part0021

My name is Daniel but usually I am called with my nick: Chui. I was interested about game programming since mid-80s when my parents bought me a ZX-Spectrum 8-bit machine, after I continued the programming on Atari ST and Commodore Amiga age when I was a teenager and more seriously with PC and GNU/Linux in university time.

Mainly the Dreamcast console. It is a fantastic machine that I love it. I have worked on open source emulators during last 10 years: chui.dcemu.co.uk

I never was a hardcore console gamer because always had a computer at home and I was more interested about programming games than play games, but I bought a Dreamcast console when I began the job because I wanted disconnect easily with the arcade games. I played a lot in that time but quickly I was caught with coding Dreamcast. I don't know the reason exactly but I continue love it.

I am a pure programmer guy interested about the low level programing, maybe this is the main reason I have worked on emulators. A game needs much work on things like graphics design and music compose while a emulator can be done only for a small programming group and allows play a thousands of games. I always love the emulators because allows me play old games that never can play it at the past and it is very interesting how do it from the point of view a coder.

Right now I am focused on Pier Solar HD. At the past I did some known emulators like NEO4ALL or UAE4ALL. Also I've participated on other project like a rewritten Gens or MAME4ALL for handheld consoles.

UAE4ALL was my emulator more hard. There was a lot of people that said me that it was impossible to emulate the Commodore Amiga under Dreamcast. But without a doubt, Pier Solar HD is the project I have worked with more illusion ever .

I am developing Pier Solar HD for Dreamcast, Wii U, Ouya and others new platforms.

My first contact with Sega hardware was a Master System emulator for GP32 handheld console and the Dreamcast as non-emulated platform.

8. Was working on Sega hardware always a dream of yours or were you a victim of circumstance?

A dream without a doubt.

First the Dreamcast, It's really my obsession. Second Genesis/Mega Drive, I can never forget the first time that I saw it running. And Master System because was the dreamed console that I can't have it.

10. How does developing for a retro system, like the Genesis/MD, compare to developing for something more recent, such as PC or Android/iOS?

The lack of resources. For example, work with only 64KBytes of RAM it is too hard sometimes. But it's magical work on it.

I don't know really because it's a bit masochism. Maybe only it's because I can and I love it.

There are people for all and that must be respected but I think that there are progressively more people that don't need better graphics for having fun, for example the successful cases of indies/small games like Angry Birds. Simply I say that the most important is to have fun, a bored hyper-realist game is a very expensive fault .

13. Do you believe that new gameplay experiences can still be created on “outdated” hardware?

Why not if it is possible do it? If a game is good is independent of the platform. But it's true that a game for the new platforms can be played for more people.

b. Do you think you’ll have to limit the game in any way on that system as opposed to a more recent system?

I am working on Pier Solar HD for Dreamcast because I love the machine and the project itself. It's inevitable to adjust it to Dreamcast specs but the game will be the same.

15. Are there any upcoming retro Sega console games coming out, other than your own, that you are excited for?

Sturmwind for example.

16. Retro games on new consoles are making a comeback. Have you considered porting your Sega titles to a newer system?

Pier Solar HD is really this. We want that this awesome game can be played for people that haven't a Mega Drive/Genesis console at present.

I like both but I prefer new games for old machines because it's a miracle.

18. What is your opinion of the video game market now and how has it changed from what it used to be when Sega was still a player?

I think that the main problem is that now it needs a lot of people during much time for doing a game. The risk is high so there are less margin for innovation. But the indie scene is a breath of fresh air. I am amazed by the success of much cases.

There are a lot of kind of gamers, much of them only want the same games with better graphics and more options but each time there are more people want other experiences. Also there are a lot of people that it isn't a hardcore gamer and only want have fun. I think that these are the big majority. The goal only is have fun .

Can be Dreamcast too? Then Phantasy Star Online.

I really don't know, I think that classic series has been good exploited.

23. Out of all the now-gone Sega consoles and handhelds, which one do you think is most relevant today?

The Dreamcast, it's a myth but I can't be impartial here.

I don't think Sega will make a new hardware at the short term but who knows, coming soon could have been a high growing market of cheap Android gaming machines like Ouya and Sega gets on the bandwagon.

25. The DC is fondly remembered as a console that died too soon. Why is the DC still relevant today?

Because it was the end in my opinion. The most games of new century was updates. At least before the arrival of Wii or the indie scene.

I love arcade games, NAOMI conversions was awesome.

27. The DC used the GD-ROM instead of the DVD. Do you feel that this decision limited what games for the system could do?

Maybe but I think that Dreamcast was wiped out for PlayStation tsunami. The Playstation-1 connected with the most people and bought the Playstation-2 because they wanted the same with better graphics .

Good question. Who knows? Maybe only the same games that Sega did for other platforms.

29. What do you think of people still developing new titles for the DC with a physical release? How different is it than developing something for an active platform?

I think that always is a challenge, the main difference is the available resources: machine specs, documentation, support, people that know how programming for this machine...