20 Years of The Dreamcast Junkyard

I was just going to ask ChatGPT to write me a post about this and add some fuel to the ever-churning AI slop engine that now both powers the internet and pushes RAM prices to cataclysmic levels; but as I was about to click 'generate,' I was visited by a ghastly apparition. The spectre that appeared before my very eyes was a scruffy, hungover urchin uttering barely coherent gibberish about GD-Rom drive emulation, hi-tech VMUs with colour screens, countless new independently developed games, wireless Dreamcast controllers and revitalised online servers. Disgusted by its unkempt appearance, I tried to waft the unspeakable phantom's form away with a swipe of my hand. It was then that I realised that I was actually seeing my own image reflected in my monitor.

Shocked and appalled by what I had witnessed, I promptly closed ChatGPT (other shite slop generators are available) and came to my senses. The 'this' I mention in the opening sentence of this post — and alluded to by the title — is the realisation that yes, we have indeed been here for twenty years. Two decades of Dreamcast-related nonsense here at The Dreamcast Junkyard. And lo, I thought that was worth waffling on about for a bit. Well, waffling in text form. You get the idea.

Before I continue though, just for shits and gigs, I did actually ask a popular AI thing what it knew about this very blog. I know this is super cringe, and the modern day equivalent of Googling yourself or putting yourself on Hot or Not to see if your face does indeed look like a three week old jack-o'-lantern that's been left in the sun...but let's just have a bit of fun here. So, what does...er...Gemini think The Dreamcast Junkyard is? 

Here's what it projectile vomited:

That's a great question! The Dreamcast Junkyard is a well-known, independent, and passionate online collective dedicated to the Sega Dreamcast console.

Here is a breakdown of what they do:

• Online Hub for Fans: It's considered a leading source for news, reviews, retrospectives, and everything else related to Sega's final console, which was discontinued in 2001 but still enjoys a dedicated fan base.
• Content Focus: They produce a variety of content, including:
• Reviews and Articles: Deep dives into both classic Dreamcast games and new, commercially released indie/homebrew titles.
• The DreamPod Podcast: A podcast that focuses on Dreamcast culture, collecting, the community, and general retro gaming topics.
• Hardware Coverage: They often look into Dreamcast peripherals, different console variations, and preservation efforts.
• Passion Project: The site started as a personal blog in 2005 by a fan named Tom Charnock and has grown into a collaborative, not-for-profit effort run by a team of dedicated enthusiasts.

In short, it's a thriving online community that keeps the spirit and excitement for the Sega Dreamcast alive and well!

As if to demonstrate how utterly unhinged these AI models are, and to further illustrate why we absolutely do not need this bullshit, the gushing nature of this response actually makes me feel a bit embarrassed. Also, I'm aware that copying and pasting that garbage back into this blog is only going to add to the ever-decreasing circle of content scraping depravity that these LLMs engage in...but at this point the internet is so far removed from the one that existsed back in 2005 when I started this blog, that its a bit of a moot point.

You can probably tell from this opening gambit that I'm no fan of AI, and I apologise for even using it to try and be funny (I'm not). Interesting that the whole 'It's Thinking' US Dreamcast campaign leaned so hard into the whole 'Dreamcast is so advanced it knows what you're going to do' thing. But I've digressed again...so let's get back on track. It's been twenty years since my first post here at the 'Yard — a blog I started because I was insufferably bored. I'd recently got back into the Dreamcast, and I'd been engrossed by resources such as Dreamcast Scene et al and thought I might take a stab at just making a personal blog about buying all the Dreamcast games I could find now (then) that had become super cheap.

2005 was a very different time in the world of Dreamcast. The console was essentially in the bin; the Xbox and PS2 and GameCube were the stars of the show and Dreamcast games, consoles and peripherals were on sale —at least here in the UK— for literal pence. Nobody wanted or gave a shit about the Dreamcast, outside of those spaces on the internet such as the aforementioned DCS and similar hotspots of the fandom. When I first started this blog, I never intended it to be any more than a personal diary where I recounted buying up all the old games I'd previously owned, while casting an eye over the ones I'd never had the opportunity to experience the first time around. I didn't set out for anyone to read it, I had no expectations at all. It was simply a thing for me to exercise my limited creativity, try to replicate the actual games journalists I'd grown up reading in magazines, and just have a bit of fun. I never for one moment thought I'd be here, twenty years hence, writing this drivel on a blog that has — as surprised as I am to realise it — become something of a cornerstone of the very community I looked up to in the first place. For that, I am truly grateful.

But it was not, and never has been a solo endeavour (well, apart from those first few months where I simply amused myself by writing slightly unhinged posts about stuff only tangentially related to the Dreamcast). Many talented individuals have graced the pages of this blog and not only served the memory of the Dreamcast, but have gone on to be highly successful in other fields. There have been events held in person, I've somehow been invited to write for esteemed magazines and books and launched a podcast (and been a guest on other podcasts) even though I can barely string a coherent sentence together.

What I guess I'm trying to say here, is that this whole thing isn't about me. It's about you — the ones here reading this right now. You, the people with the skills and knowledge and knowhow and enduring curiosity and love for the Dreamcast. The hardware, the software, the endless possibilities when it comes to engineering new limitless solutions which keep this platform alive. The ones who buy the indie games, post online, make YouTube videos, chat about recently discovering the Dreamcast and asking which games you should buy. To you I take my hat off — you keep the dream alive. I have done nothing really, but report on what you do while simultaneously being a spectator and a commentator on what awesome people can achieve with awesome ideas and awesome hardware. I'm just a fan, as it were. 

I've not been alone in keeping The Dreamcast Junkyard going for the last couple of decades; there have been many people who have exhibited their talents on the pages of this blog, on the podcast, on the YouTube channel and on our social media accounts. I'm not going to list them all, but they know who they are. So yeah, here we are, in 2025 still keeping the fires burning and below are some nice comments from people who have either consumed the content produced by the team here over the years, produced the content themselves, or are friends we met along the way. And I might add, if you want to skip the following messages, you might want to scroll down to the bottom to see what we have planned to celebrate this milestone outside of this simple blog post.

Some nice words from real people who are definitely not AI

James Harvey (DCJY): "As someone who read the Junkyard from the very beginning, it was a surreal honor to finally meet Tom and become a part of this wonderful team. Twenty years covering the greatest console ever, and we still have new things to talk about every month!"

Laurence Goodchild (DCJY): "The fact that the Junkyard has been kicking out articles for two decades on a strictly independent and non-profit basis is a huge achievement. No grifting, no clickbait, no shilling, and a messy website that actually maintains some character in a sea of monotony. I bloody love it. Hopefully the DIY ethos and community spirit can be sustained by future generations of volunteers."

Lewis Cox (DCJY): "The Junkyard is a pillar of the Dreamcast community, and I think I speak for many fans when I say it's a pivotal stop on anyone's Dreamcast fanboy journey. I was absolutely stoked when Tom asked me to join the site in 2018. Fast-forward a few years and I’m deep into writing deep dives and recording the podcast — and loving every minute of it. I’m honoured to be one of the many people helping to keep this wonderful website alive, and grateful to Tom for allowing me to take on more of an administrative role as he roams the rain-soaked country roads of the United Kingdom on his motorbike. I can’t believe it’s been 20 years, let's make it 20 more!"

Mike Phelan (DCJY Alumni): "Longevity is a rare commodity nowadays. Fads rise and fall, what is ‘hot’ and indeed what is ‘not’ changes on a near daily basis in a world where information bounces around at light speed and ‘trending’ and ‘viral’ have become bywords for our collective inability for things to keep our interest. Against that, a little blog started 20 years ago has stood the test of time. Outlasting Sega’s own time in the home console market, one site has kept the fires burning for a machine that has proven to be a true gaming underdog. What started as one man’s Dreamcast journey has morphed into a hub of information, a community of like-minded nostalgic gamers passionate both about the past and shining a light on a niche, underground scene still brimming with life. In doing so, it differentiated itself from ‘other’ gaming sites — a very British sense of humour, never afraid to tell it how it is and a self-deprecating ability to never take itself too seriously.

"There’s been ups and downs; a podcast listened to by thousands, panels at gaming conventions, exclusive, exciting ‘breaking news’, interviews with DC legends; many have passed through the hallowed halls of the Junkyard, some continue the fight for recognition of the swirl, others now content with the occasional re-emergence and more still faded into the midsts of time. Friends have been made, enemies too I’m sure (the Wild West days of the DCJY Facebook Group certainly were interesting!) but the Junkyard perseveres.

"My own favourite memories of the Junkyard start before I even came on board. It was a site that I discovered not long after getting back into the machine (2007-ish? My memory, unlike the DCJY, has faded with the years); Tom and the early apostles of the DCJY scripture were beacons of a shared love for the little machine of dreams. I watched as it morphed into something bigger than Tom surely ever imagined. I remember recording a podcast dockside in Bristol, interrupted intermittently by the sounds of a train; representing the ‘Yard in the Vegas of the North, myself and Tom sharing a panel with Dreamcast luminaries in a moment that still feels slightly surreal. The chaos of podcast recording, the joy of reading articles ranging from ultra informative to downright anarchic, and of course the infamous Dreamcast Junkyard Ultimate Collectors Guide. I will forever be grateful to Tom for helping to get the first version of the guide out into a physical form; it started with a random email to a site I held as the epitome of the Dreamcast scene and ended with a cease and desist from SEGA.

"Today the Junkyard remains as strong as ever. The captain may have changed — now steered through treacherous waters by Lewis with a fresh crew of Dreamcast zealots (Lewis and the Dreamcastanauts? Would make a great name for a pop-punk band), it continues to present insightful commentary and news in its own way. Here's to 20 years more —and beyond— of The Dreamcast Junkyard!”

Aaron 'Animated AF!' Foster (DCJY Alumni): "Surely it's not been 20 years, right? Now I think about it, it does feel like quite a while ago since I was walking down to my nearest GameStation to nab a few more two for a fiver Dreamcast games! My memory is pretty fuzzy about how exactly I stumbled upon the Dreamcast Junkyard back then, but when I did I was enamoured to find Tom doing the same GameStation trek and documenting it, so much so that I wanted to join in! This was in a point of my life where I was really starting to find my voice online and the wonders of tech like YouTube meant I could start even showing people silly stuff like playing Virtua Tennis with a fishing controller and talking about how blowy-shitty-uppy Bangai-O was! The Dreamcast console still holds a special place in my heart and most of that is due of the wonderful community that grew from this at-the-time humble little blog! Cheers! *clink*"

James Brown (Shenmue Dojo): "The Dreamcast Junkyard has been my go to retro gaming website and podcast for as long as I can remember now, consistently keeping me connected to the wonderful world that was SEGA’s swan song console. It’s been my main source of news and allows me to keep in touch with all of the inner workings of the Dreamcast community, who are all as passionate (and just as mad) as myself. The Dreamcast has literally shaped my life, and continues to do so, with Shenmue my biggest inspiration. The Junkyard has stood by our side through thick and thin and ‘I await whilst praying’ for many more moons to come!"

Patrick Traynor (Sega Saturn, SHIRO!): "I first encountered the Junkyard back in the Spring of 2015. I just started getting back into Dreamcast collecting after a couple year break, and followed a few retro podcasts prior. Looking for Dreamcast content, I found the DreamPod and fell in love. The podcast had everything I was looking for: an early 2000s aesthetic, an amazing knowledgeable staff, great guests, and recommendations for Dreamcast titles I've missed or overlooked. 

"The podcast was so amazing, it eventually inspired me to start my own about the SEGA Saturn with a few friends, which became SEGA Saturn, SHIRO! Years later, I've gotten to collaborate with the Junkyard, and proud to call many of you involved with the Junkyard friends. Just saying thanks would not even be close to what I owe the Junkyard. Congratulations on 20 years everyone, definitely looking forward to the next 20!"

Derek Pascarella (Hacker/Fan Translator): "Wow... 20 years of The Dreamcast Junkyard! It's hard to put into words just how significant the Junkyard is, and has been, for the Dreamcast scene. For me personally, the DreamPod remains one of my biggest comfort listens. Whenever I hear that "This is a Dreamcast disc, and is for use only in a Dreamcast unit" soundbite play, a warm blanket of SEGA goodness envelopes me from head to toe. I must also say that I adore how strongly The Junkyard supports so many personas in the Dreamcast scene: indie developers, content creators, and even romhackers (like me). 

"The finger is truly on the pulse, and you can always count on The Junkyard being at the forefront of posting about new games, new devices/mods, as well as new patches and hacks. Hell, you can even find amazing retrospective posts on Dreamcast games we've all been playing for over two decades, full of details and insights that somehow manage to make those old games feel like green fields with so much to discover and enjoy. We love you, Junkyard. Thank you for two incredible decades! My life is, without a doubt, better because of Tom's little pick-ups blog that grew into the world's best one-stop-shop for Dreamcast fans.”

KC (The Sega Lounge): “It’s crazy when everyone’s celebrating these big milestone anniversaries and you’re forced to face the fact that you, yourself, are getting older. However, as much as it’s weird that The Dreamcast Junkyard is already 20, it’s also strange that it isn’t older. To me, it feels like it has always been a part of my online life, if that makes sense. The Dreamcast is still, to this day, a big part of my life, and whether I want to be informed or entertained, I know DCJY is the place to be for all my (blue) swirl needs. I can always count on the Junkyard team to stay on top of the happenings around the Dreamcast scene, share their love for a new and promising indie darling coming to SEGA’s box of dreams, or even just find a barber!

“The DreamPod is also a permanent part of my podcast listening rotation and a very enjoyable show that never fails to leave me smiling after each episode. I’ve been fortunate enough to be on the show and privileged to have some of the guys on my own podcast. A delight. 

“When the topic of relevant websites comes up in conversations with friends, DCJY is always mentioned. Frankly, it’s not just a relevant SEGA or video game resource, but also a prime example of how to keep a community alive and well. So here’s to the Junkyard’s 20th anniversary! May you keep us all dreaming for many more years.”

Freakdave (Developer): "I’d come across DCJY before, but things really took off when Luke Benstead (Kazade) and I (Freakdave) released our Tunnels demo into the wild. We ended up with a mention on the DCJY site and a nod in one of their countless Dreampod episodes. Now here we are in 2025, and I’m raising a mug of coffee in my Dreamcast Junkyard cup to wish you a very Happy 20th Anniversary!"

Ross Kilgariff (Developer): "I was contacted by Tom from The Dreamcast Junkyard 8 years ago (!) for an interview on my work-in-progress game project, at the time called "Dungeon Ross". I had no previous experience promoting my games and getting a message from "the press" was a really big deal to me. I told my family members and proudly shared the link to the article and video. The interest that DCJY showed back then gave me confidence and made me want to stick around on the platform. So thanks DCJY for 20 years of service, and here's to 20 more :)"

Dreamcast Enjoyer (YouTube): "Raising a Hassy to celebrate 20 years of the Dreamcast Junkyard — a wonderful community and still my internet homepage to this day. Thanks for keeping the dream alive, lads!"

Adam Koralik (YouTube): "20 years of talking about the Dreamcast, at least you still make me look like the young one. Next year, come to the US for a bit and you'll be old enough for me to get you a beer, that I guess by my own logic I'm not old enough for. Keep dreaming!"

Video Game Esoterica (YouTube): "DCJY is turning 20? One more year and it can legally drink High Life! But seriously...how has it been 20 years? I still remember finding the site forever ago looking up some Dreamcast info and it's been a part of my "Sega Life" since then! I love that a console that had approximately a three year lifespan can make 20 years of engaging content and still not feel old! Here's to another 20 years so we can buy DCJY a '40th birthday' balloon like I got this year!"

PC Wizard (YouTube): "A 20-year accumulation of Dreamcast-related words and phrases that come together in a wonderful tapestry of articles to celebrate the world's best video game console. It brings tears to my eyes! Or maybe that's just the onion I'm cutting as I write this... Either way, happy 20th to the greatest junkyard on the web!"

Adrian O’Neil (DCJY Superfan): “Congratulations on the 20th anniversary of the Junkyard! Genuinely the Junkyard/DreamPod is my favourite Blog site and podcast. All contributors to the Junkyard are amazing. A special thanks has to be reserved for Tom.. Here’s to another 20 years!"

Uncle Clutch (also a DCJY Superfan): "I got caught in the Dreamcast spiral back in ’99, and the Junkyard has kept it spinning in my head ever since. Nostalgia pulled me in at first, but new games, projects, and the friendly community have kept me in its orbit. Congratulations on 20 years!"

What a lovely collection of messages, I'm sure you'll agree. Brings a tear to th'eye, I tell thi.

But wait, there's more!

It would be rather remiss of us to simply post a blog about reaching such a milestone. Back when we reached our 10th anniversary in 2015 we ran a competition in collaboration with SEGA Europe where they gave us a load of Dreamcast Collection limited edition vinyl records to give away. Hands up if you remember that? But I digress (again). This year we have something equally as cool, and we'll be announcing the details in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out!

Look up to see Aaron (Animated AF!)'s amazing tribute to the Junkyard's earliest header design!

For now though, I just wanted to once again thank everyone who comes here to read our articles, listens to our podcast and who just generally has a passion for keeping the Dream alive. To the people who continue to churn out the podcasts and the articles and the social media content. Without all of you out there keeping the Dreamcast relevant, there'd be no point in any of this. So thank you.

With that, I'm off to watch some AI-generated videos of Will Smith eating a Pot Noodle through a fence. Ciao for now!

A Tribute to Retro Gamer Magazine's Nick Thorpe

Second from the left: DCJY founder Tom Charnock, furthest to the right: Nick Thorpe

Everyone here at The Dreamcast Junkyard is extremely sad to learn of the passing of Retro Gamer Magazine’s Features Editor, Nick Thorpe. Nick’s tragic passing occurred on the 1st December 2025 at the age of 38, and was sadly announced to the retro gaming world in the days that followed. We offer our condolences to Nick’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.

Some words from The Dreamcast Junkyard founder Tom Charnock:

"I first met Nick at a gaming event of some description back in the mists of time. I knew who he was because I'd read so many of his articles in Retro Gamer over the years, and knew he was a fan of the Dreamcast — anyone with the social media handle "HKT3030'" must know his stuff, right? I had many conversations with Nick over the years, and he often commented on my articles on esoteric Dreamcast-related topics here at the Junkyard. I certainly appreciated that we shared a love of the highly obscure (and dry humour).

"The last time I saw him in person was at an open day at The Retro Collective's studio/museum in Gloucestershire where we played some arcade cabinets and discussed Amstrad CPC games at great length (for some reason!) Nick was always affable, incredibly well read, hugely respected, and a genuine joy to speak with. I think everyone who had even a brushing encounter with Nick would have only positive things to say about him; and his catalogue of features for Retro Gamer... well, the sheer quality of the research that went into his oeuvre will be hard to beat. My condolences go out to Nick's family, his colleagues and his friends. Thanks for your time in this crazy world, Nick — you will be missed."

Kev Mason recounts his memories of hosting Nick on the DreamPod:

"The impact that Nick made on us here at the Junkyard is difficult to describe in words at such a sad time, especially for someone like me, whose written word is the weakest of their communication skills. But the evening we got to spend chatting with Nick back in December 2023 for DreamPod episode 126 —where we discussed Nick's career along with the Dreamcast special edition of Retro Gamer (issue 254)— is something that myself and Lewis fondly remember, having been lucky enough to be the co-hosts for that episode.

"Nick's enthusiasm and knowledge utterly shone through during that conversation, alongside his warmth and charm, as he discussed his career and favourite games on the Dreamcast, and how he got extra pages added to that special issue of Retro Gamer on the final day of the deadline; all so it could have more Sega Dreamcast content.

Top-tier taste.

"During the chat, he told us about how he convinced his mum to buy him a Dreamcast under the guise that it could function as a family computer and could be used for homework by him and his sister due to its online capabilities. He then went on to explain how he coded his first-ever HTML website (a Sonic fan site, no less) using the on-screen keyboard and a Dreamcast controller, as he didn't yet own the Dreamcast keyboard. He would later go on to create and write for his own Dreamcast blog, Dreamcast-Lives, where he covered the later era of Dreamcast releases, before going on to write for Edge, GamesTM, and other magazines and sites during his career.

"Whilst the recording itself was shared with fans, myself and Lewis had the pleasure of a near hour-long chat after the show, where Nick shared a frankly fantastic story about Sega Rally 3 and its secret UK location test that had myself and Lewis cracking up. We also had a lengthy discussion on wrestling and the Dreamcast's various wrestling games, which was another topic he had an incredible amount of passion and enthusiasm for. This inspired some early planning discussions about needing to get him back in the future to record a full-fledged wrestling DreamPod episode."

We thank Nick for all the time and passion he shared with us, and we hope his family and friends can find comfort in knowing the impact he made on us and so many others in the wider retro gaming community.

- Signed on behalf of all the team here at The Dreamcast Junkyard.

Dream Disc 25 is Here! - Key Details and an Interview with the Organisers

Guess who’s back? Back again? Dream Disc’s back. Tell a friend. Guess who’s back, guess who’s back, guess who’s back, guess who’s back un-nuh-nuh….

Emboldened by the stonking success of their inaugural Dream Disc game jam in 2024, today (1 December 2025) Psyops Studios and Orc Face Games launch this year’s iteration of the competition ‘Dream Disc '25: Monster indie hits to grind until your eyes bleed’. Ok… I made that subtitle up. But if the outputs from the jam are anything like last time, then its sentiment will hold true.

For those new to this project, here is a basic run-down. The small but mighty development outfit Psyops Studios and the publishing maestros of Orc Face Games team up to organise a game jam (like a musical jam, but with coding) in which creatives of all hues are invited to collaborate and compete to produce games, applications, or even hardware for our beloved Dreamcast. The idea being that, with a supportive atmosphere and a clearly defined deadline to keep to, those involved will be motivated to produce new material that may otherwise have failed to materialise. Not convinced? Well, there are also the much more tangible incentives of cash prizes and a potential spot on a physical professionally produced demo disc. 

Pop in Dream Disc 24 and zone out to the trippy menu screen. You won't be disappointed.

Last year’s jam brought forth 24 software submissions, many of which were staggeringly well polished given the circumstances. The top ten made it onto a demo disc which is still available at the extremely generous price of shipping alone, but some of my personal favourites (Dream Ride and Big "Mfkin" Drill) didn’t make it past the crooked esteemed judging panel, and so I would still highly recommend checking out the full range of entries which we covered on the blog and the pod. 

Dream Disc '24 winner: Sky Pirates of Etalmar

Get the gist? Alright, on to the important points about this year’s game jam: 

• It begins today (1 December) and runs all the way through until the end of February 2026, after which the public can review entries, and the judges begin the arduous task of whittling down the winners.  
• Everyone is welcome, from beginners to old hands. Think you fancy producing something for the Dreamcast? Then check out the jam’s itch.io page, read the rules over on the Orc Face website and drop into the Orc Face discord server to meet up with others. 
• The jam has a super wide remit. Aside from software and hardware for the DC, applications that run on other platforms which are directly related to Dreamcast development or gaming are welcome. However, all submissions must be based on original content or content you have the rights to use, which rules out most mods and fangames.
• Lacking in time or creative thoughts (I feel you), but want to support the jam? Consider throwing a few quid into the prize pool – every penny counts!

Here at the Junkyard we are delighted to be sponsoring the Dream Disc jam once again. In practice that means one or two of us from the editorial collective will offer up our meticulous and fair-minded judging services, and that we will endeavour to give the game jam entries the coverage they deserve. OK, maybe they deserve better, but we will try our best…

Alright enough rambling from me. Here are a few words from the keystones of the whole shebang, Cypress from Psyops Studios and Ross from Orc Face Games.

DCJY: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. We know you’re busy, so we’ll keep this sweet and to the point. Its great to see the Dream Disc game jam return for a second round. Presumably the inaugural competition must have been good fun if you are back for more?!

Cypress: For me, it was the most fun I’ve had with a jam, so it’s a no brainer to attempt to host it every year for my own interest. That being said, when we were originally coming up with the idea for Dream Disc, we envisioned it as a yearly jam, but understood that the deciding factor would be whether or not the year one event actually went successfully. Back then there was a point where we were worried we wouldn’t even get 10 submissions to fill up the disc!

Ross: Indeed! There were way more submissions than we anticipated last time and this year it’s looking to be nearly double that again! Orc Face Games’ contribution will be the same as last time: to compile and manufacture the physical CD-ROM with the top 10 submissions and provide it free of charge (at the cost of shipping) to anyone who wants one. Our belief is that the indie Dreamcast scene will become more interesting and vibrant with organised jams like this, and hopefully it will encourage more developers to consider making full releases for the platform. That’s where we’d be happy to provide publishing services.

The jam is being organised by Psyops Studios and Orc Face Games. Practically speaking does that mean Cypress and Ross, or is there a broader network of people involved?

Cypress: At least on the Psyops side, it’s just me (Cypress) handling it. The rest of the Psyops team is going full steam ahead on our next game, with Haikuno handling his libGumball UI library for our game, Nupi working on game and engine code for our Dream Disc submission, and Chao-Etta working on her VMU games.

Ross: Although the jam belongs to the community, it does fall to Cypress and myself to handle the organisation side of things. Generally the work is split between us with me handling the rules, the submission format, the promotional assets and the physical disc production side, and with Cypress handling the promotion and outreach side - getting more people involved in the jam, looking for judges, setting up the itch.io page and nudging me to get things done in between my very busy schedule.

The timeframe for the jam seems to have been extended quite significantly this time around, running over a 3 month period. What was the reasoning behind that choice?

Ross: Last year there were at least three people who said they would be unable to participate because they were travelling or seeing family over the holidays. Running the jam over the winter break is a great idea for many people as they have enough time to dig in and get some work done, but it was a shame to exclude those with other commitments. We hope extending the time will give more people a chance to contribute.

Are there any other changes to the format or approach? Anything you’re hoping to achieve that differs from the inaugural jam?

Ross: It was a struggle to get all the games working correctly on the compilation disc last time - so much so that it ended up taking me maybe two weeks of full-time work days including the time to build and optimise the menu and get the disc in the right format for pressing. I even had to modify the code for some submissions to fix bugs and get them to play nice on the final disc. This time around we’ve learned our lesson and are giving very strict submission format requirements. While this does mean a little more work for participants, the end result will be quicker to put together with fewer bugs. If this goes well, it will be our standard format for future years too.

The roster of entries last year was pretty special. Do you think enough time has passed for devs to cook up new projects?

Cypress: At least for Psyops team, the amount of steep competition has only driven us to work even harder on this year’s entry. I hope other developers feel the same heat, and bring some fire this time around. 

Ross: Even though the jam hasn’t formally started yet at the time of writing, we already have nearly double the submissions compared to last year. It looks like developers are really inspired to build something awesome for the Dreamcast and that’s everything we wanted for this project.

What’s the reception been like so far to the physical disc for Dream Disc ‘24?

Ross: Incredible! The quantity of orders of the physical CD-ROM has eclipsed our previous releases and this has pushed me to streamline our approach to picking, packing, labelling and shipping. It also boosted sales of our existing published Dreamcast titles, The Storied Sword and Chew Chew Mimic, plus an increase in preorders for our first in-house title HarleQuest! There are still a few copies of Dream Disc ‘24 left but we’re quickly running out. We don’t intend to manufacture another run, so if you haven’t got yours yet, I’d suggest ordering soon!

Cypress: It’s been big enough that it’s the first time I’ve heard people randomly talking about Psyops studios in the wild, as well as bringing up Orc Face Games too. Not only that, but seeing people online talk about it and introduce it to others - it feels surreal.

Producing a physical disc is quite the endeavour - are the time and resources available to manage that while keeping other projects on track?

Ross: For Dream Disc ‘24, the answer is no. Our other projects at Orc Face Games definitely took a hit as we had to divert time, money and energy into overcoming unforeseen problems. I felt a sense of guilt as HarleQuest! is already running quite behind our planned schedule from 2023, but at the same time I saw Dream Disc as a good investment for the company’s future and for the health of the scene.

It’s a tough balance trying to build a company with a strong presence in the indie Dreamcast world while also staying focused on the quality of our own releases. At the end of the day there isn’t a lot of money to pay people and so everything has to be done on a shoestring budget, with as much work as possible landing on a very small number of people (2 or 3 at a time maximum). The good news is that with all the lessons learned and processes in place, Dream Disc ‘25 will be much easier to put together and won’t have the same impact on our other work.

We’ve heard whispers that Murph’s big screen debut is in the works with Spielberg directing it… can you confirm or deny these rumours?

Cypress: Really? I’m going to have to grill my team and find out who the leaker is.

* * *

Thanks go out to Cypress and Ross for gracing us with a fresh edition of the Dream Disc game jam. As and when any other jam-related news drops we'll have it covered here on the blog. Of course, we're always interested to hear the views of our readers too. You've made it this far, so why not leave us a comment below?

Bang Bang Busters 2 Kickstarter Goes Live — a Sega Dreamcast Indie Sequel!

Have you finished the last puzzle on Chew Chew Mimic and are now finding yourself hungry for your next Dreamcast fix? Well, PixelHeart might have you covered with their latest Kickstarter campaign for Bang Bang Busters 2.

As the "2" in the title might infer, this is the sequel to the 2010 Visco-developed Neo Geo title Bang Bang Busters (also stylised as Bang² Busters), a single-screen arcade title akin to the likes of Bubble Bobble and Snow Bros where you clear stages by grabbing the enemies and hurling them at other enemies to build up combos and boost your score.

Bang Bang Busters 2 sees cutesy space bunnies Lazy and Refia return to once again defeat Emperor Honey and stop his evil plan to transform the kings of the universe into giant mascots and imprison them all in a planetary amusement park called Happy Universe. 

Okay, so the plot may have been ripped straight out of a 90s quarter-munching cabinet, but if you enjoy classic action platforming, Bang Bang Busters 2 could be well worth a look.

Although the lead platforms for the project are the Neo Geo MVS and AES cartridges, PixelHeart have confirmed that the Dreamcast version is a dedicated native port for the platform, and will sport improvements over the base game including a larger colour palette and refined visuals. The audio is also going to be improved with stereo sound and a CD-quality soundtrack. This is a definite improvement over the Dreamcast release of the original Bang Bang Busters, which was effectively just an emulated ROM on a disc.

As with other PixelHeart titles, regional packaging design options are available for Dreamcast, including our favourite love-to-hate option of a PAL jewel case (priced at €50) as well as US and Japanese themed versions (priced at €35) to best fit your current collection.

You can check out the Kickstarter here, where as of writing, the project is £15,042 towards its goal of £30,845. The Kickstarter runs until the 30th of November so it's looking promising that the goal will be achieved. There are also downloadable demos available for free for both Dreamcast and Neo Geo, if you want to test out an early build to see if it's up your street. 

Have you played the original Bang Bang Busters? Are you looking forward to a sequel? Let us know in the comments or on social media.

Dream Disc '24 Compilation Goes up for Preorder! Dream Disc '25 also Announced!

The Dream Disc '24 Game Jam —which ran from December 20th to January 3rd— was a huge success, showcasing a wide range of fantastic new software from the Sega Dreamcast's passionate coding community. It was also an absolute blast to cover here at the Junkyard, and we did so at any opportunity we could — our podcast episode discussing the winners with organisers Ross Kilgariff and Cypress was a particular highlight. 

As fabled in the jam’s original press release, the top ten entries —as selected by a panel of judges— were promised a spot on a physical demo disc. Perhaps this is the titular "Dream Disc"? (We’ll have to wait for Ross and Cypress to officially confirm that particular piece of Dream Disc game jam lore.) Well, Ross's publishing outfit Orc Face Games has finally announced that preorders are open for the physical Dream Disc release. The best part about this whole arrangement? The only thing you need to pay is the shipping fee. In my case, it only cost three measly Great British pounds, which is an absolute steal. If you're not based in the UK, though, Orc Face Games also ships internationally. 

The games featured on this compilation will be Rizzo Island Remix by Dreameater Games, dRxLaX by dRxL_dk, Murph's Big Puddle Fishin' by PsyOp Studios, Order of Titan by bertholet and Ajaxpigeon, Trick Truck and Sky Pirates of Etalmar by WufSoft, Starship Madness by yomboprime, Black Hole Descent by Frogbull, The Eternal Sleep by Locked Door Puzzle, and Defuseball by Freakdave.

For those who have consigned their Dreamcast to a digital-only fate, there is also a digital .cdi version of this release which you can download right now, totally for free. Of course, all of the Dream Disc '24 entries were available digitally for free anyway, but this still gives you the chance to experience the glorious landing screen that Ross has put together, which is a loving homage to the magazine demos of old.

Orc Face also announced on their Twitter account that the disc should arrive with them this month, so if you pick up any other games alongside your Dream Disc preorder, they can be shipped out all at once. Perhaps a perfect opportunity to double up with a copy of the upcoming Chew Chew Mimic, which is now imminently due for release following a video update Ross provided towards the end of last month.

The final version of Chew Chew Mimic we will be recieving.

So, with the final echoes of Dream Disc ‘24 fading, the question on everyone’s mind is… will there be a Dream Disc ‘25 this December? The answer is yes! The organisers are still working out the details, but it’s definitely happening. In the meantime, feel free to stare longingly at this sleek new logo that Ross designed for the event.

Will you be preordering one of these Dream Disc '24 compilations? Are you looking forward to Dream Disc '25? Let us know on our socials or leave a comment below.

Dream Color Plus — New Controller Mod Turns the Sega Dreamcast's VMU Screen Full Colour

Dream Color Plus being tested with Resident Evil: Code Veronica. Credit: Costenaro

There's been a lot of buzz within the Dreamcast fan community as of late over Dream Color Plus, a new controller mod from Brazil-based developer Nai Adventure, which converts your controller to show VMU graphics in full colour, as opposed to its typical monochrome display. The idea with the mod is that by taking apart an existing Dreamcast controller, and removing the existing PCB, you can pop the Dream Color Plus in, and voilà, you now have a wireless Dreamcast controller that has a built-in, backlit VMU screen that displays in full colour. The mod will also include on-board save game storage. You can watch the mod in action below. It's looking very impressive indeed...

Many of our followers have been tagging us under social media posts about the Dream Color Plus in the past week — don't worry, we've been paying attention, and since a crowdfunding campaign has been confirmed, we thought it was time we spoke with the dev to get the lowdown on this exciting project.

DCJY: Nai Adventure, thanks for chatting with us. The Dream Color Plus project looks awesome — it’s wild to see VMU graphics of games we’ve been playing for decades suddenly brought to life in full colour. Can you explain how it all works? And with such a huge library of Dreamcast games, how do you plan on colouring every VMU graphic?

Nai Adventure: The controller has three modes:

• Monochrome, like the original Dreamcast. 
• Palette mode, [which is] similar to what the Super Game Boy does with Game Boy games. To switch palettes, you hold the analog stick (which works as a new button) and press A to change line colors, B to change background colors, and the start button to invert them (like a photo negative). Here’s a quick demo: 

• Full color mode: for new games, devs can send pixel-by-pixel colors directly to the controller (I’m preparing some sample code for that). For older games, the process is more manual. We capture the frames that the games send to the VMU, color them, and whenever the VMU calls for that frame, the controller swaps it.

It sounds crazy, but we already have a good list of games converted. Of course, coloring the whole Dreamcast library is almost impossible, but the main games will get full color support. Since the PCB has an SD card slot, new games can be added little by little over time.

Left: Dream Color Plus showing off a coloured-version of the Sonic Adventure 2 VMU graphic.
Right: The Dream Color Plus PCB.

Sounds great! So is swapping the stock Dreamcast controller board out for the Dream Color Plus easy?

Yes! The whole idea is for it to be plug and play. You just open the controller and replace the PCB. That’s actually why we didn’t make a version with a second analog stick (something people ask for a lot). If we can get a partner to make new shells in the future, then a dual-stick version would totally be possible.

That potential dual-stick mod is something the community would go crazy for, I'm certain. So, with the Dream Color Plus, as it is effectively a VMU built into the controller, how much storage for saving can we expect to see?

Right now we’ve got eight VMU pages by default, but that number can be changed with a config file on the SD card. The controller also comes with built-in rumble. You lose the external VMU slots, but the main features are all there.

New Dreamcast Game "Verdict Guilty Clash" up for Pre-Order — Exclusive Details Revealed!

While the Sega Dreamcast homebrew scene has been busier than ever as of late, the same sadly cannot be said for the console's commercial indie scene. Releases have slowed down considerably in the last few years, and the closure of WAVE Game Studios has left many questioning the future of the scene altogether. Fortunately, there are still reasons for optimism: upcoming titles from Orc Face Games —HarleQuest!, Chew Chew Mimic, and the Dream Disc '24 demo disc— promise fresh indie experiences, while publishers like VGNYsoft continue to keep the platform alive with new releases. Still, it’s become increasingly slim pickings for those eager to add brand new physical Dreamcast games to their collections.

Still soldiering on after all these years is PixelHeart (also known as JoshProd). Once known for releasing multiple Dreamcast titles each year, their output on the console has also slowed, but if their recent release GladMort is anything to go by, the quality is stronger than ever. 

On Friday we learned that the next release in the PixelHeart gameography —Retro Army's Verdict Guilty Clash— is now available for pre-order. This 90s arcade-style one-on-one fighter with a law enforcement vs. criminals theme, and a gritty, neon aesthetic, first saw a release in 2016 on Steam, with releases on the PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch eventually appearing in 2023. Now the game is coming to the Dreamcast with the "Clash" subtitle, and will feature exclusive content, unique to this port. During my research, I found that this game had actually been touted for release on Dreamcast all the way back in 2019, with a Saturn version also mentioned. Well, good things come to those who wait, I guess, although I doubt we'll be seeing that Saturn version any time soon.

The Dreamcast port of Verdict Guilty will include new stages and four exclusive fighters, each with their own unique story mode. Among the newcomers are Sho Kamui and Tia Langray from Breakers (another of JoshProd’s previous Dreamcast releases), as well as Saizo Tobikageno from Breakers Revenge. Rounding out the roster is perhaps the most intriguing addition: Ken Anderson, a genuine real-life professional wrestler who goes by the ring name Mr. Kennedy.

We can also reveal that this port is running natively on Dreamcast, and is not emulated in any way. This seems to be something PixelHeart have been prioritising going forward, as some of their previous releases to Dreamcast —such as their Neo Geo releases— were powered by emulation.

Verdict Guilty Clash's physical release will be available in three region-themed variants familiar to Dreamcast collectors, with the PAL-style edition coming in a PAL case with a certificate of authenticity. As with all of PixelHeart's Dreamcast releases, it will be professionally pressed on MIL-CD.

To pre-order yourself a copy of Verdict Guilty Clash, head over to PixelHeart's store, where you can pre-order your preferred edition for a cost of €39.90 (about £34.52), plus shipping. The game has an expected release date of October 24th 2025.

Mute Crimson DC Releases for Sega Dreamcast – Play It Now for Free!

 

Well, this was a nice surprise! To mark the 26th anniversary of the Sega Dreamcast’s North American launch (the iconic 9.9.99), two-person indie studio Iced Lizard Games has released a Dreamcast port of their stylish ninja platformer Mute Crimson DX, fittingly renamed Mute Crimson DC. And the best part: it's totally free to play!

Mute Crimson can already be found on all the usual modern platforms (Steam, Xbox, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch) — so to see the Dreamcast being added to a lineup like that is wild. The Dreamcast's weak copy-protection may have been one of many factors that hindered its commercial success, but it's also the reason the console gets to live on more than two decades later, continuing to receive a steady stream of new indie titles and homebrew constantly.

So, what's Mute Crimson DC like? Well, it's a lot of fun! It's a one-hit death kind of platformer (like Super Meat Boy, Celeste, that kind of thing). You know, the kind with instant respawns and no fear of running out of lives, but a focus on timing precise jumps to reach the next platform. Miss a beat and you’ll be spectacularly splatted, but a second later you're back into the action. I’m also happy to report that the controls are tight and responsive as you slash, double jump and wall-climb through the game's various levels. If the challenge does prove to be slightly too much for you though, there's always an easy mode with more checkpoints. Oh, and there's also a save system.

The retro-inspired monochrome graphics, with their accents of crimson, look lovely on the Dreamcast, and the game runs fast, flawlessly, and with surprisingly little compromise. To achieve this level of performance, the developers did have to scale back a few things: particle effects were reduced, audio bitrate was lowered, rumble support was removed, and the modern versions’ rewind system was cut. These are all relatively minor concessions, however, and they do nothing to diminish the gameplay experience — especially if, like me, this Dreamcast version is your first time playing Mute Crimson.

Oh, and the cutscenes are charming and well illustrated, too.

If you want to play Mute Crimson DC, simply head over to the game's itch.io page and download the available .cdi file for play on your ODE (such as GDEMU or MODE), or for burning onto a CD-R.

Hopefully we will see more from Iced Lizard Games on the Dreamcast in the future, but if you do enjoy what you play of Mute Crimson DC, they have other games available on other platforms, including one planned for release in 2026.

Star Fox 64 Port for Sega Dreamcast is Now Available!

Update (Friday 5th December 2025): The Star Fox 64 port for Sega Dreamcast is now available to play! Visit the project’s GitHub page to find a download as well as instructions on how to compile your own version for play on your Dreamcast.

In January, we asked the question: is 2025 the year of the Dreamcast port? 

Yes. Yes it is. And undoubtedly the biggest force behind this trend is developer Jnmartin84, who has already brought extra-polished ports of both Doom 64 and Wipeout to the Sega Dreamcast. Now, as the Dreamcast community eagerly awaits the alpha release of his Mario Kart 64 port (which is apparently in its final bug-testing phase), Jnmartin has only gone and got another Nintendo 64 classic running on the system: Star Fox 64. Absolute mad lad.

I'm sure I don't need to explain what Nintendo's fifth-generation classic Star Fox 64 is — unless you're a European who entered a coma at the end of 1997, in which case, Lylat Wars is Star Fox 64. That trademark issue is no longer a thing. Oh yeah, and Sega's next console was called the Dreamcast... but it was a commercial failure, and it had issues with software piracy. But in a way that commercial failure is just one of many factors that still empower the passionate fan community to keep its legacy alive, and that piracy problem was actually what made homebrew development a lot more accessible than on other consoles of its era... Anyway, check out the footage below of Jnmartin84's impressive 48-hour Dreamcast StarFox 64 port.

UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!!! While I've been working on fixing the last couple of bugs in the Mario Kart 64 DC port, getting us ready for the alpha release, jnmartin has gotten STAR FOX 64 up and running on the Sega Dreamcast in just two freaking days!?!?

Sure, there are plenty of… pic.twitter.com/J3zgEK1sk7

— Falco Girgis (@falco_girgis) August 6, 2025

So yeah, it's looking like Jnmartin84 has firmly set his sights on StarFox 64. This means that once his Mario Kart 64 port finally releases publicly in the coming weeks (or likely days, at the speed he works), work will then begin on porting Star Fox 64. And just like his previous porting projects, we can expect another top-notch job.

What do you think of all these ports to the Dreamcast? Let us know in the comments below or on our socials!

Sovietborgs on IndieGoGo, El Dorado Gate Translation, Outtrigger Back Online - Summer DC News Round-Up

 Credit to Dreamcast Enjoyer for the Virtua Fighter 3TB background.

The scorching summer heatwave has finally dissipated, providing me with the opportunity to sit here and type up a Dreamcast news round-up without melting into my creaky computer chair. Fortunately though, while I've been lounging around outside, Mr Freeze in hand and with the neighbours clingy cat at my feet (Trevor, generally chill, occasionally bitey), others in the scene have been busy cooking up all sorts of goodness. And, really, given the variety on display, there should be something here to suit everyone's tastes...

One of the few consumer goods to have avoided the savage inflation of recent years. I'm still waiting for a response to my enquiry about a DCJY edition though - call me back Mr Freeze!

News from the Indie Front

The stream of commercial indie releases on Sega's swansong console has definitely slowed over the last year or two. During the frenetic period that roughly coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, dozens of titles were being published each year, and the pipeline of forthcoming games was packed. In hindsight, maybe that was never sustainable in the long-run, and it is feasible that the market became a little oversaturated. Who knows, maybe I'll scribble a deeper dive into the phenomenon soon, but regardless, the indie market is certainly far from finished and there is still plenty to look forward to.

Undoubtedly deserving of top billing here is the launch of the Sovietborgs crowdfunder by Dreamcast scene heavyweights Retro Sumus. After blessing us with the sublime Xenocider in 2021, this European development outfit took a well deserved break, but thankfully, last year we began to hear them stirring again. This time around they are pitching a top-down run 'n' gun game set in a parody world where the Soviet Union won the Cold War (and Gorbachev didn't end up starring in Pizza Hut adverts). Ample detail is available on the IndieGoGo page, so I won't regurgitate it all here. The campaign has around three weeks left to run, and the crew are 57% of the way towards their £41k funding goal. Here at the Junkyard we're hoping Retro Sumus are successful - if anyone is deserving of backing, then it is scene-stalwarts like them!

In other recent news, Gladmort, the 2D action-platformer that pays homage to titles like Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Metal Slug and Magician Lord, has been landing on the doormats of nerds all around the globe. Lewis was enamoured with the game's visual panache when he covered its KickStarter launch last year, and now we'll get to see if it lives up to his (and others) expectations. Those who missed the pre-orders but are now interested can pick up a copy from Pixelheart should they wish. I didn't take the plunge on this one, but a couple of our other writers-at-large did - hopefully one will turn out a review (yeah, Mike, that means you, buddy).

The PAL edition of Gladmort. Photo courtesy of MikeRox.

Elsewhere, occasional updates continue to arrive about the handful of other indie titles that are in the oven. A few days ago, the good folks at JKMCorp let us know that Shadow Gangs Zero is making steady progress and that the Dreamcast version is expected to be ready in early 2026. Orc Face Games, who published The Storied Sword earlier this year, are juggling several projects. In late April they announced that Chew Chew Mimic was available to pre-order (for a mere £15 a piece), but their latest news is that the Dream Disc '24 build is tested and "good to go", which hopefully means that discs will be printed soon. Ross of Orc Face has admitted that development of their key title HarleQuest! has slowed as a result of these other initiatives, but nevertheless, transparent KickStarter updates continue to arrive on a steady basis, and the latest post (May 2025) notes that the aim is to get the game to a content-complete state by the end of Q3 2025. Personally, as long as the game gets there in the end, I wouldn't begrudge a few delays - Orc Face are doing a lot of good for the scene and are worthy of some patience...

A work-in-progress version of the Dream Disc '24 demo disc cover.

Patience? Patience?! But Lozz, I here you cry, where is the news on Izzy's Arcade and Terminator 2D No Fate? Well, since Senile Team playfully hinted that Izzy could make a return to the Dreamcast, Roel and his posse have been tight lipped. We really must see that semi-sequel on our beloved console, though. Ditto for Terminator 2D NO FATE, which Bitmap Bureau have declared will be coming to retro consoles (without specifying which).

Whopping Big Translations

Anyone with even a passing interest in the Dreamcast will know that the Japanese market received swathes of titles that never saw the light of day over here in Europe or across the pond in the States. However, thanks to some plucky and selfless people who dedicate hours to producing translations, this disparity has been gradually chipped away at over the years.

Most recently, bigbanana23 (look, that it a perfectly good username alright?) announced that they have begun translating Capcom's multi-volume RPG El Dorado Gate. Spanning seven(!) entries on the Dreamcast, which, if you are lucky enough, you can pull together in a neat slipcase, this title has undoubtedly been high on the wishlists of many for a long time now. Clearly it is still early doors on this project, but the initial signs are looking positive. 

A complete set of El Dorado Gate, including the snazzy green slipcase.

It also fills my heart with joy to see that Exxistance is inching ever closer to being able to release their translation of the iconclastic Segagaga. This month they released a new video which demonstrates how far the project is progressing. Word has it that the aim is to drop this muther as a 25th anniversary patch, which would suggest that 29 March 2026 should be booked off work (and maybe a few days after that actually). Of course, we don't want to apply any undue pressure - when it's ready, it's ready. For now, if you've got Segagaga on the mind, be sure to check out our interview with its creator Tez Okano.

Oh, and how could I make a blog post without mentioning the Italian Stallion himself, Derek Pascarella?! Those with an interest in the technical side of translations should check out his recent social media posts exploring some problem-solving in action on the Love Hina: Suprise Engagement translation (W.I.P).