Friday, March 21, 2008

We Moved!

Segafanclub is changing blogs! We currently use Blogger, but we will now transition to Word Press! It seemed like a logical choice since it provides more functionality. Once Sega Fan Club's unofficial extremely hated Cyber Squatter moves I will buy the domain, from what I have been hearing, it is much easier to integrate a domain in WordPress than blogger.

 

Ever since the start Blogger has given me trouble, with RSS feeds, Windows Live Writer, the podcast, etc. I am expecting good things from Word press so I am hoping my readers will join me, this blog will still remain up to inform those who may have just heard about the site from other sources, to inform them about the change.

I'm leaving for Vancouver at 4:00PM GMT, so I won't be blogging for a bit, Id like to thank my loyal readers, weather you have commented or not, for leaving Sega Fan Club on your blog role, just remember to update your links!

 

CLICK THIS TO GO TO THE NEW BLOG

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Top 10 Video Formats HD DVD Will Meet in Heaven

A intresting look at other potentially great formats that didn't get a big enough market share to continue, enjoy!

read more | digg story

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Sega Fan Club Show # 3 Released!

The third episode of the podcast has been released, I finally fixed a majority of the problems that was "holding the show back". Feel free to download the file and give feedback, feedburner tells me that the show is indeed being downloaded, but I'm not getting any comments about it! (Here at least, I got some a DCEMU)

 

Here are the show notes, download link is below:

 

This weeks intro: http://rareware.com/

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/the-darkness-gets-new-free-multiplayer-map/

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/first-prey-2-details-and-concept-art-revealed/

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/03/13/557989.aspx

http://talkingaboutgames.com/content/view/597/1/

http://kotaku.com/369134/uk-360-sales-spike-40

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/03/17/558074.aspx

 

Download Here!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Prey 2 Details, Concept Art Emerge

A follow-up to Human Head's first person shooter Prey has been officially confirmed to be in development via the website for a new middleman company Radar Group. This is the first update on the project in nearly two years. The first Prey was one of my favorite games, it was the first game I played on the Xbox 360 and I was shocked by how huge the difference between Xbox games and Xbox 360 games, not just in graphics, but other things like language, gore, etc.

read more | digg story

Thursday, March 13, 2008

DC Dev R4 Dev-C++ Guide

Heres a guide to get Dev-C++ to do things that would make it compatible with the Dreamcast file type. I’m working from the old R2 guide, but im just making adjustments to bring it up to date.

This is my first guide, so please be easy on it, unlike what's happened to the other guides, I will do my best to keep things updated and answer and questions you may have.

NOTE! I JUST COPY AND PASTED THE INFO FROM THE FORUM POST I DID, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THE HTML ERRORS!

Pre-Req:
[URL="http://www.bloodshed.net/index.html"]Dev C++[/URL]
[URL="http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=2148033051#post2148033051"]DC Dev R4[/URL]
A Dreamcast (Duh!)

Some minor knowledge in Computer Science will help ALOT.

Note: This guide assumes the directory that Cygwin is installed in is c:\cygwin, for the sake of simplicity please install it in the default directory.

1) [B]Setting up the compiler[/B]
a) Go to Tools Menu -> Compiler options
b) Create a new compiler, name it Dreamcast
c) Add this to the compiler commands : -O2 -DFRAME_POINTERS -ml -m4-single-only -fno-optimize-sibling-calls -D_arch_dreamcast -D_arch_sub_pristine -Wall-g -fno-builtin -fno-strict-aliasing -ml -m4-single-only -Wl,-Ttext=0x8c010000-nostartfiles -nostdlib
d) Add this to the linker commands : -g -fno-builtin -fno-strict-aliasing -ml -m4-single-only -Wl,-Ttext=0x8c010000 -nostartfiles -nostdlib -Wall-g C:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos\kernel\arch\dreamca st\kernel\startup.o -lstdc++ -Wl,--start-group -lkallisti -lc -lgcc -Wl,--end-group

[B]Note[/B]: Notice the -Wall-g command in both of the commands above, depending on the program you are using, it may require a space ex: -Wall -g, the hello world program show below will not, however other programs probably will, so be on the look out for it.

2) [B]Setting up the directories[/B]
a) Directories Tab
b) Binaries Sub-Tab
c) Delete the directories that are already their and add the following:
c:\cygwin\bin
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\sh-elf\bin
d) Libraries Sub-Tab
e) Add the following directories:
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos\lib\dreamcast
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos\addons\lib\dreamcast
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\sh-elf
f) C Includes Sub-Tab
g) Add the following directories:
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos\include
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos-ports\include
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos\kernel\arch\dreamcast\include
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos\addons\include
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\sh-elf\sh-elf\include
h) C++ Includes Sub-Tab
i) Add the following directories:
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos\include
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos-ports\include
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos\kernel\arch\dreamcast\include
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\kos\kos\addons\include
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\sh-elf\sh-elf\include
c:\cygwin\usr\local\dc\sh-elf\include\c++\3.4.6

3) [B]Linking programs[/B]
a) Go To The Programs Tab
b) Set the following programs to these:
gcc -> sh-elf-gcc.exe
g++ -> sh-elf-g++.exe
gprof -> sh-elf-gprof.exe

4) [B]The Hello World Test[/B]
a) File -> New -> Project
b) Empty Project
c) Project -> Project Options
d) Compiler Tab
e) Select the Dreamcast compiler, then go to build options, at the bottom check the override box and change the extension to .elf ex: project1.exe -> project1.elf
f) Click OK
g) Project -> New File
h) Type the following:
[CODE]#include <kos.h>
KOS_INIT_FLAGS(INIT_DEFAULT | INIT_MALLOCSTATS);
int main(int argc, char **argv) {
printf("\nhello world\n\n");
return 1;
}[/CODE]
i) File -> Save
j) Save as main.c
k) Execute -> Compile

You should know have a .elf file in the folder you saved your project too. You can upload it to your Dreamcast via Dctool OR convert the file and run it in a emulator OR using Bootdreams to burn it to a disc. (Don't ask me how to convert because I don't know how either)

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Sega Fan Club Podcast Show #2! This Time With Better Servers!

 

 

That's right folks, Episode Two is here! I recorded it using a different program, and a different file type (WMA). I have a good feeling about this since the servers are much better meaning people will actually be able to download it! The voice quality has improved a bit, but I'm still not happy with it.

So download it below and leave your comments about it, Enjoy!

Show Notes:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=94293

Xbox 360 - was: €349.99 / £249.99 now: €269.99 / £199.99
Xbox 360 Elite - was: €449.99 / £299.99 now: €369.99 / £259.99
Xbox 360 Arcade – was €269.99 / £199.99 now  €199.99 / £159.99

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/03/10/emeaannouncedrop.aspx

http://kotaku.com/366006/sega-didnt-ask-about-your-dreamcast-some-dirty-rotten-scoundrel-did

http://kotaku.com/366601/bioshock-2-formally-announced-hits-q4-2009

http://interplay.com/

http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/index.php/2008/03/army-of-two-no-eu-us-play.html

 

Link taken down for a bit (Save Target As)

 

Note: I changed the end of the download link a bit for greater RSS compatibility, so it may take a few minutes before the server will find the file, but once it does get ready to enjoy a great download speed!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Aha Great Success!

I finally got all that podcast hosting stuff figured out! I found a Microsoft hosted server (Skydrive) that is given me super fast speeds of 500KB/s + FOR FREE! And the great thing is all you need to participate is a Hotmail account!

This is one of the reasons why I love Microsoft and their great services, if this is what they give outsiders, Id love to hear what they give their employees!

Expect a new podcast soon, now that the hosting server's have been sorted out, no word on a bandwidth limit, but I don't expect the show to get popular enough to exceed it any time soon. I do however have 5GB of space that I can use for what ever I need.

Also, expect to see more files being hosted, hopefully videos for a even better experience (not a video podcast, just stuff I may have shot about anything,)

Oh, if you feel like testing out the new server, feel free to download the old show, not the greatest quality for reasons stated in the post, but its not horrible either.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

SEGA updates Dreamcast.com for DC's 10th anniversary !

It seems that SEGA of Japan just updated Dreamcast.com.By clicking on the banner, you'll be taken to http://www.dreamcast.com/apps/ucp.php where Dreamcast users can register here with a user account for their console's serial number and will get an account @user.dreamcast.com.Seems that SEGA is preparing for the DC's 10th anniversary...

read more | digg story

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

WMV HD Database Launched!

I have launched WMV HD Database, a small site I was working on creating for the past few months. The site will deal with the WMV HD codec, its uses, and how you could create your own WMV HD movie files!

Once your their, feel free to browse the forum to give feed back, and of course refer others to the site.

Without further adieu, here it is!

 

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

I think a apology is needed!

I have to issue a apology and restate a previous post. My last post, entitled  A Microsoft perspective: HD DVD Time line was received with so confusion, mainly by the writer of the mentioned blog. Firstly, Id like to apologize to Andy for any confusion I may have caused about his blog to my readers.

Secondly, I’m going to clarify some of the things said:

1. "Find out why Microsoft could have easily put a HD DVD drive into the Xbox 360 from the start"

By this I meant that many people in the gaming community thought this impossible since no HD DVD player existed on the market since the launch of the Xbox 360, In October 2005 Toshiba released their first HD DVD drive, of course Microsoft would have been informed of development since the start, so they could have easily partnered with Toshiba to either delay the launch a month or two, or to finish production on the drive (Since the specs were finished in the summer of 2005).

2. Oh for those who don't know: Andy Penells blog was the go to place when it came to the latest news in Microsoft's work with the HD DVD add on. He had the latest firmware specs (The only place to get them), and a in depth look at the code work it would have involved, it was a very interesting read until a week ago.

By this comment I didn't mean that Andy was going to stop blogging completely about HD DVD and HDi, I meant that Microsoft probably wouldn't be releasing software updates and time in the future for the player, hence their probably wouldn't be many posts about further developments for the player. However Andy did correct me in the previous post by saying he did have a few more post regarding HDi and HD DVD lined up, so check this blog and stay tuned for them if they interest you.

I'm hoping we receive a official response from the DVD forum, will they fold/merge, continue, etc.

 

If some of this didn't make sense, I'm sorry, I'm a bit occupied by a message my local university sent me last night when I applied, apparently I was accepted without me knowing! Of course I couldn't give them my final marks since my final semester isn't over yet. The message goes onto saying I should wait for a package that will come in the mail which will contain some important info, so until then Ill have to lose some sleep I guess.