Andplayers

Andplayers is a keyboard and mouse support package for the Sega Dreamcast, created by a developer known by the pseudonym Accelerometer. It allowed users to play PC-based games on their Dreamcast consoles by emulating keyboard and mouse input. Released in 2001, Andplayers was one of several third-party solutions to provide PC gaming capabilities on the Dreamcast.

The package supported popular games such as Quake III Arena, Unreal Tournament, and Sierra games, among others. It used a combination of keyboard and mouse hardware to translate input signals into Dreamcast-specific commands, enabling users to enjoy a wide range of PC games on their console. Andplayers also included features like gamepad calibration and customizable key mappings.

Andplayers was designed to take advantage of the Dreamcast's hardware capabilities, using the console's existing architecture to simulate keyboard and mouse input. The software's functionality and compatibility were well-received by the gaming community, with many users appreciating the ability to play PC games on their Dreamcast consoles.

While Andplayers was an innovative solution at the time, it was not without its limitations. The package required users to set up a PC-based mouse and keyboard peripheral on their console, which added to the overall complexity of the setup process. Additionally, the performance and stability of Andplayers were impacted by the Dreamcast's CPU and RAM limitations.

Despite these limitations, Andplayers remains a notable example of the creative and resourceful community-driven development that flourished on the Dreamcast platform. Its contribution to the gaming scene continues to be celebrated by retro gaming enthusiasts and Dreamcast fans worldwide.