VGA Box for Sega Dreamcast

[mosdef]

If I want to hook up a DC through my TV card, do I need this VGA Box, or is it optional. Also is that list of games correct, or only partial.

-mosdef

 

[mosdef]

^

-mosdef

 

[IonBlade]

The only reason you'll need that VGA box is if you want to hook up your DC directly to your monitor, completely bypassing the PC. I've hooked a DC up to my 21" Hitachi monitor both through my PC (V3 3500) and directly using the box, however, and I can tell you that the quality on the VGA box is far, far better, as the colors don't seem so washed out and the textures aren't so fuzzy.

If you do go with the VGA box, though, I'd recommend checking out IGN Dreamcast's site for reviews of other boxes that are way cheaper and perform just as well - see the peripherals section of that page for more info.
Regarding your question about the game list, you can make just about any game work with the VGA box with a simple swap of the cable from connected to TV to a connection to the monitor after the game starts - IGN did a walkthrough of this a while back, I can't seem to find it, but you may have better luck.

 

[Praetor]

Err, no.

You have a TV card. It has (at the very least) coax-input. It SHOULD have RCA input as well. Plug your Dreamcast into either of these plugs and it'll work fine. At a lower resolution. (You knew there was a catch, didn't you? )

If you want the "full" 640x480 resolution that the Dreamcast is capable of and a "better" picture, then buy the card. This is the optimal situation. You can play your games on your monitor as well as the TV. Pretty darned cool. But if you're a cheapskate like myself, then you'll do the first option as it doesn't involve spending any more money.

<edit>
And I was beat to the punch. Plus, a better explanation!
</edit>

 

[Huma]

umm... anyone know if the interact performance vga box works with the &quot;backup&quot; DC games that everyone likes so much.

I've heard rumors that not all of them do.

 

[culex]

Shouldnt matter which VGA box you use and it also doesnt matter if it's a legit copy or a backup.

What matters is if the game supports VGA output period.

So far only game that I found that didnt work with the VGA adapter is... eh... cant think of one yet.

 

[zippy]

Huma, it depends on the &quot;back up&quot; really. If it won't work with a VGA box it will say in the nfo file.

 

[Huma]

I never actually see the nfos, since I don't actually download or burn them.

The main games I hope to be playing are my legit shenmue and my soon to be owned PSO.

I feel kinda gyped on shenmue so far. Bought it 2 months ago and have played it for an hour. Really slow to start, and I've been kinda busy.

I just gotta find someone around town who carries the interact performance vga box. Any complaints at all about the passthrough?