This story is meant to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Sega's Dreamcast machine. Some details are not yet known, which is why they aren't included at this time. We will periodically be updating this FAQ when new information becomes available - Version .03 updated 7/24/98. On with the questions!

　　Q: Will the name be Dreamcast everywhere?A: Yes.

　　Q: When will it release?A: November 20, 1998, in Japan and fall 1999 in the US. Other territories have not yet been announced, although a release in Europe may fall around the time of the US launch.

　　Q: What's the price?A: It has not yet been determined, but it will probably land between 20,000 to 30,000 yen (roughly US$150-$225, at current exchange rates).

　　Q: Where can I get a Japanese Dreamcast?A: Several mail-order companies have begun putting people on lists for the machine. It's likely that many importers will be selling them. Call your favorite mail-order place and ask about more specific details.

　　Q: If I buy a Japanese Dreamcast, will I be able to play US games? What about Japanese games on a US Dreamcast?A: Like most other video game systems, each territory will only be able to play the games made for sale in that territory. It's likely that there will (eventually) be a way to work around that territorial lockout so that the Japanese system could play US games and the US system could play Japanese games, but not until the system comes out and the techies get their hands on it.

　　Basically, it's a gamble you're going to take whether or not you'll be able to play all the games if purchasing the Japanese system.

　　Q: What are its specifications?A: Check the link to the right for details.

　　Q: I only see four buttons on the controller. Are there more?A: Yes, there are two shoulder buttons on the back of the controller for a total of six buttons on the standard Dreamcast controller. It's inevitable that peripherals like fighting sticks and other control pads will be made, so if you're not happy with the standard pad, there'll be other options.

　　Q: Is Dreamcast DVD?A: No. Instead, the Dreamcast will use a higher-density CD-ROM format that will have more storage space than a normal CD. The inclusion of DVD would have driven the price up.

　　Q: Will the Dreamcast be backwards compatible? Will it be able to play Saturn games?A: It is very unlikely that Dreamcast will be able to play Saturn games. At this point, no official announcement has been made regarding this possibility. Dreamcast does not have a cartridge slot for Saturn memory cards or for game saves to be transferred.

　　Q: Why only a 33.6 modem?A: Actually, in an interview the day after the Dreamcast's announcement, Shoichirou Irimajiri told the press that the modem would be upgradable, and that in the US, it may be possible to use a cable modem with the system for a faster data transfer rate. No further details on how that could be done have been announced yet.

　　Q: How will the Dreamcast connect to the Internet for network gaming?A: Sega is developing a Heat.net-type ISP for Dreamcast users allowing players to meet and then disconnect and play point-to-point. If you buy a Dreamcast, it's Internet-ready, no additional hardware to buy.

　　Q: What games will be available for it?A: Two games have officially been announced for Dreamcast by Sega Enterprises. The first is Godzilla, which will take advantage of the link between the system and the Visual Memory System, and the other is Sonic Adventure. Not too many details are known about Sonic Adventure except that Sonic will look different. Other likely titles (although nothing official has been said) include Super GT, Sega Rally 2, Virtua Fighter 3, Daytona 2, and The Lost World.

　　Other announced games (with more coming soon):

　　Actua Soccer - GremlinActua Golf - GremlinAlone in the Dark 4 - InfogramesD2 - WarpIncoming - RageKitahe (Heading North) - HudsonLooney Tunes - InfogramesMercurius Pretty - NEC InterChannelMetropolis - Bizarre CreationsMonster Breed - NEC InterChannelOutcast - InfogramesPenPen Tri-ice-lon - General EntertainmentSengoku Turb - NECThe Seventh Cross - NEC

　　Q: Will the Dreamcast have 2D games also, like Street Fighter III and Castlevania?A: It's likely that the system will still have 2D games. However, Shoichirou Irimajiri, Sega Enterprises' president, commented that the Saturn may be left to handle 2D games while the Dreamcast handles only the higher-end 3D games.

　　Q: Who will be making Dreamcast games?A: While there's yet to be a list from Sega of exactly how many developers are currently working on Dreamcast projects, the number is growing by the week. Almost every major publisher is working on Dreamcast, so it's likely that most of the big publishers will have games for the system soon. Sega's 1.5 party developers, whose games will be published by Sega, include Appaloosa Interactive, Bizarre Creations, Argonaut, Red Lemon, and No Cliché.

　　Q: Is the LCD screen built in to the controller?A: No. There's a slot on the back of the controller for the Visual Memory System, a separate handheld system with its own LCD screen. You put the VMS into the back of the controller and that becomes the controller's display. Without it, there's an empty space in the controller. There are slots for two VMS-type devices in the back of the controller.

　　If you have any questions you'd like to add to this document, e-mail me at [email protected]. Thanks.