One of the strangest gadgets I have heard of this year is the improved version of the virtual memory unit (VMU), which is being raised on the Indiegogo platform. Dreamware is working on a next-gen VMU for the Dreamcast. It is a one-to-one recreation of an accessory that will be released in black or white in the summer of 2023.

Some of the improvements seem good, like a higher-resolution screen with backlighting, a rechargeable battery, and mini-game support. It will come with a GUI for Windows. Chris Daioglou is the person who is developing the software for the VM2 Production will take place in Greece, according to the page.

An exploded view of the VM2 memory card for the Sega Dreamcast, showing off the plastic shell, the printed circuit board, and the microSD card slot.
Here’s an exploded view of the VM2, showing off the plastic shell, the printed circuit board, and the microSD card slot.
Image: Dreamware Enterprises

I might just do it because it costs $114 to place an order. I don't know why I would want one of these. One of the people I know still has a Dreamcast. I think I have an obsession with dead games.

It's time to stop talking about me. The VM2 is very popular among the players of the Dreamcast. Some people still play it for the pleasure of playing some of the best fighting games. There are fans who have figured out how to host or join dedicated server for online games that have been out of commission for a long time. There are still games being made for the Dreamcast. There's an audience for this thing The audience has given money. The campaign has sailed past its goal despite 18 days remaining.

The field of crowd funding is chaotic. One in 10 successful products that reach their funding goals fail to deliver rewards, according to a study done by Kickstarter. There is often disappointment in store for those products that do get done because of delays, missed deadlines, and overpromised ideas.

Use your best judgement when defending. Do you know if the product looks legit? The company is making claims. There is a prototype that is being worked on. Is the company planning on manufacturing and shipping finished products? Is this the first time it has completed a crowd funding campaign? You don't necessarily buy a product when you back a project on a site.

I like the original concept so I may get one. The VMU stood out because it had a screen that could show contextual info on a per-game basis through a window on the console's controller. It could be used to display your health, your next football play, or just show off the game's logo as you played. You could link up with another VMU and remove it from the controller. Solitaire can be played on it with its D-pad and two face buttons, as well as taking care of pets, or playing other mini- games. It wasn't the same time.

I contacted the company for a comment on this product.