Whatever happened to the VMU?

[Betagam7]

Usually once a generation there is something in controller technology that becomes something of a standard for the generations that follow, whether its the D-pad, analogue sticks (later dual analogue), rumble and now it seems motion sensing.

I've been playing some Dreamcast again lately and rediscovering just what a neat little invention the VMU was and how it helps create part of that unique feel that makes DC gaming a little bit special.

Having a handy little reference point to check stats, damage etc on in game is a neat enough trick in its own but the options to hide data from another player make for some really interesting possibilities, then there's the way it can be removed and minigames played on it when away from your DC that can then be loaded back into your main game ala Skies of Arcadia or Sonic Adventure. It's can be a neat little virtual pet (Shenmue) and its even neat just to see what little animation will appear when you load up a different game.

The method of transferring from one VMU to another is also really handy.

Overall I can't help but wonder why this technology died out after just one generation and we all went back to boring old memory cards again? Was it that Sega's patent was too strong for replication and with no more consoles the technology died with them? Was it a price issue? The VMU seems like way more than a gimmick to me and I can't help wondering why it didn't become an industry standard as so many other innovative controller features did.

What do people think?

[Flake]

Money.

VMU's from a manufacturing stand point are kind of pricey. And let's be honest...the screen was only useful like 5% of the time.

In a way, though, the technology did not die. Look at the GBA to GCN titles like Four Sword Adventures, Wind Waker, Phantasy Star Online, etc.

[Betagam7]

Money.

VMU's from a manufacturing stand point are kind of pricey. And let's be honest...the screen was only useful like 5% of the time.

In a way, though, the technology did not die. Look at the GBA to GCN titles like Four Sword Adventures, Wind Waker, Phantasy Star Online, etc.

yes, I certainly know what you mean with Nintendo's link-up play offering some of the advantages of the VMU, however as it required a GBA to take part in it that was an even more expensive and less likely to succeed venture.

I wonder how much money VMU's actually cost to manufacture though. I recall them retailing for about £14.99 which isn't necessarily more than a controller pak for the N64 would have cost. The VMU was undoubtedly the better value product.

I agree that its wasn't always utilised to its best abilities by programmers...but then neither are motion controls.

[ZeroAX]

because hard drives became the standard for saving your games? And USB sticks the standard for transferring them.

[MrPopo]

because hard drives became the standard for saving your games? And USB sticks the standard for transferring them.

I think this was the big one. The Gamecube was the last console to use memory cards because hard drives had gotten large enough at the necessary form factor and the right price to switch over to them permanently.

[CAv]

I think that it would be awesome to have screens on a controller to track ammo, health, etc. And these days, the screen could be decent.

[Gamerforlife]

This topic brings up a good point though. Some of the VMU features have been used by Nintendo, like how the second screen on the Nintendo DS displays info while you play a game. Sega was ahead of the game there. It's sort of like how they were pushing for online functions before the Xbox came along

I've always said that the Dreamcast was ahead of its time, just ask Keith Apicary

[t0yrobo]

The money thing probably is the reason no one else uses the idea. But it probably didn't help that so few games made use of it. I don't now how many games just had a goofy animation instead of anything useful.
That said, with the touchscreen bandwagon going on I wouldn't be terribly surprised if a future console had something similar, I'm thinking like the 360 keypad but a touchscreen.

[skyknight]

I do have mixed feelings about the VMU, as it has its pros and cons.

The most obvious cons are the dot-matrix display and battery life! Compared to the latest iPod nano, you know how far has technology has advanced. (Any of you saw a fan-mod iPod nano in a VMU?)

But it does have its charm, as you have changing display for each game, and you have your privacy for gameplay in the NFL 2K's series. Yet that doesn't help a console win.

[Betagam7]

I think that it would be awesome to have screens on a controller to track ammo, health, etc. And these days, the screen could be decent.

Yes, this is the main feature that makes the VMU stand out to me, not the fact that it acts as a memory card. Also the ability to take it on the go with you and play games.

Imagine a wireless controller with a more advanced VMU built in. You could take the controller out and about with you on the bus etc and work on upping your stats through minigames while away from the main console. Really there wouldn't have even been a need to make it a detachable part of the controller.

I guess I'm most surprised that nobody has attempted to build this facility into a controller yet, would it really be more expensive than a Wiimote?