Dreamcast Microphone

From Sega Retro

DreamcastMicrophone.jpg
Dreamcast Microphone
Made for: Sega Dreamcast
Manufacturer: Sega
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Dreamcast
JP
¥7,0007,000 HKT-7200
Sega Dreamcast
US
Sega Dreamcast
EU
Sega Dreamcast
UK
£19.9919.99[5][2][4]

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Dreamcast Microphone, known as the Dreamcast Mic Device (ドリームキャスト マイクデバイス) in Japan, is a microphone peripheral for the Sega Dreamcast. Taking up a VMU slot, the microphone was developed for use with Seaman, though became compatible with other games during late 2000 and 2001.

Hardware

While the Dreamcast Microphone was in some ways innovative for a video game console (even though it is usually the later Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 that are credited for bringing online voice chat to the mainstream), the device was not sold in large volumes, owing to the fact that outside of Japan, Sega did not release it as a stand-alone unit. In North America it was bundled exclusively with Seaman and Alien Front Online, while in Europe it was only available through the retail version of Planet Ring (which, perhaps awkwardly, was released as a free extra in the UK's Official Dreamcast Magazine without the microphone, leaving a distinct possibility of users having two copies of the game).

The US was originally set to receive a "Dreamcall" programme in January, where Dreamcast owners could use the microphone to make phone calls to each other for free (and to non-Dreamcast numbers for 2-9 cents per minute)[6] but no such feature ever materialised.

The European situation is made more awkward in that Planet Ring was itself a low budget, limited-run game with little marketing exposure. This meant the limited voice chat features introduced with Dreamkey Version 2.0 were effectively exclusive to owners of Planet Ring.

Compatibility

Had Propeller Arena been released, this too would also have been compatible with the accessory.

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Dreamcast Microphone Dreamcast Microphone
Japanese ドリームキャスト マイクデバイス Dreamcast Mic Device

Magazine articles

Main article: Dreamcast Microphone/Magazine articles.

Gallery

Official photographs

Physical scans

Dreamcast, JP
DreamcastMicrophone DC JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Dreamcast, US

MicrophoneInstructionManualU.pdf
Manual

References


Sega Dreamcast
Topics Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) | History (Development | Release | Decline and legacy | Internet) | List of games | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise
Hardware Japan (Special) | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | North America | Asia | South America | Australasia | Africa
Add-ons Dreamcast Karaoke | Dreameye
Controllers Controller | Arcade Stick | Fishing Controller | Gun (Dream Blaster) | Race Controller | Maracas Controller (Third-party) | Twin Stick | Keyboard | Mouse | Third-party
Controller Add-ons Jump Pack (Third-party) | Microphone | VMU (4x Memory Card | Third-party)
Development Hardware Dev.Box | Controller Box | Controller Function Checker | Sound Box | GD-Writer | C1/C2 Checker | Dev.Cas | GD-ROM Duplicator
Online Services/Add-ons Dreamarena | SegaNet | WebTV for Dreamcast | Modem | Modular Cable | Modular Extension Cable | Broadband Adapter | Dreamphone
Connector Cables Onsei Setsuzoku Cable | RF Adapter | Scart Cable | S Tanshi Cable | Stereo AV Cable | VGA Box

Dreamcast MIDI Interface Cable | Neo Geo Pocket/Dreamcast Setsuzoku Cable | Taisen Cable

Misc. Hardware Action Replay CDX | Code Breaker | Kiosk | MP3 DC | MP3 DC Audio Player | Official Case | Treamcast
Third-party accessories Controllers | Controller converters | Miscellaneous
Unreleased Accessories DVD Player | Zip Drive | Swatch Access for Dreamcast | VMU MP3 Player
Arcade Variants NAOMI | Atomiswave | Sega Aurora