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By Shane Satterfield and Skyler Miller
Designed by Collin Oguro
Introduction
Three systems enter the arena. Only one survives...
This is System Wars, GameSpot's monthly feature, which covers the battle for console supremacy. Only one official entry is allowed from each company, so this month's contenders are the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, and Game Boy Advance. The competitors are discussed, compared, and ranked, with the focus on which system has the best games. We'll also take a look at the PlayStation and Game Boy Color and peer into the future of the Xbox and the GameCube.
Here's a quick rundown of the combatants:
Sega Dreamcast
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US launch date: September 9, 1999
Storage medium: Proprietary GD-ROM format (1.2GB)
CPU: 200MHz Hitachi SH4 RISC with 128-bit graphics engine
Graphics: NEC Power VR2
Memory: 16MB main, 8MB video, 2MB sound
Sound: Yamaha Super Intelligent sound processor with 32-bit RISC CPU (64-channel ADPCM)
Controller ports: Four
Extra features: Built-in 56k modem
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PlayStation 2
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US launch date: October 26, 2000
Storage medium: CD-ROM (650MB) and DVD-ROM (4.7GB)
CPU: 128-bit Emotion engine at 294.912MHz
Graphics: Graphics synthesizer at 147.456MHz, 4MB embedded cache VRAM
Memory: 32MB Direct RDRAM
Sound: SPU2 with 48 channels plus software, 2MB sound memory
Controller ports: Two
Extra features: DVD-movie playback, PlayStation backward compatibility
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Game Boy Advance
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US launch date: June 11, 2001
Storage medium: Cartridge
CPU: 16MHz 32-bit RISC CPU and 8-bit CISC CPU
Graphics: 240x160 resolution with 32,000 colors
Extra features: Backward compatibility with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games
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Less than two years ago, the Dreamcast was the new kid on the block. Now, it's the oldest console in System Wars. Despite a lineup of quality first-party games and promising support from the hard-core gamer, weak overall sales caused Sega to pull the plug on the Dreamcast in March. Sega stated it would support the DC until the end of 2001, but new releases have slowed to a trickle. The PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance, on the other hand, appear to have their best days ahead of them. Buyer demand for both systems at their respective launches caused shortages and increased their status as must-have items. It wasn't until well into 2001 that PS2s were readily available on store shelves: As of September 1, 2001, it's finally possible to walk into most stores and come out with a new Game Boy Advance.
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