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Dreaming of Dreamcast | page 1, 2, 3
And despite initial concerns from the gaming community, Sega is providing plenty of games to play. The Dreamcast launched with 19 games, with a heavy emphasis on sports and racing (no less than seven various racing titles are currently available, while only one adventure game is being offered); another 20 are on their way, including some quirkier Japanese titles like Seaman (a virtual pet simulation) and Evolution (an anime role-playing game), plus Furballs, an ultra-violent action game featuring a cast of cuddly animals -- not to mention even more sports and racing games. I tested Sonic the Hedgehog, Blue Stinger and NFL2K, and found them all to be zippy and interesting, incredible to watch (all three heavily emphasize full-motion video sequences and cinematics), but beyond the graphics the gameplay wasn't anything genre-busting. Still, the Dreamcast's 128-bit graphics -- using a chip that processes data twice as fast as any previous console -- make it fun just to watch this machine zip away. The graphic detail is truly stunning: The football players in NFL2K look nearly photo-realistic as they muscle across the field; the water in the adventure game Blue Stinger sparkles and ripples as it reflects the sun, and even Sonic the Hedgehog leaves tiny shadowed footprints marking his path as he runs on the sandy beaches. Of course, before you can play, you'll have to set the damn thing up -- which isn't as easy as it sounds. Configuring the Dreamcast might be a cinch for console veterans, but for someone who has never attempted the cord-juggling feat of hooking up a console to a television system, it's a phenomenal hassle. Those who connect their televisions to a VCR or cable hookup, for example, will have to pick up a Dreamcast RF unit, a pricey little gadget that shuffles all your electronic appliances into the appropriate jacks. More baffling, though, are the Internet configurations. The Dreamcast includes a built-in 56K modem that you can plug into a telephone jack to log on to the Net, and proprietary browser software to surf the Web. But none of this is explained in the Dreamcast instruction manual. (The instructions, I discovered after much searching, are hidden in the "liner notes" for the browser software CD, which was buried at the bottom of the Dreamcast box.) But once you figure out how to install it, Sega's Internet software is worthy of praise, as it manages in a few simple screens to launch you online. You have a choice of setting up a special AT&T WorldNet account, or logging in through your current ISP. Either way, you can receive e-mail, chat or browse the Net using the Dreamcast console. Much like the WebTV interface, Sega's browser (which was designed by PlanetWeb) includes its own simplified navigational tools, adapting text and layouts to work on a TV screen, and doesn't necessarily support all Net protocols -- so some of your favorite Web pages might look odd. Your best bet is to visit the exclusive "Dreamcast Network" of gaming hints and tips, chat rooms and news, which can only be accessed through a Dreamcast machine and has been carefully designed to look great on the TV screen.
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