DREAMCAST

Catalog Spec

Developer	SEGA
Release date in Japan	Novenmber 1998
Media	GD-ROM
CPU	HITACHI SH-2 (200MHz / 360MIPS)
RAM	Main memory: 16MB Sound RAM: 2MB
VRAM	8MB
Graphic	Graphic engine: Power VR2
Sound	Sound engine: YAMAHA super intelligent sound processor 32bit RISC CPU (ARM7 AICA 45 MHz) Sound function: ADPCM 64ch
GD-ROM	speed:16X
OS	Microsoft Windows CE (customized)
List price in Japan	29,800 yen

DREAM CAST is the home video game console released by SEGA in 1998. Also, this console is famous for SEGA’s final video game console for hosuehold use. SEGA started to develop the next generation gaming console as a successive machine of SEGA SATURN from 1996. Plus, the company carried out the various eye-cathing advertisement stategy both before and after releasing the console. In the aspect of the hardware spec, SEGA collaborated with HITACHI, VIDEOLOGIC and NEC to develop the highly processing units. For CPU, both SEGA and HITACHI newly developed a new original CPU SH-2 for the console. And for graphic feature, both VIDEOLOGIC and NEC joined the lauch-up project of DREAM CAST and they developed POWER VR2. However, the actual developing project of POWER VR2 was behind the original developing schedule, it also caused the shortage of the title for the console. In the situation of the poor yield rate of POWER VR 2, it was impossible increase market share by increasing production.  And unfortunately the competitor SONY released PLAY STATION 2 in 2000, SEGA couldn’t win the compatative battle for the market share of video game console. As a result, SEGA decided to withdraw from home video game console business in 2001 and announced to concentrate on game software business for the competitors’ console including GAMEBOY ADVANCE, GAME CUBE and PLAYSTATION 2 from that time on.