Difference between revisions of "Dennou Senki Net Merc"
From Sega Retro
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| genre=Shoot-'em-up | | genre=Shoot-'em-up | ||
| releases={{releasesArcade | | releases={{releasesArcade | ||
| − | | mod1_date_jp=1995-05 | + | | mod1_date_jp=1995-05{{fileref|Sega Arcade History JP EnterBrain Book-1.pdf|page=136}} |
}} | }} | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{sub-stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}'''''{{fileref|Becoming Virtual - Bodies, Technologies, Worlds (Thesis by Nicola Green, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1999).pdf|page=75}} is | + | {{sub-stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}'''''{{fileref|Becoming Virtual - Bodies, Technologies, Worlds (Thesis by Nicola Green, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1999).pdf|page=75}} (電脳戦記ネットマーク) is an [[arcade]] game developed by [[Sega]] with assistance from UK-based [[Virtuality]]. It is the only game created for the '''Sega Net Merc''' (セガ ネットマーク) system (a [[Sega Model 1]] arcade board adpted for virtual reality), so the two are often used interchangably. |
| − | ''Dennou Senki Net Merc'' | + | ==Gameplay== |
| + | ''Dennou Senki Net Merc'' is an on-rails shoot-'em-up game, in which players use a large gun controller to fire at enemies. Being a virtual reality game, players are also given a VR headset (a "MVD" or "Mega Visor Display"{{fileref|Becoming Virtual - Bodies, Technologies, Worlds (Thesis by Nicola Green, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1999).pdf|page=183}}, similar to those found in the [[VR-1]]), allowing for their head movements to be tracked in real time and therefore see a full 360 degree view of their surroundings. | ||
| − | + | Players are always stood facing in one direction behind the gun controller during gameplay. The complex nature of the system means that a member of staff was usually on hand to assist users with the headset. | |
| − | The project was developed in the offices of [[Sega AM3]], with two programmers (Andy Reece and Stephen Northcott, a former programmer at [[wikipedia:Incentive Software| | + | The Sega Net Merc system consists of a Mega Visor Display being attached to a 3SPACE ISOTRAK II{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970330140954/http://www.polhemus.com:80/isotrkds.htm}} head and motion tracker and a specialised cabinet. |
| + | |||
| + | ==History== | ||
| + | ===Development=== | ||
| + | Since its conception in 1985, Virtuality had been exploring the commercial use of virtual reality for several years when the Net Merc project began, and had already seen a great deal of success with its 1000CS and 1000SD systems in the early 1990s. Though the games were often primitive, Virtuality machines were an enticing prospect for arcade venues on the decline, and were well received by the general public, who until this point had largely been unaware of the concept. Virtuality was one of the driving forces behind the early 90s VR craze, likely even inspiring [[Sega of America]]'s own VR attempt with the [[Sega VR]] in 1993. | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, while accepted by the public at the time, the 1000 series was restricted by the technology, being powered by [[Amiga|Amiga 3000]] computers and running, on average, at about 20FPS with a low screen resolution. While the 1000 series was able to convey a virtual world, the world was small, consisting of flat shaded polygons and simple geometry. The 2000 series was able to address some of these concerns by switching to Intel 486 [[IBM PC]] compatibles in 1994 (followed by the lesser-known Pentium-based 3000 series). | ||
| + | |||
| + | As evidenced by the likes of ''[[Virtua Racing]]'' and ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'', the signficiantly more expensive Model 1 board could produce higher resolution graphics and more polygons than most PCs at the time, all while maintaining a 60FPS frame rate. The Net Merc project was a combination of Virtuality's previous VR technologies and Sega's once-cutting edge arcade board. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The project was developed in the offices of [[Sega AM3]], with two programmers (Andy Reece and Stephen Northcott, a former programmer at [[wikipedia:Incentive Software|Incentive Software]]) and two artists from Virtuality in the UK. Roughly 70 units made it into production, the vast majority of which never left Japan. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''Dennou Senki Net Merc'' first appeared in public at the [[Amusement Machine Show 1994]] as '''''TecWar''''',{{magref|edge|15|12}} before re-appearing at [[AOU Show 1995]]. It is thought to have changed its name to avoid potential conflicts with William Shatner's ''[[wikipedia:TekWar|TekWar]]'' novels (and subsequent video game). | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, by 1995 the relatively simplistic graphics generated by the Model 1 board (compared to say, the [[Sega Model 2]] game ''[[Sega Rally Championship]]'' which was also on show at AOU 1995) were seemingly not well received{{magref|edge|20|17}}, and while the game made it into production, it is not considered to have been as popular or influential as Virtuality's earlier works. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The 3SPACE ISOTRAK II was manufactured by Polhemus Inc.{{intref|Press Release: 1996-08-05: Sega Selects Polhemus to Develop Next Generation Motion Capture System}} a technology company specialised in motion tracking that was founded in 1969 by Bill Polhemus{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20040806140515/http://www.polhemus.com:80/AboutUs.htm}}. Originally known as Polhemus Navigation Sciences{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19980704015046fw_/http://www.polhemus.com:80/genfaq.htm}}), it was based in [[wikipedia:Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids, Michigan]], before moving in early 1971 to the town of [[wikipedia:Colchester, Vermont|Colchester, Vermont]]. | ||
==Magazine articles== | ==Magazine articles== | ||
| Line 24: | Line 41: | ||
==Photo gallery== | ==Photo gallery== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| − | DennouSenkiNetMerc Video.mp4|Video excerpt showing | + | DennouSenkiNetMerc Video.mp4|Video excerpt showing ''Dennou Senki Net Merc'' running (filmed on the Flight Deck{{ref|http://tedsegablog.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-rise-and-fall-of-london-trocadero.html}}{{ref|https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQO53Njw_qI/WdjMwqRsJWI/AAAAAAAAAaI/TaH5RcMm7c4wOFWYltpE-e7rAV380BPRwCLcBGAs/s1600/trocclosed6.jpg}} floor, of [[Sega World London]]), taken from episode #7 of the third season (1997) of [[wikipedia:BBC|BBC's]] documentary television series [[wikipedia:Connections (TV series)|''Connections'']] |
SegaNetMerc cabinet.jpg | SegaNetMerc cabinet.jpg | ||
SegaNetMerc 1.jpg | SegaNetMerc 1.jpg | ||
Sega MegaVisorDisplay.jpg|Sega MVD (Mega Visor Display) | Sega MegaVisorDisplay.jpg|Sega MVD (Mega Visor Display) | ||
| − | Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II Front.jpg| | + | Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II Front.jpg|Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970330140954/http://www.polhemus.com:80/isotrkds.htm}} Dual Receiver Motion Tracker Front |
| − | Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II Back.jpg| | + | Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II Back.jpg|Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970330140954/http://www.polhemus.com:80/isotrkds.htm}} Dual Receiver Motion Tracker Back |
| − | Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II Brochure.pdf| | + | Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II Brochure.pdf|Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II Brochure |
| − | Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II User's Manual.pdf| | + | Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II User's Manual.pdf|Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II User's Manual |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 14:04, 24 August 2019
| |||||||||
| Dennou Senki Net Merc | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System(s): Sega Model 1 | |||||||||
| Publisher: Sega | |||||||||
| Developer: Sega, Virtuality | |||||||||
| Genre: Shoot-'em-up | |||||||||
| Number of players: 1 | |||||||||
|
This teeny-tiny article needs some work. You can help us by expanding it.
Dennou Senki Net Merc[2] (電脳戦記ネットマーク) is an arcade game developed by Sega with assistance from UK-based Virtuality. It is the only game created for the Sega Net Merc (セガ ネットマーク) system (a Sega Model 1 arcade board adpted for virtual reality), so the two are often used interchangably.
Contents
Gameplay
Dennou Senki Net Merc is an on-rails shoot-'em-up game, in which players use a large gun controller to fire at enemies. Being a virtual reality game, players are also given a VR headset (a "MVD" or "Mega Visor Display"[3], similar to those found in the VR-1), allowing for their head movements to be tracked in real time and therefore see a full 360 degree view of their surroundings.
Players are always stood facing in one direction behind the gun controller during gameplay. The complex nature of the system means that a member of staff was usually on hand to assist users with the headset.
The Sega Net Merc system consists of a Mega Visor Display being attached to a 3SPACE ISOTRAK II[4] head and motion tracker and a specialised cabinet.
History
Development
Since its conception in 1985, Virtuality had been exploring the commercial use of virtual reality for several years when the Net Merc project began, and had already seen a great deal of success with its 1000CS and 1000SD systems in the early 1990s. Though the games were often primitive, Virtuality machines were an enticing prospect for arcade venues on the decline, and were well received by the general public, who until this point had largely been unaware of the concept. Virtuality was one of the driving forces behind the early 90s VR craze, likely even inspiring Sega of America's own VR attempt with the Sega VR in 1993.
However, while accepted by the public at the time, the 1000 series was restricted by the technology, being powered by Amiga 3000 computers and running, on average, at about 20FPS with a low screen resolution. While the 1000 series was able to convey a virtual world, the world was small, consisting of flat shaded polygons and simple geometry. The 2000 series was able to address some of these concerns by switching to Intel 486 IBM PC compatibles in 1994 (followed by the lesser-known Pentium-based 3000 series).
As evidenced by the likes of Virtua Racing and Virtua Fighter, the signficiantly more expensive Model 1 board could produce higher resolution graphics and more polygons than most PCs at the time, all while maintaining a 60FPS frame rate. The Net Merc project was a combination of Virtuality's previous VR technologies and Sega's once-cutting edge arcade board.
The project was developed in the offices of Sega AM3, with two programmers (Andy Reece and Stephen Northcott, a former programmer at Incentive Software) and two artists from Virtuality in the UK. Roughly 70 units made it into production, the vast majority of which never left Japan.
Dennou Senki Net Merc first appeared in public at the Amusement Machine Show 1994 as TecWar,[5] before re-appearing at AOU Show 1995. It is thought to have changed its name to avoid potential conflicts with William Shatner's TekWar novels (and subsequent video game).
However, by 1995 the relatively simplistic graphics generated by the Model 1 board (compared to say, the Sega Model 2 game Sega Rally Championship which was also on show at AOU 1995) were seemingly not well received[6], and while the game made it into production, it is not considered to have been as popular or influential as Virtuality's earlier works.
The 3SPACE ISOTRAK II was manufactured by Polhemus Inc.[7] a technology company specialised in motion tracking that was founded in 1969 by Bill Polhemus[8]. Originally known as Polhemus Navigation Sciences[9]), it was based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before moving in early 1971 to the town of Colchester, Vermont.
Magazine articles
- Main article: Dennou Senki Net Merc/Magazine articles.
Photo gallery
Video excerpt showing Dennou Senki Net Merc running (filmed on the Flight Deck[10][11] floor, of Sega World London), taken from episode #7 of the third season (1997) of BBC's documentary television series Connections
Sega MVD (Mega Visor Display)
Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II[4] Dual Receiver Motion Tracker Front
Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II[4] Dual Receiver Motion Tracker Back
Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II Brochure
Polhemus 3SPACE ISOTRAK II User's Manual
![[11]](#cite_note-https:.2F.2F3.bp.blogspot.com.2F-IQO53Njw_qI.2FWdjMwqRsJWI.2FAAAAAAAAAaI.2FTaH5RcMm7c4wOFWYltpE-e7rAV380BPRwCLcBGAs.2Fs1600.2Ftrocclosed6.jpg-11){kind=link}
External Links
References
- ↑ Sega Arcade History, Enterbrain, page 136
- ↑ File:Becoming Virtual - Bodies, Technologies, Worlds (Thesis by Nicola Green, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1999).pdf, page 75
- ↑ File:Becoming Virtual - Bodies, Technologies, Worlds (Thesis by Nicola Green, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1999).pdf, page 183
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://www.polhemus.com:80/isotrkds.htm (Wayback Machine: 1997-03-30 14:09)
- ↑ Edge, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-27), page 12
- ↑ Edge, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-03-20), page 17
- ↑ Press Release: 1996-08-05: Sega Selects Polhemus to Develop Next Generation Motion Capture System
- ↑ http://www.polhemus.com:80/AboutUs.htm (Wayback Machine: 2004-08-06 14:05)
- ↑ http://www.polhemus.com:80/genfaq.htm (Wayback Machine: 1998-07-04 01:50)
- ↑ http://tedsegablog.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-rise-and-fall-of-london-trocadero.html
- ↑ https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQO53Njw_qI/WdjMwqRsJWI/AAAAAAAAAaI/TaH5RcMm7c4wOFWYltpE-e7rAV380BPRwCLcBGAs/s1600/trocclosed6.jpg
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