Here on the Junkyard we respect the obscure and the weird. For of us which have had a Dreamcast-shaped monkey perched firmly on their backs for over 20 years, it’s in all probability solely pure to start delving into the unexplored corners of the console, whether or not that be obscure rumours of cancelled video games, potato-based advertising splashes, or bizarre little knick-knaks that catch your eye on eBay. This publish is about an oddity that falls squarely into that final class. Some might suspect we’re scraping the barrel for the previous few dregs of copy right here, however oh no, this publish is being authored within the honourable service of  documentation and preservation (and distracting myself from the approaching financial collapse due right here within the UK).

The official Dreamcast brand is there, however one thing tells me Sega had little to do with this product…

The ‘All About Dreamcast VCD’ is a Chinese-language Video CD accompanied by a brief six web page pamphlet that was bought in Taiwan and Hong Kong in 1998 for the princely sum of $90 New Taiwan Dollars or $25 Hong Kong Dollars (round £3.50 GBP accounting for inflation). The bundle seems to have been produced and distributed upfront of the launch of the Dreamcast and was supposed to showcase the console and its forthcoming video games. It’s undoubtedly not an official product, and though there’s an handle and cellphone quantity proven for the producers, I can not determine an organization title. The 30-minute VCD comprises footage of the Japanese launch day titles, video games that had been scheduled to reach in December 1998 (together with the canned Geist Force) and past, in addition to some clips of Naomi titles that the creators presumably thought would make it over to the house console some day. If you ever used to look at pirated DVDs that had clearly been filmed from the again of a cinema, the final part will provide you with a pleasant nostalgic hit.

Aside from the handful of information that may be gleaned from the bundle itself, nothing else seems to be identified of the ‘All About Dreamcast VCD’. Internet searches produce zilch. Perhaps that’s merely right down to this artifact being a bit of insignificant, though that hasn’t stopped related VHS-format Dreamcast movies being ripped and seen 1000’s of instances. While this VCD does not actually exhibit something new, we reckon a few of you could get a kick out of it. So, seize some popcorn, transport your thoughts again to autumn 1998, and get hyped for the console that’s going to solidify Sega’s domination of the gaming {hardware} marketplace for a long time to come back!