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ive heard rumors about how you can still browse the web with a sega saturn and dreamcast even that you can still play some games online is any of this true? if so how is it still possible didnt you have to have an online service(e.g. seganet) and if it is possible what all do i need to get my saturn and dreamcast online? which games can you play? and how?
You can still browse the web on Dreamcast, yes. You need either a browser disc or a game that has a browser, and either a broadband adapter or a dial-up ISP service that doesn't require specific software. As for playing games online, there are a few that still work. StarLancer and 4x4 Evolution are still officially supported, Quake III Arena allows user servers, and Phantasy Star Online has fan servers. And Sega Swirl still works with the "play over email" option (but why bother?).
The Saturn Netlink games still work because it works similar to old PC games, where one player directly dials the other. Watch out for long distance charges though. :p I'm pretty sure browsing still works, but as I recall the Netlink browser was very limited. Once again you'd need a dial-up ISP that doesn't require specific software. You'd also need the Netlink cartridge and disc.
Browsing with the Dreamcast now is painful, even with the broadband adaptor as the planetweb browser is seriously old and decrepid.
For Saturn gaming see the NetLink league: http://www.saturnleague.com/mxbb/
That's an interesting site, mick_aka, especially this topic where Warp2063 talks about a dial-up to broadband bridge: http://saturnleague.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=569
That would certainly make playing online with the Saturn more feasible for long distances, and doesn't seem too outrageous of a project. Here's hoping it gets developed properly.
It really is a great site, I've not had too bad experiences playing with folks in the USA, much quicker than you would ever think, although I do get my ass handed to me on Sega Rally.
If I had a Phone Jack in a reasonable spot that was near a TV, I would be getting a Netlink. Would love to play Virtual On and Sega Rally Championship online (as I have those Netlink titles).
I wish some company would make new Dreamcast broadband modems,
because i'm one of those people that just wants to tinker with it, but not for the prices they charge for a BB modem these days.
That would be awesome but unlikely :(
So did anyone here actually go online with the Saturn back in the day?
The modem was never officially released over here in the UK, although plenty of places had them in on import, I used my Amiga for web browsing through most of the Saturn's era so it's not something I invested in at the time.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...rand/BROWS.gif
Oh how I miss the carefree days of dialup...
I didn't even have a computer at the beginning of the internet revolution but I was certainly an avid surfer with my Saturn and NetLink! I used my Saturn exclusively to access the web for nearly two years before I got a computer at home. I played a few NetLinked games and when Sega Touring Car first came out there were some on line competitions I participated in. Those just consisted in running a race and posting your best time on line to see how you matche up across the world. They consisted of date specific tracks only available for one day. You can still access those "hidden" tracks if you change the date on your Saturn to one of the origial race day dates. Pretty cool for its day.
I fired up my NetLink less than a year ago and was able to surf a good bit of the web but with a 28.8 dial up connection, it was rather painful.