Why the Sega Dreamcast won the last console war

Although few outside the video game community noticed, September 9 was the nine-year anniversary of the Sega Dreamcast's launch. I can still remember holding the Official Dreamcast Magazine in my hands with a huge picture of Sonic on the front just waiting for the console to be released. And once it was released, I couldn't have been happier.

But unfortunately, I was (and I'm probably still) in the minority. Back then, Sega was off its game. It was trying to recover from the Saturn debacle and the countless other false starts it had succumb to over the years with products like the Sega CD and arguably, the GameGear.

The Dreamcast seemed different to me, though. Unlike previous Sega consoles, which only copied competing products and failed to truly grasp what gamers wanted, the Great White Beauty sitting under my TV was different. For once, Sega was ahead of its time; the Dreamcast had the best graphics of any console in the space at that point, offered compelling games that people actually wanted to play, and even included support for online gaming.

Of course, it lacked some of the necessities that could have made it more relevant in succeeding years: it didn't offer a DVD player like the Playstation 2 and although it had connectivity options, Ethernet support wasn't built into the console, which put it at a significant disadvantage once Sony, and especially Microsoft, entered that generation's console war.

Worse, the Dreamcast was plagued by poor third-party support and even major titles like Shenmue were met with lackluster excitement. Everyone wanted to play the Playstation 2--it offered better graphics capability, a DVD player, and better third-party support. All the while, the Dreamcast sat on store shelves.

And in the end, the Dreamcast finally died before its time and Sega was forced to retreat from the console space and try its luck in software. It was a sad time for Dreamcast Fanboys, but they got through it. How you ask? By keeping it connected to their HDTVs at all times and telling themselves that no matter what sales figures say, the Dreamcast really did win the last console war.

OK, so maybe the Dreamcast didn't really win the last console war. But who cares? The way I see it, the Dreamcast was the best console of them all. If you wanted to play great games, one of the best places to do so was on the Dreamcast. It had Shenmue, Samba de Amigo, 2K Sports, Skies of Arcadia, Jet Set Radio, and countless other titles like the Sonic and Crazy Taxi series that truly made an impression on the lives of many gamers. And we also can't forget that many of those series still live on in today's consoles.

See, I don't really care that the Dreamcast was torn apart during the last console generation. To me, the Dreamcast was the real winner because it provided me with the highest level of satisfaction and the best all-around gameplay. It may not support an online gaming environment like we're used to today and it won't look any better on my HDTV, but it can do something that few consoles since its release have been able to do: provide me with a fun factor that eclipses all else because it's designed with the gamer in mind.

Today, hardware cycles and the video game industry itself are becoming too commercialized for some of the more hardcore gamers. Some believe that the industry has sold out and the idea of fun gameplay has been replaced with fast profits. It's tough to argue with that logic given the state of affairs in 2008.

But I digress. I'm not saying that the Dreamcast is the best console of its generation because it sold extremely well or that it provided more functions than its competitors. I'm saying that the Dreamcast is the best console of its generation because it captured the essence of gaming and provided users with an experience that, in my mind, wasn't rivaled before it was released and hasn't been rivaled since.

Say what you will, but what other console in recent memory has been able to captivate a cult following like the Dreamcast has? What other console in the past few generations was truly ahead of its time while still providing gamers with an experience they actually wanted? And most importantly, what other console in the past few generations has been able to leave a lasting impression on so many people across the globe?

It may have failed and Sega may be out of the hardware business. But for me, the Dreamcast is still the centerpiece of my gaming.

Happy Birthday, Dreamcast. We miss you.

Check out Don's Digital Home podcast, Twitter feed, and FriendFeed.

[basraw]

Don't forget HeadHunter or REZ.

I still have 2 consoles and 60 games boxed up. Will come out some day again ;)

[giyad]

why was Soul Calibur not mentioned?

[basraw]

yes - good call on SC

[jthugs]

I second that, Soul Calibur is one of the best fighting games ever created. In the top 3 IMO.

[aztec92154]

Another vote for SC.

[kelmon]

I bought a Dreamcast just for Soul Calibur. Absolutely stunning game for a home console in those days.

[dark_akira]

I still think dreamcast is one of the best consoles. It has actually become a hobby of mine to collect them, and I play mine every day.

Right now I own... 13 dreamcasts? I think that's about right. And I buy all the good games I can find (import as well).

Great console.

[aztec92154]

I miss my Dreamcast. Think about this: Is the Microsoft VS Sony world better than the Sega vs Nintendo world? I'd really like Sega to make a come back...

[aztec92154]

Its soo sad that SEGA is still loosing money.
(They are now called SEGA~Sammy, since sammy bought them)
http://finance.google.com/finance?q=TYO%3A6460

[martee99]

My Dreamcast still sits under my analog TV. I fire it up any chance i get.

[idfubar]

Hobbyists have been known to use the Dreamcast as a Linux platform:

http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT7466555948.html
http://www.boob.co.uk/

[pummisher]

I still have my Dreamcast. I love playing Crazy Taxi. I used to spend many hours trying to make the most money so I could see my replay during the credits.

Same goes for Soul Calibur. Even Bust-a-Move 4.

I also loved the little screech noise the cd-rom tracking motor made. Don't ask me why.

Wasn't a fan of the 3D sonic games though. 2D sonic all the way.

[kelmon]

Mine was stolen years ago when I was living in a shared house and the guy responsible stole everything one night that wasn't nailed down. Fabulous console that I bought specifically to play Soul Calibur but had a load of great titles (Metropolis Street Racer springs immediately to mind). Definitely died before its time...

[terminalblue]

i think its funny, i just got an HDTV and have my DC hooked up to it. I havent played it for a while, but i have been thinking of getting the ethernet adapter and a VGA box so i can play it in 720p.

i loev my dreamcast

[stickshaka]

I still got my Dreamcast. Ended up getting a PS2 in 2003 after holding out for the price to be reasonable and Vice City was the hook game. I remember in 2000 reading Sony Fanboys going stupid about how the they thought the PS2 was going to be the greatest thing ever and it's ironic how now their loyalty hasn't carried to the PS3.

It's also ironic how the same 3rd party game makers that snubbed the Dreamcast and Gamecube are now only too eager to make titles for the 360 & Wii even if that means making games that don't show the full power of the PS3 as a result.

The PS2 had hundreds of games, but really only a handful were great and even annoying is the fact that I can't find some of these like Resident Evil 4 & Metal Gear 3 in any local store. Problem is Sony let everyone make games for the PS2 and it flooded the market with crap.

[CmdrRickHunter]

If memory serves, Dreamcast didn't win the war bcecause it was too easy to copy games. I don't think I've ever seen an origional Dreamcast CD, only burns