September 1999 Volume 80 Number 9 "serving the protectors"

Serious gamers have always sought the PC as a source of high quality games. Although the PlayStation and Nintendo64 consoles have moved towards the display quality that gamers expect, they still haven't reached a level close to that of the PC.

If the specifications for Sega's new Dreamcast Console - due for release next month - are anything to go by, PC gamers are set for a surprise. The console uses state-of-the-art 128-bit technology to deliver performance far in excess of today's high-end PCs.

The heart of Dreamcast is the Hitachi SH-4 CPU (processor). It can deliver 1400 million floating-point operations per second (the calculations necessary for fast 3D) - a Pentium II 450 CPU is lucky to produce 500.

Coupled with the processor is a Power VRDC graphics chip. Developed by NEC and Videologic, this chip is claimed to deliver more power than the current leader in PC technology, 3DFX.

The Dreamcast also features an in-built 33.6 kbps modem that allows the unit access to the Internet for on-line gaming, net browsing and e-mail. In fact, The Dreamcast comes with its own Internet connection cable that simply plugs into a phone line socket. Users then simply put the Internet software (The Dreamcast Passport) into the Dreamcast and power the machine on. After a simple on-line registration the Internet capabilities are available, including an individual e-mail address.

The Dreamcast will be shipped with a single controller - addition units will be available immediately upon release of the console. Other accessories will include an adaptor to allow the Dreamcast to plug into any PC monitor for a high resolution, crystal clear image, claimed to truly show off the Dreamcast's graphic abilities.

A keyboard will be available to assist Dreamcast users in browsing the Internet. A Dreamcast steering wheel will also be available for use with driving games like Sega Rally 2 and Metropolis, two of the many games to be released.

The Dreamcast's software will retail between $89.95 and $99.95. It is currently being developed by Sega, Konami, Virgin, Infrogames, Acclaim, Ubisoft, and others.

With these features and a wide range of software and hardware, the Dreamcast is set to provide exceptional performance at quite a reasonable price - only $499.

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