Released: November 1998, 11 years ago
CPU Speed: Hitachi SH-4 200 MHz
Memory: 16 MB RAM / 8 MB VRAM
Video: 1600x1200 / True Color
Game Controller: Gamepad
Price in 1998: $199
The Dreamcast was the last home video gaming console that Sega produced. Released in 1998, it was the sixth generation gaming system. It had a three-year run in North America, being discontinued in 2001. Europe and Oceania seemed to embrace the system a bit more wholeheartedly, and it continued to be sold until 2006. All the while, new licensed games were still being released in these more receptive markets while North America abandoned it entirely. Allegedly, the Dreamcast was abandoned because the Sega higher-ups wanted to focus on software development and sales. Its short tenure was truly disappointing, since the Dreamcast was definitely ahead of the mark.
The Dreamcast featured some great innovations that should have propelled it to the forefront of the industry. The Dreamcast came standard with a built-in modem and Internet support for online play; it was the first home gaming console to offer this valuable and useable feature. Moreover, the titles that Sega launched with were awesome. No Sega game system would be complete without a game featuring Sonic, the flagship character. Certainly, the inclusion of Sonic Adventure in the initial launch was no surprise. Other cool titles included Soul Calibur, Power Stone, and Hydro Thunder. Dreamcast sales continually rose and it seemed to be on the move to the top of the market - but the release of Sony's PlayStation 2 at the height of Dreamcast's popularity still served as the kiss of death for Sega.
Sega announced the plan to abandon Dreamcast in 2001, even with almost sixty titles unreleased. Some made it to publication, and others, such as Half-Life were leaked to the Internet. The interest in pirating games of a dead system shows how influential the Dreamcast was in its day.
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