Diary of a Dreamcast Fan

by John Hancock on 9-9-2011

Exactly twelve years ago on September 9, 1999 (9-9-99) I had huge a smile on my face. I had a new job as an assistant manager at a local Gamestop, watching unfold one of the most energetic console launches in North America. The launch of the Dreamcast gave me faith that Sega was finally going to deliver a sleek and dependable and cutting-edge system. All of these promises, as well as a launch price of a mere $199.99, were hyped by the media.

The system launch ended up being a slam-dunk success. The Dreamcast launched with approximately 18 titles, although our store was missing a few. Soul Calibur was the highlight of the launch, boasting amazing graphics and rich gameplay. I bought a Dreamcast along with Soul Calibur shortly after launch. Soul Calibur became one of my favorite games to play and I put in several hundred hours while rekindling my interest in Sega products. Over the next two years the system became a staple in my game playing, offering dozens of quality titles.

Reflecting back upon the system, what it offered was value, diversity, and a fresh, new direction for console gaming. The system was my first foray into online console gaming. The Dreamcast was the first console to ship with a standard modem and games such as Phantasy Star Online and NFL 2K1 provided proof that consoles could provide solid online gaming experiences. Those two games alone provided endless entertainment for me and my roommates. Phantasy Star Online alone provided over a thousand hours of gametime.

As an early adopter of the Dreamcast I meagerly picked up a title every month or so. I usually waited for sales, bought used, and was patient as I built my library. Sadly the Dreamcast ended it's life early when Sega pulled the plug on the platform in March of 2001.

12 years later, the Dreamcast is fun system to collect for. There are many hidden gem games that never got the attention they deserved. I have recently wrapped up my collection of 252 complete US Dreamcast titles. This conquest spanned over a decade and had me searching countless flea marts, thrift shops, and classic game conventions.

Let this be a time to remember a wonderful system and what it offered gamers around the world. For me, the Dreamcast is still thinking.

John Hancock is a video game collector and one of the organizers of the Portland Retro Gaming Expo. He resides in Longview, Washington.

See John's Dreamcast collection »

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