Sega DreamcastSega's
revolutionary new video game console called the Dreamcast was
introduced to American consumers on September 9, 1999 (or 9/9/99).
Dreamcast launched with an initial retail price of $199.99. As it
had done four years previously with the Saturn system, Sega utilized
the expertise of major companies to assist in the production of its
new console. Hitachi, NEC, Yamaha, Videologic, and Microsoft all
combined to help produce a specific part of the Dreamcast system.
The Dreamcast's CPU is a customized Hitachi SH4 RISC (Reduced
Instruction Set Chip) which provides 128-bit performance and runs at
200MHz. It has been modified by Sega and Hitachi to enhance its
floating-point operations capabilities which are important for
high-output 3D calculations. The SH4 processor can perform
floating-point operations four times faster than the Intel Pentium
II chip.
NEC and Videologic combined to develop the Power VR which drives the
Dreamcast's graphics engine. The Power VR boasts a peak output of
more than three million polygons per second and adds customized
anti-aliasing technology to the platform. High-resolution fog and
water effects and a more vivid appearance of light and shadow are
among the refined graphics that sets the Dreamcast system apart from
other consoles.
Yamaha is providing a dedicated 3D Super Intelligent Sound Processor
for the Dreamcast system. It is a chip is capable of producing 64
channels of sound. Sega also teamed with Yamaha to develop a
customized 12x GD-ROM drive for Dreamcast. The new drive is intended
to dramatically minimize the standard loading time for a disc-based
console. This advantage will encourage the creation of more complex
games and larger playing fields.
The Windows CE operating system that Microsoft has developed for the
Dreamcast has been optimized to run DirectX applications. The
primary motive for creating this specialized software was to
simplify the process of game developing for third party companies.
A unique feature to video game consoles is Sega's Visual Memory Unit
(VMU). The VMU is a memory card with its own built-in LCD
(Liquid-Crystal Display) screen. When the VMU is inserted into a
Dreamcast controller, the LCD screen allows players to preview their
own special moves against competitors (like diagramming a play in a
football game).
When the VMU is removed from a Dreamcast controller, it becomes a
portable game card about the size of a credit card. By using the VMU
players can save newly created characters or moves and can swap game
information by connecting two VMU cards together. Up to two VMU
cards can be plugged into a Dreamcast controller at one time.
The VMU also serves as its own 8-bit hand-held game platform and is
very similar in design to the Nintendo Game Boy. It contains its own
directional joypad and control buttons. Graphics are viewed on the
VMU's LCD screen. A VMU card retails anywhere from $19.99 to $24.99,
but requires its own separate battery power.
Sega's Dreamcast controller contains two slots for inserting
peripherals (like the VMU card). It includes a digital joypad as
well as an analog stick. The controller features a transparent
view-port to see the VMU screen. There are four controller ports on
the Dreamcast system.
Some of the other peripherals introduced with the release of the
system were: The Rally Wheel -- a steering wheel add-on designed for
racing games like Flag to Flag; The Jump Pack -- the Sega equivalent
of the Nintendo Rumble Pak; The Dreamcast Arcade Stick -- a digital
controller with six action buttons to the right of it; The Dreamcast
Keyboard -- accommodates online users by permitting the composing of
e-mail and the entering of textual information on the Internet.
When the Dreamcast is activated, a bouncing orange dot spells out
the Dreamcast logo on-screen. If a game is not inserted into the
drive, the system will automatically revert to the setup screen. At
the setup screen players can select the preferred language, set the
time, input VMU card data or choose the option to play a music
Compact Disc in the GD-ROM drive. On-screen controls provide music
lovers the same track accessing options found on a standard CD
player.
The Dreamcast package includes: the console, instruction manual, one
controller, one composite A/V cable, one power cord, and a copy of
Sega's Dream Passport web software. By using Dream Passport, the
Dreamcast system can connect to the Internet through any ISP. The
software will not allow access until it has first been registered
with Sega.
A Dreamcast NetLink Modem is built-in that can connect at 56Kbps.
The Dreamcast system has been designed to accommodate faster speed
modems when they are made available.
Sega has lined up several major third party software developers for
the Dreamcast system. Companies like Acclaim, Accolade, Capcom,
Interactive Software, Interplay, Konami, Microprose, Midway and
Mindscape have committed to producing games for Dreamcast.
There were 19 games scheduled to be available at the launch date of
the Dreamcast system: Sonic Adventure, Soul Calibur, Ready 2 Rumble
Boxing, Hydro Thunder, NFL 2K, Expendable, Power Stone, The House of
the Dead 2, Flag to Flag, TrickStyle, Blue Stinger, Monaco Grand
Prix, TNN Motorsports HardCore Heat, Tokyo Xtreme Racer, NFL Blitz
2000, Mortal Kombat Gold, AeroWings, AirForce Delta and Pen Pen
TriIcelon.
— Dave Beuscher
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