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ABOUT NFL BLITZ ' 99
When
Midway was first experimenting with the Dreamcast it used games
running on the Seattle arcade system as an easy port.
Seattle Hardware (via System 16) -
http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=618
This version of NFL Blitz '99 is a straight code port from the
Seattle arcade system. It retains all the features of the arcade
version, including on-screen tips, cheat codes, teams and name entry
system. If it worked in the arcade, it works here on Dreamcast.
Notable differences are a permanent Free Play setting and the
inability to save since the game doesn't have any concept of a VMU.
It was more or less a recompile of the arcade version with no
tweaks. This means that the player names, custom plays and high
scores are NOT saved across reboots. Reset the system and it's just
like turning things on for the first time.
Because this build of NFL Blitz '99 is the arcade version, it also
doesn't work with the VGA box. When connected, the game outputs a
15kHz video signal via the VGA box (which is what an arcade monitor
would expect). Button mappings are identical to the arcade, however
the physical colors (red, blue, white) are off as the colored
buttons on the Dreamcast controller are not arranged the same as in
the arcade.
The game as seen in the video above is running on a stock, retail
Dreamcast unit, not a dev kit. Less than a dozen GD-ROMs were
created of NFL Blitz '99 and the game has never been released,
dumped or ripped. The first game in the series to officially reach
the Dreamcast was NFL Blitz 2000.
This video is 4:30 minutes long and consists of the game's attract
mode. It starts with a fresh boot of the Dreamcast and ends after
the attract mode has gone through a full cycle. Lest anyone doubt
that the version on display is the arcade code, I would suggest
keeping a keen eye out at around 4:25. Seeing that particular
attract image flash up on screen whilst running on a Dreamcast
should be highly amusing to anyone familiar with the Dreamcast's
development history. |
