Dreamcast FAQ 0.2

This story is meant to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Sega's Dreamcast machine. Some details are not yet known, which is why they are not included in this story at this time. We will periodically be updating this FAQ when new information becomes available – Version .02 updated 6/2/98. On with the questions!

Q: Will the name be Dreamcast everywhere?A: Yes.

Q: When it will be out?A: November 20 1998 in Japan, Fall 1999 in the US. Other territories have not yet been announced yet, although a release in Europe may fall around the time of the US launch.

Q: What's the price?A: It has not yet been determined, but will probably land between 20,000 to 30,000 yen (roughly US$150-$225, at current exchange rates).

Q: What are its specifications?A: Check the link to the right for details.

Q: I only see four buttons on the controller, are there more?A: Yes, there are two shoulder buttons on the back of the controller, so there are a total of six buttons on the standard Dreamcast controller. It's inevitable that peripherals like fighting sticks and other control pads will be made, so if you're not happy with the standard pad, there'll be other options.

Q: Is Dreamcast DVD?A: No. Instead, the Dreamcast will use a higher-density CD-ROM format which will have more storage space than a normal CD. The inclusion of DVD would have driven the price up.

Q: Will the Dreamcast be backwardly compatible? Will it be able to play Saturn games?A: It is very unlikely that Dreamcast will be able to play Saturn games. At this point, no official announcement has been made regarding this possibility. Dreamcast does not have a cartridge slot for memory cards or game saves to be transferred.

Q: Why only a 33.6 modem?A: Actually, in an interview the day after the Dreamcast's announcement, Shoichirou Irimajiri told the press that the modem would be upgradeable, and that in the US, it may be possible to use a cable modem with the system for a faster data transfer rate. No further details on how that could be done have been announced yet.

Q: How will the Dreamcast connect to the Internet for network gaming?A: Sega is developing a Heat.net-type ISP for Dreamcast users which will allow players to meet and then disconnect and play point-to-point. If you buy a Dreamcast, it's Internet-ready, no additional hardware to buy.

Q: What games will be available for it?A: No games have been announced yet, although the first batch of launch titles in Japan will be made up of five titles. Likely candidates include Sega Rally 2, Super GT, a Sonic game and Virtua Fighter 3.

Q: Will the Dreamcast have 2D games also, like Street Fighter III and Castlevania?A: It's likely that yes, the system will still have 2D games. However, Shoichirou Irimajiri, Sega Enterprises President commented that the Saturn may be left to handle 2D games while the Dreamcast handles only the higher-end 3D games.

Q: Who will be making Dreamcast games?A: Dreamcast developers have not yet been officially announced, although most big name developers have already begun titles. Sega's 1.5 party developers, whose games will be published by Sega, include Appaloosa Interactive, Bizarre Creations, Argonaut, Red Lemon, and No Cliché.

Q: Is the LCD screen built-in to the controller?A: No. There's a slot on the back of the controller for the Visual Memory System, a separate handheld system with its own LCD screen. You put the VMS into the back of the controller and that becomes the controller's display. Without it, there's an empty space in the controller. There are slots for two VMS-type devices in the back of the controller.

If you have any questions you'd like to add to this document, e-mail me at chris_johnston@zd.com. Thanks.