The Launch of the Sega Dreamcast (1999) | Classic Gaming Quarterly

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Episode 61 - The Launch of the Sega Dreamcast. Sega may have been playing with the big boys in the early 90’s, but the middle third of the decade saw the American side of the company fall far and fast. Genesis games were starting to look aged compared to Nintendo’s 16-bit offerings, and while maybe a good idea in theory, the 32X did more harm than good. Sega of Japan made the rash decision to launch the Saturn early and overpriced in the US, and to say that it struggled against the Nintendo 64 and Sony Playstation would be putting it mildly. Bernie Stolar joined and later led Sega of America, and although almost universally hated by gamers, he helped ease the dying Saturn into the grave and ready Sega’s next generation hardware. The Dreamcast was launched on September 9, 1999, a.k.a. “9/9/99”, and a massive 19 games joined it on store shelves. Sonic Adventure, NFL 2K, and SoulCalibur were easily the marquee day one games, but other launch games, including Hydro Thunder, Power Stone, NFL Blitz 2000, and Expendable are still great to play even today.
If you’d like access to the official CGQ Discord server, shoot me an e-mail (address below) for an invite link.
- All VGA-compatible games were captured at 1280x960 using a Retro Access Dreamcast 576i/480p cable, an OSSC upscaler, and a Startech USB 3.0 capture card. Interlaced signals of games not compatible with VGA were processed through a Framemeister and captured on the same device. Take home message: 480p DC games still look damned good on modern displays.
- When discussing the Dreamcast video cables, I said that the Dreamcast displayed 240p and 480i through composite and s-video. While it is true that the DC can output 480i, 576i is the more common interlaced mode. But while not technically correct, had I said “576i” without explaining what that meant, it would have been confusing for most people.
- At an hour and fifteen minutes, this is the longest video on the main channel, including the unscripted magazine read-throughs. It is roughly twice the length of the next longest launch video, the Sega Master System.
- Speaking of length, the script for this episode is 10,164 words and 16 pages long. The next longest script was “The Sega Genesis in 1990”, at 8,834 words.
- If at one point in the video you got startled, you were supposed to.
- I think the NFL Blitz 2000 segment is too long, but at the same time I wouldn't know how to cut it down. I find it impossible to play that game without a smile on my face. "THAT WAS AN ILLEGAL HIT!" Check it out if you've never played it.
- “NAMCO” was literally the first shot that I knew that I wanted in this video.
- Try playing the new “Classic Gaming Quarterly Eating Game”. Every time I say “meat & potatoes”, you have to eat some meat & potatoes.
- This is my favorite-ever ending to one of my videos. I feel like the last few bits of the video are a downer because I mention the ultimate fate of the Dreamcast and of Sega, so the ending was a way to celebrate the good times.
Also be sure to check out my other channel, where I do live streams, nostalgic musings about childhood in the 80's, and even the occasional collection video.
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Classic Gaming Quarterly
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#Dreamcast20 #LaunchVids #CGQ

[@CGQuarterly]

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[@aarongarabedian2941]

Classic Gaming Quarterly awesome job dude! Your work is top notch and your research is always so interesting. Thanks for making these! The level of nostalgia is insane lol

[@urmie]

Chris, is it possible, down the line, that a bluray collection of launch videos be released? I understand it would be lots of work, but just an idea.

[@SoulforSale]

We are going to need four more launch videos. Just slap them together. Our expectations remain the same though. Just kidding. I'm not my boss.

[@mrbig2648]

Best launch video yet! Thanks

[@uknighted213]

I wish you had a channel on television! I miss G4 back in its prime lol

[@tonybp]

The Dreamcast was the last thing my dad bought me before passing away... I still have it and I will never get rid of it.

[@RSK412]

heartbreaking. Im sorry man.

[@jeromethompson5848]

Dreamcast is awesome and that means that your dad is awesome too. May he live on 4 ever

[@custardberrytart651]

@@jeromethompson5848 what a lovely comment

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

Yeah I get that 100%... Because my sister and I were left with an evil step mother (Step C*** in non PG conversations) who is every bad step mother movie trope rolled into one, I have the Guitar he bought me and a TV...... I don't even have a portion of his ashes from his cremation. The TV started dying recently and while I just moved house (perfect time to bin broken items) I just cant let it go.

[@briansouth9325]

@@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI fix it and keep using it

[@cjaquilino]

This could easily air as a documentary on TV or some streaming service.

[@mmurphy3608]

Agree! His content is top notch.

[@ninelivecat]

@@mmurphy3608 Agreed excellent research, production and presentation

[@MajorrBison]

Remember G4TV?

[@cjaquilino]

@@MajorrBison It could've easily aired on that or TechTV. It's better then a lot of the programming they had.

[@sukaenacornelius9285]

Well im glad its on youtube because i have none of those😂

[@carlosfigueroa4611]

Dreamcast was a the portal from the 90's to the 2000's in videogaming. I still remember going to blockbuster just looking at the early PS2 and Dreamcast titles!

[@ricky-sanchez]

CD disks Killed blockbuster.

[@empire0]

Some of these games looked incredible graphically for how old they are now. The late 90's-early 2000's were a fun time, everything had so much color and attitude.

[@Alextheskater91]

Notice how everything was better before mainstream internet and social media...

[@adewilson132]

@@Alextheskater91yet here you are on the internet😂. Don’t use the internet if you’re gonna complain about it.

[@Alextheskater91]

@@adewilson132 the internet is fine and great. It’s social media that made everyone stupid

[@timothymoynihan8063]

I still remember 9/9/99 like it was yesterday. Went to Toys R Us at 9am grab a Dreamcast, Sonic Adventure, Soul Caliber and NFL Blitz. 20 years later I still consider the Dreamcast the greatest home console.

[@davidnotonstinnett]

It was pretty good. The best part is that, due to the lack of any real piracy protection, it still has some level of community support. In the future when all games are streamed or otherwise locked down as pure commodities, the Dreamcast and OG Xbox will be the only place where games as a form of creative expression will exist.

[@tylerkeller8869]

That's a lot of nines

[@tylerkeller8869]

1:35 Is that Andy Dick?

[@Cooe.]

@@davidnotonstinnett But... that also notably helped sink the amazing console while it was on the market (DC ripping was RAMPANT in the very early 00's). Same thing would happen with the PSP a few years later. The Yin & Yangs of life I guess.

[@chillnspace777]

That's my b'day. But didn't get at launch got one the next year. Soul calibur was solid it had some other games that were good also.

[@25hztolife86]

You put a lot of work in this video and it shows.

[@codprocamp4690]

He always does

[@SoulWarriorSF]

I love these types of vids!!! So much nostalgia....

[@TrinidadJamesWoods]

I agree. CGQ has some of the best retrospectives on YT.

[@NandiCollector]

My #1 YT channel for childhood gaming :)

[@blue2the21]

25Hz to Life yeah

[@karlbristow1223]

I miss this era of gaming, it wasn't just endless sequels and micro transactions. Loads of original and quirky games to try, hidden gems, cult classics. The industry is so generic these days.

[@Superman-xr1oh]

In alot of ways, the video game industry went backwards as time went on.

[@Write-Stuff]

Much agreed, my friend. DLC and greed brought the gaming industry to some of its lowest of lows, morally speaking.

[@hippaman2435]

I think the reason it seems this way is because companies like Nintendo, sony etc, has gathered such a big audience that they know that people will buy their consoles and games anyway even if it's not that good, in conclusion they don't have to put that much effort into games anymore because there basically isn't any reason too.

[@cliffturbo2146]

At least not "everyone" are like that. We do get some amazing games still.

[@RetroFan]

The Dreamcast also supported KB&Mouse, voice chat, VOIP calling (Dreamcall), web browsing, VMU games, downloading saves from other people, free DLC, and other cool stuff.

[@user-uy3eq5hg1s]

Ikaruga was the whole reason I wanted a Dreamcast. That game was so awesome.

[@bill5974]

Still have my copy ;-)

[@liammcnicholas918]

Didn’t Ikaruga only come out for the Dreamcast in Japan?

[@Sega_Dreams]

20 years ago today, at 6 am, I went to Babbage's at my nearby mall for my first and only console launch. I picked up my pre-paid Dreamcast along with Sonic Adventure, Soul Calibur, Power Stone, and Ready 2 Rumble. I had taken two days off work to get lost in these next-gen games, and I loved every minute of it. The polygon counts, resolution, and textures were incredible. The online connectivity was fascinating; I felt like I had to log in to every game's website to see what information was posted about it. The system's lifespan was tragically short, but the memories I made with it were great. Great video, Chris!

[@capcomfan82]

When you saw the dreamcast for the first time it was a holy shit moment. I wasn’t a sports fan at the time but nfl 2k was dramatic for the times. Then getting all those capcom fighters, it was awesome.

[@Sega_Dreams]

@@capcomfan82 It was! Probably the last time I was really blown away by a graphical jump.

[@labounti]

First Time I ever waited in line early for a console release. I did not take off work though :).

[@Turbotef]

Yup, I wish I could go back to early August 1999 and relive that agonizing month long wait for the best time I ever had in gaming for the following 1.5 years. I preordered my DC (along with Sonic Adventure, Soul Calibur, Power Stone, and HotD2) at Funcoland and picked up a Neo Geo Pocket Color with Metal Slug 1st Mission. All was right in my life at that time for a brief two years....

[@AlexanderBogdanow]

Those are just the ememories that stuck. My two launch days were GameCube & DS. But there're so many SEGA fans, incl. me, doing so much. DC still got a great HB scene, if not the greatest. I'am not kiddin', the SEGA DC HB scene has made THE most professional Fan/Homebrew games if ever seen. So, if you have a DC, you still get a supply of new Games today. Even little studios developed over the time with the sole purpose of creating new DC games. Truely amazing. Like the C64/AMIGA scene that we've here in germany. Ahh, and then I would mention something 'bout Lunchdays in general. How they've changed... In the good ol' days, you just met ppl with whom you played online afterwards. Friedships developed and these specific 'energy' in air, the excitement. My mom once told me she witnessed the Mega Drive launch day here in Germany with my father. They met some nice folks and took 'em home to play some Altered Beast & Sonic together. - Plus a fighting game, but I forgot the name - Today, you meet just a bunch 'o scalpers who a 'ready to rumble' if the stock runs dry... 🙄

[@jasonmyers8278]

Watching this on 9/9/19. Happy Birthday Sega Dreamcast.

[@wutzerface77]

Thank you for showing the VMU play selection on NFL 2K-- still one of the greatest video game features of all time

[@MadDogHoek23]

But he forgot the best feature, that during two player you could pick your play in the VMU so your opponent couldn’t see what play you were making.

[@wutzerface77]

@@MadDogHoek23 that’s the feature i was talking about- there’s a brief clip near the beginning that demonstrates it

[@INSIDETHEMATRYX]

Still waiting for the dreamcast 2....I'm a dreamer.

[@WRCfan88]

this will never happen. BUT u can always wait and pray for a dreamcast mini. That would be SO SO awesome. I wish someone make petition for that. I d totally sign

[@MorganNye]

Titos Vlasakidis Dreamcast classic would be good, however I actually feel bad for the people at Sega in America that couldn’t make the Dreamcast successful.

[@WRCfan88]

@@MorganNye true. And what about the petition I m talking about? Hasn't anyone made one yet? Can't believe that

[@robertsandstorm4785]

i see what you did there... and i liked it

[@MorganNye]

Robert Sandstorm oh so you’re talking to him and not me?

[@thunter992]

Seriously love the Dreamcast and wish it was far more successful

[@aarongreenfield9038]

It was and still is pretty successful, There are still new games being made for it.

[@mayamanign]

Jeff V yup, Sony does it every generation.

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

I think what you really wanted was the PlayStation 2 to bomb/never exist. The DC was successful........Until Sony whipped out its big black box. Yep I did just write that

[@ricky-sanchez]

@@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI dreamcast had better graphics, but ps2 had better software support. No more racing.

[@23GreyFox]

Sony's "lies"... writen by a Sega Fanboy...

[@MistahBroccoli]

It's crazy how good some Dreamcast games look to this very day through VGA especially on a pc monitor

[@snesfan8935]

Soul Calibur looks super on CRT VGA monitor.

[@mich722]

@@snesfan8935 And Shenmue 1 and 2.

[@ccricers]

The fighting gamer group in my college hooked up a Dreamcast to a laptop screen that way so they could play fighting games in the cafeteria, bowling alley, wherever they wanted to.

[@matilija]

Looks really good through HDMI with a DCHDMI as well, and while it pains me to admit it, I run my DCHDMI at 480p adn through an Mcable and the results are pretty awesome, most games look almost native 720p in this config.

[@NodakSavage]

I use mine primarily on a CRT pc monitor through vga. I also have the Akura box and looks amazing on my Modern tv as well. But I do prefer the CRT

[@segat-800]

For some reason I put off watching this, thinking it was just another casual approach to gaming history. How wrong I was, it's actually very thorough and brought back some good memories 🙂

[@jamesdjl4359]

I was 9 years old in 99 when this came out. I was a huge fan of my Playstation and N64 at the time. But, when i got the Dreamcast i was blown out of my seat. Anyone who played phantasy star online back then, STILL remembers it fondly over 20 years later. This is an amazing video. Ive watched it start to finish a dozen times atleast. All your videos on the system launches are my absolute favorites. Childhood Nostalgia beyond all belief. Thank you for all your time and effort.

[@KREATIVEassassin]

You should really be proud of this one. It's fantastic. Everything you've done here is above and beyond what I would expect from anyone making KZbin videos. Congratulations on making the best Dreamcast launch video in existence.

[@CGQuarterly]

Thanks Josh!!

[@Incubusnut]

Outstanding video. Dreamcast was an amazing system. 9-9-99 was a great day!

[@remybien3277]

Worked at Best Buy during Dreamcast launch. Good times. Great job as always with this video

[@remybien3277]

Busy time. Final fantasy 8 came out the same day on PS1.

[@excelsciors]

@@remybien3277 I think in those days lots of computers flashed the "Intel Inside" sticker!

[@crowningchristopher8273]

I worked at Best Buy at that time as well. It was great, the Dreamcast demo kiosk was directly across the aisle from my department. We would take turns on downtime playing it as long as no supervisors were around. I remember playing Crazy Taxi about 1000 times and thinking that graphics couldn't possibly get more advanced lol

[@frank-bmtz]

The Dreamcast was underrated and under appreciated in my opinion. It was a concise we didn’t know we loved until it was gone.

[@Kspat2]

I have so many good memories of playing the Dreamcast as a kid with my best friend. It had such fun quality games;

[@thomastripp9002]

Sega Dreamcast....The system that was the first system to me that was "love at first sight." I remember going to Best Buy as a 4th Grader in September 1999, right after Hurricane Fran and not hearing anything about the Dreamcast prior to my encounter. I had the opportunity to play Ready 2 Rumble and instantly fell in love with the system and it convinced me to get one for Christmas of 1999, along with that game and NBA Showtime - the NBA on NBC (a game I enjoyed at the arcades) and it was very fun!! Then, later on, I would get the opportunity to play NBA and NFL 2K, Jet Grind Radio, Virtua Tennis, Sonic Adventure, Power Stone, Crazy Taxi and several more. The Dreamcast was way ahead of its time and was gone way too soon!!!! Long live Dreamcast!!!!

[@thechosenone2123]

Yezzir! Its funny that you mention this because Sega easily had the best launch lineup of any console ever. Freaking 19 games! It was insane. I cant remember the last time a console launched with that many games. I think Xbox 360 came close with around 15 games at launch, but im pretty sure it didnt top the quantity that Dreamcast had. On top of that, almost every launch game on the Dreamcast was quality and well made, no shovelware garbage that tends to plague certain other consoles. Man, it was such a legendary console. I'll also go a step further and say that Shenmue was one of the best games ever created for it, along with Sonic Adventure, RE Code Veronica, Crazy Taxi (as you mentioned), and Ready 2 Rumble Boxing.

[@thomastripp9002]

@@thechosenone2123 2 months late, but well said. I do hope I get an opportunity to play Shenmue and RE Code Veronica. Dreamcast put out so many great games in the two years it was on the market. I'd say if not for Sega's past mishaps with the 32X and Saturn, they'll still be in the market today.

[@thechosenone2123]

@@thomastripp9002 well I got good news for you. You dont even need a Dreamcast anymore to play Shenmue and Code Veronica. Those games have been rereleased on modern hardware. I agree with the 32X. It was a dumpster fire. However, the Saturn, even though it flopped, had alot of potential, the problem was that Sega was run by a bunch of morons. Sad to say, but it is what it is. The whole internal battle between Sega of America and Sega of Japan is what fucked us all up.

[@Thor-Orion]

@@thomastripp9002 the 32x fucked over the Saturn. If Saturn had been able to do better in the west they would have localized more games. There was no excuse for what Sega did with the Saturn. I had one and loved it, but they didn’t send enough games to America.

[@ccricers]

I didn't buy the Dreamcast when it was still new-ish, but I did remember working at Sears a new employee showed up, a high schooler like me. He said, I'm here just to get paid to buy the Dreamcast and some games. Sure enough 3 weeks later he walked out the store with the console, Shenmue and I forgot what else. We never saw him again lol

[@areyoujelton]

We had a SEGA Dreamcast party yesterday! It was so fun!!! Played Sonic Adventure, Powerstone 1 & 2, Spawn: In The Demon’s Hand, and Quake 3.

[@MistahBroccoli]

No Cannon Spike?

[@boricuadude26]

Power Stone!!!! Underrated game that's for sure

[@davidabest7195]

We?

[@jordanboyd5587]

@@boricuadude26 And one of the most expensive, especially 2.

[@smokegames1179]

Told my mom to buy me a dreamcast she went home and my brother with a ps2 I was so happy

[@destroyermaker]

Would absolutely love to see a video in this style on the demise of the Dreamcast.

[@rorytaylor626]

Wow, you can tell how much research you put into making this. Grabbed myself a drink and a snack and settled in. I remember buying a Dreamcast at launch with Soul Calibur, Sonic Adventure, and NFL 2K. Even though it had a short run, it was packed with great games.

[@bsimpson2288]

Still have my launch Dreamcast and games and still play them regularly. Easily my favorite console.

[@kyles8524]

i still got mine too, depending on the year its made usually the first model like mine can play burnt games with no chip

[@whatwasisaying1338]

I miss my Dreamcast. After I purchased an Xbox, my mother gave my Dreamcast and ALL my games to her friend's son. The game I miss the most...Skies of Arcadia on DC.

[@troyivan9301]

@@whatwasisaying1338 By far Skies of Arcadia was one of the best rpgs I have ever played. I loved the GameCube version as well.

[@123456CBOY]

House of the dead 2 I still have my DC with 2 controllers and a green memory card

[@troyivan9301]

@@123456CBOY I still have my white DC and Black sport DC as well. I will never gry rid of them

[@AnEnglishGentleman]

Thank you for doing this episode. I’m sure I speak for most retro gamers when I say the Dreamcast will always have a special place in our hearts. This was peak Sega in every way. I still play mine every week and my love for it will never die ❤️👏🏽

[@thechosenone2123]

I agree this episode was easily one of the best Dreamcast documentaries that I ever seen. Tip for you, if you want the name of another awesome retro youtuber, check out SEGALORDX. Hes a little different from Classic Gaming Quarterly since he focuses only on retro Sega stuff (specifically the Saturn), but the delivery of his content is top notch.

[@timothycrosby4251]

I absolutely loved my Sega Saturn. Me and my wife who was my girlfriend back then used to play cds on it with the starship popping up periodically. Great memories!

[@ItsStanleyZ]

The Dreamcast, to this very day, still has the best lineup of launch games for a console EVER.

[@MrMario2011]

I've known of most of these games, had no idea they were all launch titles! Dreamcast might have the best launch lineup out there.

[@ricky-sanchez]

Don't say it so!!!!

[@skurinski]

its cause the american release came almost a year later. The Japanese launch was nowhere near as good

[@Thor-Orion]

@@skurinski they should have waited in Japan. Japan bought the Saturn and got a TON more games on it then we did here.

[@TVsBen]

Yeah, it's insane how amazing the launch library was. So insane.

[@southsidesaiyan8641]

@@Thor-Orion what do you mean Japan bought the Saturn?

[@JazGalaxy]

Maybe it's because this was my senior year of high school, but the Dreamcast launch was the most fun console launch in history, to me. The SNES is my favorite system and has the best first year of games, but the Dreamcast was just SO.MUCH.FUN. From the 9.9.99 MTV VMAs stuff to the Official Dreamcast Magazine to the killer selection of Day 1 titles. I bought the unit, NFL 2K, Soul Calibur and Hydro Thunder. I never played as much Hydro Thunder as I would have liked, for some reason, but I wore out the other two.

[@likeher9]

That was fantastic! Fabulous memories, brilliant console, brilliant time for gaming, brilliant Dreamcast! Thanks for amazing memories Sega.

[@fluxuation87]

fantastic video. Dreamcast was a fantastic system and I always feel so nostalgic whenever I think about it. I went like a month without ever turning it off because I didn't have memory card and didn't want to lose all the characters I unlocked in Soul Calibur. I was finally able to get one and save my game!

[@RicardoGaspariniLage]

When I saw Soul Calibur on Dreamcast, I thought: "Thats it. The arcade days are numbered" It was the end of the arcades as the leadstate of art game technology

[@freakyfornash]

T.B.H. arcades were kind of going downhill beforehand anyway, with the 16 bit consoles being their initial real crack in the armor. The Dreamcast was what pretty much signed their final death warrants, when it was the first console that could truly do games at least 95-99% arcade perfect from start to finish. At least there's still many around which have some good games worth playing that you can't have at home, mainly light gun games for me. That despite even if they'll sadly never be these amazing, magical places they were from the 80's to the mid to late 90's ever again, where literally almost every game was worth at least trying unfortunately though.

[@AyeThatsHandsomePete]

I don’t think I’ve loved any console more than my Dreamcast. It was so good. Can’t believe it’s been twenty years since launch.

[@hondamanvtec2894]

For me its the OG Xbox then Sega Dreamcast But like many say... the first Xbox was the "Dreamcast 2"

[@StellarAudyssey]

Dreamcast was my favourite as well.

[@nightcrowred]

The Dreamcast as well as the Sega Saturn, and the Nintendo GameCube, was one of the most underrated and under appreciated systems. Those systems shocked me when I saw them. I wish more people had (because like most, I didn't have one either, and only one of my friends had the Dreamcast) more of em. The detail and graphics, and music were awe-inspiring. I wouldn't mind getting one myself and playing House of the Dead.

[@Weather_Nerd]

💯

[@Cristian-vm1bg]

pound 4 pound the Dreamcast is one of the best systems ever, easily. top 3.

[@Maverick.D.]

Right up there with the Gamecube.

[@shadowlaw809]

Great review of the sega dreamcast..cant believe its been 20 years already since it launch

[@davebladegun3009]

When I got this notification just a moment ago, I was unboxing all of my Dreamcast stuff after moving into a new place. I really appreciate your Perfect-Timing-Enthusiast Tone.

[@CGQuarterly]

Sorry that the thumbnail doesn't have me making "Dreamcast enthusiast face".

[@davebladegun3009]

No problem. I’ll be sure and write a letter to my local congressman, to ensure that you’re appropriately forced to replace the thumbnail with something more to my liking.

[@arejay1007]

Found this channel by chance and now I watch it all the time, the best channel on you tube for going down memory lane.

[@bennettsamuelostroff6131]

This video is truly amazing, and brought back so many great memories for me of 9/9/99! Thank you so much for the incredible amount of work that you put in to make this! I'll briefly say, that the disc not working issue was mainly regarding the Midway software. I bought Hydro Thunder, Ready 2 Rumble, and MK Gold on launch day... but none of them worked! However, Babbages soon called me to say that the new batch of disc's came in, and they gladly exchanged my defective games for ones that read "Hot! New!" on the case (in funky green coloring that I'll never forget). NFL2K was my most anticipated Dreamcast launch game, but it actually was delayed until about a week or so after 9/9/99, or so that's what all of the videogame stores in both South Florida and the Baltimore suburbs said (I lived in both places). I remember vividly though the day that it actually came out, and I was so completely blown away by it. Thanks again sir for brining the memories flooding back to me of the Dreamcast's launch!

[@GameplayandTalk]

Incredible episode, man! The Dreamcast had an amazing launch and I honestly can't think of a better one since.

[@duelingfattiesgaming2130]

Pretty much every console sense has had a better launch.

[@BawesomeBurf]

@@duelingfattiesgaming2130 Maybe from a sales standpoint, but this was by far the best launch lineup of games for a system in North America.

[@turtleanton6539]

@@duelingfattiesgaming2130 nah it had tons of games

[@Sega_Dreams]

@FinalNinja The PS2's launch lineup was awful. The Gamecube is the only other launch lineup worth discussing.

[@nicknasty14]

@FinalNinja Lol, ps2 launch? I was there for the launch and it was pathetic! I remember getting home with smugglers run and thinking what a joke. Looked last gen even! Dreamcast launch titles destroyed it! There was nothing on the ps2 that could compare. Dreamcast was way ahead of its time! I still own a working launch one with an added vga box. Still holds up and looks good! Some of the games even supported wide screen. First console to feature online gaming! It was a revolutionary system with the best line up of games. Nothing else will compare. Ive been witnessing it since the atari 2600, and it still is and will be the best console of all time to me.

[@trav8028]

Happy 20th to the Dreamcast! I still have my EGM issue of the Dreamcast launch somewhere at my relatives

[@excelsciors]

The Dreamcast had it's own monthly magazine too! The magazine was top notch as well! I think I had 8 issues before it died with the system!

[@danielm2808]

I’ve watched a lot of Dreamcast videos but this was the best and most thorough i’ve seen. Excellent work 👏

[@tx_outlaw7951]

Let’s just imagine a brand new version of this incredible console!!!!! I might cry 😭

[@fl260]

Yay, another "The Launch of" video! This series is among the best videos I've watched on YT! So well made, and brings back so much nostalgia! Saving this to watch with the girlfriend on this rainy week-end. Thanks a bunch man!

[@JasonBaker1978]

Dude this is your best episode EVER! No I'm not just saying that cuz I love the Dreamcast, you really did an outstanding job going into detail about the history and hardware.

[@JasonBaker1978]

​@@stevenmills6502 Whoo... Uh, yeah... Commence the jigglin'

[@JasonBaker1978]

I got me these night vision goggles

[@JasonBaker1978]

IDK why I have these goggles

[@JasonBaker1978]

Ok nap time then...

[@SuperFlashDriver]

I've noticed that to. And also his color correcting and style of the history videos have greatly improved since his first console launch video.

[@Word187]

LOVED IT! Never had a Dreamcast but I remember playing it at friends. I grew up with the Sega Master System and Sega Mega Drive

[@akildukes7499]

I bought the fishing controller in box from cd game exchange a few years back. Still play it. The kids love it. Still playing Starlancer too.

[@electricflesh4534]

I have very fond memories of this system. I remember picking up my pre-ordered Dreamcast on 9-9-99 from Toys R' Us. I was so blown away by the graphics and couldn't believe that it looked as good and better than some arcade games.

[@Incubusnut]

Electric Flesh. Same. 9-9-99. Toys R’ Us. I did it up BIG at launch.

[@codybanner7768]

The dreamcast was an arcade machine...just look at the game library. Many fighting, racing, and shooter's.

[@720jlconner]

Great video. Cant imagine how much time it must've taken to make this. I remember buying dreamcast on launch day with. Blue stinger and ready to rumble and i loved them both.

[@TerangaGD]

Excellent I loved watching it and can't even imagine the tremendous work it took to combine, edit everything

[@purplesabbath9057]

I waited until today to watch this so I could see it on the Dreamcast's 20th birthday :)

[@SonofTiamat]

Sure wish I could go back in time to 1999, when the world was still somewhat sane

[@CGQuarterly]

If you figure out how, take me with you.

[@moviemetalhead]

Somewhat sane, but I remember people were paranoid about Y2K.

[@therosesword007]

@@CGQuarterly make that a double on my part

[@Yuli_Ban]

Ha, people of the 90s would look at the present and go, "Can we have what you're having?" Because let's remember, the people of the 90s had the Yugoslav Wars (active war & genocide _in Europe_ ), the multiple genocides in Africa + the Second Congo War, Russia's wholesale collapse and economic depression, and Limp Bizkit. It's that Y2K aesthetic circa 1997-2003 that I want back.

[@AVGNROCKS1996]

Shut up Boomer

[@hazybasement7101]

Really great video, it brought back a lot of memories of the whole Dreamcast experience. I had a great experience with the console and man when I figured out how to use those old free ISP's for dial up connection to the internet Phantasy Star Online became a constant grind in my house. Great video, thanks for helping me relive some of these amazing memories.

[@kamalindsey]

I remember the launch like it was yesterday, I was staying at my friend Mike's house. We went to the mall, walked through the entire store to find the videogames. They had Dreamcasts set up in the middle of the store. We ended up getting one, and a copy of NFL 2K. The same day of the launch we ran back and forth between Sears and GameStop, it was the first time I even knew what a GameStop was and I felt so much nostalgia when I went back to this mall recently. A funny story was we went to a local diner to eat and while we were eating some lady told her daughter to play the basketball arcade machine. She kept trying and it wouldn't do anything. I leaned over and politely advised the lady to press start. She looked at me funny and said that's not how you turn on a basketball machine. I got an eye roll from the daughter, and then they figured it out. They had to press start. Anyways we went back to Mike's house and played for hours. Great system that didn't get the proper attention or respect. I recall Mike had posters of Saturn and Sega stuff everywhere. Also all of his fav t-shirts were from Sega games, and he owned one of the best Sega games ever in my opinion, Crazy Taxi. His parents were really cool too, so they would always let me stay over at his house on the weekend. I'm glad they were so nice to me because I was so shy and always afraid of doing stuff with other kids, even though I loved spending the weekend at his house. I miss him dearly. Thank you for this video.

[@CaptainMauser]

Bought it on the release and to this day one of my top 3 consoles. Soul Calibur is still one of the best beat em up games!

[@XTheJenovaProjectX]

Chris White Fighting Games* and I got mine on 9999 also. Such a memorable console launch

[@hardcorevintagefades]

Great video! I can remember renting the Dreamcast from Hollywood Video and maxing out a credit card to buy it around launch from an EB games.

[@Will_Bx_NYC_718]

The Sega Dreamcast launch was the best, and my favorite ever!

[@jdtoledo]

i hate watching long youtube videos, but you edited it so good and the subject of the video and its back story were so good I couldnt believe i finished the video. good job man

[@subdivisionalmass]

This was a super amazing documentary. Thank you for representing the Dreamcast in such a great way! I have just a tiny tiny tiny minuscule correction about the GD-Rom space size. The actual space for game data was actually around 984MB. The Audio layer was around 35MB so in a sense games didn't even have a 1GB of space to use for storage. I believe this statement was made around the 15 min mark.

[@davebladegun3009]

Blue Stinger is a VERY underrated game. It’s combat system is good, the variety of weapons is great, and it never gets dull. One of my faves. And NFL 2K was a system seller for me. I enjoyed many other titles from the launch lineup, but NFL 2K absolutely sold me singlehandedly on the Sega Dreamcast.

[@0XReactor]

If Sega would've skipped the 32X then the Dreamcast may have a fighting chance. It would've held up better against other consoles.

[@freakyfornash]

That and not butchered the Saturn so bad in many ways as well. That of which was when Sega's long, hard fall from grace truly happened, and lost a lot of trust with gamers when the Dreamcast came out too.

[@psychotropictraveler514]

@Not Bob I remember very well that being a deal breaker for a lot of people. Ps2s were cheaper than dvd players at the time, and could do both games and movies. It was a no brainer at the time

[@marccaselle8108]

@@psychotropictraveler514 that was the biggest nail in Segas coffin. The PS2 doubled as a DVD player and could play PS2 games and backwards compatible with PS1 games. Sega couldn't do squat a lot that. Now..... If the dreamcast could play DVDs out of the box and was backwards compatible with the entire Sega Saturn library, that would have been awesome.

[@mnoble0902]

Your channel is amazing! I have watched several videos of yours, but this one is my favorite so far! I never had a Dreamcast (or any Sega console, actually) and I never realized how cool the Dreamcast was. I do remember playing Sonic Adventure at Target while my Mom was shopping. I may have to find one!

[@SmokeMonster]

It's alive!!! :D

[@JeffYPbPr]

CGQ always puts out great content man. Glad to see ya here showing some love.

[@cappythedoge]

it’s thinking

[@kevinlawrence4812]

It's thinking.

[@mrblonde609]

LIke always a very in depth and high class analysis. Thank you for all the time and effort that goes into these projects!

[@bigpump2620]

Dreamcast was ahead of its time and more powerful then the ps2, people wasn't ready for the dreamcast

[@kummakummakummakummakummac8606]

Nobody cared. So it failed. You can make the best product in the world but if nobody wants it then it doesn't matter.

[@tchitchouan]

Lol it was far weaker than the ps2

[@ImperialMJG]

More powerful than PS2? Lol it was barely more powerful than N64

[@yakov9542]

It was def more powerful than ps2. Just didn’t have enough time for developers to work the kinks out and use the console to its full potential.

[@Turbulation1]

The Dreamcast could only render 3 million polygons per sec, compared to 60 million on the play station 2, so you ultimately tell me which one is more powerful than the other.

[@legendofgood4278]

Your videos are a treasure of nostalgia .thank you

[@shockwatch2171]

Fantastic video about the launch of the Sega Dreamcast! My launch titles were HydroThunder sonic adventure and blue stinger. I remember how some of the games were sold a few days before the console was available which I thought was really cool and I’ve never seen that before. I took the day off work and you can bet I picked mine up first thing in the morning 9-9-99!

[@jeffgrady601]

The Dreamcast still has the greatest launch ever. Just amazing games

[@freakyfornash]

Yeah, and you could literally play that entire lineup up until Christmas that year, and still not be bored of the console. That being with how much it had just about each and every single game genre covered at first. Bummer that the DC had to die so soon after it's promising start, and when third party support began to level off, as the PS2, and later GameCube & original Xbox launches began to fast approach. That of which was when Sega realized it simply wasn't going to have the resources to compete with the console market any longer, and saw the writing on the wall unfortunately.

[@hector4470]

Agreed it was the most stacked lineup too this day and I still feel hasn’t been beat since.

[@Bubsy_Mods]

Wow that brought back memories😊. That was an excellent and detailed Dreamcast documentary. Amazing research and hard work bro👍

[@Matthewsavant]

This video earned you a sub. Very well produced and through and over an hour! Very well done. Dreamcast will always be one of my favorite systems of all time

[@melon3109]

I adore these videos. The sheer amount of detail for all games, fun facts, history, and tone setting is so great. Thank you

[@guitarboyjeff]

WOW brotha, this video is by far the most professionally and researched of all of your console release documentary style videos!!!!! Even though all of your content is amazing, this one has to be the best so far. A bit long but it is very true to understand the downfall of Sega hardware and the lack of distribution it had by the Dreamcast life, you did have to go into details of why with the Saturn. I do feel bad for Peter Moore as he was heavily involved in the attempt to make Sega come out of the whole the last regime put them in with Dreamcast and to be honest, they had a fighting chance but companies and many fans had a sour taste for Sega after the fallout of Saturn and the mixture of the 32x here in North America. Peter Moore was so excited for this project he said in an interview about Dreamcast so yeah I do feel bad it went the way it did. I wish that I had a Dreamcast growing up but never did. I see all of the shooters like Ikaruga and Mars Matrix style games and I hate that I never had one growing up. This console did have a chance to shine but the power of the PS2 was inevitable to ignore. Plust with the DVD capability, Jeez. Though PS2 did have many issues early on with that feature as I had friends who had one and they said that their PS2's would randomly quit playing games or DVD's. Anyway, I am amazed at this video and maybe one day you and Norman Caruso could do a collab video. I don't see you both as competitors, but more fellow video game enthusiasts who love putting out content in this level of professionalism!!!!!!! Ya definitely got ma like!!!!!!!

[@shadowman5567]

Great video! I own my Genesis, Saturn and Dreamcast. Sega will always have a special place in my heart. So many great times and fond memories, from sleepovers as a kid playing Sonic to a young adult drinking beers with my buddies and playing NBA 2K1. Although they are no longer in the console business I'm happy they are still around making great games. Hopefully one of these days they'll decide to take those old titles so many people missed back in the day and bring them back to life for the new generation(looking at you Burning Rangers).

[@LegendofLaw]

Subscribed....im 42 and its do amazing to go through that era from atari to the ps4 now. Its like my entire life had been a history of observation

[@noahnichols871]

You should have your own TV channel at this point. Wonderfully done, sir!

[@oliverb.8995]

well this is a youtube CHANNEL soo.. XD

[@ohareport]

i came here to mash the like button and i’ll come back when i have time to watch it. god damn cgq! yeah!!

[@dipsetny9291]

I still have mines in a Jan Sport book bag. It turned yellow over the years, but it still plays. Dreamcast. Gone, but never forgotten.

[@Deftard]

Who thumbs down this video. One of the best if not the best Dreamcast video out there.

[@zic75043]

Finally! This is the system I always wanted to know more about.

[@danielpadilla1233]

Thank you for making this video. This is one of my favorite channels on KZbin and I share it with my friends and family. Every new episode is a treat! I also enjoy the CGQ+ and the lets plays. Keep them coming!

[@TheOliveTreeKing]

every holiday season...here I am enjoying these videos again. lol time is passing and its the small moments of peace and contentment that seem more valuable now then ever before.

[@winterwolfryan]

I remember getting up the morning of 9 9 99, jumping in the shower, getting dressed, jumping into my car and flying to Walmart as fast as I could. To my surprise, I was apparently the first one there for a Dreamcast. I was congratulated by the store manager, and with my new treasure, flew back home. I had college class that morning, but I couldn't resist opening my new toy to try it out. The graphics - coming from the PS One and Saturn - blew my mind. The leap was akin from going from a PlayStation 3 to a Playstation 5. There were a ton a titles to choose from at launch (as evidenced by this video), and it seemed like every month there were new and fresh things to play. Dead or Alive 2 was gorgeous. RE Code Veronica was spectacular upon it's release. Soul Calibur was so good (and still is so good) that I would have friends coming over every other day to play it at least 2 years after it's original release. To me, the Dreamcast was the last of the old school true consoles. It was basically an arcade machine in your house, but also offered games and graphics that only top tier pc's could match or rival. There was something so approachable and fun about the console that modern day systems seem to lack. There are of course some great titles out these days, but what is really needed is fresh new games with that arcade flair - not everything has to be hyper-realistic. I would love to see the return of classics like Sega Rally, a new (and good) Sonic Adventure, Power Stone, Crazy Taxi, and a shooter as magnificent as Ikugara. I still have my original Dreamcast - which still works fine - and 22 years later it still brings a smile to my face when I play it. Long live the Dreamcast!

[@ryannelson4317]

Thanks for the upload. Always attention to the details. I got a Dreamcast for my high school graduation. Best gift i got.

[@charlesnorel2312]

Hi from France. I think it's the first video from your channel that i'm watching and it's perfect ! You did a great job and you took your time to speak about the line up games which is very interesting and also brings back good memories ! I completely agree with Blue Stinger which is quite underrated and very fun to play with an unique atmosphere. I will watch your other videos, they all look great ! Thank you for the hard work !

[@zfalcon44]

This video made me want to get a Dreamcast for the first time, and I am excited to play some of the titles listed here. Thank you so much for the awesome video!

[@TampaTec]

I hope they include sega xtreme sports and 2k sports in dreamcast mini.

[@randyhoman925]

They will not include any games that had licenses with other companies (NFL, NBA, etc.). I'm sure they all expired many years ago and would have to be reacquired.

[@youtuber3328]

have you played the playstation 1 version of nba live 2001

[@UNPOCOLOCO444]

@Brandon Smythe yeah and they're still hella cheap too, including the games.

[@MrStrangermoon]

for me mortal kombat and berserk game. which ı know both of them will not include if mini come out. games like tomb raider 4 dino crisis and resident evlis will not include too.

[@honkhonkler7732]

@@UNPOCOLOCO444 The good games are NOT cheap outside of the 2K stuff. Just look at Sonic Adventure 2.

[@john94949]

Nice! Got a few episodes I've yet to watch now. The production quality is so high on the uploads, it's easily worth the wait. Always well-thought out material here

[@one_point21_gigawatts]

Great work as always! The Dreamcast will always remind me of a great chapter of my childhood memories!

[@abex701]

Please put out more of this, I need the Entertainment while on quarentine

[@mrwang420]

The Sega Saturn could render 3d graphics fine. It was just difficult to code for having two cpus and 2 gpus.

[@Spike_is_awsome]

“Pick up a six pack of Zima and head over.” Haha! I love your videos CGQ! Lots of information packed in

[@leftyfourguns]

What an incredibly meticulous and informative video. I thought I knew everything about Sega but learned quite a bit I never knew. I also love how you actually show footage of the video games you talk about, unlike many other game "enthusiast" channels. Can't wait for your Xbox video!

[@drc1981]

Well done video Sir. I appreciate all the good memories.

[@paddle_my_mad_laddle]

please make more launch videos each of the ones you put together are so well made !!

[@Mechanix360]

Aaaah the wonderful dreamcast! Still to this day, the most innovative console of all time!

[@duelingfattiesgaming2130]

Not really. It did nothing no other console hadn't done before.

[@skurinski]

@@duelingfattiesgaming2130 errrr online

[@Agent-yw1kj]

@bigevilworldwide1 The dreamcast came out before the PS2

[@likwit7165]

@bigevilworldwide1 The Dreamcast had online before the PS2 and truly was ahead of its time when it came out. It was a great console and if Sega weren't idiots back then. The Dreamcast could have kept Sega in the console market if they handled it right.

[@redbullninja11]

oh baby a CGQ dreamcast video, today just got a whooole lot better

[@vuxnut]

Another brilliant episode. Definitely my new favorite channel.

[@Maya_Ruinz]

Still my favorite console ever, I remember racing home as a kid to have Soul Caliber tournaments with my friends, Power Stone, Marvel Vs Capcom 2, MK Gold, Zero Gunner and of course eventually Phantasy Star Online made it an incredible time to be a gamer.