The Dreamcast is Dead - Long Live the Hype
Amidst all the hype surrounding the Japanese arrival of Playstation 2 and the introduction of Microsoft's X-Box at GDC, the Sega Dreamcast has seemingly been lost in the shuffle. Despite the fact that it is HERE NOW and you can play GREAT GAMES ON IT TODAY, the masses are instead buying into the hype of the unreleased machines.
Even if the hype isn't based on reality.
Before I go further, let me state that I have no alliance to any one company or console. I will have a PS2 the first day it is available. But I am not going to forsake my Dreamcast anytime soon just because it isn't the "next big thing."
But it infuriates me when nonsensical hype gets in the way of the truth.
Example. Electronics Boutique, 3.11.00.
Customer: "So when is the Playstation 2 coming out?"
Employee: "It will be out sometime later this year, it's going to be GREAT!!"
Customer: "And how much is it going to cost?"
Employee: "Somewhere between $250-$300. It launched in Japan at $400, but it will drop by the time it gets here."
Customer: "It plays movies, too, right?"
Employee: "Oh yeah, and the picture quality is better than 95% of all other DVD players out today."
Customer: "So the graphics are supposed to be great too, right?"
Employee: "It will absolutely blow away anything available today. The games have been rated in Japan, and they are getting higher marks than anything ever has."
Customer: "So what comes with it?"
Employee: "It comes with a memory card, and the new Dual Shock controller, that has springloaded buttons."
Customer: "It's going to be better than the Dreamcast?"
Employee: "Oh yeah, no question. The Dreamcast isn't that great anyway. The games don't look that much better than Playstation. Besides, the only games that have come out for it are racing and fighting."
Customer: "Well, I played that NFL2K and it was awesome."
Employee: "That's ok, I guess. But the PS2 stuff is going to be incredible, much better."
And so it goes. Instead of, you know, SELLING SOMETHING IN STOCK, employees are turning customers toward the PS2. Websites are doing it too. As are the magazines.
The biggest crime, though, is that developers are either canning or simply not starting Dreamcast development. This will lead to an early death for Sega's superconsole, and a death that is really unwarranted.
The hardware Sega has available for consumer purchase TODAY is excellent. The early games for the system, including the likes of Soul Calibur, Hydro Thunder, NFL2K, and Crazy Taxi, look as good as anything demoed thus far for PS2; and they play great too.
Reliable early reviews for PS2 games show haven't been the mind blowing experience promised. They are mostly prettier versions of games already seen (Ridge Racer, Tekken, Street Fighter) with minimal gameplay improvements. The US lineup, though yet to be revealed, will probably continue this trend, likely with a few EA franchises rearing their heads (Madden, NBA Live). The graphics in these games have been ok, but clearly along the lines of what Dreamcast already offers.
I'll never forget the first time I played Ridge Racer on my shiny new Playstation, September 9, 1995. I was blown away by the graphics that were way ahead of any other home console. That feeling was duplicated the first time I played NFL2K on the Dreamcast.
Somehow, I doubt I'll feel that way after playing the PS2 for the first time.
Despite what my friend at EB would have me believe.
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