A custom-painted Dreamcast that supposedly features the system's 'best games' but forgoes ChuChu Rocket! and Space Channel 5? Hmmm...

Granted, it's kind of hard to fault artist Oskunk for focusing on other Dreamcast "classics" like Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio and Shenmue while conjuring up his latest creation--although I'm sure some folks would do just that in regard to his decision to feature Sonic Adventure.

(I can't join them because I've never played any version of Sonic Adventure. In fact, I don't think I've played any Sonic the Hedgehog game past ... the third Genesis game?)

At the very least, I think a fifth character--Space Channel 5's magenta-coifed Ulala--should have been added to this custom-painted Dreamcast's lid, especially since it would've injected some much-needed femininity into the proceedings.



(Switching out Jet Set Radio's Beat for Gum would've done the trick, too, but I fully understand and appreciate that the former is far more likely to be that game's "mascot" than the latter.)

Even in its current, Space Channel 5-free state, though, this concoction is pretty darn sweet, don't you think?

If you'd like to take a closer look at the console or its similarly colorful controllers, by the way, I'd suggest heading over to custom-art.blogspot.com at your earliest convenience.

See also: previous Oskunk-centric posts

Great Dreamcast or greatest Dreamcast?

I'm going with the former option, personally, although I wouldn't fault anyone who goes with the latter.

At any rate, the Shenmue-themed Dreamcast console seen in the photo below was produced by the one and only OSKUNK, of course.



A few more photos of this beauty can be seen on OSKUNK's blog, Custom Art, so I highly recommend checking it out if you're a fan of Sega's open-world adventure title (and, really, who isn't?).

See also: Previous OSKUNK posts

It's not a ChuChu Rocket-branded Dreamcast, but I guess it'll do

French artist Oskunk (or, OSKUNK!, to be completely accurate) has conjured up a number of fabulous, custom-painted consoles over the years.

Surprisingly, most of my personal favorites have been Sega-centric, such as the Dreamcasts he's covered in Jet Set Radio, REZ, Samba de Amigo, Shenmue and Space Channel 5 designs.

The artist's latest (below) creation calls to mind yet another Sega classic: 1995's Virtual On.



I really like how this illustration complements, rather than attempts to cover up, the curves and grooves of the Dreamcast's top lid.

Where will Oskunk's imagination take him next? I'm hoping it'll take him to wherever he needs to go to produce a ChuChu Rocket-branded Dreamcast, or maybe a Magical Puzzle Popils-branded Game Gear.

See also: 'I will obtain one of these if it's the last thing I do'

Finally, a portable Space Channel 5 player!

Space Channel 5 isn't the only game I'd play on a portable Dreamcast; I'd also play ChuChu Rocket!, Jet Grind Radio and Shenmue, among others.

Of course, that would require both the existence and purchase of such a system.

Surprisingly, the former point of contention is about to be taken care of thanks to ... some company that isn't Sega. Said company's portable Dreamcast (below) will be sold via pachimon.tv beginning next month. The system's price tag: ¥38,000 (about $470).

As much as I'd love to play Space Channel 5 and ChuChu Rocket! during my next flight or road trip, I think I'll hang on to my hard-earned money and play games on my DS instead.

(Via andriasang.com)

Sega excites longtime fans by announcing a new Shenmue game ...

... and then enrages them by adding that it's not Shenmue III.

Making matters worse: The title--called Shenmue City--is being developed for Yahoo! Mobage, a Japanese, PC-based social games service.

The question on the tip of every Shenmue fan's tongue: 

Will Shenmue City include forklift races?

Given its name and the fact that it's being developed for a "social games service" (whatever that means), it seems doubtful Shenmue City will be the game longtime fans of the series have been looking forward to since the release of part two in 2001.

(Via andriasang.com)