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  1. Games
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Pokemon Go getting the port it so desperately needs: to Dreamcast VMU

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By Sam Prell published 30 August 2016

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Pokemon Go, a game for iOS and Android smartphones about wandering around and catching Pokemon, is in the process of being ported to the Dreamcast VMU, a device the size of a single Doritos chip and not much more powerful than one. And who is responsible for this? Someone going by the online handle "guacasaurus_mex," according to Ars Technica. I couldn't make this up if I tried.

Obviously the VMU lacks both the graphical punch and processing power of today's smartphones, so the game will be streamlined for the 48x32 resolution portable memory card. A randomly-generated map will be used instead of GPS coordinates, and a timing-based mini-game will be used to capture Pokemon instead of swipes.

Lest you think that Mr. Mex is an over-ambitious dreamer who could never actually create such a game, here's his adaptation of Flappy Bird, running off a stock VMU:

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Flappy Bird for the Sega Dreamcast VMU! Video 2 of 2. Will be posting a download link here in the next day or so, just trying to reduce the file size a bit (56 blocks currently). #sega #dreamcast #vmu #visualmemoryunit #portablegaming #indiedev #pixelart #retrocollective #retrocollection #flappybird #flappybirdvmu

A photo posted by @guacasaurus_mex on Mar 25, 2016 at 8:54pm PDT

Mex has also created a racing game and proof of concept for a turn-based fighting game based on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Holy crap! I started writing this article thinking it would be one cute little side project, but the VMU homebrew scene is freakin' awesome. Godspeed, Mex - we'll be waiting for your Pokemon Go VMU port and any other wild ideas you dream up.

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CATEGORIES
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Sam Prell
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Former News Editor

Sam is a former News Editor here at GamesRadar+. His expert words have appeared on many of the web's well-known gaming sites, including Joystiq, Penny Arcade, Destructoid, and G4 Media, among others. Sam has a serious soft spot for MOBAs, MMOs, and emo music. Forever a farm boy, forever a '90s kid.

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