 formats with a possibility of free demos. The PVR is also capable of uploading MP3 content and game data to hand held devices.
Pace claims that the Dreamcast-enhanced PVR is targeted at the casual game player who has traditionally been satisfied with older gaming technology. The PVR is capable of recording full-motion video while displaying both Dreamcast games and television broadcasts via a windows system. Video may be paused, rewound, shown in slow motion, or sped up using either the Dreamcast controller or a separate remote control device. Pace stated that the same technology could eventually be used for the Xbox, the PlayStation 2, and the GameCube but it is currently concentrating on its partnership with Sega.
Pace demonstrated the Dreamcast-enhanced PVR with fully playable versions of Sonic Adventure 2 and Crazy Taxi. Both games showed no appreciable difference while running on the PVR when compared to Dreamcast production hardware. Both games were played while small windows containing full motion video were placed on top. Due to its broadband connection, the Dreamcast-enhanced PVR is capable of supporting complex online gameplay. Andrew Wallace, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for Pace, claimed that the possibility for videoconferencing exists that would allow players to see whom they are playing during online competition.
Pace has yet to sign any agreements with cable carriers and the cost of each PVR will reportedly be in the $400-$600 range with prices likely to fall rapidly.
http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2001/1/29-157
http://dcmedia.ign.com/media/news2/i...esega/bg01.jpgQuote:
Even though the information was leaked ahead of time, this morning, Sega finally made the announcement of the first Set top box to feature the "all in one Dreamcast" chip. The box will feature broadband connectivity, a 40 gig hard drive, downloadable games and of course, the Dreamcast architecture.
Read on!
Sega Corporation announced today that Sega and Britain's set-top box developer, PACE Micro Technology, PLC, the leading company in the industry, have agreed to license-out Dreamcast technology and to jointly develop a set-top box home gateway with built-in Dreamcast architecture. The product will be introduced to the public by PACE at roadshows, which are scheduled to take place in Britain and the United States at the end of this month.
Sega will incorporate the main feature of Dreamcast, network connectivity, to diverse markets outside the gaming industry in order to expand its architecture licensing business. Set-top boxes with built-in Dreamcast architecture, which will be Sega's first product in this field, will have all the features of a set-top box such as broadband connection and a large capacity hard disc drive. Consumers will be able to play network games as well as view TV shows and other entertainment content using this single product, with perfect ease and freedom. This development will also allow Sega to go beyond the conventional console-dependent business and promote a new network business by providing network compatible content.
The new technologies incorporated in this product will:
1) Greatly improve user-friendliness by enabling users to download games through a set-top box with a broadband (xDSL, CATV, satellite, etc.) connection and large capacity hard disc drive, using a TV monitor in the home living room.
2) Enable new services such as EPG Service for TV programs using powerful 3D graphics of a gaming console.
3) Enable gamers to insert their customized characters into different games, interact with other players using chat and VoIP, and play back missed episodes by high-speed downloading.
These features will become available in the future, as broadband technology progresses and the integration of gaming and TV broadcasting is realised.
The most notable advantage for Sega in providing Dreamcast architecture to digital devices other than game consoles is that these devices will enjoy complete compatibility with Dreamcast. Because these set-top boxes with built-in Dreamcast architecture will be compatible with original Dreamcast titles, of which hundreds are already available worldwide, the tedious procedure of porting software to other platforms is no longer necessary for software developers. As a result, Sega will gain the opportunity to expand its software business by providing Dreamcast software to completely new platforms such as digital devices other than the conventional game console.
With the advancement of semiconductor and network technologies, set-top boxes and digital home appliances such as TVs, new-concept digital appliances in the living room that will allow consumers to access diverse information and services all-in-one, will become increasingly popular in the 21st century. Network compatible digital appliances will also go beyond conventional stand-alone PCs, game consoles, set-top boxes, audio visual appliances, PDAs and cellular phones. At the same time, borderlines between different forms of interactive media will become more and more subtle as satellite and CATV broadcasting becomes digitised. Now that broadband networks are about to penetrate homes around the world, entertainment content, most of all games, are becoming the most attractive and sought-after element in the expansion of network society.
In this great global tide of network evolution, Sega aims to become "the world's leading network gaming service provider" by focusing on these four core businesses:
1) Licensing of Dreamcast architecture.
2) Interactive network videogame content.
3) Narrow and Broadband electronic services to the online community.
4) Location-based amusement centres, featuring Sega's unique content development abilities and vast content assets.
http://dreamcast.ign.com/articles/091/091105p1.html
Quote:
SEGA And Pace Reveal New Digital Home Gateways Platform
Together with SEGA, Pace unveils the new set-top box that makes TiVo look like a 3DO.
by IGN Staff
February 5, 2001 - Yes, the Dreamcast console is slowly dying, but the heart of the Dreamcast will live on, as demonstrated last Friday at a press conference where SEGA and Pace revealed the first set-top box to the Dreamcast video game hardware. First reported in a previous news story, SEGA will provide Dreamcast hardware and software to allow Pace's new digital PVR (personal video recorder) to play Dreamcast games.
Though the set-top box shown at the press conference was a preliminary design of the box (as the controller ports will not be on top of the machine as shown), this new PVR machine will feature broadband applications (cable, satellite, and DSL), digital VCR functions similar to TiVO machines, while incorporating the Dreamcast hardware into what Andrew Wallace, Senior Vice President of Pace Micro Technology, says will, "create a new games business and new generation of game players." Unlike the typical concept of placing a disc or cart in order to play a game, this new PVR features a 40GB hard drive that will allow consumers not only to download 10-20 hours worth move video, but additionally allow you to hold anywhere from 50-60 Dreamcast games. The plan is for cable operator to incorporate a "games channel" where MPEG clips of the game will be shown. From here, consumers can download a free demo of a game (taking less than 3 minutes) onto the hard drive, play it, and if they like it, they can purchase the whole game where pricing options to "buy" games online will be depend on each provider. Pace anticipates huge sales for this device when it debuts in Europe next year, and while no plans have yet been made for a US release, Wallace stated that if the demand is there, so will the product.
Games shown running at the press conference included, Crazy Taxi, Shenmue and the demo version of Sonic Adventure 2, all running perfectly. This new PVR, with its broadband capabilities, will naturally allow for online play with Dreamcast games. While games were running, the PVR was able to open up a small window to display video playing. This "picture-in-picture" technology is nothing new, but Wallace suggested that plans for live video-communication could be implemented, allowing future online players to actually see who they will be playing against. Pace and SEGA also plan to utilize the satellite abilities of this new machine so players can wirelessly download games into portable handheld devices. SEGA of America Executive Vice President of Content Strategy and Business Development, Shinbu Toyoda, made a brief presentation focusing on SEGA's commitment to expand Dreamcast Architecture to multi-platform devices other than game consoles. Toyoda commented that SEGA will continue make strong partnerships with leading STB manufacturers and expansion of its game content to global networks.
During the press conference, Dreamcast games planned for this new set-top box included the ones mentioned above (Sonic Adventure 2 demo, Shenmue, Crazy Taxi), as well as NFL2K1 and Phantasy Star Online. This new PVR is currently billed at a $300-$600 price range, though the price will likely drop when the machine releases next year. Will keep you posted on any new developments and whether a US release of this new set-top box is scheduled.
