In my last blog, I wrote my ideas on how I would have saved the Sega Saturn from failing. Now I am going to give the same treatment to the dreamcast. We all know that the dreamcast was Sega’s last console ever. It was on the market for only about one and a half years. Then Sega pulled the plug and bow out of the console market on Jan 31, 1999. If Sega did listen to me, it wouldn’t have been the case. I will use the same scenario as last time, as I travel back to the past to tell Sega all the issues and their demise as a result of their decisions. Then I tell them the solutions to the problems they will face. This time around I will go back to 1996. This will give Sega plenty of time to fix their issues.
Saving the Dreamcast might be tougher than saving the Saturn. In that generation, the Dreamcast will have to compete with the Gamecube, the new kid on the block called the Xbox, and the massive juggernaut which was the ps2. Yet in this situation, with the Saturn being a hit, Sega is now in better financial shape to better support the Dreamcast and to take on the competition.
$299
The dreamcast was release for $199 in the US. This was a sign of desperation. With Sega now in better financial shape, we can charge the dreamcast to be $299. I know this move will be ticked some people off but as a company we have to make money to survive.
Push back to launch date
The dreamcast had launch in Japan back in 1998 and in America on 9/9/99. The 9/9/99 launch was legendary, but I will chance it. I will push it back to August 2000 and will be a global launch. I did this for four reasons. The first was that it was a chip shortage in Japan in 1998. So many Dreamcast consoles couldn’t be made. This had caused a supply chain issue. Many people wanted to buy one couldn’t because there was not enough. The delay will make sure that they are plenty of systems ready to be bought. The second reason is to fix some of the hardware issue that I will talk about later. The third reason is to give all of the developers’ extra time to get their games ready for the launch window and the first year. The fourth reason is to keep the Saturn alive awhile longer. I would make sure that games keep coming to the Saturn before the Dreamcast arrives and keep games coming to the system after the Dreamcast has launch.
Controller
I loved the Dreamcast but I must admit that I hate the controller. First off I hate the feel of it when whenever I hold it. I also hate that there was only two shoulder buttons. The biggest reason why the controller sucks is because there was only one analog stick. Why Sega? Why? To fix the controller, I would pretty much copy the PS1 pro controller. We will fix the grip to make it more comfortable in our hands. Then we will add two more shoulder buttons. The most important part to be changed is the add a second analog stick.
Vmu
This will not be popular to said but I think that the VMU was pointless. Maybe it was a good idea on paper, but it didn’t pan out. Also it was a waste of money. Too me, we will not bring this thing into the light.
Piracy
One of the reasons that the Dreamcast has failed was because of piracy. Instead of buying games, people would pirate the games. How did this happen? Well the Dreamcast supported MIL CDs (music interactive live compact disc). It is a music CD that have videos. There was no copy protection on this format. So the Dreamcast can run unlicensed code from a regular CD. This goes for games as well. Me telling this to Sega is very important. By not add the MIL CD, piracy would not happen and software sales would not suffer.
DVD player
Not having a DVD player in the Dreamcast is Sega’s biggest mistake with the hardware. I believe the reason why is that Sega couldn’t financially add a DVD in. Sega was in serious debt back then. Now with the Saturn bring a hit, Sega can now put a DVD player in. This is one of the main reasons that I push back the launch date to Aug 2000. The PS2 came out in Oct 2000. We will have a two month jump on the PS2. People will now think twice about buying a Dreamcast now or waiting on the PS2 to arrive. With a DVD player now induced, we have a better shot going up against Sony.
Returning IPs
Like with my last blog, we have reach to the most important part. The games themselves. Last time I wrote on how important having the IPs that was out the genesis makes their way on the Saturn. It will be the same thing here. Those Saturn games will move on to the Saturn. Eternal champions 3, Vectorman 4, Ristar 3, Virtua racing, Streets of rage, Golden axe, Shining force, Toe jam and Earl 4, and so on will be on the Dreamcast. Popular Saturn games will move on the Dreamcast as well. There will be a new Panzer dragoon, Bug, Clockwork knight, Burning rangers, Daytona USA and Virtua cop for the Dreamcast.
Launch titles
For the Dreamcast to be successful, it needs great games to with it. The Dreamcast had great games like Sonic adventure, NFL 2K, and Soulcalibur to begin with. I actually will keep those three games as the launch titles. Then the next month will have an all new Panzer dragoon ready to go. Also the cult classic Crazy taxi will be ready as well. For the third month, we will start will the action game blue Stinger. For the RPG fans the classic Skies of Arcadia will be release. For the third game, I will shock some people. I want a new mansion of hidden souls. It will be similar to the Sega CD game.
Halo killer
For the last game we need a first person shooter. The first Xbox came out in Nov 2001. What made the original Xbox a hit? It was Halo of course. To take on the Xbox, we will need a halo killer.
With all of my ideas, would the Dreamcast win this generation? Maybe not. The goal is to make the Dreamcast a success so Sega can move on to the next generation and beyond.