The Sega Lindbergh is an arcade platform based upon a Linux-embedded PC. Sega had originally planned to use the Microsoft’s Xbox 360 as the basis for the arcade board, but instead opted for an architecture based on standard PC hardware. This decision was probably made because it is usually more cost effective to use a PC as a gaming platform than it is to use a console.
According to Sega-AM2 president Hiroshi Kataoka, porting Lindbergh titles (such as Virtua Fighter 5) to Sony’s PlayStation 3 is generally easier than porting to Xbox 360, because the Lindbergh and PS3 use a GPU designed by the same company, nVidia.
Hardware Description
CPU : Intel Pentium 4 3.0G HT (800Mhz FSB – 1MB L2 Cache)
GFX : NVIDIA GeForce 6 Series GPU
GFX Memory : 256MB (256 bit GDDR3)
OS : Montavista Linux
GFX Capabilities : Vertex Shader 3.0, Pixel Shader 3.0
Audio : 3D audio synthesizer chip onboard, possible to have 64 sounds playing simultaneously, 5.1 surround output.
Video output: One analog D-Sub, Two Digital DVI outputs.
Display : Single or dual monitor support. Can output the same picture to each monitor or different pictures on each monitor, the resolution for each of the 2 monitors can also be different.
Sound output: The two front speakers have RCA connectors, SPDIF for full surround.
Resolution : HDTV (High Definition)
RAM : 1024MB 184pin DDR SD-RAM PC3200 (2x 512MB DDR 400 sticks)
LAN : 10/100/1000 TBase Gigabit Network
Other : DVD Drive Support, USB2.0 (x4) – Sega ALL.NET online support.
Connector Format : JVS
Protection : High Spec original security module.
At E3 2005 in closed doors, Sega showcased their line up of upcoming titles of the new generation for both console and arcades. The House of the Dead 4 was among them. It was also the very first Lindbergh game to be released in the arcades.
The House of the Dead 4 was the latest installment in the franchise to be displayed in High Definition and featured new types of game play mechanics by shaking your gun and a grenade button to blast away a huge group of creatures. With these unique features, the House of the Dead 4 was a big success to the fans.
A year later, Sega made a attraction based game called The House of the Dead 4 SPECIAL. Players enter a enclosed room, sit down, and buckle up for safety reasons. The game has two 100-inch screens in front and behind the player giving the impression that enemies are attacking from all directions. The game also uses air and shakes the seats whenever a player is hit. SPECIAL takes place where 4 left off and features the return of G and a old enemy from the first game. As of now, there are no more arcade machines in the US as some are either broken and one was sold to a private collector.
The last Lindbergh game based on HotD series was another spinoff called “Loving Deads: The House of the Dead EX” where players must play as the zombie couple, Zobio and Zobiko, to escape from Dr. Curien and his evil experiments through a series of minigames. The game makes use for both the light gun and pedals (similar to Time Crisis) in certain minigames. Shooting apples and stomping spiders. The player must reach each other hands within the time limit. What’s also awesome in the is that you get to see cameos of the characters in the series (Kate and Gary) and parodies from pop culture media (Matrix with that Bullet Time). While there’s no console port for EX yet, Zobio and Zobiko both appear as playable characters in Sumo Digital’s Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing.
The House of the Dead 4 is on it’s way to the PSN. Will Sega announce a new HotD game for the arcades and. Port 1 and EX to consoles. Only time will tell.