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[nkarafo]

It was never an issue for SEGA players. You guys are making stuff up.

Only because the console lasted a year and a half.

Later games would force Sega to replace the archaic single stick design.

 

[Amicus]

1- The base PS1 controller had no analog sticks. That didn't stop Sony from later adding two analog sticks with the DualShock

2 - There was no problem with the GD-Roms ( besides being easy to Pirate ) . Having multiple discs for a single game was not an issue for many PS1, PS2 and 360 games so I don't see why it would be an issue for the Dreamcast

3 - They could have easily made a DVD add-on ( like the OG Xbox ) if they had the funds to do it .

There was nothing wrong with the Dreamcast model that we got . The problem is that Sega ran out of money to manufacture more consoles, it's that simple.

 

[cireza]

Later games would force Sega to replace the archaic single stick design.

We've already been through this in the topic. They could have released another controller with two sticks, just like Sony released another controller with two sticks on the PS1, and just like SEGA released the 6 buttons controller on the MegaDrive. Both consoles being highly successful and having a controller revision not being an issue at any point, and still having base controllers that did the job perfectly well for 99% of the library.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Sega could have just released another controller with 2 sticks. been done by sony and xbox to a different extent(releasing the S controller)

 

[kevboard]

Sega could have just released another controller with 2 sticks. been done by sony and xbox to a different extent(releasing the S controller)

the controller S isn't really comparable here tho. that didn't change the functionality at all, just updated the ergonomics.
but yes, simply replacing the controller would have been fine. just have a warning on the back if a game requires it.

generally a refresh for that controller would have been necessary at some point, even ignoring the functionality for a moment, the controller was just awful in general and should have been replaced mich earlier imo.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

I love the Dreamcast and its library but I agree with the OP. Even just looking at how SEGA ran things for the previous 5 years would tell you that they weren't going to pull that ship around.

SEGA games even on the Dreamcast were still antiquated (again I love the Dreamcast and I'm not discounting the quality of the albeit small library). The vast majority of Dreamcast games were still very "arcadey" in nature (not saying arcade ports) and the industry was moving away from that.

This issue with releasing a new controller after, is devs now have to build two control schemes and somehow design game mechanics around both of them.

One for gamers that have the single stick pad, and the other for those with dual stick.

It adds an extra layer of unknowns that devs wouldn't be pleased with.

Yeah, this wouldn't be viable not because you couldn't say that games require the new controller but as you said devs would need to develop two different controls schemes which in many games would require the entire game to be redesigned.

We've already been through this in the topic. They could have released another controller with two sticks, just like Sony released another controller with two sticks on the PS1, and just like SEGA released the 6 buttons controller on the MegaDrive. Both consoles being highly successful and having a controller revision not being an issue at any point, and still having base controllers that did the job perfectly well for 99% of the library.

The difference though is that the DualShock was introduced in 1997 during the 5th generation of consoles. How many PS1 games REQUIRE the DualShock as in absolutely 100% not usable on the original controller? I'm sure there are quite a few but the 5th and 6th generation of consoles are very different. Two analog sticks were absolutely more popular during the 6th gen and people can try to argue otherwise but even if the PlayStation 2 was normal levels of success for that generation (lets say around 30-40M) the Dreamcast would have still lost ports.

 

[Wolzard]

Two analog sticks were absolutely more popular during the 6th gen and people can try to argue otherwise but even if the PlayStation 2 was normal levels of success for that generation (lets say around 30-40M) the Dreamcast would have still lost ports.

Can you name a popular PS2 game that's impossible to play without using both analog sticks? And what about the PSP and 3DS, which only have one analog stick but receive the same types of games?

 

[Chittagong]

I think without Sony, Sega would have won. Consider:

Dreamcast came out mere 2 years after the N64, and was a world of difference in terms of experience. N64 games were low poly, blurry, low fps mess. Dreamcast games were rich, fluid, crisp, just next gen. Compared to Dreamcast, N64 games looked really fucking grim.

The gap from Dreamcast to GameCube in 2001 would be a further 3 years. During this time developers would either be stuck with cartridges, or defect to Dreamcast to make cheaper, bigger, more impressive games. That would have boosted the entire platform.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

Sega could have just released another controller with 2 sticks. been done by sony and xbox to a different extent(releasing the S controller)

The S controller is very different though. There isn't anything the S can do that the "Duke" cannot do as it's simply a redesigned controller designed to be smaller.

Can you name a popular PS2 game that's impossible to play without using both analog sticks? And what about the PSP and 3DS, which only have one analog stick but receive the same types of games?

Impossible? Probably not. Less enjoyable with a gimped control scheme? Absolutely