«Previous post | Next post»

As there have been a lot of buzz about “Project Dream” and the Dreamcast 2 as of lately (I think I set the sea in motion with my article on the matter). I felt like it´s time for me to give you guys and girls some clarification about DC2 and “Project Dream”. First of all, I´m sorry that I wasn´t 100% clear from the very start what “Project Dream” was all about (It was a misunderstanding between me and Bertie Wiseman, so I sorted everything out this morning). Anyhow, I spoke to Bertie Wiseman (his a part of the “Project Dream” team) earlier today (around 2:00 in the morning, Swedish time) about DC2 and “Project Dream”. Long story short, Wiseman clarified everything about Project Dream for me:

“23 dic 2015 — Dear all, there has been a few misconceptions following some misleading information regarding the campaign.

Let me make this clear:

1. We are petitioning Sega and want as many signatures as possible.

2. When we hit a satisfied number of signatures, we will put forth a detailed proposal to Sega (Japan) along with plans, desings etc.

3. We have a developer on board willing to build the console providing Sega give the green light.

4. The console is intended to be a Hybrid PC Dreamcast system with updated specs and the ability to redraw games in High Definition.

5. If Sega don’t like our proposal, we are planning to push forth and create a machine capable of doing so, however that will require crowd funding.

6. There are other interested parties and we are in ongoing discussion with them and exploring many avenues.

7. The console is yet be named and is not planned to be called “Ring Edge or Ring Zero”

From the team at Project Dream, we thank you for understanding and urge you to please be patient. We are happy to hear your ideas for a new and improved machine.” – Ben Plato, head of the Project Dream campaign and the author of the “To design and release a Sega Dreamcast Limited Edition Console” petition page

In other words. “Project Dream” is not Dreamcast 2, but a campaign to get SEGA into the game console market again. And “if” everything goes according to plan (that enough people show their support for Project Dream). Then the next step would be to convince SEGA to make the REAL Dreamcast 2. So I´m sorry for the confusion that I caused with my “The Sega Dreamcast 2 project are very much alive, say hello to “Project Dream” article (I hope that you can forgive me for that mistake). And I was also given the update on Ben Plato´s “Sega Dreamcast Limited Edition Console” petition page, in which Ben clarified Project Dream even further:

And now that I have cleared up the confusion between “Project Dream” and the Dreamcast 2, please enjoy my interview with Bertie Wiseman and Ben Plato!

The dream is coming! And in about 7 days from now, we will know more about “Project Dream”.

Robin TGG:
Do you have any idea why people are so salty about Project Dream? I mean, people seemed to have fewer problems with OUYA or the Retro VGS console when they got announced?

Bertie Wiseman:
Well, It´s due to the amount of miss information that one particular party has been putting out as of lately (for whatever reasons I cannot fathom). Also the odd’s of SEGA bringing out a Dreamcast successor is very unlikely. As SEGA has had a very conservative approach to business after the end of the Dreamcast life-cycle. And since the end of the DC era, SEGA has been a completely different company. So I am not surprised to hear that people are being salty hell over Project Dream. In fact, I am a bit skeptical as well. However, when you see the numbers and all the love which people have expressed for the Dreamcast and Project Dream. You feel less negative about the whole thing at least, and being SEGA fan one thing seems certain. And that´s the fact that there is a huge respect level for SEGA and what they have produced in the past as a company.

What would the games industry look like with both Nintendo´s NX and SEGA´s Dreamcast 2 console on the market?

Robin TGG:
What do you think about SEGA´s chances of making a comeback on the console market? And is the demand high enough for a Dreamcast 2 to happen?

Bertie Wiseman:
Well that will all depend on the fans and the noise they make and gauging interest, which is something me Ben Plato’s have experience in with passed gaming campaigns we have set up on social media. It wasn’t long ago I created an article “Shenmue & Dreamcast interwind fate” for me personally just taking trip down memory lane telling how it was back in 2002 with the Dreamcast and Shenmue how made me feel at the time what did in school with magazine I created, I think this hit a nostalgia nerve with the fans, because within about three days, it became the most viewed article on the site.

Ben Plato petition hit extra 10K signs added to his petition when I linked it up talked about his interview with another gaming outlet. Yeah all honestly, SEGA should let Yu Suzuki have the Shenmu licence to make Shenmue 3. Because If SEGA can do that, then Yu Suzuki they could probably do the same for the Dreamcast. Yeah I think it’s possible, but again it depends if growing interest as me Ben showed there really growing interest in SEGA to return to hardware.

If SEGA even releases the Dreamcast 2, then there will be a VERY limited quantity of the console.

Robin TGG:
What kind of console do you think the Dreamcast 2 has to be in order to become successful on today’s console market? (since Xbox One and the PS4 is already out there, and Nintendo´s NX console is on the way).

Ben Plato:
It doesn’t have to be a competitor console. It just needs strong ground and good support. I think more indie development would shift towards it.

I don´t know if it´s coincidence or not, but shortly after that I published our article about “Project Dream”. I saw that SEGA followed us on Twitter (their US and UK account).

Robin TGG:
Is there anything more which you could tell me (us) about “Project Dream” for now? You know, like your hopes, expectations and goals, for example?

Bertie Wiseman:
Well, yes if something does move forward and “if” Sega does agree to our proposal. Then I truly hope that the new console will be more than just Re-hash console. Something has been itching at me for while now long been on my mind to this day I consider it the greatest crime of gaming but no console is unique without a launch title well massive fan of this game. Honestly, I just think that SEGA wants to show support for their older fan base. And with the DC SEGA showed that they had the same guts which they had in the early 90s. So, yes. It would indeed be a dream come true to have games such as “Skies of Arcadia” on a new SEGA console.

Personally, I just see it as a no brainer, because “if” the Dreamcast petition proves to be successful. Then I will pursue this as my next campaign project. In fact, I know just the company which could make this game a reality. And that company in question no one less than Sumo Digital. Because If you have played “Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed” and “Rogues Landing”, then you would know just how epic “Skies of Arcadia 2” would look like if was developed today.

Ben Plato:
We would like Project Dream to take off big time and be built and backed by SEGA fans, regardless of whether it gets SEGA´s endorsement or not. It should not be treated as a joke, but should be treated as something that’s a work in progress for the best possible outcome for a dedicated DC gaming rig. It needs to stop being considered as a Dreamcast 2. It’s the return of an awesome short-lived console but far improved.

Robin TGG:
How did you get involved in “Project Dream”? And how did the team come together in the first place?

Bertie Wiseman:
Well, it all goes back to my Shenmue & Dreamcast intertwined Fate article actually. And Ben Plato is one of the co-founders of a group called GAMESFORYOU on Facebook. And honestly I had no idea Ben was running this petition since July. However, one day he posted it on the Facebook group page. And I was like “this is good”. I thought I would do Ben Plato a favor and help his petition out and include it in an article I was working on. Actually, the article was originally about Shenmue and how the game had influenced me as a teenager. And since the Dreamcast had such an influential role on me, It was nice to flesh that article out and include the DC´s history from my point of view, and how Ben was trying to bring it back again.

Ben Plato is the creator of the Dreamcast 2 petition page. His also a part of the “Project Dream” team.

Robin TGG:
Since I´m a huge SEGA fan myself (I grew up playing on the SEGA Master System). I just have to ask you if you have been a fan of SEGA and their games for a long time? And do you think the time is right for SEGA to make their big comeback now?

Bertie Wiseman:
Man I have been fan of Sega since I was 8 years old my First Console was Sega Master System first game I played was Alex the Kidd in Miracle World, also long time childhood friend Sam Werrit was fixated on the Master System and Megadrive when we were kids. I am 29 years of age now, but just recently I visited my friend’s house. And his passion for the Master System is extraordinary. I mean, his whole room top shelf is circled with Master System games and Megadrive Games. I will say again honestly yeah I think it’s good time I am not basing this what currently happening with Sony and Nintendo or MS. The Fans have spoken anyone going to make it happen it’s them.

Ben Plato:
It’s definitely time for SEGA to return, and even if it’s at a small end of the consumer base. Get something out there, maybe work with Nintendo. You know neo geo x gold? I mean, why not have a niche Dreamcast like that? Surely SEGA can’t port all their Dreamcast games, but it would be mighty good to be able to play them again on an improved machine.

My very first game console was an SEGA Master System, and the first game that I ever played was “Alien Syndrome” (I was about 4-5 years old at the time. I actually got the SMS as a Christmas present from my parents).

Robin TGG:
Do you think there´s any chance at all that Shenmue 3 “might” be released to SEGA´s brand-new console? “If” SEGA, (or the Project Dream team) ever releases a new console?

Bertie Wiseman:
That is a hard question to answer. I think Yu Suzuki would best answer this question, because at this time there are only plans for a release to PS4 and PC. And there is no way of knowing what kind of system SEGA would agree to make if they decided to get back into hardware again. Personally, I think it´s much more likely that SEGA would release Shenmue 1 & 2 HD for the new console. As it´s something which the fans have been asking for a very long time now, and not just on a Dreamcast successor but on all platforms.

Robin TGG
What do you say to those who think that Project Dream is nothing more than a big scam? Like this comment for example “@TheGamingGround It’s absolutely fake. @SEGA has denied involvement and interns legally can’t do anything with this. No proof of anything.”.

Bertie Wiseman:
It´s because a lot of miss information has been floating around on the Internet as of lately. However, we did manage to track down the person who had been stating a lot of false things about the Project Dream campaign (we actually banned him from the project entirely). I mean, this is merely a fan base project. So nothing is set in stone, concrete or moving forward just yet. We only just realized how popular this campaign has got for now just going to have check out Ben Plato Petition on http://change.org and check out how we are going about it.

Robin TGG:
Is it true that Project Dream aims to each 1 million supporters by next year? (via the petition page). If so, what do you think about your chances of reaching that goal?

Bertie Wiseman:
No it’s not true at all, and the person who has stated that has just made it up. Because we haven’t even got around to finish our proposal to SEGA yet!!!

Project Dream will NOT launch a Kickstarter campaign next year.

Robin TGG:
There is a rumor going around that there will be a Kickstarter campaign for Project Dream during the first quarter of next year. Is there any truth at all to that?

Bertie Wiseman:
Jesus Christ…Where have you been digging up all these rumors from? In fact, no need to answer that XD Absolutely not!!!

Robin TGG:
It´s time for my last question now. So, what´s your plans for Christmas? And what´s your wishes and hopes for 2016?

Bertie Wiseman:
I haven’t that thought that through yet been so busy with this Project Dream,lo. Probably be spending my time with my son, in year making plans to go travailing hopefully trip Monaco and Tokyo.

Ben Plato:
My plans for Christmas you say? Well, I will focus on the xmas lunch pretty much. So I´ll be working right through. Other than that, I´m heading overseas to Thailand by the end of January for two weeks. I also plan on getting this machine (Project Dream) rolling in 2016.

Robin “V-Act” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround