<s>
The	O
is	O
a	O
home	B-Device
video	I-Device
game	I-Device
console	I-Device
released	O
by	O
Sega	O
on	O
November	O
27	O
,	O
1998	O
,	O
in	O
Japan	O
;	O
September	O
9	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
;	O
and	O
October	O
14	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
sixth-generation	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
console	I-Application
,	O
preceding	O
Sony	O
's	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
GameCube	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Xbox	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
Sega	O
's	O
final	O
console	O
,	O
its	O
2001	O
discontinuation	O
ending	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
eighteen	O
years	O
in	O
the	O
console	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
developed	O
by	O
an	O
internal	O
Sega	O
team	O
led	O
by	O
Hideki	O
Sato	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
to	O
the	O
expensive	O
hardware	O
of	O
the	O
unsuccessful	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
designed	O
to	O
reduce	O
costs	O
with	O
off-the-shelf	O
components	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
Hitachi	O
SH-4	O
CPU	B-Device
and	O
an	O
NEC	O
PowerVR2	O
GPU	B-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
used	O
the	O
GD-ROM	B-Device
media	O
format	O
to	O
avoid	O
the	O
expenses	O
of	O
DVD-ROM	O
technology	O
and	O
a	O
custom	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
operating	O
system	O
to	O
make	O
porting	O
PC	O
games	O
easy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
the	O
first	O
console	O
to	O
include	O
a	O
built-in	O
modular	B-Architecture
modem	B-Application
for	O
internet	O
access	O
and	O
online	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
released	O
to	O
a	O
subdued	O
reception	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
but	O
had	O
a	O
successful	O
US	O
launch	O
backed	O
by	O
a	O
large	O
marketing	O
campaign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
interest	O
steadily	O
declined	O
as	O
Sony	O
built	O
anticipation	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
sales	O
did	O
not	O
meet	O
Sega	O
's	O
expectations	O
after	O
several	O
price	O
cuts	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
company	O
suffered	O
significant	O
financial	O
losses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
change	O
in	O
leadership	O
,	O
Sega	O
discontinued	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
on	O
March	O
31	O
,	O
2001	O
,	O
withdrew	O
from	O
the	O
console	O
business	O
,	O
and	O
restructured	O
itself	O
as	O
a	O
third-party	O
developer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
9.13	O
million	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
units	O
were	O
sold	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
bestselling	O
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
(	O
1998	O
)	O
—	O
the	O
first	O
3D	O
game	O
in	O
Sega	O
's	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
franchise	O
—	O
sold	O
2.5	O
million	O
copies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
its	O
short	O
lifespan	O
and	O
limited	O
third-party	O
support	O
,	O
reviewers	O
have	O
celebrated	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
considered	O
ahead	O
of	O
its	O
time	O
for	O
pioneering	O
concepts	O
such	O
as	O
online	B-Application
play	I-Application
and	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
games	O
are	O
regarded	O
as	O
innovative	O
,	O
including	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
Crazy	B-Application
Taxi	I-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
,	O
Shenmue	B-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
,	O
Jet	B-Application
Set	I-Application
Radio	I-Application
(	O
2000	O
)	O
,	O
Phantasy	B-Application
Star	I-Application
Online	I-Application
(	O
2000	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
high-quality	O
ports	O
from	O
Sega	O
's	O
NAOMI	B-Application
arcade	O
system	B-Device
board	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1988	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
(	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
in	O
most	O
countries	O
outside	O
North	O
America	O
)	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
fourth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
successor	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
1994	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
is	O
CD-ROM-based	O
and	O
has	O
2D	O
and	O
3D	O
graphics	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
complex	O
dual-CPU	O
architecture	O
was	O
more	O
difficult	O
to	O
program	O
than	O
its	O
chief	O
competitor	O
,	O
the	O
Sony	B-Device
PlayStation	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
debuted	O
before	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
its	O
surprise	O
US	O
launch	O
,	O
four	O
months	O
earlier	O
than	O
scheduled	O
,	O
was	O
marred	O
by	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
distribution	O
,	O
which	O
remained	O
a	O
problem	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Losses	O
on	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
contributed	O
to	O
financial	O
problems	O
for	O
Sega	O
,	O
whose	O
revenue	O
had	O
declined	O
between	O
1992	O
and	O
1995	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
an	O
industry-wide	O
slowdown	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
1996	O
launch	O
of	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
,	O
sales	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
and	O
its	O
software	O
fell	O
sharply	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
August	O
1997	O
,	O
Sony	O
controlled	O
47	O
percent	O
of	O
the	O
console	O
market	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
controlled	O
40	O
percent	O
,	O
and	O
Sega	O
controlled	O
only	O
12	O
percent	O
;	O
neither	O
price	O
cuts	O
nor	O
high-profile	O
games	O
helped	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
before	O
announcing	O
its	O
financial	O
losses	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
the	O
discontinuation	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
in	O
North	O
America	O
to	O
prepare	O
for	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
its	O
successor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rumors	O
about	O
the	O
upcoming	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
—	O
spread	O
mainly	O
by	O
Sega	O
—	O
leaked	O
to	O
the	O
public	O
before	O
the	O
last	O
Saturn	B-Device
games	O
were	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
early	O
as	O
1995	O
,	O
reports	O
surfaced	O
that	O
Sega	O
would	O
collaborate	O
with	O
Lockheed	O
Martin	O
,	O
The	O
3DO	O
Company	O
,	O
Matsushita	O
,	O
or	O
Alliance	O
Semiconductor	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
new	O
graphics	B-Architecture
processing	I-Architecture
unit	I-Architecture
,	O
which	O
conflicting	O
accounts	O
said	O
would	O
be	O
used	O
for	O
a	O
64-bit	O
"	O
Saturn	B-Device
2	O
"	O
or	O
an	O
add-on	O
peripheral	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
development	O
was	O
unrelated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Considering	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
poor	O
performance	O
,	O
Irimajiri	O
looked	O
beyond	O
Sega	O
's	O
internal	O
hardware	O
development	O
division	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
new	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Accounts	O
vary	O
on	O
how	O
an	O
internal	O
team	O
led	O
by	O
Hideki	O
Sato	O
also	O
began	O
development	O
on	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
hardware	O
;	O
one	O
account	O
specifies	O
that	O
Sega	O
tasked	O
both	O
teams	O
,	O
and	O
another	O
suggests	O
that	O
Sato	O
was	O
bothered	O
by	O
Irimajiri	O
's	O
choice	O
to	O
begin	O
development	O
externally	O
and	O
had	O
his	O
team	O
start	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sato	O
and	O
his	O
group	O
chose	O
the	O
Hitachi	O
SH-4	O
processor	O
architecture	O
and	O
the	O
VideoLogic	O
PowerVR2	O
graphics	B-Architecture
processor	I-Architecture
,	O
manufactured	O
by	O
NEC	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
the	O
mainboard	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
known	O
as	O
Whitebelt	O
,	O
the	O
project	O
was	O
later	O
codenamed	O
Dural	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
metallic	O
female	O
fighter	O
from	O
Sega	O
's	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yamamoto	O
's	O
group	O
opted	O
to	O
use	O
3dfx	O
Voodoo	O
2	O
and	O
Voodoo	O
Banshee	O
graphics	B-Architecture
processors	I-Architecture
alongside	O
a	O
Motorola	B-General_Concept
PowerPC	I-General_Concept
603e	I-General_Concept
central	B-General_Concept
processing	I-General_Concept
unit	I-General_Concept
(	O
CPU	B-Device
)	O
,	O
but	O
Sega	O
management	O
later	O
asked	O
them	O
to	O
also	O
use	O
the	O
SH-4	O
chip	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Charles	O
Bellfield	O
,	O
the	O
former	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
vice	O
president	O
of	O
communications	O
and	O
former	O
NEC	O
brand	O
manager	O
,	O
presentations	O
of	O
games	O
using	O
the	O
NEC	O
solution	O
showcased	O
the	O
performance	O
and	O
low	O
cost	O
delivered	O
by	O
the	O
SH-4	O
and	O
PowerVR	B-Device
architecture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
choice	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
PowerVR	B-Device
architecture	O
concerned	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
(	O
EA	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
longtime	O
developer	O
for	O
Sega	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
February	O
1998	O
,	O
Sega	O
had	O
renamed	O
the	O
project	O
Katana	B-Operating_System
,	O
after	O
the	O
Japanese	B-Operating_System
sword	I-Operating_System
,	O
although	O
certain	O
hardware	O
specifications	O
such	O
as	O
random	B-Architecture
access	I-Architecture
memory	I-Architecture
(	O
RAM	B-Architecture
)	O
were	O
not	O
finalized	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Knowing	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
had	O
been	O
set	O
back	O
by	O
its	O
high	O
production	O
costs	O
and	O
complex	O
hardware	O
,	O
Sega	O
took	O
a	O
different	O
approach	O
with	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
previous	O
Sega	O
consoles	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
designed	O
around	O
intelligent	O
subsystems	O
working	O
in	O
parallel	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
selections	O
of	O
hardware	O
were	O
closer	O
to	O
personal	O
computers	O
than	O
video	B-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
,	O
reducing	O
cost	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
enabled	O
software	O
development	O
to	O
begin	O
before	O
any	O
development	O
kits	O
had	O
been	O
completed	O
,	O
as	O
Sega	O
informed	O
developers	O
that	O
any	O
game	O
developed	O
with	O
a	O
Pentium	B-General_Concept
II	I-General_Concept
200	O
in	O
mind	O
would	O
run	O
on	O
the	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Damien	O
McFerran	O
,	O
"	O
the	O
motherboard	B-Device
was	O
a	O
masterpiece	O
of	O
clean	O
,	O
uncluttered	O
design	O
and	O
compatibility	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Chinese	O
economist	O
and	O
future	O
Sega.com	O
CEO	O
Brad	O
Huang	O
convinced	O
the	O
Sega	O
chairman	O
,	O
Isao	O
Okawa	O
,	O
to	O
include	O
a	O
modem	B-Application
with	O
every	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
under	O
opposition	O
from	O
Okawa	O
's	O
staff	O
over	O
the	O
additional	O
cost	O
per	O
unit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
account	O
for	O
rapid	O
changes	O
in	O
home	O
data	O
delivery	O
,	O
Sega	O
designed	O
the	O
modem	B-Application
to	O
be	O
modular	B-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
selected	O
the	O
GD-ROM	B-Device
media	O
format	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jointly	O
developed	O
by	O
Sega	O
and	O
Yamaha	O
,	O
the	O
GD-ROM	B-Device
could	O
be	O
mass-produced	O
at	O
a	O
similar	O
price	O
to	O
a	O
normal	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
,	O
avoiding	O
the	O
greater	O
expense	O
of	O
newer	O
DVD-ROM	O
technology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
developed	O
a	O
custom	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
with	O
DirectX	B-Application
API	B-Application
and	O
dynamic-link	O
libraries	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
easy	O
to	O
port	O
PC	O
games	O
to	O
the	O
platform	O
,	O
although	O
programmers	O
would	O
ultimately	O
favor	O
Sega	O
's	O
development	O
tools	O
over	O
those	O
from	O
Microsoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
member	O
of	O
the	O
Project	O
Katana	B-Operating_System
team	O
speaking	O
anonymously	O
predicted	O
this	O
would	O
be	O
the	O
case	O
,	O
speculating	O
developers	O
would	O
prefer	O
the	O
greater	O
performance	O
possibilities	O
offered	O
by	O
the	O
Sega	O
OS	O
to	O
the	O
more	O
user-friendly	O
interface	O
of	O
the	O
Microsoft	O
OS	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
held	O
a	O
public	O
competition	O
to	O
name	O
its	O
new	O
system	O
and	O
considered	O
over	O
5,000	O
different	O
entries	O
before	O
choosing	O
"	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
"	O
—	O
a	O
portmanteau	O
of	O
"	O
dream	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
broadcast	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Katsutoshi	O
Eguchi	O
,	O
the	O
Japanese	O
game	O
developer	O
Kenji	O
Eno	O
submitted	O
the	O
name	O
and	O
created	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
spiral	O
logo	O
,	O
but	O
has	O
not	O
been	O
officially	O
credited	O
by	O
Sega	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
startup	O
sound	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
the	O
Japanese	O
musician	O
Ryuichi	O
Sakamoto	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
had	O
tarnished	O
its	O
reputation	O
,	O
Sega	O
planned	O
to	O
remove	O
its	O
name	O
from	O
the	O
console	O
and	O
establish	O
a	O
new	O
gaming	O
brand	O
similar	O
to	O
Sony	O
's	O
PlayStation	B-Device
,	O
but	O
Irimajiri	O
's	O
management	O
team	O
decided	O
to	O
retain	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
massive	O
losses	O
on	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
including	O
a	O
75	O
percent	O
drop	O
in	O
half-year	O
profits	O
just	O
before	O
the	O
Japanese	O
launch	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
,	O
Sega	O
was	O
confident	O
about	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
with	O
significant	O
outside	O
interest	O
and	O
many	O
pre-orders	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Sega	O
could	O
not	O
achieve	O
its	O
shipping	O
goals	O
for	O
the	O
Japanese	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
launch	O
due	O
to	O
a	O
shortage	O
of	O
PowerVR	B-Device
chipsets	O
caused	O
by	O
a	O
high	O
failure	O
rate	O
in	O
the	O
manufacturing	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
27	O
,	O
1998	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
launched	O
in	O
Japan	O
at	O
a	O
price	O
of	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
stock	O
sold	O
out	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
of	O
the	O
four	O
games	O
available	O
at	O
launch	O
,	O
only	O
one	O
—	O
a	O
port	O
of	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
the	O
most	O
successful	O
arcade	O
game	O
Sega	O
ever	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
—	O
sold	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
estimated	O
that	O
an	O
additional	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
units	O
could	O
have	O
been	O
sold	O
with	O
sufficient	O
supply	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
had	O
announced	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
the	O
next	O
game	O
starring	O
its	O
mascot	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
would	O
launch	O
with	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
and	O
promoted	O
it	O
with	O
a	O
large-scale	O
public	O
demonstration	O
at	O
the	O
Tokyo	O
Kokusai	O
Forum	O
Hall	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
and	O
Sega	B-Application
Rally	I-Application
Championship	I-Application
2	I-Application
were	O
delayed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Irimajiri	O
hoped	O
to	O
sell	O
over	O
1	O
million	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
units	O
in	O
Japan	O
by	O
February	O
1999	O
,	O
but	O
sold	O
fewer	O
than	O
900	O
,	O
000	O
,	O
undermining	O
Sega	O
's	O
attempts	O
to	O
build	O
an	O
installed	B-Operating_System
base	I-Operating_System
sufficient	O
to	O
protect	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
after	O
the	O
arrival	O
of	O
competition	O
from	O
other	O
manufacturers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
were	O
reports	O
of	O
disappointed	O
Japanese	O
consumers	O
returning	O
their	O
Dreamcasts	B-Operating_System
and	O
using	O
the	O
refund	O
to	O
purchase	O
additional	O
PlayStation	B-Device
software	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Seaman	B-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
July	O
1999	O
,	O
became	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
first	O
major	O
hit	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
the	O
Western	O
launch	O
,	O
Sega	O
reduced	O
the	O
price	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
to	O
,	O
effectively	O
making	O
it	O
unprofitable	O
but	O
increasing	O
sales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
reduction	O
and	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Namco	O
's	O
Soulcalibur	B-Application
helped	O
Sega	O
gain	O
17	O
percent	O
on	O
its	O
shares	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Before	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
release	O
,	O
Sega	O
was	O
dealt	O
a	O
blow	O
when	O
EA	O
,	O
the	O
largest	O
third-party	O
video	O
game	O
publisher	O
,	O
announced	O
it	O
would	O
not	O
develop	O
games	O
for	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Stolar	O
,	O
the	O
EA	O
president	O
,	O
Larry	O
Probst	O
,	O
wanted	O
exclusive	O
rights	O
as	O
the	O
only	O
sports	O
brand	O
on	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
Stolar	O
could	O
not	O
accept	O
due	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
recent	O
purchase	O
of	O
the	O
sports	O
game	O
developer	O
Visual	O
Concepts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
EA	O
's	O
Madden	O
NFL	O
series	O
had	O
established	O
brand	O
power	O
,	O
Stolar	O
regarded	O
Visual	O
Concepts	O
 '	O
NFL	O
2K	O
as	O
superior	O
and	O
would	O
provide	O
"	O
a	O
breakthrough	O
experience	O
"	O
to	O
launch	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
would	O
have	O
none	O
of	O
EA	O
's	O
popular	O
sports	O
games	O
,	O
"	O
Sega	O
Sports	O
"	O
games	O
developed	O
mainly	O
by	O
Visual	O
Concepts	O
helped	O
to	O
fill	O
that	O
void	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Working	O
closely	O
with	O
Midway	O
Games	O
(	O
which	O
developed	O
four	O
launch	O
games	O
for	O
the	O
system	O
)	O
and	O
taking	O
advantage	O
of	O
the	O
ten	O
months	O
following	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
release	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
worked	O
to	O
ensure	O
a	O
more	O
successful	O
US	O
launch	O
with	O
a	O
minimum	O
of	O
15	O
launch	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
lingering	O
bitterness	O
over	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
early	O
release	O
,	O
Stolar	O
repaired	O
relations	O
with	O
major	O
US	O
retailers	O
,	O
with	O
whom	O
Sega	O
presold	O
300,000	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
a	O
pre-launch	O
promotion	O
enabled	O
consumers	O
to	O
rent	O
Dreamcasts	B-Operating_System
from	O
Hollywood	O
Video	O
in	O
the	O
months	O
preceding	O
its	O
September	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
's	O
senior	O
vice	O
president	O
of	O
marketing	O
Peter	O
Moore	O
,	O
a	O
fan	O
of	O
the	O
attitude	O
previously	O
associated	O
with	O
Sega	O
's	O
brand	O
,	O
worked	O
with	O
Foote	O
,	O
Cone	O
&	O
Belding	O
and	O
Access	O
Communications	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
"	O
It	O
's	O
Thinking	O
"	O
campaign	O
of	O
15-second	O
television	O
commercials	O
,	O
which	O
emphasized	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
hardware	O
power	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Moore	O
,	O
"	O
We	O
needed	O
to	O
create	O
something	O
that	O
would	O
really	O
intrigue	O
consumers	O
,	O
somewhat	O
apologize	O
for	O
the	O
past	O
,	O
but	O
invoke	O
all	O
the	O
things	O
we	O
loved	O
about	O
Sega	O
,	O
primarily	O
from	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
days.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
launched	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
September	O
9	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
at	O
a	O
price	O
of	O
,	O
which	O
Sega	O
's	O
marketing	O
dubbed	O
"	O
9/9/99	O
for	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eighteen	O
launch	O
games	O
were	O
available	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
Sega	O
set	O
a	O
new	O
sales	O
record	O
by	O
selling	O
more	O
than	O
225,132	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
units	O
in	O
24	O
hours	O
,	O
earning	O
in	O
what	O
Moore	O
called	O
"	O
the	O
biggest	O
24	O
hours	O
in	O
entertainment	O
retail	O
history	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Within	O
two	O
weeks	O
,	O
US	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
sales	O
exceeded	O
500,000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Significant	O
launch	O
games	O
included	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
the	O
arcade	O
fighting	O
game	O
Soulcalibur	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Visual	O
Concepts	O
 '	O
football	O
simulation	O
NFL	O
2K	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
4	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
it	O
had	O
sold	O
over	O
one	O
million	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
launch	O
was	O
marred	O
by	O
a	O
glitch	O
at	O
one	O
of	O
Sega	O
's	O
manufacturing	O
plants	O
,	O
which	O
produced	O
defective	O
GD-ROMs	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
released	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
October	O
14	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
at	O
a	O
price	O
of	O
£200	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
Sega	O
's	O
promotions	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
it	O
sponsored	O
four	O
European	O
football	O
clubs	O
:	O
Arsenal	O
F.C.	O
</s>
<s>
Through	O
the	O
regional	O
distributor	O
Ozisoft	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
went	O
on	O
sale	O
in	O
Australia	O
and	O
New	O
Zealand	O
on	O
November	O
30	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
at	O
a	O
price	O
of	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
O'Leary	O
also	O
said	O
that	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
high	O
demand	O
in	O
other	O
markets	O
had	O
reduced	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
peripherals	O
allotted	O
to	O
the	O
region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
launch	O
was	O
successful	O
,	O
Sony	O
held	O
60	O
percent	O
of	O
the	O
overall	O
video	O
game	O
market	O
share	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
with	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
2	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
Sony	O
revealed	O
the	O
first	O
details	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
(	O
PS2	B-Device
)	O
,	O
which	O
Ken	O
Kutaragi	O
claimed	O
would	O
allow	O
video	O
games	O
to	O
convey	O
unprecedented	O
emotions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
estimated	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
could	O
render	O
7.5	O
million	O
to	O
16	O
million	O
polygons	B-General_Concept
per	O
second	O
,	O
whereas	O
independent	O
estimates	O
ranged	O
from	O
3	O
million	O
to	O
20	O
million	O
,	O
compared	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
estimates	O
of	O
more	O
than	O
3	O
million	O
to	O
6	O
million	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PS2	B-Device
would	O
also	O
use	O
the	O
DVD-ROM	O
format	O
,	O
which	O
could	O
hold	O
substantially	O
more	O
data	O
than	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
GD-ROM	B-Device
,	O
and	O
would	O
be	O
backwards-compatible	O
with	O
hundreds	O
of	O
popular	O
PlayStation	B-Device
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
's	O
specifications	O
appeared	O
to	O
render	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
obsolete	O
months	O
before	O
its	O
US	O
launch	O
,	O
although	O
reports	O
later	O
emerged	O
that	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
was	O
not	O
as	O
powerful	O
as	O
expected	O
and	O
difficult	O
to	O
develop	O
on	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
same	O
year	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
announced	O
that	O
its	O
next	O
console	O
,	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
,	O
would	O
meet	O
or	O
exceed	O
anything	O
on	O
the	O
market	O
,	O
and	O
Microsoft	O
began	O
development	O
of	O
its	O
own	O
console	O
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
US	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
sales	O
—	O
which	O
exceeded	O
1.5	O
million	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
1999	O
—	O
began	O
to	O
decline	O
as	O
early	O
as	O
January	O
2000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Sega	O
's	O
overall	O
sales	O
for	O
the	O
term	O
increased	O
27.4	O
%	O
,	O
and	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
sales	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
greatly	O
exceeded	O
expectations	O
,	O
this	O
coincided	O
with	O
a	O
decrease	O
in	O
profitability	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
investments	O
required	O
to	O
launch	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
in	O
Western	O
markets	O
and	O
poor	O
software	O
sales	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
and	O
Sega	O
's	O
developers	O
focused	O
on	O
the	O
US	O
market	O
to	O
prepare	O
for	O
the	O
upcoming	O
launch	O
of	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
7	O
,	O
2000	O
,	O
Sega.com	O
launched	O
SegaNet	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
internet	B-Application
gaming	I-Application
service	O
,	O
at	O
a	O
subscription	O
price	O
of	O
$21.95	O
per	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Sega	O
had	O
previously	O
released	O
only	O
one	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
game	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
that	O
featured	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
,	O
ChuChu	O
Rocket	O
!,	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
SegaNet	O
combined	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
NFL	B-Application
2K1	I-Application
,	O
with	O
a	O
robust	O
online	O
component	O
,	O
was	O
intended	O
to	O
increase	O
demand	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
in	O
the	O
US	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
service	O
later	O
supported	O
games	O
including	O
Bomberman	B-Application
Online	I-Application
,	O
Quake	B-Application
III	I-Application
Arena	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Unreal	B-Operating_System
Tournament	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
employed	O
aggressive	O
pricing	O
strategies	O
around	O
online	B-Application
gaming	I-Application
;	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
every	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
sold	O
included	O
a	O
free	O
year	O
of	O
internet	O
access	O
,	O
which	O
Okawa	O
personally	O
paid	O
for	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
SegaNet	O
,	O
Sega	O
had	O
already	O
offered	O
a	O
$200	O
rebate	O
to	O
any	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
owner	O
who	O
purchased	O
two	O
years	O
of	O
internet	O
access	O
from	O
Sega.com	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
increase	O
SegaNet	O
's	O
appeal	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
,	O
Sega	O
dropped	O
the	O
price	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
to	O
(	O
compared	O
to	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
's	O
US	O
launch	O
price	O
of	O
)	O
and	O
offered	O
a	O
rebate	O
for	O
the	O
full	O
price	O
of	O
a	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
a	O
free	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
keyboard	O
,	O
with	O
every	O
18-month	O
SegaNet	O
subscription	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Moore	O
said	O
that	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
would	O
need	O
to	O
sell	O
5	O
million	O
units	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2000	O
to	O
remain	O
a	O
viable	O
platform	O
;	O
Sega	O
fell	O
short	O
of	O
this	O
goal	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
3	O
million	O
units	O
sold	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Moreover	O
,	O
Sega	O
's	O
attempts	O
to	O
spur	O
increased	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
sales	O
through	O
lower	O
prices	O
and	O
cash	O
rebates	O
caused	O
escalating	O
financial	O
losses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
's	O
October	O
26	O
US	O
launch	O
was	O
marred	O
by	O
shortages	O
,	O
this	O
did	O
not	O
benefit	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
as	O
much	O
as	O
expected	O
;	O
many	O
consumers	O
continued	O
to	O
wait	O
for	O
a	O
PS2	B-Device
,	O
while	O
the	O
PSone	O
,	O
a	O
remodeled	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
original	B-Device
PlayStation	I-Device
,	O
became	O
the	O
bestselling	O
console	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
at	O
the	O
start	O
of	O
the	O
2000	O
holiday	O
season	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Moore	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
effect	O
that	O
we	O
were	O
relying	O
upon	O
did	O
not	O
work	O
for	O
us	O
...	O
People	O
will	O
hang	O
on	O
for	O
as	O
long	O
as	O
possible	O
...	O
What	O
effectively	O
happened	O
is	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
lack	O
of	O
availability	O
froze	O
the	O
marketplace.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Bellfield	O
,	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
software	O
sold	O
at	O
an	O
8-to-1	O
ratio	O
with	O
the	O
hardware	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
small	O
install	B-Operating_System
base	I-Operating_System
meant	O
this	O
did	O
not	O
produce	O
enough	O
revenue	O
to	O
keep	O
it	O
viable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nevertheless	O
,	O
on	O
January	O
31	O
,	O
2001	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
the	O
discontinuation	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
after	O
March	O
31	O
and	O
the	O
restructuring	O
of	O
the	O
company	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
platform-agnostic	O
"	O
third-party	O
developer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
further	O
reduction	O
to	O
$79	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
cleared	O
out	O
of	O
stores	O
at	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
unit	O
manufactured	O
was	O
autographed	O
by	O
the	O
heads	O
of	O
all	O
nine	O
of	O
Sega	O
's	O
internal	O
game	O
development	O
studios	O
,	O
plus	O
the	O
heads	O
of	O
Visual	O
Concepts	O
and	O
Sega	O
's	O
sound	O
studio	O
Wave	O
Master	O
,	O
and	O
given	O
away	O
with	O
55	O
first-party	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
games	O
through	O
a	O
competition	O
organized	O
by	O
GamePro	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
9.13	O
million	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
units	O
were	O
sold	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
its	O
discontinuation	O
,	O
commercial	O
games	O
were	O
still	O
developed	O
and	O
released	O
for	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
,	O
particularly	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
continued	O
to	O
repair	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
units	O
until	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
2014	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
still	O
receiving	O
new	O
independently	O
developed	O
games	O
formatted	O
for	O
MIL-CD	O
,	O
a	O
multimedia-enhanced	O
format	O
developed	O
by	O
Sega	O
and	O
supported	O
by	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
staff	O
of	O
Newsweek	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
to	O
Shenmue	B-Application
,	O
Sega	O
's	O
programmers	O
have	O
produced	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
engaging	O
experiences	O
in	O
the	O
history	O
of	O
interactive	O
media	O
...	O
Unshackled	O
by	O
a	O
struggling	O
console	O
platform	O
,	O
this	O
platoon	O
of	O
world-class	O
software	O
developers	O
can	O
do	O
what	O
they	O
do	O
best	O
for	O
any	O
machine	O
on	O
the	O
market.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
measures	O
and	O
weighs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
main	O
CPU	B-Device
is	O
a	O
two-way	O
360	O
MIPS	O
superscalar	B-General_Concept
Hitachi	O
SH-4	O
32-bit	O
RISC	B-Architecture
,	O
clocked	O
at	O
200MHz	O
with	O
an	O
8	O
kB	O
instruction	B-General_Concept
cache	I-General_Concept
and	O
16	O
kB	O
data	B-General_Concept
cache	I-General_Concept
and	O
a	O
128-bit	O
graphics-oriented	O
floating-point	B-General_Concept
unit	I-General_Concept
delivering	O
1.4	O
GFLOPS	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
100	O
MHz	O
NEC	O
PowerVR2	O
rendering	O
engine	O
,	O
integrated	O
with	O
the	O
ASIC	O
,	O
can	O
draw	O
more	O
than	O
3	O
million	O
polygons	B-General_Concept
per	O
second	O
and	O
use	O
deferred	O
shading	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
estimated	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
theoretical	O
rendering	O
capability	O
at	O
7	O
million	O
raw	O
polygons	B-General_Concept
per	O
second	O
,	O
or	O
6	O
million	O
with	O
textures	O
and	O
lighting	O
,	O
but	O
noted	O
that	O
"	O
game	O
logic	O
and	O
physics	O
reduce	O
peak	O
graphic	O
performance	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Graphical	O
hardware	O
effects	O
include	O
trilinear	O
filtering	O
,	O
gouraud	B-Algorithm
shading	I-Algorithm
,	O
z-buffering	O
,	O
spatial	B-Algorithm
anti-aliasing	I-Algorithm
,	O
per-pixel	O
translucency	O
sorting	O
and	O
bump	O
mapping	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
can	O
output	O
approximately	O
16.77	O
million	O
colors	O
simultaneously	O
and	O
displays	O
interlaced	O
or	O
progressive	B-Device
scan	I-Device
video	O
at	O
640×480	B-General_Concept
video	B-General_Concept
resolution	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
67MHz	O
Yamaha	O
AICA	O
sound	O
processor	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
32-bit	O
ARM7	B-Architecture
RISC	B-Architecture
CPU	B-Device
core	O
,	O
can	O
generate	O
64	O
voices	O
with	O
PCM	B-Algorithm
or	O
ADPCM	B-Algorithm
,	O
providing	O
ten	O
times	O
the	O
performance	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
sound	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
has	O
16	O
MB	O
main	O
RAM	B-Architecture
,	O
along	O
with	O
an	O
additional	O
8	O
MB	O
of	O
RAM	B-Architecture
for	O
graphic	O
textures	O
and	O
2	O
MB	O
of	O
RAM	B-Architecture
for	O
sound	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
reads	O
media	O
using	O
a	O
12×	O
speed	O
Yamaha	O
GD-ROM	B-Device
drive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
supports	O
several	O
Sega	O
and	O
middleware	B-General_Concept
application	B-Application
programming	I-Application
interfaces	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
can	O
supply	O
video	O
through	O
several	O
accessories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
came	O
with	O
A/V	B-Protocol
cables	I-Protocol
,	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
the	O
standard	O
for	O
video	O
and	O
audio	O
connectivity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
VGA	B-Device
adapter	I-Device
allows	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
to	O
connect	O
on	O
computer	B-Device
displays	I-Device
or	O
enhanced-definition	O
television	O
sets	O
in	O
480p	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
constructed	O
numerous	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
models	O
,	O
most	O
of	O
which	O
were	O
exclusive	O
to	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
R7	O
,	O
a	O
refurbished	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
,	O
was	O
originally	O
used	O
as	O
a	O
network	O
console	O
in	O
Japanese	O
pachinko	O
parlors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
model	O
,	O
the	O
Divers	O
2000	O
CX-1	O
,	O
is	O
shaped	O
similarly	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
head	O
and	O
includes	O
a	O
television	O
and	O
software	O
for	O
teleconferencing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Special	O
editions	O
were	O
created	O
for	O
Seaman	B-Application
and	O
Resident	B-Application
Evil	I-Application
–	I-Application
Code	I-Application
:	I-Application
Veronica	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Color	O
variations	O
were	O
sold	O
through	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
Direct	O
service	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Toyota	O
also	O
offered	O
special	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
units	O
at	O
160	O
of	O
its	O
dealers	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
a	O
limited	O
edition	O
black	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
was	O
released	O
with	O
a	O
Sega	O
Sports	O
logo	O
on	O
the	O
lid	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
matching	O
Sega	O
Sports-branded	O
black	O
controllers	O
and	O
two	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
has	O
four	O
ports	O
for	O
controller	O
inputs	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
sold	O
with	O
one	O
controller	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
controller	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
3D	O
controller	O
and	O
includes	O
an	O
analog	O
stick	O
,	O
a	O
D-pad	B-Device
,	O
four	O
action	O
buttons	O
,	O
start	O
button	O
and	O
two	O
analog	O
triggers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
received	O
mostly	O
negative	O
reviews	O
from	O
critics	O
;	O
Edge	O
described	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
an	O
ugly	O
evolution	O
of	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
3D	O
controller	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
called	O
"[not]	O
that	O
great	O
"	O
by	O
1Up.coms	O
Sam	O
Kennedy	O
and	O
"	O
lame	O
"	O
by	O
Game	O
Informers	O
Andy	O
McNamara	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
did	O
not	O
release	O
its	O
official	O
light	B-Device
guns	I-Device
in	O
the	O
US	O
,	O
but	O
some	O
third	O
party	O
light	B-Device
guns	I-Device
were	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
supports	O
a	O
Sega	O
fishing	O
"	O
reel	O
and	O
rod	O
"	O
motion	B-Device
controller	I-Device
and	O
a	O
keyboard	O
for	O
text	O
entry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
it	O
was	O
designed	O
for	O
fishing	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Sega	B-Application
Bass	I-Application
Fishing	I-Application
,	O
Soulcalibur	B-Application
is	O
playable	O
with	O
the	O
fishing	O
controller	O
,	O
which	O
translates	O
vertical	O
and	O
horizontal	O
movements	O
into	O
on-screen	O
swordplay	O
;	O
IGN	O
cited	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
predecessor	O
to	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
Remote	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Japanese	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
port	O
of	O
Sega	O
's	O
Cyber	B-Application
Troopers	I-Application
Virtual-On	I-Application
Oratorio	I-Application
Tangram	I-Application
supported	O
a	O
"	O
Twin	O
Sticks	O
"	O
peripheral	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
American	O
publisher	O
,	O
Activision	O
,	O
opted	O
not	O
to	O
release	O
it	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
can	O
connect	O
to	O
SNK	O
's	O
Neo	B-Application
Geo	I-Application
Pocket	I-Application
Color	I-Application
,	O
predating	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
GameCube	B-Device
–	I-Device
Game	I-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
link	I-Device
cable	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
most	O
regions	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
includes	O
a	O
removable	O
modem	B-Application
for	O
online	O
connectivity	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
modular	B-Architecture
for	O
future	O
upgrades	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Brazil	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
high	O
price	O
of	O
the	O
console	O
,	O
the	O
modem	B-Application
was	O
sold	O
separately	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
Japanese	O
model	O
and	O
all	O
PAL	O
models	O
have	O
a	O
transfer	O
rate	O
of	O
33.6kbit/s	O
,	O
and	O
consoles	O
sold	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
and	O
in	O
Japan	O
after	O
September	O
9	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
feature	O
a	O
56	O
kbit/s	O
dial-up	B-Application
modem	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
also	O
produced	O
the	O
Dreameye	O
,	O
a	O
digital	O
camera	O
that	O
could	O
be	O
connected	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
and	O
used	O
to	O
exchange	O
pictures	O
and	O
participate	O
in	O
video	B-Application
chat	I-Application
over	O
the	O
internet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
hoped	O
developers	O
would	O
use	O
the	O
Dreameye	O
for	O
future	O
software	O
,	O
as	O
some	O
later	O
did	O
with	O
Sony	O
's	O
similar	O
EyeToy	B-General_Concept
peripheral	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
Sega	O
investigated	O
systems	O
that	O
would	O
have	O
allowed	O
users	O
to	O
make	O
telephone	O
calls	O
with	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
discussed	O
with	O
Motorola	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
an	O
internet-enabled	O
cell	O
phone	O
that	O
would	O
use	O
technology	O
from	O
the	O
console	O
to	O
enable	O
quick	O
downloads	O
of	O
games	O
and	O
other	O
data	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
to	O
the	O
Sega	B-Device
CD	I-Device
and	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
,	O
which	O
included	O
internal	O
backup	O
memory	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
uses	O
a	O
128	O
kbyte	O
memory	B-Device
card	I-Device
,	O
the	O
VMU	B-Application
,	O
for	O
data	O
storage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
VMU	B-Application
features	O
a	O
small	O
LCD	B-Device
screen	I-Device
,	O
audio	O
output	O
from	O
a	O
one-channel	O
PWM	B-Algorithm
sound	O
source	O
,	O
non-volatile	B-General_Concept
memory	I-General_Concept
,	O
a	O
D-pad	B-Device
and	O
four	O
buttons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
VMU	B-Application
can	O
present	O
game	O
information	O
,	O
be	O
used	O
as	O
a	O
minimal	O
handheld	O
gaming	O
device	O
,	O
and	O
connect	O
to	O
certain	O
Sega	O
arcade	O
machines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
players	O
use	O
the	O
VMU	B-Application
to	O
call	O
plays	O
in	O
NFL	O
2K	O
or	O
raise	O
virtual	O
pets	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
officials	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
VMU	B-Application
could	O
be	O
used	O
"	O
as	O
a	O
private	O
viewing	O
area	O
,	O
the	O
absence	O
of	O
which	O
has	O
prevented	O
effective	O
implementation	O
of	O
many	O
types	O
of	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
past	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
VMU	B-Application
slot	O
was	O
incorporated	O
into	O
the	O
controller	O
's	O
design	O
,	O
Sega	O
's	O
engineers	O
found	O
many	O
additional	O
uses	O
for	O
it	O
,	O
so	O
a	O
second	O
slot	O
was	O
added	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
generally	O
for	O
vibration	O
packs	O
providing	O
force	B-Device
feedback	I-Device
,	O
such	O
as	O
Sega	O
's	O
"	O
Jump	O
Pack	O
"	O
and	O
Performance	O
's	O
"	O
Tremor	O
Pack	O
"	O
;	O
it	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
for	O
peripherals	O
including	O
a	O
microphone	O
,	O
enabling	O
voice	O
control	O
and	O
player	O
communication	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Various	O
third-party	O
cards	O
provide	O
storage	O
,	O
and	O
some	O
contain	O
the	O
LCD	B-Device
screen	I-Device
addition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iomega	O
announced	O
a	O
Dreamcast-compatible	O
zip	B-Operating_System
drive	I-Operating_System
storing	O
up	O
to	O
on	O
removable	O
discs	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
never	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
library	O
consists	O
of	O
over	O
600	O
games	O
across	O
all	O
regions	O
,	O
in	O
GD-ROM	B-Device
format	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
uses	O
regional	O
lockout	O
,	O
only	O
playing	O
games	O
released	O
within	O
its	O
predetermined	O
region	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
this	O
is	O
circumventable	O
via	O
modchip	O
installation	O
,	O
boot	O
discs	O
,	O
or	O
cheat	O
discs	O
such	O
as	O
Datel	O
's	O
Action	B-Device
Replay	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
launched	O
with	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
3tb	I-Application
,	O
Pen	O
Pen	O
TriIcelon	O
,	O
Godzilla	B-Application
Generations	I-Application
,	O
and	O
July	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
it	O
launched	O
with	O
19	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
highly	O
anticipated	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
Soulcalibur	B-Application
,	O
and	O
NFL	O
2K	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Licensed	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
games	O
were	O
released	O
until	O
mid-2002	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
indie	O
developers	O
continued	O
to	O
release	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
2007	O
's	O
Last	B-Application
Hope	I-Application
,	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
German	O
studio	O
NG:Dev.Team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Studios	O
included	O
United	O
Game	O
Artists	O
(	O
UGA	O
)	O
,	O
Hitmaker	O
,	O
Smilebit	O
,	O
Overworks	O
,	O
WOW	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
Amusement	O
Vision	O
,	O
Sega	O
Rosso	O
,	O
Wave	O
Master	O
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
,	O
while	O
Sega	O
AM2	O
had	O
been	O
taken	O
over	O
earlier	O
in	O
the	O
year	O
by	O
CSK	O
Research	O
Institute	O
and	O
became	O
independent	O
in	O
2001	O
as	O
SEGA-AM2	O
Co.	O
,	O
Ltd	O
.	O
Sega	O
's	O
design	O
studios	O
were	O
encouraged	O
to	O
experiment	O
and	O
benefited	O
from	O
a	O
relatively	O
lax	O
approval	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
resulted	O
in	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
UGA	O
's	O
Rez	B-Application
,	O
an	O
attempt	O
to	O
simulate	O
synaesthesia	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
a	O
rail	O
shooter	O
;	O
Wow	O
's	O
The	B-Application
Typing	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
,	O
a	O
version	O
of	O
The	B-Application
House	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
2	I-Application
remade	O
into	O
a	O
touch	B-Device
typing	I-Device
trainer	O
;	O
and	O
Hitmaker	O
's	O
Segagaga	B-Application
,	O
a	O
Japan-exclusive	O
role-playing	O
game	O
in	O
which	O
players	O
are	O
tasked	O
with	O
preventing	O
Sega	O
from	O
going	O
out	O
of	O
business	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
's	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
the	O
first	O
fully	O
3D	O
platform	O
game	O
starring	O
Sega	O
's	O
mascot	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
was	O
considered	O
the	O
"	O
centerpiece	O
"	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
2.5	O
million	O
copies	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
the	O
best-selling	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
also	O
developed	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
first	O
online	B-Application
game	I-Application
—	O
ChuChu	B-Application
Rocket	I-Application
!	I-Application
—	O
which	O
was	O
praised	O
for	O
its	O
addictive	O
puzzle	O
gameplay	O
and	O
"	O
frantic	O
"	O
multiplayer	O
matches	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
critically	O
successful	O
music	B-Application
game	I-Application
Samba	B-Application
de	I-Application
Amigo	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
noted	O
for	O
its	O
expensive	O
maracas	O
peripheral	O
and	O
colorful	O
aesthetic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
's	O
Phantasy	B-Application
Star	I-Application
Online	I-Application
,	O
the	O
first	O
online	O
console	O
RPG	O
,	O
is	O
considered	O
a	O
landmark	O
game	O
for	O
refining	O
and	O
simplifing	O
Diablos	O
style	O
of	O
gameplay	O
to	O
appeal	O
to	O
console	O
audiences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
UGA	O
created	O
the	O
music	B-Application
game	I-Application
Space	B-Application
Channel	I-Application
5	I-Application
for	O
a	O
female	O
casual	O
audience	O
;	O
players	O
help	O
a	O
female	O
outer-space	O
news	O
reporter	O
,	O
Ulala	O
,	O
fight	O
aliens	O
with	O
"	O
groove	O
energy	O
"	O
by	O
dancing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hitmaker	O
's	O
arcade	O
ports	O
include	O
Crazy	B-Application
Taxi	I-Application
,	O
an	O
open-world	O
arcade	O
racing	O
game	O
known	O
for	O
its	O
addictive	O
gameplay	O
with	O
more	O
than	O
one	O
million	O
copies	O
sold	O
;	O
and	O
Virtua	B-Application
Tennis	I-Application
,	O
which	O
revitalized	O
the	O
tennis	O
game	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Smilebit	O
's	O
Jet	B-Application
Set	I-Application
Radio	I-Application
,	O
in	O
which	O
players	O
control	O
a	O
Tokyo	O
gang	O
of	O
rebellious	O
inline	O
skaters	O
,	O
is	O
cited	O
as	O
a	O
major	O
example	O
of	O
Sega	O
's	O
commitment	O
to	O
original	O
concepts	O
during	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
lifespan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jet	B-Application
Set	I-Application
Radio	I-Application
also	O
popularized	O
cel	O
shaded	O
graphics	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
failed	O
to	O
meet	O
Sega	O
's	O
sales	O
expectations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
role-playing	O
game	O
Skies	B-Device
of	I-Device
Arcadia	I-Device
,	O
developed	O
by	O
Overworks	O
and	O
produced	O
by	O
Rieko	O
Kodama	O
,	O
was	O
acclaimed	O
for	O
its	O
surreal	O
Jules	O
Verne-inspired	O
fantasy	O
world	O
of	O
floating	O
islands	O
and	O
sky	O
pirates	O
,	O
charming	O
protagonists	O
,	O
exciting	O
airship	O
battles	O
and	O
memorable	O
plot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
AM2	O
developed	O
what	O
Sega	O
hoped	O
would	O
be	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
killer	O
app	O
,	O
Shenmue	B-Application
,	O
a	O
"	O
revenge	O
epic	O
in	O
the	O
tradition	O
of	O
Chinese	O
cinema	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
level	O
of	O
detail	O
considered	O
unprecedented	O
for	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Incorporating	O
a	O
simulated	O
day-and-night	O
cycle	O
with	O
variable	O
weather	O
,	O
non-player	O
characters	O
with	O
regular	O
schedules	O
,	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
pick	O
up	O
and	O
examine	O
detailed	O
objects	O
,	O
and	O
introducing	O
the	O
quick-time	O
event	O
in	O
its	O
modern	O
form	O
,	O
Shenmue	B-Application
went	O
over	O
budget	O
and	O
was	O
rumored	O
to	O
have	O
cost	O
Sega	O
over	O
$50	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Moore	O
,	O
Shenmue	B-Application
sold	O
"	O
extremely	O
well	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
had	O
no	O
chance	O
of	O
making	O
a	O
profit	O
due	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
limited	O
installed	B-Operating_System
base	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
NFL	O
2K	O
was	O
considered	O
an	O
outstanding	O
launch	O
game	O
for	O
its	O
high-quality	O
visuals	O
and	O
"	O
insightful	O
,	O
context-friendly	O
,	O
and	O
,	O
yes	O
,	O
even	O
funny	O
commentary	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
NFL	B-Application
2K1	I-Application
featured	O
groundbreaking	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
earlier	O
than	O
its	O
chief	O
competitor	O
,	O
EA	O
's	O
Madden	O
NFL	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Madden	O
and	O
2K	O
continued	O
to	O
compete	O
on	O
other	O
platforms	O
through	O
2004	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
2K	O
series	O
introducing	O
innovations	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
first	O
person	O
perspective	O
new	O
to	O
the	O
genre	O
,	O
and	O
eventually	O
launching	O
ESPN	B-Application
NFL	I-Application
2K5	I-Application
at	O
the	O
aggressively	O
low	O
price	O
point	O
of	O
$19.95	O
until	O
EA	O
signed	O
an	O
exclusive	O
agreement	O
with	O
the	O
National	O
Football	O
League	O
,	O
effectively	O
putting	O
every	O
other	O
pro-football	O
game	O
out	O
of	O
business	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
lifespan	O
,	O
Visual	O
Concepts	O
also	O
collaborated	O
with	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
level	O
designer	O
Hirokazu	O
Yasuhara	O
on	O
the	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
Floigan	B-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
and	O
developed	O
the	O
action	B-Application
game	I-Application
Ooga	B-Application
Booga	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Before	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
its	O
NAOMI	B-Application
arcade	O
board	O
,	O
a	O
cheaper	O
alternative	O
to	O
the	O
Sega	O
Model	O
3	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NAOMI	B-Application
shares	O
the	O
same	O
technology	O
as	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
,	O
with	O
twice	O
as	O
much	O
system	O
,	O
video	O
,	O
and	O
audio	O
memory	O
and	O
a	O
160	O
MB	O
flash	B-Device
ROM	I-Device
board	I-Device
in	O
place	O
of	O
a	O
GD-ROM	B-Device
drive	O
,	O
allowing	O
nearly	O
identical	O
home	O
conversions	O
of	O
arcade	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Games	O
were	O
ported	O
from	O
NAOMI	B-Application
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
by	O
several	O
leading	O
Japanese	O
arcade	O
companies	O
,	O
including	O
Capcom	O
and	O
Namco	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
also	O
used	O
parts	O
similar	O
to	O
those	O
found	O
in	O
personal	O
computers	O
with	O
Pentium	B-General_Concept
II	I-General_Concept
and	O
III	B-General_Concept
processors	O
,	O
allowing	O
a	O
handful	O
of	O
ports	O
of	O
PC	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
appeal	O
to	O
the	O
European	O
market	O
,	O
Sega	O
formed	O
a	O
French	O
affiliate	O
,	O
No	O
Cliché	O
,	O
which	O
developed	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Toy	B-Application
Commander	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
Europe	O
also	O
approached	O
Bizarre	O
Creations	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
racing	O
game	O
Metropolis	B-Application
Street	I-Application
Racer	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Acclaim	O
,	O
SNK	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
,	O
Midway	O
,	O
Activision	O
,	O
Infogrames	O
,	O
and	O
Capcom	O
supported	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
during	O
its	O
first	O
year	O
,	O
third-party	O
support	O
proved	O
difficult	O
to	O
obtain	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
failure	O
of	O
the	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
and	O
the	O
profitability	O
of	O
publishing	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Namco	O
's	O
Soulcalibur	B-Application
,	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
because	O
of	O
the	O
relative	O
unpopularity	O
of	O
the	O
Soul	O
series	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
;	O
Namco	O
's	O
more	O
successful	O
Tekken	B-Application
franchise	O
was	O
associated	O
with	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
console	I-Device
and	O
PlayStation-based	O
arcade	O
boards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Capcom	O
produced	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
fighting	O
games	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
,	O
including	O
the	O
Power	B-Application
Stone	I-Application
series	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
temporarily	O
exclusive	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
popular	O
Resident	B-Application
Evil	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
Resident	B-Application
Evil	I-Application
–	I-Application
Code	I-Application
:	I-Application
Veronica	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
is	O
known	O
for	O
several	O
shoot	O
'	O
em	O
ups	O
,	O
most	O
notably	O
Treasure	O
's	O
Bangai-O	B-Application
and	O
Ikaruga	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
also	O
revived	O
franchises	O
from	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
era	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Appaloosa	O
Interactive	O
's	O
Ecco	B-Application
the	I-Application
Dolphin	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dricas	O
was	O
an	O
Internet	O
service	O
for	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
consoles	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
service	O
launched	O
the	O
week	O
of	O
October	O
28	O
,	O
1998	O
,	O
with	O
its	O
feature	O
set	O
expanded	O
in	O
the	O
weeks	O
preceding	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
launch	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
November	O
27	O
,	O
1998	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Isao.net	O
maintained	O
online	O
services	O
and	O
game	O
servers	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
until	O
Sega	O
ceased	O
operation	O
of	O
the	O
online	O
servers	O
for	O
Phantasy	B-Application
Star	I-Application
Online	I-Application
,	O
along	O
with	O
its	O
GameCube	B-Application
port	O
,	O
on	O
March	O
31	O
,	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
SegaNet	O
was	O
an	O
Internet	O
service	O
for	O
dial-up-based	O
online	B-Application
gaming	I-Application
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
announced	O
a	O
partnership	O
with	O
AT&T	O
on	O
August	O
4	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
making	O
the	O
AT&T	O
WorldNet	O
service	O
the	O
preferred	O
ISP	O
for	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
agreement	O
making	O
Excite	O
@Home	O
as	O
the	O
exclusive	O
portal	O
partner	O
for	O
SegaNet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
SegaNet	O
launched	O
on	O
September	O
7	O
,	O
2000	O
,	O
and	O
originally	O
offered	O
a	O
rebate	O
for	O
a	O
free	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
and	O
keyboard	O
with	O
a	O
two-year	O
contract	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
discontinuation	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
they	O
would	O
discontinue	O
the	O
service	O
on	O
July	O
20	O
,	O
2001	O
,	O
less	O
than	O
11	O
months	O
after	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Online	O
support	O
for	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
games	O
via	O
SegaNet	O
continued	O
until	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dreamarena	O
was	O
a	O
free	O
dial-up-based	O
online	B-Application
gaming	I-Application
service	O
provided	O
for	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
consoles	O
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
launching	O
with	O
the	O
debut	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
October	O
14	O
,	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
service	O
was	O
accessed	O
via	O
the	O
DreamKey	O
browser	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
also	O
built	O
into	O
some	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
discontinuation	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
,	O
Sega	O
closed	O
Dreamarena	O
on	O
February	O
28	O
,	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
1999	O
,	O
Next	O
Generation	O
rated	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
four	O
out	O
of	O
five	O
,	O
writing	O
:	O
"	O
If	O
you	O
want	O
the	O
most	O
powerful	O
system	O
available	O
now	O
,	O
showcasing	O
the	O
best	O
graphics	O
at	O
a	O
reasonable	O
price	O
,	O
this	O
system	O
is	O
for	O
you.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
2000	O
,	O
five	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
reviewers	O
scored	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
8.5	O
,	O
8.5	O
,	O
8.5	O
,	O
8.0	O
,	O
and	O
9.0	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
BusinessWeek	O
named	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
products	O
of	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reasons	O
cited	O
for	O
the	O
failure	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
include	O
consumer	O
excitement	O
for	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
;	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
support	O
from	O
EA	O
and	O
Squaresoft	O
,	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
third	O
parties	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
and	O
Japan	O
respectively	O
;	O
disagreement	O
among	O
executives	O
over	O
Sega	O
's	O
future	O
,	O
and	O
Okawa	O
's	O
lack	O
of	O
commitment	O
to	O
the	O
product	O
;	O
Sega	O
's	O
lack	O
of	O
advertising	O
money	O
,	O
with	O
Bellfield	O
doubting	O
that	O
Sega	O
spent	O
even	O
"	O
half	O
"	O
the	O
$100	O
million	O
it	O
had	O
pledged	O
to	O
promote	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
in	O
the	O
US	O
;	O
that	O
the	O
market	O
was	O
not	O
ready	O
for	O
online	B-Application
gaming	I-Application
;	O
Sega	O
's	O
focus	O
on	O
"	O
hardcore	O
"	O
gamers	O
over	O
mainstream	O
consumers	O
;	O
poor	O
timing	O
;	O
and	O
damage	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
reputation	O
caused	O
by	O
its	O
several	O
poorly	O
supported	O
previous	O
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
GamePro	O
,	O
Blake	O
Snow	O
wrote	O
of	O
"	O
the	O
much	O
beloved	O
 [ Dreamcast ] 	O
launched	O
years	O
ahead	O
of	O
the	O
competition	O
but	O
ultimately	O
struggled	O
to	O
shed	O
the	O
negative	O
reputation	O
 [ Sega ] 	O
had	O
gained	O
during	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
Sega	O
32X	O
,	O
and	O
Sega	B-Device
CD	I-Device
days	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
1Up.com'''s	O
Jeremy	O
Parish	O
,	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
intellectually	O
dishonest	O
to	O
blame	O
Sony	O
for	O
"	O
killing	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
by	O
overselling	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
"	O
,	O
as	O
Sega	O
's	O
lack	O
of	O
support	O
for	O
previous	O
consoles	O
had	O
made	O
customers	O
hesitant	O
to	O
purchase	O
Dreamcasts	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
IGN	O
named	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
the	O
eighth-greatest	O
video	B-Application
game	I-Application
console	I-Application
,	O
praising	O
its	O
software	O
and	O
innovations	O
,	O
including	O
its	O
online	B-Application
play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2010	O
,	O
PC	O
Magazines	O
Jeffrey	O
L	O
.	O
Wilson	O
named	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
the	O
greatest	O
console	O
and	O
said	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
"	O
gone	O
too	O
soon	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
Edge	O
named	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
the	O
tenth-best	O
console	O
of	O
the	O
last	O
20	O
years	O
,	O
highlighting	O
innovations	O
including	O
in-game	O
voice	O
chat	O
,	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
and	O
second-screen	O
technology	O
through	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
VMUs	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dan	O
Whitehead	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
likened	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
to	O
"	O
a	O
small	O
,	O
square	O
,	O
white	O
plastic	O
JFK	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
game	O
library	O
was	O
celebrated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2000	O
,	O
three	O
months	O
after	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
North	O
American	O
launch	O
,	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
with	O
triple-A	O
stuff	O
like	O
Soul	B-Application
Calibur	I-Application
,	O
NBA	O
2K	O
,	O
and	O
soon	O
Crazy	B-Application
Taxi	I-Application
to	O
kick	O
around	O
,	O
we	O
figure	O
you	O
're	O
happy	O
you	O
took	O
the	O
128-bit	O
plunge	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
retrospective	O
,	O
PC	O
Magazines	O
Jeffrey	O
L	O
.	O
Wilson	O
referred	O
to	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
's	O
"	O
killer	O
library	O
"	O
and	O
said	O
that	O
Sega	O
's	O
creative	O
influence	O
and	O
visual	O
innovation	O
had	O
been	O
at	O
its	O
peak	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
staff	O
of	O
Edge	O
agreed	O
with	O
this	O
assessment	O
of	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
games	O
,	O
including	O
Sega	O
's	O
arcade	O
conversions	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
the	O
system	O
"	O
delivered	O
the	O
first	O
games	O
that	O
could	O
meaningfully	O
be	O
described	O
as	O
arcade	O
perfect	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Damien	O
McFerran	O
of	O
Retro	O
Gamer	O
praised	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
's	O
NAOMI	B-Application
arcade	O
ports	O
,	O
and	O
wrote	O
:	O
"	O
The	O
thrill	O
of	O
playing	O
Crazy	B-Application
Taxi	I-Application
in	O
the	O
arcade	O
knowing	O
full	O
well	O
that	O
a	O
pixel-perfect	O
conversion	O
(	O
and	O
not	O
some	O
cut-down	O
port	O
)	O
was	O
set	O
to	O
arrive	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
is	O
an	O
experience	O
gamers	O
are	O
unlikely	O
to	O
witness	O
again.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Journal	O
of	O
the	O
Canadian	O
Game	O
Studies	O
Association	O
,	O
argued	O
that	O
"	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
hosted	O
a	O
remarkable	O
amount	O
of	O
video	O
game	O
development	O
that	O
went	O
beyond	O
the	O
odd	O
and	O
unusual	O
and	O
is	O
interesting	O
when	O
considered	O
as	O
avant-garde	O
...	O
</s>
<s>
But	O
even	O
when	O
it	O
comes	O
to	O
resisting	O
commercialization	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
arguable	O
that	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
games	O
came	O
closer	O
to	O
expressing	O
this	O
attitude	O
than	O
any	O
other	O
console	O
games	O
have.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
1Up.coms	O
Jeremy	O
Parish	O
favorably	O
compared	O
Sega	O
's	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
output	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
some	O
of	O
"	O
the	O
most	O
varied	O
,	O
creative	O
,	O
and	O
fun	O
 [ games ] 	O
the	O
company	O
had	O
ever	O
produced	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
its	O
"	O
enervated	O
"	O
status	O
as	O
a	O
third-party	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fahs	O
noted	O
,	O
"	O
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
life	O
was	O
fleeting	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
saturated	O
with	O
memorable	O
titles	O
,	O
most	O
of	O
which	O
were	O
completely	O
new	O
properties.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
author	O
Steven	O
L	O
.	O
Kent	O
,	O
"	O
From	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
and	O
Shenmue	B-Application
to	O
Space	B-Application
Channel	I-Application
5	I-Application
and	O
Seaman	B-Application
,	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
delivered	O
and	O
delivered	O
and	O
delivered.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
journalists	O
have	O
compared	O
the	O
demise	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
with	O
changing	O
trends	O
in	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1001	O
Video	O
Games	O
You	O
Must	O
Play	O
Before	O
You	O
Die	O
,	O
Duncan	O
Harris	O
wrote	O
:	O
"	O
One	O
of	O
the	O
reasons	O
that	O
older	O
gamers	O
mourned	O
the	O
loss	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
that	O
it	O
signaled	O
the	O
demise	O
of	O
arcade	O
gaming	O
culture	O
...	O
Sega	O
's	O
console	O
gave	O
hope	O
that	O
things	O
were	O
not	O
about	O
to	O
change	O
for	O
the	O
worse	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
tenets	O
of	O
fast	O
fun	O
and	O
bright	O
,	O
attractive	O
graphics	O
were	O
not	O
about	O
to	O
sink	O
into	O
a	O
brown	O
and	O
green	O
bog	O
of	O
realistic	O
war	O
games.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Jeremy	O
Parish	O
,	O
writing	O
for	O
USgamer''	O
,	O
contrasted	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
's	O
diverse	O
library	O
with	O
the	O
"	O
suffocating	O
sense	O
of	O
conservatism	O
"	O
that	O
pervaded	O
the	O
gaming	O
industry	O
in	O
the	O
following	O
decade	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
head	O
of	O
product	O
implementation	O
,	O
Tadashi	O
Takezaki	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
would	O
have	O
been	O
Sega	O
's	O
last	O
video	B-Application
game	I-Application
console	I-Application
no	O
matter	O
how	O
it	O
sold	O
because	O
of	O
the	O
changes	O
in	O
the	O
market	O
and	O
the	O
rise	O
of	O
PCs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
praised	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
for	O
its	O
features	O
,	O
saying	O
in	O
2013	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
seeds	O
we	O
sowed	O
with	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
are	O
finally	O
bearing	O
fruit	O
at	O
this	O
point	O
in	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
