Explaine (in simple terms) why console disks cant be made to work on a pc?

[rackoon]

Can some one tell me why a PC cant be made to play DC game disks for example. I don't know much about computers and consoles (well I did build my computer) yet I know that many xbox games come out on PC also. So following that line of thinking, hasn't  any body done this.

   I have a crap load of DC games and a broken DC and a MAME cab in progress. I would, and my kids, would love to play zombie revenge, hydro thunder, pod racer etc.. again.

   If this is being done could someone hook me up with a place to start.

[Chemixtry]

Dreamcast games come on a gd-rom disk which is 1gb disk. A cd-rom cant read this. There is an emulator for the dreamcast called chankcast but I dont if the games you mention are playable on it. Dreamcasts are so cheap (I got mine for $14) that there is no reason not to get one.

[ChadTower]

Bah, they can be had free all over now.

Hell, I got a Dreamcast KIOSK free.

[SirPoonga]

As noted there are emulators.

However I think your question is why a game can not run on whatever system.  That's like asking why can't a mac program run on a windows machines.

The software (game) has to be compiled for the system.  The systems uses it's own way of handling memeory (big endian/little endian), resources, hardware, drivers, etc...  Also most console systems have a custom operating system.  They may be derived from an existing OS but they are stripped down to what is just needed for that system.

[Stingray]

I have to repeat what's already been said twice. You can pick up a Dreamcast for next to nothing these days. It's a hella cool system, if you've already got a bunch of games for it, it's totally worth buying yourself another one.

Can somebody explain why my Colecovision carts won't work in my Atari? I whacked 'em down in the cart slot with a hammer, but I'm still not getting anything onscreen.

-S

[Goz]

Can somebody explain why my Colecovision carts won't work in my Atari? I whacked 'em down in the cart slot with a hammer, but I'm still not getting anything onscreen.

-S

You must have put them in backwards... reverse and try again.......

[rackoon]

OK, OK, I get it!

Stingray, Goz, I am mooning both you guys right now.

I will search the web for a site regarding emulation of DC. I did this once before yet, it left me feeling confused.

If ya know any that are good that don't pop up when googled then please share.

[ChadTower]

This guy has that not so fresh feeling, I bet.

[DarkBubble]

Chankast requires what are known as self-booting disk rips.  The rips that can be found on the net are either self-booting or require a boot disk.  Sometimes, the info on the disk, such as videos and music, has been either removed or downsampled so that all of the game data can fit on a standard CDR.

Like others here, I'd advise you to just seek out a Dreamcast system.  If you're going to take the time to pirate a Dreamcast rip, you might as well just burn it off and play it on the real thing.  It's worth it for the other emulation options it offers anyway.  As a NES kid, I missed out on the Sega Master System.  However, the SMS emus that are out there rock beyond belief.  Stay away from the Super NES emus though.  Ugh...