DCEmulation:007Cheater and EGM Interview

Here is an interview that the owner of DCEmulation, 007Cheater, did with Electronic Gaming Monthly.

EGM: (just say 'done' when you're done with your reply -- don't feel that you have to answer all in one line, k?)
007Cheater: The first ones included Gyplay, DC_MP3, Boob!Boy and Gleam were the first to appear in the scene.
EGM: done? D
007Cheater: whoops
007Cheater: sorry I did not see that last part you said
EGM: np
EGM: so when did the emu scene really start up?
EGM: on DC, that is.
007Cheater: ok done for that question
007Cheater: would you like to know the rest that followed?
EGM: sure
007Cheater: Well, those were the first ones. Just after Boob!Boy was released is when I started DCEMU. As soon as DCEMU was created releases started popping up everywhere including NgineSnes9x which was followed by the excellent release of DreamSNES which made everyone's mouth water with its perfection.
007Cheater: Around that same time LinuxDC was released somewhere in the middle.
007Cheater: Thats about all the FIRST stuff.
007Cheater: done )
EGM: hehe... yeah, I think when DreamSNES came out, that's when a lot of people realized DC emulation was gettin' big.
007Cheater: thats for sure.
EGM: Have you worked on any of these emulator projects yourself? Do you do any programming?
007Cheater: I have not had time to do programming with these emulators myself. I have not had time and or resources, which if I had a BBA I would probably be working on something. I try my best to help developers find what they need to get started. I am currently a programmer but I have never programmed a game.
007Cheater: I really want to get involved with DC Development that is for sure )
007Cheater: done.
EGM: What kind of people work on these projects?
007Cheater: It seams most of the developers are from the UK, some of them are really friendly. Others are just plain annoying (not mentioning any names). But, I have to work with them the best I can. Other then that, they are just PLAIN people like ourselves )
007Cheater: done
EGM: Is much programming knowledge necessary to get into it? What would one need to get started writing an emu for the DC?
007Cheater: Programming knowlege is definately needed if you are trying to port something over to the Dreamcast. Depending on what OS you use. Which there are many out there now. It can managed different ways.
007Cheater: For instance Dan Potters libdream is kinda of its own programming language
007Cheater: it will help you port stuff to dreamcast and even build stuff from scratch.
007Cheater: Its its own operating system or type for the dreamcast which also helps you program for it.
007Cheater: Since I am currently learning how to make things myself, I am not so knowledgable on the issue.
007Cheater: done.
EGM: *nod*
EGM: Is there a difference between people who write original emus/tools/apps for DC and people who pirate (for lack of a better term) commercially-available DC games?
EGM: In your opinion...
007Cheater: Its rather hard for many people to tell the difference, many things on DCEMU's site is borderline close to being illegal, but on the other hand its not nearly as bad as downloading illegal games. One thing to think about which I have said many times, "Can You Buy A Genesis Emulator In The Store?" The answer is no. That is how I see the difference between what is legal and what is illegal. There are other issues involved but those are my main concerns. Other people may have different standpoints however.
EGM: that cut ya off at "There are other issues involved b"
007Cheater: There are other issues involved but those are my main concerns. Other people may have different standpoints however.
007Cheater: that good?
EGM: sure
007Cheater: hehe
EGM: In your opinion, is writing an emulator or piece of software that works on the Dreamcast a violation of Sega's rights to control the kinds of software available for their system?
007Cheater: I believe Technically it does. But, this is not hurting sega the least bit. Not to my knowledge anyhow.
007Cheater: Also, Sega may be mad because they can not control it.
007Cheater: But, its not like you can find such software in retail stores.
007Cheater: done.
EGM: Well, do you think it's hurting Nintendo, or the other companies whos machines are being emulated?
007Cheater: Not at all. There systems are old. You cannot even buy nintendo games or genesis games and such from the store anymore. On the other hand if this N64 emulator comes out, it can infact hurt nintendo but, it wont hurt them anymore then the pc n64 emulators do.
007Cheater: done
EGM: Have you ever heard from Sega (or anyone else)? Any legal threats?
007Cheater: Sega has never spoken to me once. But, I pretty much know SEGA knows of DCEMU just seams to want to stay away. Who knows why. But, SEGA is in fact involved. John Byrd from Sega Of America is Directly involved in the NetBSD port for Dreamcast that is about all I know of Sega's Involvement. I would really like SEGA to confront me on there stance of DCEMU, I know SEGA has plants to make things download able and such, and DCEMU has already created a community that knows how to download and burn things. Sega could totally use this to there advantage. Releasing patches for games perhaps for download or add on's for our current games, SEGA could save the Dreamcast still if they turn towards the DEV community which is currently surrounding them. Sega has not attacked me for putting there web browser on the page and such things, because they are free from Sega.
007Cheater: did you get that all
007Cheater: I have a bit more to add to the end
EGM: to make things download able and such, and DCE
EGM: that's where it ended
007Cheater: I know SEGA has plants to make things download able and such, and DCEMU has already created a community that knows how to download and burn things. Sega could totally use this to there advantage. Releasing patches for games perhaps for download or add on's for our current games, SEGA could save the Dreamcast still if they turn towards the DEV community which is currently surrounding them. Sega has not attacked me for putting there web browser on the page and such things, because they are free from Sega. But, I am breaking that boundary and making it free for download.
007Cheater: oops thats plans
007Cheater: not plants hehe
EGM: *nod*
007Cheater: did you get it all again?
EGM: Sega has not attacked me for putt
EGM: that's where that ended
007Cheater: Sega has not attacked me for putting there web browser on the page and such things, because they are free from Sega. But, I am breaking that boundary and making it free for download.
007Cheater: hehe you might have to email me a copy so we know its not in pieces
007Cheater: im done by the way
007Cheater: if you got it all
EGM: Well, but if Sega released add-ons or downloadable games, don't you think that would make it look as if Sega was condoning piracy rather than what they seem to be doing now, turning a blind eye to it?
EGM: yeah, I'll e-mail you a copy of this.
007Cheater: depends how they setup there system, its almost impossible to stop the piracy now. But, sega can do things closely related to dreamcast piracy somewhat like dcemu and use it to there advantage since people are going to pirate anyways. Thats not a very solid answer but all I can say is its obvious sega is not condoning piracy.
007Cheater: done
EGM: What are your thoughts on the Dreamcast piracy scene? Right/wrong?
007Cheater: I believe it is of course wrong. Although many have pirated it is by far wrong. Although piracy for the dreamcast is just as bad as piracy for the pc. It is something that is not inevitable. But, I am completely again piracy at this point. Which is stated very clearly in the disclaimer on dcemu.
007Cheater: done
EGM: It's something that's not inevitable, or is?
007Cheater: it is inevitable, unavoidable is what im trying to say
EGM: *nod* gotcha
EGM: What's the most popular emu downloaded from your site?
007Cheater: SegaGEN which was originally created by sega is currently the most popular followed by DreamSNES and DCMP3 and Gyplay.
007Cheater: Which are not even emulators but software
007Cheater: done.
EGM: What's the one question that you get the most from newbies?
007Cheater: how do I burn games! or how do I burn such and such emulator. Very basic questions which we cannot help them with if they do not give us more info.
007Cheater: as you can see in our newbies section we have a nice tutorial on burning games. http//www.dcemulation.com/help/burning_dc_games_guide.htm
EGM: yeah, I used that guide. ^_^
007Cheater: which game?
EGM: but I stopped when I put the CD in the toaster
EGM: and went... "ooooooh... stupid me!"
007Cheater: hehe
007Cheater: lol
007Cheater: many do
EGM: I think the first DC disc I ever burned was Quake
EGM: but anyway... last one. ) Do you think eventually we'll see these emulator projects to where there's 100% speed, sound and compatibility? Are there any obstacles to that?
EGM: I mean, even the Smash Pack has plenty o' glitches
007Cheater: I think we will definately see emulators running at full speed and sound. The DreamMSX runs perfectly with sound and everything as well as 100% speed. Its definately one of the better ports. The obstacles that plague most of the authors is sound. It seams that is the hardest part to work with on the dreamcast.
007Cheater: done
EGM: ok, that's it.
007Cheater: ok )
EGM: thanks again for takin' the time to answer my questions
007Cheater: thank you for asking me questions )