DeeDee Planet pattern field art work, sourced from Sega Retro.

Just over a yr in the past, we introduced you information a couple of absolutely playable beta model of a beforehand unavailable Dreamcast sport being launched to the general public, due to the examine work of a Dreamcast group stalwart, PC Wizard. The improvement of DeeDee Planet, a multiplayer single display fight sport meant to be a successor to ChuChu Rocket!, was absolutely full, with the sport slated for an official launch in 2001. Alas, this by no means occurred. Instead, the sport was shelved (allegedly resulting from some pesky community associated bugs) and for 20 years the closest we acquired to experiencing DeeDee Planet was forlornly gazing over snippets of gameplay and commercials that includes art work and screenshots.

Now, plainly DeeDee Planet is imminently resulting from be playable on-line, because it was meant to be, in all its hectic glory. Over the previous few weeks, Shuouma (Jonas Karlsson), has labored his magic to create a server and modify the sport to make sure it communicates correctly with this. PC and Shuouma have been placing this setup to the take a look at and report that the sport is operating easily, with no appearances of these aforementioned community bugs, which can properly have been current on the unique Sega servers however haven’t dared rear their ugly heads right here.

Enjoy lobbing projectiles at your mates? Want to do it from the security of your individual dwelling? DeeDee Planet has you coated. Screenshot of on-line play throughout testing courtesy of PC Wizard.

For the enlightened readers with an internet-connected Dreamcast on the prepared, listed below are among the key particulars to know:

• The sport just isn’t Broadband Adapter suitable, so you will have to attach by way of a DreamPi, PC-DC server, or actual dial-up (respect to anybody nonetheless cracking on with the latter!)
• You would require a patched model of the sport to play it on-line – one thing which Shuouma and PC shall be releasing into the wild within the close to future
• An up to date DreamPi picture just isn’t crucial, so you’ll be able to hold these SD playing cards slotted safely away for the time-being
• Online play would require a username and password to be setup, which will be carried out in-game, as is the observe with ChuChu Rocket!. These particulars shall be tied to your console ID, so strive to not overlook them
• The gameplay is nearly precisely the identical on-line as it’s offline, so if you wish to be a champion from day one of many server going reside, then get some observe in on the model of the sport that’s already out there
• Although it’s the Japanese version of the sport that’s being labored on, many of the on-line menus are in English and will be simply navigated

As I write this, unfastened ends are being tied up and remaining touches are being utilized, primarily regarding participant stats and rankings. Those wanting to remain tuned on the newest progress can comply with the Twitter accounts of Shuouma and PC, and must also keep watch over the Dreamcast Live web site. Of course, we are going to you should definitely announce the discharge of the patched on-line model of DeeDee Planet when it occurs too.

Where do you recognise these icons from, eh? Answers on the again of a postcard (or within the feedback) please. Screenshot of the web foyer for DeeDee Planet, courtesy of PC Wizard.

If you haven’t acquired on-line together with your Dreamcast but, then that is most likely the most effective time to take action, what with on-line play for DeeDee Planet, Driving Strikers, and a entire heap of Capcom video games prone to arrive quickly. Ok, there aren’t fairly the 6 billion gamers touted by Sega of their advertising and marketing campaigns on the flip of the millennium, however there are dozens of us. Dozens! Dreamcast Live, Dreamcast-Talk customers, and the Sega Online discord group are all energetic in organising on-line periods. Be positive to say good day and get entangled.