For some months now, Sega has been teasing a new arcade game bit by bit through small pictures on Facebook. We’ve had a little fun wondering what it is exactly, although I have to admit that I was completely wrong about the Sidearm part of that being the title as it was all an anagram for the real title, Dream Raiders. I also was wrong about the mouse controller type thing but it was all in good fun so no harm done. Either way, it is something we can discuss now and here are some exclusive details about the game…
The cabinet image I had initially was a prototype rendering, so now, here is the release version design with some differences, mainly in the mounted guns and the back of the motion seat. Click here to see the prototype image.
As you can notice from the cabinet design, it might look slightly familiar as it is similar to TrioTech’s very popular Typhoon Motion Theater. Dream Raiders has a motion seat with no actuators and wind effects to give players a sense of speed just like the Typhoon does. The Typhoon is not interactive however whereas this is so there is a good difference there. The screen is not a stereo 3D one but with the effects of motion and wind they still could technically put it into the realm of 4D gaming although I wouldn’t be surprised if that term is avoided to prevent confusion.
The screen used runs at an unspecified resolution and is 55″ in size. It has a surround sound system that works with a subwoofer and there are several animated LCD panels to add an electrical orb effect to the cabinet. Overall it is a heavily animated and bright cabinet that will have no problem drawing attention to itself. Sega Amusements have also posted a comment to the DR Facebook page saying that the hardware that this uses is RingWide, which several games like Giant Tetris, Golden Gun, Let’s Go Island and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Arcade have used. It’s a small break for Sega UK which has also used their own custom PC spec when warranted (called Europa-R).
For the game itself, it involves first person shooting as you enter into various dreams. The fixed gun controllers are similar to what was used in Let’s Go Island but they have been reskinned. But they have added a new twist to the game that was inspired by the Christopher Nolan film Inception. They are calling it “Dream State” game play. Details on that are currently lacking but we find out soon enough. This is a project done in-house by Sega Amusements UK and is not based on some console game so for now expect this to be arcade exclusive.
The game will be released this Winter and we can expect to get some hands on time with it finally in November at the IAAPA show. For now, Sega Amusements have launched a Facebook page just for the game, and they said that when they got 100 likes on the page, they would unveil video of the game in action. See that video of the game in action here now. A few more details are found after the pictures…
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The official description as per Sega:
HAVE YOU TRIED LIVING THE DREAM….
Dive into a dream world of adventures! Climb on board this beautifully modelled dream machine and be transported to a new level of excitement. Choose your dream ride and raid as many treasures as you can whilst fending off attacks by strange and incredible enemies with your Dream Blasters. Successfully complete your raid and be carried off into new realms in thrilling bonus stages. Nine unique dream experiences await you in this fantastic new deluxe game from SEGA. Ride a dragon, pilot a UFO, get on horseback or put on your super suits and head for the skies! Dream Raiders features an exciting mix of exhilarating experiences that everyone will enjoy. The combination of intense motion, wind, sound and visuals combine to give players everything they ever dreamed of!
55″ LCD LCD
2 players
Wind feature
Rear plasma plate feature
Robust full motion system
Force feed-back dual Dream Blasters
Comprehensive operator settings
Colour changing tubular LED billboard and headrest
Seat mounted sub-woofer
9 exciting dreams to experience
D2220mm W1590mm H2200mm 628kgs
Man, what happened to SEGA? SEGA used to be THE cutting edge in Video Game graphics for 30 years The graphics in this game are abysmal. “Planet Harriers” which is very similar in tone and gameplay, actually looks the same, or better than “Dream Raiders.”
“Planet Harriers” came out in what, 2001?
Too bad “Planet Harriers” wasn’t more like the original, set in the “Fantasy Zone.”
I think this is a game made by Sega Europe. You may be thinking of the games Sega Japan makes.
I’ve never been fully interested in the stuff that the Europe division makes, as they are usually not part of Sega’s master lineup (House of the Dead, etc.).
Regarding the graphics, I agree. It looks like it could be on the original Xbox.
Part of me wonders if using the claim of “this being dream like” allows poor graphics from a Chinese house to get past the door?
Good point – reminds me of Sega Golden Gun.
Before we all get on the bandwagon about the graphics I think it is worth pointing out that how a game looks in still shots and how it looks in action are often different. Let’s wait to pass final judgement until then at least.
I’m afraid i’m gonna have to put the the dislike on you, Theres nothing wrong with SEGA today, unlike those buttholes like Capcom and EA, they are still doing very well.
Agreed with you, but get off the Anti-Capcom and Anti-EA, its so annoying.
Always welcome a new gun-game (or turret game) but day-glo cabinets YUCK… lol
They confirmed on Facebook: “This game is brought to you by Sega Amusements R&D based here in the UK.”
What has this division made previously?
Sega UK has been responsible to a great degree for a number of releases for the past few years at least: 2Spicy, Primeval Hunt, Sega Rally 3, GRID, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing among others. Of course what they do is overseen by Japan, it is not as though they are a rogue organization within the company so this would be something that Japan approves of as well. It is my understanding that currently all Western releases are controlled by the UK division but what their involvement might be with each game probably varies.
“for those who were asking it’s on RingWide hardware” ouch. Poor Europa-R.
Color me surprised that this is RingWide.