Sega Dreamcast Development And Other Nostalgic Trivia Revealed (VIDEO)
Sega was once a heavy hitter in the console wars, but by the time the Dreamcast hit shelves, no amount of impressive hardware would be able to save it from eventual closure. While the console may serve as a source of great nostalgia today, a number of aspects from initial Dreamcast development to its launch kept it from becoming as successful as it could’ve been. The crew from Did You Know Gaming have compiled yet another interesting list of facts, this time chronicling the rise and fall of Sega’s final console.
In the video below, we learn quite a bit about the system’s history, including that hardware companies Nvidia, Videologic, and 3dfx were all approached by Sega at various points to design a potential Dreamcast, although, unbeknownst to each other. This way of doing things and the ultimate choice to go with Videologic would lead to a lawsuit as well as a falling out with longtime collaborator Electronic Arts, who ended up refusing to provide games for Sega’s system.
We also learn that the Dreamcast’s failure can be attributed to bad timing, as the Sony PlayStation 2 unveiled itself shortly after Sega’s hardware launch in North America. Piracy also presented a problem as a CD exploit allowed burned games to be played directly from the hardware, without any modification necessary.
As withdrawing from the console market became a reality, Sega called on their relationship with Microsoft, the company having previously designed the Dreamcast’s operating system. Sega attempted to establish a deal to make Dreamcast games backward compatible with the Xbox hardware, but the request was never implemented. Instead, Xbox would sign an 11-game exclusivity deal that would bring titles such as Shenmue II, Jet Set Radio Future, and Crazy Taxi 3 to the console.
What do you think? Are you fascinated by the Dreamcast development and demise, or is it best that Sega is out of the console picture? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more news from the wonderful world of consoles, check out these next few links:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
