I was originally going to write this inaugural edition of Byte Sized with a general series of statements about how old games are good and new games... Well, usually aren't as good. Anyone who's read my scant few reviews of games on the site would expect it of me. But as I sat and composed my thoughts, a more immediate thing worthy of praise and attention.

According to the latest issue of The Official Dreamcast Magazine, Sega will soon be releasing a packaged set of their Dreamcast with a CD containing 10 Genesis games, emulated to perfection on the Dreamcast. I was skeptical at first too, but then the list of games included changed my mind. Sonic the Hedgehog, Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Streets of Rage 2, Vector Man, Columns, Wrestle War, Shining Force [!] and Phantasy Star II [!!]. These are all good (and in some cases excellent) games. Hats off to Sega for not doing some half-assed collection. This thing has the goods, yet leaves room for future discs as well.

Unfortunately, there's a downside to everything. Sega's move is without fail going to be a disaster for them, and quite possibly another nail in what some view as the coffin of the Dreamcast (a damn shame considering the number of unique quality titles the system has come out with to date.) In today's world, a disc with 5+ year old games, even 10 of them, will not sell a current-generation system. The "Smash Pack" (as ODM claimed it would be nomered) will be another move to endear Sega toward the hearts of reminiscent and long-time gamers, but it can't be expected to pull in a new crowd of gamers or compete with the technologically up-to-date games which will appear on the PS2, Gamecube or X-Box. The gamers bred within the past 5 years are generally all about fluff and pizzazz, not the kind of mystical magic that made even those "old, pixel games" with "the tinny music" like Sonic, Zelda or indeed Phantasy Star unforgettable.

I'd rather be wrong than right in this one case, however. Sega is perhaps the only gaming company who appears to understand the true appeal of playing the classics in the face of total polygonal madness. Sonic Jam on the Saturn was a good foray into the waters, and they allowed (perhaps even encouraged) the releases of Salamander Deluxe Pack and the Capcom Collections in Japan. They included fully authentic emulations of Hang On and Space Harrier in Shenmue, and even if they did fit into dates the story was supposed to take place, they were as standoutish in the multimillion polygon world there as a knife in your banana sundae. Super Mario Brothers All Stars was a collection beyond compare, yes, but it wasn't exactly like playing the old games (the graphics were updated), and in any event, it's the only retro collection I recall Nintento putting out. Street Fighter Collections came out for both the Playstation and Saturn, so the PSX can't even claim a solo victory in that.

And now this. Gamers such as myself who never had the resources to track down semi-pricey titles like Shining Force or Phantasy Star II can get them all on a disc. I hope it proves to really be a "Smash" in spite of myself, if only for the potential it could hold for the future. The library of top-notch games Sega has put out in the arcade, on the Master System and the Genesis boggles the mind. And other companies could follow suit.

So, not that I'm telling you to skip paying the rent that month, but keep an eye out for this deal, you won't forget it. And if you already have a Dreamcast, resist the urge to grab discarded discs on eBay for cheap, and support this ideal when Sega releases a standalone disc of these games later. It'll be a hard fight for me too, but this might be one of the last chances to show companies that a market for such compilations exist.

Remember, Nei-chan is counting on you...