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The Life and Death of the Dreamcast (continued)

March 2, 1999: Sony's Dream, Sega's Nightmare

GameSpot examines how the impressive unveiling of the PlayStation 2 will affect Sega's new system.

March 3, 1999: Dreamcast Team Addition

Sega adds former Reebok executive Peter Moore to its team. Perhaps you've heard of him?

March 4, 1999: Kojima's Next Game on DC?

With the popularity of Metal Gear Solid, fans eagerly await Kojima's next project. Rumors suggest that he's working on a recently announced Dreamcast game called Raizeleet.

March 5, 1999: Sega Makes Its Statement

Sega finally responds to the PlayStation 2 announcement. Then Sega of America president Bernie Stolar says, "On paper, Sony's machine sounds impressive. But the fact is, it's still on paper."

March 17, 1999: Sega Outlines US Launch

A few more details come out about the US launch, including the availability of a 56K modem and a possible DVD-equipped version of the Dreamcast.

April 15, 1999: Dreamcast $199 on September 9

Finally, the official details about pricing and the date for the US launch are revealed. Sega also says that the North American version of the Dreamcast will come with a 56K modem and not the original 33.6K modem found in the Japanese version.

April 20, 1999: Namco Talks SoulCalibur

Namco reveals some extra details about the enhanced version of SoulCalibur for the Dreamcast, which becomes one of the system's most popular games.

July 12, 1999: Price Drop Fuels Sales

Perhaps serving as a sign of things to come, Sega of Japan drops the Dreamcast price down to 19,900 yen to stimulate slowing sales.

July 30, 1999: Bleem's President Vents

Bleem, the software that lets you play PlayStation games on the PC, comes under fire, but the company still considers releasing a Dreamcast version, which would later come to fruition as Bleemcast.

August 3, 1999: Sega Dreamcast Network Details

GameSpot gets some early details on the network infrastructure for the Dreamcast, including that the network will not be ready for full-on multiplayer gaming until the following year.

August 12, 1999: A Post-Bernie Sega Speaks

A month before the Dreamcast release, Sega ousts then-president Bernie Stolar. The remaining executive crew, which includes Peter Moore, comments on where Sega will go next.

August 13, 1999: EA Comments on Dreamcast

The drama surrounding EA's support for the Dreamcast continues as the company says it's still "evaluating" the platform.

September 10, 1999: Sega's $97 Million Dreamcast

The Dreamcast gets off to a successful start as Sega measures launch-day revenue and praises a successful preorder campaign with 300,000 units reserved at retail.

September 10, 1999: Defective Dreamcast GD-ROMs

The launch doesn't go as flawlessly as Sega hopes. Reports surface about games not playing properly on systems due to data being improperly burned. Sega quickly offers a replacement program.

September 14, 1999: DC Sells Through the Roof

More impressive launch numbers show that Sega sold 372,000 Dreamcasts in its first four days.

November 5, 1999: Sega Comments on 2000

GameSpot speaks with Sega of America's Charles Bellfield to get details on the company's Dreamcast plans for network gaming, the Windows CE-powered portion of the platform, and the Dreamcast Zip drive. The number of Dreamcasts sold reaches 750,000.

December 21, 1999: BioHazard: Code Veronica Arrives

Capcom releases the demo for Resident Evil Code: Veronica in Japan, cementing its status as one of the Dreamcast's flagship games.

January 5, 2000: First Look: Tony Hawk Dreamcast

One of many major third-party PlayStation games makes its way to the Dreamcast and leads the way for others that are announced a few weeks later, including Tomb Raider.

January 7, 2000: EA Square Considers Dreamcast

Rumors swirl that the newly formed publishing venture between Electronic Arts and SquareSoft will produce additional support for the Dreamcast from both companies.

February 14, 2000: DC Internet Users Reach 1 Million

The worldwide number of Dreamcast users online reaches the 1 million mark--an important figure that shows how many owners are ready for the upcoming push for online multiplayer gaming.

March 29, 2000: Quake III Arena for Dreamcast Announced

Activision and id formally announced a Dreamcast version of the popular PC first-person shooter. Quake III Arena also becomes one of a few games to support the Dreamcast keyboard and mouse as well as the broadband adapter.

March 31, 2000: Jet Set Radio Lights Up Sega Booth

The springtime version of the Tokyo Game Show features some of Sega's most prominent Dreamcast games, one of which is the visually impressive Jet Grind Radio, while the other is…

March 31, 2000: Phantasy Star Online Unveiled

Phantasy Star Online, an online multiplayer role-playing game, is a big hit at the Tokyo Game Show, and it shows that Sega is taking online gaming seriously.

June 15, 2000: EA's PlayStation 2 Support

EA all but officially steps away from any potential Dreamcast support, pushing all of its efforts toward the PlayStation 2. Sega of America president Peter Moore says, "They would never admit it, but I'm sure they regret the decision now that the numbers are out."

August 17, 2000: Dreamcast Misses Projections

Despite doing well in North America, worldwide sales for the Dreamcast fall short of expectations. The system has an especially hard time selling in Japan.

August 31, 2000: Dreamcast for $149.95

Sega drops the official price of the Dreamcast and bundles it with an online deal to help spur sales and support for upcoming online games, including NFL 2K1, NBA 2K1, Quake III Arena, and Phantasy Star Online.

September 7, 2000: SegaNet Launches

Almost a year after the Dreamcast hits shelves, Sega launches its full-scale online gaming network with NFL 2K1.

October 3, 2000: Dreamcast Sales Stimulated

Sega gets a boost in Dreamcast sales thanks to the price reduction, the release of NFL 2K11, and the recently launched SegaNet.

October 31, 2000: Low Pings Invade SegaNet

The Dreamcast broadband adapter arrives at GameSpot much to the dismay of users stuck with the standard 56K modem.

November 7, 2000: Sega Ships Shenmue

After years of work and millions of dollars, Sega finally releases Yu Suzuki's eagerly anticipated adventure game, Shenmue, in North America.

January 23, 2001: Report Claims That Sega Plans to Halt Dreamcast Production

Things aren't looking up after the holiday shopping season. Sega of Japan hints at the possibility that the company will abandon its position as a console manufacturer. The next day Sega confirms that it's exploring other opportunities with the Dreamcast hardware.

January 31, 2001: Sega Announces Drastic Restructuring

The unthinkable happens: Sega formally withdraws from the hardware console race and becomes a third-party developer, announcing various PlayStation 2 projects. The company also announces a Dreamcast price drop to $99.95 but vows to continue supporting the Dreamcast with software.

January 31, 2001: Peter Moore Discusses Sega's Announcement

Sega of America president and CEO Peter Moore discusses Sega's new role as a third-party developer.

November 21, 2001: Sega Drops Dreamcast Price Again

In what is surely an Old Yeller moment, Sega makes its last official cut in price for the Dreamcast, dropping it from $79.95 to $49.95--the price of a single game on other platforms.

August 28, 2003: Phantasy Star Offline

Sega announces plans to close the online servers for Phantasy Star Online, thus officially taking the Dreamcast off life support for the remaining users of its online service.

What were your memories of the Sega Dreamcast hardware and game lineup? Leave us a comment and share your thoughts.

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ProjectAlpha 5 pts

kinda late to say this but the Dreamcast is amazing. bought one two months ago and i will always cherish it. sigh... sonic adventure rules...

CrossFire312 5 pts

I still love the one I have. Haven't played it in a while, though. It was my first real console.

nissanmaxima 5 pts

I had one. Loved it. My favorite game was 18 Wheeler!

halvedlife 6 pts

an excellent game console that really didn't get its due. So sad. But it will live on as the favorite underdog forever.

fend_oblivion 27 pts

I just found this feature today... Wow...

mike0295 5 pts

I can't read this too many memories I'm crying now!

GodGundamNT1 23 pts

and btw the Saturn was a better console with better support and original games, sega made a huge mistake making an allegiance with Microsoft and taking the Dual SH4 set up down to a single SH4 to please whiny microsoft and game devs when their best developers had already mastered Saturn's dual SH2, most important of all is that the console was release too early by dropping support on Saturn and angering sega fans who went to other consoles because of this. It also does not take a genious to figure out that putting in the modem actually hurt the console and shifted focus on real single player games to empty hollow shell multiplayer games, had Sega not wasted money so carelessly they would not have had the console die the way it did, but microsoft played a hand in it its just so funny that very few people actually realize this.

GodGundamNT1 23 pts

@DCUltrapro a sega fanboy who never owned a saturn during its lifecycle... now you know why the dreamcast died

lookin_boy 7 pts

so ahead of its time... why didnt they just leave sega alone :(

DCUltrapro 15 pts

Greatest console of ALL TIME in my humble opinion, coming from a Sega fanboy through and through who also owns a PS1, PS2, Atari Consoles, Nintendo Wii, Gamecube and Xbox/360. DC was the best, most fun, most entertaining console of all time and was way ahead of the curve in its day. God I miss you DC!!!

athenian29 5 pts

They're actually considering adding Dreamcast games to PSN. I think it was in the monthly rumor section of Game Informer...

nate1222 169 pts

@wario96 I've been saying that since the Wii launched. We've already got HotD2&3. Why not Power Stone 2, Sonic Adventure Battle 2, Shenmue (the Wii-mote might be good for it), Street Fighter Alpha 3, etc...? I still own and enjoy my Dreamcast. It's STILL awesome, regardless of current gen tech. Technologically, we're hitting a glass ceiling (cost wise) where development costs are ridiculous! Instead of creating another "gimmick" game for the Wii, why not re-release some of the Dreamcasts' old Classics? I'd snag'em!

wario96 5 pts

you know what they should do, add dreamcast games to the wii VC and make the dreamcast master collection (including sonic adventure i love that game)

Agelu 5 pts

Very good article. I love these well-made "History Of..." articles of things worthy to remember. I never had a DC. I've always been more of a PC player.

clsmithj 5 pts

robertwarnes91. It was released in North America on 9/9/99 not just in one country, and many American sites are celebrating that date. Perhaps other markets celebrated their launch date, it does not matter as it doesn't pertain to it's North American launch.

robertwarnes91 15 pts

So..... why is every site chosen to celebrate the Dreamcast's 10th birthday on the date of the tenth anniversary of the system's release in ONE country a year after the original Japanese launch? It would have been more logical to mark the 10th birthday on the 30th of November 2008 ten years after its original release in Japan?

ultravga 5 pts

Dreamcast was an amazing system for its time and had many superb games availabl for it. Even though it did not have the graphic ability of the PS2 (see Sega Rally, headhunter etc) it still managed to pull off brilliant experiences that will always be remembered by all who played through them. I still have mine and play jojos bizarre advetnture to this day. Where else can a dog pull of a raging demon??

CAPPAT 5 pts

[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

Reaper-Sho 5 pts

No matter what you people say. The dream still lives on.

iloveyourface 7 pts

still have my dreamcast. always will have my dreamcast. why you may ask? shenmue. if you didn't ask why i apologize.

xraystar 5 pts

loved the genesis and dreamcast but come on people, sega put out another console? In this day and age where Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft rule the market; that would be [another] unwise move by sega. They can't even manage to put out a decent game nowadays. Shenmue II wasn't nearly as good as the original.

Herosuperdude 5 pts

I feel like I'm having amnesia. This whole situation kinda reminds me of Nintendo, and especially the Wii...

narutoquest 5 pts

The Dreamcast is seriously one of my favorite systems. I'm a big fan of Sega and it's a really big shame that this console got so little spotlight and became obsolete way too fast. It was unquestionably WAY ahead of its time. Online gameplay, VMUs, one of the first to use discs, the list goes on. I was 8 years old when my parents bought me my dreamcast and I instantly loved it. I think I was too young to appreciate the online capabilities it had to offer, but I was enthralled with the quality of the games they produced. I have a great collection of DC games that I really enjoy and still play with my little brother on ocassion. Even the "Generator" demo disc that came with the system provided countless hours of entertainment for me. I'm just waiting for the day that Sega realizes they need to make another console. Their fanbase is large and solid, and I think they would do very well to go back into the console business. I know I and probably everyone on this page would buy one. I want that special Sega feeling back in me. I want to remember what it feels like to really, REALLY enjoy playing a game, like I used to. Until then I'll stick to Nintendo.

robram9 5 pts

@ cube-gage: I completely agree with you about the DC and I don't know why but I always felt that warm fuzzy feeling every time I turned on my DC and I still can't explain what it is, I think it's the same feeling I got when I used to turn on my NES and SNES to play the Mario and Zelda games, you can feel there is something special about them...

DamageIncM 12 pts

"Seeegaaa".... lol couldn't help it. You know you love that sound. ;)

Roxas00000007 5 pts

Man...I still remember the day when I first bought it. This little console sure burned some nice memories in me. After reading this topic, I am really considering playing Shenmue again.

-White_Knight- 5 pts

The good ol' days, when Xbox Live didn't rule the tv... and I could sit down and play some Soul Calibur, House of the Dead, Spawn, Pen Pen TriIcelon, 'n Jet Set Radio with my bro and sis :) ... hell, we still go back 'n play Marvel vs Capcom 2 and Power Stone 2 from time to time!!!

cube-gage 5 pts

Had the DC been around longer it would of seriously ruled the online gaming market. PS2 never had much of an online experience, Gamecube pff all they did online is port PSO. Ive always had my suspicions that MS somehow helped in the demise of the DC just so they could enter the market with the XBOX. Theres something about the DC that gives you a certain feeling. I dont know what it is but when you play one or turn one on theres just this warm feeling. You just dont get that with the PS3 360 or Wii IMO. Yeah the controllers sucked, but in time Sega would of improved them just like Sega would of included broadband adapters and DVD capability. And who knows, they might of released more advanced VMU that would act as MP3/MP4 players. Oh the possibilities were so great.

guthwulf_de 5 pts

Poor old Dreamcast. I wanted it to do well so badly. I think with it some of the "old" gaming spirit died as well. Wonderful console. Misunderstood (or at least under appreciated) like so many of Sega's consoles before.

TreyTable 5 pts

I play more Dreamcast than PlayStation 2, XBOX, and GameCube. .. Of the four past generation consoles, all of which I own, for me, the Dreamcast still lives as long as I still live.

Mokintash 5 pts

Felt sort of sad reading this ;( I get the feeling that sega might make a come back and probably woope ass becuse there's o many people who wish for it to come back. Better watch out playstation and Microsoft :P Btw my fav sega game was Crazy Taxi !!!! Sigh...

zakkess 5 pts

aint it funny how 10 years ago the dreamcast did what consoles are just now doing 10 years later? people tend to see past the features of something and look at looks..even though the DC was equal to PS2 in graphics..if sega ever released another console theyd be better off not innovating something because no one would want that in their consoles for another decade.. :/

2w-sephiroth 5 pts

If I knew that the Dreamcast would have lasted so little I would have still brought the system. It was the best fun I ever had... Its funny that when I brought it, next week it dropped the price lol, I was enfuriated :P The best fun I had was Jet Set Radio and Grandia 2. Shenmue and Shenmue 2 was an incredible experience as well. Thank you microsoft for killing this two Sega franchises... sigh.

NOS_1PLAYER 5 pts

I just brought one for $30. let my son play nba showtime & ready 2 rumble2. He had a blast. I really had high hopes for the dreamcast. Being that i prefer the sega master sys. over the first nintendo.I love the Genesis. The Saturn was a BIG mistake!!!!!

Hillsy_ 15 pts

Soul Calibur was the most impressive. 10/10 without a doubt. Shenmue was also impressive for its' time. The Dreamcast also had some Arcade fun games too like Crazy Taxi, House of the Dead 2 & Virtua Tennis etc.. Good to see the Dreamcast being remembered by users.

Hanzoadam 19 pts

I never had one I played and liked them but to be honest I think it was too advanceed it failed

P0T 5 pts

I loved my Dreamcast man! Remember house of the dead 2? Dual wielding light guns baby! Skies of Arcadia was amazing. And I easily spent a few hundred hours on PSO. Can't forget Shenmue or Soul Calibur either. I remember feeding a chaos from Sonic Adventure on my VMU. 2k football! Such a classic system man.

Blueguy93 5 pts

I loved the Sonic Adventure games!

03207771 5 pts

I never actually ever owned a dreamcast but reading this feature brought a tear to my eye. I remember being round my friends place all the time playing Soul Caliber, DOA, Virtua Tennis and Shemue all the time. Some of the best times of my gaming life and just shows you how innovative and ahead of its the time the DC really was. You look at Xbox line and PSN you see how many features they have adopted from Seganet. P.S. The only reason I never owned a DC is because I was just a kid who convinced his parents to buy a PS and would never shell out for a another console:(

joevit 5 pts

I loved the dreamcast but No one would give it a chance and PS2 was no way better than the DC. The DC was a monster for its time and if it stayed in the game it would have made PS2 games look like NES games. I still have the DC. I might buy a new one. I was told that Sega was going to put them back into play. If thats true, I'm going to get a new one.

bobdimstar 5 pts

the 1st console i owned was a micro genius,coming with nintendo and sega genesis,and we was poor back then and saturn and dreamcast was what i only see and cant play,i owned a sega genesis and i loved it,and hopefully sega is gonna make a comeback

Flint247 67 pts

I wish they make something similar to the VMU again, that was tight. (Despite the battery life)

Xaviersx 5 pts

For some reason, it was a very endearing system. I bought a second one when my 1st died, and this was well after it's commercial demise. It was fun and powerful, compact (except for maybe the controllers), and even the VU units were novel. Plus, some classic games are always in fashion.

0karl0 5 pts

This had the most loved games like Sonic adventure 2, Crazy Taxi and Power Stone. Man I love the dreamcast =)

Bengameaholic 5 pts

I remember seeing Crazy Taxi on the Dreamcast for the first time. Best graphics I had ever seen up to that point. I think...

NuKkU 5 pts

man Dreamcast one system i never owned and i wish i would have :(

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