Cross Platform Online Multiplayer Added To Doom For Dreamcast

Not content with dragging large swathes of the Dreamcast's official library back online with Ooga Booga, POD 2, NFL 2K and Monaco Online (to name but a few), all-round programming genius Shuouma has turned his attention to an unofficial Dreamcast release and managed to bring it online for the first time. That game is DCDoom, an unofficial port of id's seminal first person shooter, and now Dreamcast owners can play cross platform with PC owners. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

Naturally, the pool of gamers still playing multiplayer Doom is quite small these days, and even smaller if you factor in the number of people who own a Dreamcast, a DreamPi and a copy of DCDoom...but still, the fact that this is an option is pretty interesting. Shuouma has confirmed that cross platform gaming works, stating:

"I looked at this and I have now added modem support for DCDoom. I have also tested to play
from my DC after dialup against my Linux machine running SDL Doom. Works fine. So the network-code is working. People just need to be careful when setting up the network variables."

- Shuouma

It's worth noting that you will need a specially modded version of DCDoom which Shuouma says will be released soon as a downloadable CDI file. We'll update this article when it's available and we've tested it out ourselves, but in the meantime you can find out more about this fascinating project by visiting the DC-Talk forum thread on the topic here. Thank's to Luiz Nai for the heads up on this.

Source: Dreamcast Talk

Developer Interview: Senile Team

Senile Team is one of the premier independent studios currently developing games for the Dreamcast. With an impressive portfolio comprising such well-known and critically acclaimed titles as Rush Rush Rally Racing and the ever-popular Beats of Rage, Senile Team has already claimed its seat at the top table. With this in mind, we though it was about time that we got together with one of Senile Team's main men Roel van Mastbergen to find out a little bit more about the history of the outfit, their influences and get some details on the brand new platform adventure heading to PC and Dreamcast very soon - Intrepid Izzy.

DCJY: Hello Roel, thanks very much for agreeing to talk to The Dreamcast Junkyard! We’re big fans of your output on the Dreamcast. Could you tell all those people who may not be familiar a little bit about yourself and the history of Senile Team?

Roel van Mastbergen: Hi Tom, thanks for inviting me to this interview. I’m Roel van Mastbergen, designer, artist and programmer for Senile Team. Senile Team is a small indie developer (currently made up of four people) originally founded in 2003, when we created Beats of Rage. This beat ‘em up based on Streets of Rage proved very popular, and we decided to keep making games, especially for the Dreamcast. Our next release was the Micro Machines-inspired Rush Rush Rally Racing, of which we recently did an updated re-release - Rush Rush Rally Reloaded which we also brought to the Nintendo Wii a few years ago.

It’s very interesting that you mention Beats of Rage - I’m pretty sure that most Dreamcast owners are familiar with it, but possibly don’t know that Senile Team is responsible for the original engine. Before we get to Beats of Rage though, one thing I have to ask - where does the studio's name ‘Senile Team’ actually come from? You don't strike me as being particularly old or decrepit. Much.

Well, back in the day we used to communicate via a mailing list. When creating the mailing list, I found that most names that actually made sense were already taken, so I sort of randomly picked the name 'Senile.' When we completed Beats of Rage, we decided to stick to it. We felt it made sense in a way, because we'd just made an old school game. 'Old' and 'senile' go hand in hand, after all!

Isotope Softworks Reveals SLaVE Running On Dreamcast Hardware

It seems like forever ago that we last had some news to share about Isotope Softworks' awesome-looking first person shooter/puzzler SLaVE. Numerous bug fixes, an appeal for a Dreamcast coder's cable and various other delays have beset the development process of this ambitious, neon-soaked extravaganza. Now though, lead developer Coraline Ash has shared a brand new video on YouTube, demonstrating SLaVE running on actual Dreamcast hardware.

"We told you it was coming, and now here it is! First off, we apologize for the lousy capture method used (PC Webcam), but we hope this accurately depicts what you've all been waiting for!

SLaVE is a masterpiece of both design and technology, and it works perfectly on the Dreamcast. If only I had a mouse and keyboard, I would have totally PWNED it, since I'm so lame I never really figured out how to play properly with a controller. Oh well, I didn't do too bad! ;)

Only a few more issues to be worked out as witnessed in this footage capture (skybox generation, minor speed issues with dynamic lights), but I sincerely hope this proves beyond a matter of a doubt -- SLaVE is so close now - those pre-orders will be worth it my friends!!"

- Coraline Ash, Isotope Softworks

And here's the video in all its glory:

The YouTube description also goes on to describe that SLaVE will make use of the mouse and keyboard and even the Twin Stick controller, along with Dreamcast rumble pack support. There's still no concrete release date for SLaVE, but this video proves that development has come along leaps and bounds. What with Xenocider from Retro Sumus and a bunch of other things we've been asked not to announce just yet, 2017 is set to be a very interesting year for Dreamcast gamers. If you'd like to pre-order SLaVE, head over to GOAT Store here.

New Xenocider Gameplay Running On Dreamcast Hardware

Work on Retro Sumus' debut Dreamcast release Xenocider continues apace behind the scenes, and the Spanish developer has given The Dreamcast Junkyard an exclusive first look at a brand new stage...which we're honoured to share with you lucky lot! This new environment is called Sakura's Realm, and as communications lead Carlos Oliveros explains, is heavily influenced by Sega classic Shinobi:

"Colourful, beautiful, and deadly. Sakura's Realm is the next planet in Xara's way and features lots of enemies and lots of transparencies. And we're not even trying to hide what an obvious influence the Shinobi series had on us growing up..."

- Carlos Oliveros

As you can see from the video below, Sakura's Realm - and Xenocider in general - is coming on leaps and bounds and features aesthetics which borrow heavily from Japanese culture. The most notable thing about this news is that the video is recorded directly from actual Dreamcast hardware, not an emulator, and shows some impressive fogging and scrolling effects:

This new glimpse at the progress being made by Retro Sumus comes quick on the heels of a redesigned box art reveal, with illustrations by renowned DC Comics artist Agustín Padilla.

Xenocider is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited indie games for the Dreamcast and we can't wait to give this promising Space Harrier style shooter a damn good play test. Be sure to check out the Retro Sumus website, where Xenocider can be pre-ordered as either a standard, collector's or steel box edition. You can also follow Retro Sumus on both Facebook and Twitter for updates.

A Very Early Look At Dungeon Ross

Dungeon Ross is a self-titled dungeon crawler for the Dreamcast that was put together in a weekend for Global Game Jam back in January 2017. Created by the two-man team made up of Ross Kilgariff and Alastair Low, Dungeon Ross is a charming little proof-of-concept that is still in the very early stages of development, but holds plenty of potential. The game was actually revealed back in late 2016 after the Global Game Jam event held at MakerSpace in Dundee, Scotland but we wanted to allow the guys a bit more time to add more content to the dank, subterranean world of Dungeon Ross before really delving in and showing it off.

For the uninitiated, Global Game Jam is a worldwide event during which game developers and programmers have a set amount of time (usually a weekend) to come up with a totally original game or piece of software. The idea is to allow developers to get as creative as they can over the 48hr period, nurturing teamwork and collaboration with a view to producing original games and concepts.

While Dungeon Ross is still very early and the game consists of little more than a fairly small section of dungeon, the engine is up and running and the visuals are pretty crisp. There's also a pretty interesting two player mode in which gamers can assume the role of either Ross or Alastair, and the way the camera zooms out to reveal more of the map is a nice touch. There's no collision detection and the AI is also fairly rudimentary but from what we've seen the beginnings of a really cool game could be in the offing with Dungeon Ross. We spoke to the eponymous Ross to get the full lowdown on his brand new Dreamcast adventure...

Senile Team Reveals Intrepid Izzy For Dreamcast & PC

Senile Team recently teased us with news of a brand new Dreamcast game in development...and now they've unveiled full details! Intrepid Izzy is a 2D side-scrolling platformer in the style of Nintendo classic Metroid. Details are a little thin on the ground at present, but Senile Team promises that Intrepid Izzy will mix role playing, platforming and beat 'em up elements.

"Intrepid Izzy is a 2D action adventure platformer or "metroidvania", currently in development by Senile Team. Mixing platforming with beat-'em-up and RPG elements, the titular character must jump, fight and puzzle her way through various imaginative, colourful worlds.

A lot of time and attention was spent on developing the visual style of the game. The crisp and cartoony HD graphics come to life thanks to bright, warm colours and smooth animations. The game is being developed on PC (Windows), and a Dreamcast version is also in the works (though obviously not in HD). Additional platforms are also being looked into."

- Roel van Mastbergen, Senile Team

New Dreamcast Game Matterrun Available Now!

Another day, another free Dreamcast indie game lands. This time, it's Matterrun from Fuseki Games. Set in deep space, the game tasks players with collecting 'matter cannisters' and disposing of them before the enemy can use the same canisters to build a mothership that will hunt you down and destroy you with extreme prejudice. It sounds a little bit like Sinistar to me...only without the nightmare-inducing immortal face thing that chases you through the cosmos. Fuseki is no stranger to the Dreamcast, having previously released Primitive Nightmare and a bunch of DOS conversions, all of which are available for free from his site.

"Matterrun, the 2017 release by Fuseki, is a battle between the player and enemy Seekers, both of whom are racing to find Matter Canisters. The player must find them and dispose of them by returning them to the Disposal Ship, and the Seekers are collecting them to build their Mothership. 

The player has a few power-ups and the Concussion Wave weapon to help them with this task. The Seekers will attempt to steal any Canisters that the player has picked up. If the Mothership is constructed, it'll hunt the player down ruthlessly and attempt to destroy it. How long can YOU survive?"

- Fuseki Games

Matterrun was made with the BennuGD programming language and is available as a downloadable CDI image here. It can be burnt with Alcohol 120% to play in a Dreamcast console or played via an emulator. Thanks to Alfonso Martinez of SegaSaturno for the heads up.

Arkanoid Clone Dreamcastnoid Available Now!

It's 2017 and what better way to usher in the new year than with a brand new Dreamcast home-brew game? Dreamcastnoid: 128 Bit Wars is an entry to the DCJAM game jam we reported on last year, and comes from indie developer Alfonso Martinez. Alfonso is also working a visual novel style game known as Project Bennu at the moment, but he's obviously a pretty talented chap and took some time out over the recent festive period to knock together Dreamcastnoid.

As the name suggests, Dreamcastnoid is a stylised take on the old classic block-breaker Arkanoid but this version sees you take control of a rampant VMU whose sole purpose is to destroy PlayStation 2 consoles, controllers, boxes and...erm...wads of cash. It's a pretty fun little game and exactly the type of entry the DCJAM was intended for. There's a video below showing Dreamcastnoid in action, and you can download the game yourself here.

It comes as an mdf file which can be easily burnt to CD-R and played on a Dreamcast with Alcohol 120%, or alternatively you can chuck it at an emulator and play Dreamcastnoid that way. I spoke to Alfonso and he also told me there are some pretty cool cheats tucked away in Dreamcastnoid...but I'm not giving them away just yet! You can find more information about Dreamcastnoid over at Segasaturno. Enjoy!

Dreamcast Exclusive Shooter In The Line Of Fire Hits Kickstarter

A few months ago we shared some brand new images of Militia Studios' awesome Dreamcast exclusive tactical first person shooter In the Line of Fire. We were given access to an early build of the first mission, in which a lone police officer must try to prevent bank robbers from escaping with and contents of the vault, pursuing them through the offices and eventually onto the roof of the bank. It wasn't perfect and it needed work, but as an early demonstration of what Militia Studios were trying to achieve, it was nothing short of breathtaking. With graphics comparable to those seen in officially released games like Headhunter, we knew In the Line of Fire was going to be special. Now we all get the opportunity to make this a reality.

In the Line of Fire has finally hit Kickstarter with a full campaign that details all of the features the team at Militia want to include. A lengthy single player mode, squad-based tactical gameplay elements where you control a team of up to four AI teammates, split screen and online multiplayer modes. Additional third person camera modes allow you to 'tag' enemies and then pop out from behind cover to take shots at them, and the final game promises other features such as hacking CCTV controls and being able to issue on the fly commands to your team...the list goes on.

At this point, I know what you're thinking. Not another Dreamcast Kickstarter?! Wait. This is different. It's different because In the Line of Fire is literally built from the ground up as a Dreamcast game. It is not a stretch goal. It started life a Dreamcast game, and will only ever be a Dreamcast game. And for that reason we cannot champion this project enough.

3 New Dreamcast Games You May Have Missed

There are loads of new Dreamcast games in development at the moment, and most of them we've been keeping an eye on. Xenocider, Elysian Shadows, SLaVE, Alice Dreams Tournament, Ameba and In The Line Of Fire (more exclusive info coming on that very soon, folks!) all look fantastic and if nothing else show off the breadth and depth of indie development on the Dreamcast. That said, there are a few more smaller projects on the go that may have slipped under your radar, and we thought it was high time they got some attention.

Hermes
Coming from prolific indie developer and publisher Retroguru, Hermes is a 'run and jump' game in a similar vein to Sqrxz. Sqrxz, apart from having an unpronounceable name (unless you're a Klingon) is a side scrolling platformer where you control a little rabbit-looking creature and must jump over gaps and avoid enemies...and die. Lots. It's like the Dark Souls of platformers and revels in its difficulty and frustration levels, and it looks like Hermes may follow this template.

From the PD Roms article on Hermes:

"Retroguru of Giana’s Return and Sqrxz fame are heavily working on their new game Hermes. In this Jump’n’Run you must chase a chicken to get your stomach filled with delicious meat. The game is sort of anti-vegetarian and features a doubtful sense of humor. As all Retroguru games, it’s expected to see this game on several other platforms than just Sega’s Dreamcast."

- Retroguru

There's no release date for Hermes just yet, but you can bet your bottom dollar it'll have you pulling your hair out in the very near future. Going off past Retroguru releases like Fruit'Y, it'll probably be cheap as chips, too.

Top 10 Indie Dreamcast Games 2016 - As Voted By You!

The votes are in, and whilst we work feverishly away at putting the final touches to the Top 200 Dreamcast Games 2016 results, we thought it was about time to bring you the other half of our 2016 voting extravaganza. We asked you, the all-knowing Dreamcast Junkyard readership, to let us know your favourite indie releases. We left the selection criteria open, as we didn't want to just limit it to commercial releases, and now that we've counted all the votes, we can present to you the first ever Dreamcast Junkyard Top 10 Indie Games - as voted by you!

Let's start with some stats though: 46 different games ended up being voted for - a couple were discarded as they weren't actually indie games. I mean, really...who voted for Headhunter? You know who you are, you sneaky little scamp. Of these, 22 were commercial releases, and the remaining were a mixed bag of homebrew, mods and even a couple of unreleased titles getting some early praise.

For most of the voting period, it was a real fight between 3 titles to see who would come out on top, and this remained so until the last few days, where one game pulled away from the rest. Enough already though - on with the list!

10: DUX / DUX 1.5
2009 Hucast / 2013 Hucast

Hucast's horizontal shmup has seen several releases, including the reworked Redux which isn't included here, and it remains popular enough with the DC gaming community to see it sneak into the top 10. The game's distinctive look, a stylised, minimalist, futuristic design aesthetic is mixed with a decent Euro dance soundtrack, but can suffer from high difficulty. 1.5 refined rather than changed things; it switches the respawning of your craft to where you died rather than at the last checkpoint as originally designed, ironing out some bugs and putting the bullet soaking mechanic even more central to the gameplay. 1.5 is the better game here, and sticking through the games frustrating elements will be rewarded, as later stages are even better looking.

Hucast can be found here (their website re-directed to their facebook page at the time of writing), and our developer interview is here.

9: GHOST BLADE
2015 Hucast

Ghost Blade just pips fellow Hucast title Dux to the number 9 spot. It's a game which divided opinion on release, and there is no denying that there are some faults and flaws within the game. It's still an enjoyable vertical shmup, with decent aesthetics and interesting bullet patterns, and the graphics look good - but it is a bit easy, to say the least, which will turn off the hardcore shmup enthusiasts quite a bit, and that's not a particularly useful thing to do when they are the primary audience. As a non-fanatic myself, who has nevertheless put hours into all the DC shmup library, I have to say it's an enjoyable enough title which doesn't do anything particularly exciting but does enough for a few play throughs.


We did 2 in-depth reviews of the game here at the DCJY, the novice review here and the standard one here.

Hucast can be found here (their website re-directed to their Facebook page at the time of writing).

8 (JOINT):  LAST HOPE / LAST HOPE PINK BULLETS
2007 NG:DEV.TEAM / 2009 NG:DEV.TEAM

The first of 3 NG:DEV.TEAM titles in this top 10, and one of the first commercially released Indie titles, Last Hope and it's update Pink bullets is still highly regarded amongst DC fans. The initial release, ported from the Neo Geo, revels in both being old school in it's look and play, and having a difficulty level sitting somewhere between insane and evilly horrific super insanely hard. It boasts colourful, varied graphics (ranging from Geiger inspired space ports and aquatic landscapes to eruptive volcanic backdrops), excellent soundtrack and interesting level design with loads of smart little background additions, and really does play homage to Horizontal shmups of the past whilst having it's own identity. But it was just so damn tough that it was hard for pretty much anyone without the reflexes of a particularly nimble cat to make any progress. Fast forward 2 years, and NG:DEV.TEAM deserve credit for listening to initial criticism and returning with an improved version of the game. It makes the game a little easier, with your ship adorned with more powerful weaponry to begin with, meaning quick, unseen death is a little easier to avoid, and it turns enemy projectiles a little easier to see (the 'Pink Bullets' of the title) as they come hurtling towards your ship. It's still tough as old boots, but it at least feels a bit fairer now.

NG:DEV.TEAM can be found here.

8 (JOINT): BEATS OF RAGE
2004 Senile Team (original release)

Senile team developed this Streets of Rage game engine in 2003, before it was ported to the DC in 2004, and ever since there has been a steady stream of fan made games using the engine, covering practically every video game, movie and TV franchise you can think of. Some of these are great (Battletoads, Crisis Evil, Aliens vs Predator), and could stand as excellent stand alone scrolling beat em ups on their own. It's ease of use makes it a favourite amongst wannabee game makers, and the engine is robust enough to allow memories of playing Streets of Rage 2 to come flooding back to those with nostalgic memories. Several BoR mods received votes themselves in this poll, but it's the original itself, and the whole library of mods, that are ranked here.

Senile Team can be found here.

7: FAST STRIKER
2010 NG:DEV.TEAM

NG:DEV.TEAM's follow up to Last Hope was another Neo Geo port, this time an enhanced version of Fast Striker, a vertical homage to 16 bit shmups. It's a faster, more maniacal approach to the genre than Last Hope was. The difficulty levels present different forms of game, with higher levels requiring supreme reflexes and mastery of the games ship shield mechanic, whilst all levels require getting to grips with chaining. It looks good, sounds good and, as with much of the DC's indie library, has some absolutely incredible artwork on the games box art. The game feels fair throughout - death is avoidable if you're skilled enough, and not overwhelmed by the kaleidoscope of colour and sound the game produces.

NG:DEV.TEAM can be found here.

6: VOLGARR THE VIKING
2015 Crazy Viking Studios / Marc Hall

Crazy Viking studios kickstarted this homage to early 80's action-platformers successfully back in 2013. It was well received, noted for it's incredibly tough difficulty level but balanced gameplay and great design. Fast forward to 2015 and 2D viking platforming action came to the DC, with the full permission of the original developers, and the talent of Marc Hall who was responsible for the DC port. For a game which received no commercial release (well, read on for a bit more about that), it's popularity is a fantastic sign that the DC scene is alive and well, and for a while in the voting it seemed like it could spring a surprise and be even higher. The DC port is still tough as nails, but it's a great addition in a genre that needs some loving in the Dreamcast indie library. There were 100 pressed copies of the game made available, by auction, on a German forum 'Circuit Board', which made the rest of us very jealous.

The Volgarr site can be found here

5: WIND AND WATER PUZZLE BATTLES
2008 Yuan Works

Narrowly missing out on the 4th place by just a couple of votes, Wind and Water Puzzle Battles recently received a re-release which no doubt helped put it back in the public eye. Actually, that's a bit mean, as the game is every bit deserving of it's position. Yuan Works puzzler made it to number 127th in the 2013 DCJY poll, and it's simple yet deep gameplay continues to gain new fans. Whilst on the surface it may appear to be just another block matching puzzle title, it offers loads of extra content;  mini games, well written story, puzzle and versus modes, and a constantly evolving gameplay that will keep you engrossed. It's full of subtle and not so subtle references to the DC, looks lovely and feels far more than just 'another' Indie title.

We recently did a developer interview with Yuan Works, which can be found here. Yuan Works blog/site can be found here.

4: RUSH RUSH RALLY RACING
2009 Senile Team

Senile team showed their versatility with the release of overhead racer Rush Rush Rally Racing. Control is key in this type of game, and the cars in RRRR drive perfectly, around well designed and varied tracks with plenty of little touches in the background to rise a smile or too. It's colourful, well presented and never takes itself too seriously, with great multiplayer options thrown in as well. Tracks need to be learnt to make progression, and the difficulty can be a tad too hard at times, but with that great soundtrack playing in the background you're not going to mind having to redo a couple of tracks. Another great, polished Indie release.

We reviewed RRRR here. Senile Team can be found here

3: GUNLORD
2012 NG:DEV.TEAM

Taking third place after an almighty tussle in the voting, Gunlord is a game which DC gamers have taken to their hearts. NG:DEV.TEAM are one of the most prolific of DC supporters,and Gunlord really is their crowning glory. This adventurous, variety packed, Neo Geo ported run and gunner wears it's Turrican influences proudly for all to see. It has expansive stages full of hidden bonuses and superbly realised enemy characters. Bosses are huge, challenging and impressive, and the platforming action is engrossing from the get go. It's tough, boy is it tough, but the enjoyment level is so high you won't mind repeated plays. The soundtrack is excellent (so many Indie games on the DC have fantastic soundtracks, we really should collectively push for a 'best of' CD from all of them), and the artwork throughout, including the packaging, is just superb.

NG:DEV.TEAM can be found here

2: STURMWIND
2013 Duranik

Highest placed Indie game in the 2013 DCJY top 200 games, it seems Sturmwind has been knocked off it's thrown as best Indie title - but it was close. Top spot beckoned for a long time for Duranik's horizontal shmup masterpiece, before slipping behind the eventual winner late on. Despite this, I cannot rate Sturmwind highly enough. It is beautiful, both in craft design and backdrops, quite possibly the most visually impressive DC title, indie or licensed inclusive. It may be 2D, but the worlds are brought to life with impeccable quality. The soundtrack is excellent, and the stages are long, impressive and always interesting. There's tons of little touches in the backgrounds, and bosses are never less than amazing. The game isn't really a 'hardcore shmup' title, but more an everyman's Shmup, as even those who don't like the genre will be impressed. The 3 weapon system ties in with the life system, so getting hit loses the currently equipped weapon, which can be restored by picking up the power up of the relevant colour - this would usually upgrade the weapon. There's plenty of depth in this system and is a far fairer one than usually used. Even though the game can claim influence from older similar titles, it's visual splendour elevates it past just being a homage to older games. I put this game on when I want to impress non DC gamers, and to a man they think it's a top level XBLA game rather than an indie release running on a nearly 20 year old machine. It even boasts support for the DC SD card reader, for goodness sake. A classic, a beautiful classic. Top spot had better be damn good...

We did a developer interview with Duranik which can be found here. Duranik can be found here.

1: PIER SOLAR AND THE GREAT ARCHITECTS
2015 Watermelon

Watermelon kept us waiting with the release of Pier Solar, but the wait was worth it. A late surge made sure of it's victory in this poll, which shows how quickly we've taken the game to our hearts. After years of shmup gluttony, a decent RPG was well overdue, and Pier Solar's HD upgrade of it's indie Megadrive release is our resulting role playing dessert. A digital love letter to old school RPG's, it can revel in some beautiful design with fantastic artwork throughout. The story is strong; criticised by some for being a weak point, I found it actually to be a rather well written plot with good dialogue, and strong character design. There's a healthy element of puzzles to work out, and the adventure itself takes you on a journey through varied locales. The battle system works well too, although it must be noted that it's not universally acclaimed. It's also another DC indie title with an outstanding soundtrack, which just adds to the games appeal.
Watermelon must also be credited for the work that went into the packaging of these games, whether it be the feature rich special collectors editions or just the choice between packaging which fits into each of the 3 regional designs. Pier Solar won't be everyone's choice of best DC indie release, let's make that perfectly clear, but RPG fans desperate for a new adventure are well serviced here.

The Pier Solar website can be found here.

(A quick mention of those titles that just missed out. NG:DEV.TEAM's shmup-tacular NEO XYX, Orion's charming platformer Alice's Mom's Rescue and Retroguru's cheap and cheery puzzler Fruit'Y were all whiskers away from making the list. Next time maybe?)

So there we have it. 10 (well, technically, 11, and that's not including updated versions) indie titles that the DCJY reading public have ranked as the best for the system. Thanks to everyone who voted, and let us know in the comments or through the usual social media channels, what you think. As always, if you don't agree with the end results, feel free to use the hashtag #DCJYmademecry and let the world know about it!

Pier Solar Collector's Edition Gallery

Pier Solar has finally shipped and the general consensus is that it's a fine game, and that Watermelon has done a really good job with the packaging and variations on PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J Dreamcast boxes. The ultimate variant of Pier Solar appears to be the Collector's Edition, and fellow Dreamcast collector and blogger Blue Swirl has supplied me with some images of the packaging, extras and guide book that come as part of this lovely set. The gallery is below, but here's what Blue Swirl had to say about the Collector's Edition:

I recently received the Collector's Edition of Pier Solar for Dreamcast and thought you might like some photos.

I went with the PAL variation, it came wrapped in custom gold wrapping paper (an early Christmas present!) and it's really nicely done with gold ink on the game cover, inlay and manual. They also authentically recreated the PAL Dreamcast cases too - hopefully the plastic hinges are a little stronger though!

There are some pictures of the guide too, which comes bound in a faux leather cover embossed with the logo. I have to say they do go to some extremes for an indie developer, it's very professionally done.

We have to agree that it does look very nice, especially the guide book. Pier Solar is out now and available to buy from Watermelon's website and you can visit Blue Swirl's Dreamcast blog here. Also, be sure to check out Caleb's Pier Solar first look video here.