Improve Your Dreamcast With The VM2
Every serious console collector needs a Dreamcast. Sega’s last and greatest console only lived for around two years but had an incredibly sweet and short life, publishing many original and innovative game concepts that would influence generations to come. The Dreamcast was first to make online play possible directly from the console (and keep in mind this was the 56k phone-line era, so games had to be designed to function under those speeds — and did). It also came with a device embedded into the game controller called a VMU, or Visual Memory Unit.
Plugged in, the VMU would display game stats or graphics on its small dot matrix display. Removed, it could function as a Tamagotchi of sorts, playing minigames on the go that could factor into the larger console game when you plugged it back in. Not many games used that function but it was still a cool idea.
Used VMUs aren’t hard to get, but none of them have working batteries anymore (unless they’ve been taken apart and had those batteries replaced). But Dreamware Enterprises in Greece is crowdfunding what they call the VM2: a next-gen VMU that serves all the functions of the original and adds some new ones.
The VM2 has a backlit display. It charges via Micro USB, so you don’t need to replace the battery. But the best thing about the VM2 is that it has a Micro-SD slot. That means its storage capacity is nearly unlimited, and that game saves are easily transferrable. You can archive the saves on your PC, or if you’ve been playing a Dreamcast game on an emulator, you can transfer that save to the VM2 and continue your game on a real Dreamcast!
The down side? The price. Each VM2 will cost you a pledge that’s over $100 and this probably doesn’t factor shipping costs in. Since they’re coming from Greece it won’t be cheap to ship. But if you have the console, and the cash, it’s something to think about. Get your VM2 by heading to this page — the campaign stays open for the next 30 days and the units ship in August of 2023.
nickthegoat567
September 10, 2022 @ 12:51 am
My dad have a dream cast and the VM2 looks cooler than the ps1 and ps2 memory cards. I remember Claire’s face appearing on the mini screen when I play Code Veronica.
RedditBannedMe
September 11, 2022 @ 5:52 am
Are there still people out there selling Dreamcast? This gaming console was released well before its time. I’m still holding out hope that Sega will release a new gaming console.
okynnjoierndon
September 12, 2022 @ 8:17 am
I remember those things, They are memory cards put inside the controller and you can see the character’s face or even status on the mini screen. Imagine if Dreamcast didnt fail, those cards would have look like smartphones by now.