Sega Dreamcast RiP
By Steve on Sunday, September 9th, 2007 at 6:26 AM PST In Game Consoles
Yes, believe it or not SEGA has been supporting the “stillborn” console for almost 9 years now. The “console that would not die” was officially cancelled in 2001, mainly due to poor sales and steamrolling that was the PS2, yet support continued. The frustration and disgrace of both the Saturn and Dreamcast was, sadly, enough to make Sega get out of the console making business altogether, instead focusing its efforts on making games for other platforms. However, in 2006 Japan saw the return of the Dreamcast in the form of a refurbished bundle through Sega’s online store. Even after the console’s death, developers were making and selling games for the so called dead console. And as we saw recently, developers are still pushing titles onto the Zombie-cast.
Well, as far as Sega of Japan is concerned, time is up come the end of this month. If your Dreamcast goes kaput, don’t come crying to Sega as they are officially disbanding support. However, I’m sure some shady online store will be happy to take your cash.
Still, it was an interesting run for the doomed console. I personally thought it wasn’t a bad console at all. It had a nice cpu & gpu (certainly better than the N64). Perhaps if the taint of the Saturn hadn’t existed, or if Sega could have gotten an earlier start, they would have gained some momentum (they were beating Nintendo there for a short while). But alas, the Dreamcast will be known as the console that died not in a blaze of glory, but in a silent whimper. Rest in Pieces, Dreamcast.
Blame Kotaku
I recently held a Dreamcast controller again and I have to say it is probably one of the most uncomfortable controllers ever conceived. I mean, I guess I didn’t realize it back then since I was so consumed by the great games on the console (Jet Grind Radio, Power Stone 1/2, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 to name a few) that I really didn’t notice back in the day.
Dreamcast really was a console that was ahead of it’s time. I still remember attempting to play online multiplayer games with it. It was amazing how well the network performed, especially running off a 56k modem.
It’s better to burn out then to fade away. RIP.
I can actually see quite a lot of similarities between the Dreamcast’s life and a certain current console.
The previous consoles released by both companies were considered commercial failures.
Both were launched a year or so before the latest PlayStation.
Both had better online capability.
Both took a huge early lead over the Playstation with massive initial sales especially in the US.
Both were far cheaper than the PlayStation when it was eventually launched.
Both ‘didn’t need’ the next generation media disc format that the new PlayStation came with and stuck with the previous generations format.
Nice Norbit, very nice
@Nordbit: Wow. Great job coming up with those similarities. Bravo!
@Norbit
One major difference, and deciding factor i think, is the Dreamcasts total lack of major 3rd party support.
I think Nintendo should follow Sega’s lead by dumping consoles and sticking to their software. Nintendo 1st party games make an absolute killing because of the amount of detail that goes into each and every title. If they ditched the Wii or whatever other console they plan on releasing in the future and stick to software, they would make a killing.
Daniel, you’re retarded. Nintendo makes the most reliable hardware.
I’ve heard countless stories of someone’s t.v. falling on their n64 or someone losing their gameboy outside, during winter, only to find out later that THEY STILL WORKED.
Anyway, I don’t want the dream cast to die, I want them to reinvision it and repackage it for American audiences.
Weclock yea my original GB was one of thoose it survived a flood after drying it off it worked
@ daniel, if you havent noticed nintendo is making a killing on the wii as it is, look up some sales numbers.. i want to say its never sold less than 200k units per month and only just recently overtook the ds in monthly sales im pretty sure that counts as making a butt load of money. its cool, however, that they are still making games for the dreamcast the 100 or so people who still have one should be enthused.
You know, if Sega went back into the console market, it’d be pretty interesting. They know the virtue’s (and the vice’s) of the big three and have developed for them all…they could potentially create a system that would rock, but alas, I do not believe that will be so.
@Thor: Yea, I’m aware that they are making a killing, that’s why when I usually make that statement, it usually never goes too well for me. I just feel the Wii right now isn’t what most of it’s early adopters wanted it to be. I expected much more from the Wii and the only time I have played it lately is to play Metroid Prime 3 and Mario Strikers. And the only times I plan on playing it in the future once I’m done with those games is when Mario comes out and Smash Bros. But after that, what else is really planned to come out for the hardcore Nintendo fans?
I’m going to make a bold statement here and will probably get a lot of heat from the Ninty fanboys, but I think the only reason why Nintendo is doing so well with the Wii is because the old-school Nintendo fans (such as myself) want to play the latest Mario, Metroid, and other Nintendo flagship games and also like the idea of playing virtual console games which bring their old-school games back into their living rooms. Another reason why Nintendo is succeeding is by focusing more on the casual gamer, since they already have the undying support from their old fans anyways. Did we all forget Nintendo’s E3 press conference? 95% of what they talked about was geared towards the casual gaming market.
Wow DANIEL, that’s the dumbest thing they could do right now! Why would the big N quit consoles? They’re making more money on the Wii than any of the other fools combined!
Yeah, seriously, the Wii is like the only system that hasnt f**ked up yet. The PS3 messes up on most of the PS2 games (flippin compatibility issues) and the 360 has this new found ring of death, both costing the companies millions and billions of dollars…and I haven’t seen anything about the Wii other than the retards that sling the remote too hard and make the wrist strap break, thus throwing their remote into the tv.
Far be it for me to defend the PS3, but the compatability issues are blown way out of proportion. The PS3 can play almost all the important PS2 titles (God of War, anyone?). If you want to find a good argument in the PS3 look at its identity issues of a gaming device vs. media player. Its PS2 compat. has always been a weak argument.
SEGA Dreamcast was a best console in 2000. Why stopped SEGA making game console in 2001.
New powerful Dreamcast.I can’t say goodbye my dreamcast. 
Because of Microsoft stole Dreamcast console weirdo named XBOX?. I don’t like microsoft console I like SEGA Dreamcast console and I always want running on pc SEGA Dreamcast emulator.
I hope that Dreamcast revive again