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CyberPlay: Will Sega's Dreamcast dreams come true?
March 1, 1999 By Steven L. Kent (LA Times) -- In September Sega of America will release a new video game system called Dreamcast in the United States. In terms of technology, Dreamcast is unquestionably the best game console ever made. It features a 128-bit graphic engine. The best way to understand the significance of that 128 bits of processing power is to consider this: The graphics engine in Sega's Dreamcast is 16 times more powerful than the processor in the original Nintendo Entertainment System, eight times more powerful than the processor in the Sega Genesis, four times more powerful than the processor in the Sony PlayStation, and twice as powerful as the processor in the Nintendo 64 (N64). Dreamcast shows other signs of power as well. It has a 32-bit RISC-based (reduced instruction set computer) sound engine. Dreamcast's sound processor is as powerful as the main processor in the PlayStation. Dreamcast also has 26 megabytes of memory, which is three times as much memory as a Nintendo 64 with a 4-megabyte expansion pack. That memory, combined with all of that processing power, will allow Dreamcast to create amazingly detailed graphics the likes of which have never been seen on a home game system. Dreamcast is capable of rendering 3 million polygons per second, four times more polygons than any other game console. Game designers use polygons to create three-dimensional objects and environments. The more polygons they have to work with, the more detailed and realistic the work can be. Dreamcast also features its own proprietary storage medium. Nintendo 64 uses cartridges that are fast but expensive. The largest N64 cartridges hold 32 megabytes of information. PlayStation features a 2X CD-ROM drive. CD-ROM is a slow medium that is cheap to produce and holds up to 640 megabytes. Sega created an all-new storage scheme called GD-ROM for Dreamcast. GD-ROM is a double-density CD-ROM that holds 1.2 gigabytes of information, and Dreamcast's 12X GD-ROM drive is considerably faster than Sony's CD-ROM, so you can access that information quicker. Dreamcast even borrows from the strengths of PC gaming. There is a 33.6 BPS modem for Dreamcast, which provides both Windows-based and Sega-developed operating systems. All of this may sound expensive, but Dreamcast should sell for approximately $189 when it makes its U.S. arrival. When it comes to the battle of the bits, Sega's Dreamcast makes the most sense and costs the least cents for its power. While all of this is impressive, the next question is, ``How are the games?'' Trip Hawkins, the founder of 3DO and Electronic Arts, once commented that he would publish games on cabbage leaves if he thought people would buy them. Dreamcast is certainly no cabbage, and the upcoming lineup for the system is extremely promising. The big news for Dreamcast is a game with the code name Veronica. Designed by Capcom, this Dreamcast exclusive will be the next installment in the ultra-popular Resident Evil series of ghoulish horror games. As it turns out, most of the big names in game creation have signed on with Sega. Konami, the company that created Resident Evil, is making games for Dreamcast. So are Taito (Space Invaders) and Hudson (Bomberman). As the big launch date approaches, it appears as though Sega may have made all the right moves. It has a great piece of software and a solid line up of publishing partners. This does not mean, however, that Dreamcast will succeed. Sega is an interesting company that has had only one successful system in the past. Everybody remembers and admires the Genesis, but don't forget that Sega also manufactured the Master System, 32X, Game Gear, Nomad, Pico and Saturn. Like Dreamcast, all of these systems (except Pico) were advanced for their time. If there's a company that deserves to succeed, it's Sega. On the other hand, if there's a company that trips over its own feet, that's Sega too. Dreamcast may indeed be the future of video games. The real question isn't about hardware or games; in this case, it's about learning.
Copyright © 1999, Steven L. Kent RELATED STORIES: Making it in the game industry February 26, 1999 Surfing Silicon Valley: Say yes to games on the Mac! January 8, 1999 Their own Web world: Teens create a cybernation November 22, 1998 Video game giants unveil next generation at E3 May 30, 1998 Sega unveils new Dreamcast game console May 21, 1998 RELATED SITES: Sega of America PlayStation Nintendo Power Source Electronic Arts
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