The Dreamcast VGA Box is an accessory for the Dreamcast, a video game console produced by Sega, that allows it to output to a computer monitor or a high-definition television (HDTV) set through a VGA connector in 480p, otherwise known as progressive scan.[1][2] The Dreamcast was one of the first consoles to support 480p and HDTV in general.[3][4] Sega released the VGA Box as an official accessory in Japan on January 14, 1999, at an MSRP of ¥7000;[5] it was only available in the United States via Sega's online store, retailing between $30 and $50.[6][a] Though the VGA Box did not receive a release in Europe,[10][11] PAL consoles can use it since it has no regional lockout.[12]
The official VGA Box includes a VGA connector for video output and a headphone jack for stereo audio output; it also includes an S-Video connector and RCA connectors[13] for composite video and stereo audio.[14][15] Most third-party versions are functionally identical to Sega's model,[16][17] but some designs like Performance's add features such as VGA passthrough.[15][18]
Most Dreamcast games are compatible with the VGA Box so long as they display in 640×480; this applies to most 3D titles.[19][20] Games marked as incompatible typically present an error message upon boot;[14] such a designation was determined via a simple toggle switch in the game's code.[19] As such, VGA output from most incompatible games can be forced via having the VGA Box unplugged while booting a game,[21][22] temporarily switching the VGA Box into TV mode while booting a game,[16] or using a boot disc such as DC-X.[23] This loophole is not possible for games that only display in lower resolutions, with most sprite-based games rendered fully incompatible with VGA output as a result.[19][24] Though a handful of sprite-based games supported VGA, most notably ones from Capcom, at least some, if not all of their sprites were originally designed for lower-resolution displays and may resultingly appear less detailed when displayed through VGA due to poor image scaling.[19][25]
^Linneman, John (April 14, 2019). "DCHDMI review: Dreamcast gets a digital video upgrade - and it's stunning". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
^Kuchera, Ben (April 23, 2014). "The Dreamcast was the beginning, and the end, of the golden age of peripherals". Polygon. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
^Reed, Kristan (March 16, 2005). "HD Era: The Case For And Against". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
^Whitehead, Dan (February 1, 2009). "Dreamcast: A Forensic Retrospective". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
^"Peripheral". Dream Information (in Japanese). Sega. January 1999. p. 12.
^"Getting Connected". Next Generation. Vol. 1, no. 1, Lifecycle 2. Imagine Media. September 1999. p. 56. ISSN 1078-9693.
^"Top Stocking Stuffers". Official Dreamcast Magazine. No. 3. Imagine Media. January 2000. p. 37.
^"How to Get the Most Out of Your Life (and your demo disc)". Official Dreamcast Magazine. No. 11. Imagine Media. February 2001. p. 9.
^"Gen-Xmas". Official Dreamcast Magazine. No. 10. Imagine Media. 2000. p. 34.
^Robinson, John (December 8, 1999). "Review: Performance VGA Adapter". CNN. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
^"Still Adapting". Official Dreamcast Magazine. No. 5. Imagine Media. May–June 2000. p. 11.
^Gantayat, Anoop (November 7, 2000). "DC-X for Dreamcast". IGN. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
^Gantayat, Anoop (January 4, 2001). "Guilty Gear X (Import)". IGN. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
^Williamson, Colin (September 21, 2000). "TGS 2000: Guilty Gear X Demo Obtained!". IGN. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
Notes
^The U.S. version of Official Dreamcast Magazine stated various prices for the official VGA Box during its run, mentioning it as $30,[7] $40,[8] and $50.[9]
External links
Dreamcast Hardware Peripheral Information - VGA Box (Official) at the Wayback Machine (archived May 15, 2015) (in Japanese)
DCTP - Dreamcast VGA Box
Dreamcast VGA Audio/Video Adapter at the Wayback Machine (archived April 5, 2010)