The 3DS is actually in a certain essence, a perfected Virtual boy (The goal was to have 3d)
As for the dreamcast, I'm not sure if it was ahead of its time, but I see it as a victim of the changing age (if Sony hadn't tiped the scales slightly towards mainstream/casualness, the Dreamcast may have stood out better) But as it is, it's mainly remembered fondly by the hardcore players who appreciate the library on it.
The Dreamcast pioneered console online connectivity(multiplayer and a browser), downloadable content(Sonic Adventure and practically every game now), and mobile companions to a regular game(the VMU and the PokeWalker, the PSP with some games, and things like the Call of Duty Elite app).
No sports titles from EA, no DVD playback, and a lack of anti-piracy measures doomed the Dreamcast. The PS2 was just the last nail in the coffin. Ironically, the lack of anything like a lock-out chip which killed the console is the reason it's enjoying such a lively afterlife with homebrews, Japanese shmups, and NEW releases.
SonicGTR said: The Dreamcast pioneered console online connectivity(multiplayer and a browser), downloadable content(Sonic Adventure and practically every game now), and mobile companions to a regular game(the VMU and the PokeWalker, the PSP with some games, and things like the Call of Duty Elite app).
No sports titles from EA, no DVD playback, and a lack of anti-piracy measures doomed the Dreamcast. The PS2 was just the last nail in the coffin. Ironically, the lack of anything like a lock-out chip which killed the console is the reason it's enjoying such a lively afterlife with homebrews, Japanese shmups, and NEW releases.
I stand corrected on the ahead of its time part, but not on the death part as before Sony changed things around, Sports games weren't a make or break thing unlike jRPGs at the time. The DVD matter is likely related to the way the PS2 changed things.
There were consoles with online connectivity before the dreamcast and what doomed it was Bernard Stolar. That guy crippled sega in north america where a lot of investment was placed. The dreamcast was doomed before it was even being sold, thanks to that guy's mismanagement of the sega saturn's localization.
HmmDh-doom!Red AlarmThere are, like, lots of mechanic-like things from the outer world here.These are the works of the Crown Prince. These are all items that are beyond the culture level of that age... Out-of-place artifacts!...These are just items that are way ahead of their time...Out-of-PlaceD◯◯amcast!Vi◯◯ual Boy!!