- July 31
- Sega releases the Sonic Jam video game for the Sega Saturn in the US. [396.24] [779.40]
- August 29
- 3Dfx Interactive files a lawsuit in California's Santa Clara County Superior Court against Sega Enterprises and NEC over the cancellation of a contract with 3Dfx. 3Dfx was to provide a 3D graphics component for Sega's next video game system. [597]
- November 18
- Sega releases the Sonic R video game for the Sega Saturn in the US. [779.40]
- November 25
- Sega announces that The Sega Channel for Genesis will be shut down. 20 million homes had access but only 150,000 subscribed to the service. [1078.154]
1998
- January
- Sega announces it will launch a new home video game system in the US in 1999, code-named Kitana. (Release name will be Dreamcast.) [674.45]
- April
- Sega releases the Shining Force III Part 2 video game for the Saturn in Japan. [577.61]
- April 30
- Sega releases the Panzer Dragoon Saga video game for the Saturn in the US. [304.148] [1372.99] (May [1177.105])
- May
- Microsoft and Sega announce that Sega's Dreamcast video game console will use the Windows CE operating system. [77.15] [597]
- Sega announces the Dreamcast video game system in the US. [674.45] [1094.28]
- Sega releases the Shining Force III video game for the Saturn in the US. [304.132] [545.74,92]
- May (month)
- Top-selling Saturn video game in the US for the month: Gran Turismo. [1262.36]
- (month unknown)
- Sega licences the Genesis video game hardware to Majesco, who plans to releases a Genesis 3 system for US$49.95. [546.28]
- The Sega Channel service is terminated. [611.28]
- July
- Treasure releases Radiant Silvergun for Saturn in Japan. [577.60]
- July (month)
- Top-selling Saturn video game in Japan for the month: Langrisser V: The End of Legend. [1262.38]
- September
- Sega releases the Shining Force III Part 3 video game for the Saturn in Japan. [577.61]
- October 6
- At the Sega New Challenge Conference in Tokyo, Sega debuts the Dreamcast video game system. [406.60] [597]
- November 5
- In San Francisco, California, Sega holds a Gamer's Day, to show the press the Dreamcast video game system prior to its launch in Japan. [474.34]
- November 27
- In Japan, Sega Enterprises releases the Dreamcast video game system. It features a 200 MHz 128-bit Hitachi SH-4 processor, special NEC graphics processing chip, 26 MB RAM (16 MB main memory, 2 MB sound, 8 MB video), built-in 56 kbps modem, serial port, Web browser, Microsoft Windows CE operating system, one controller, and CD-ROM drive for 1 GB capacity disks. Price is 29,800 Yen, about US$220. (101,490 units sell in the first week. About 10 million systems and 400 different games are shipped in the product's lifetime.) [298.40] [365.108] [369.41] [376.22] [378.59] [383.79] [406.67] [546.23] [551.30] [597] [1151.60] [1343.59]
- Sega releases the Virtua Fighter 3TB video game for the Dreamcast in Japan. [406.60] [474.52,70] [1151.60]
- Sega releases the Godzilla Generations video game for the Dreamcast in Japan. [474.52]
- Sega releases the July video game for the Dreamcast in Japan. [474.52]
- Sega releases the PenPen Tricelon video game for the Dreamcast in Japan. [474.52]
1999
- April 15
- Sega of America announces the Dreamcast video game system will be released in the US on September 9, for retail price of US$199. The company will spend US$100 million marketing the system. [592.26] [597] [1095.28]
- (month unknown)
- Unit sales of the Saturn video game system worldwide to date: 8.9 million. [379.66]
- May
- Capcom releases the Street Fighter Alpha 3 game for the Dreamcast in the US. [304.134]
- Sega Enterprises president Shoichiro Irimajiri announces the company will soon sell games for the Game Boy Color in Japan. [1097.30]
- (month unknown)
- Sega releases The Revenge of Shinobi game for the Genesis in the US. [304.132]
- Sega releases the limited edition Seaman Dreamcast pack in Japan. Includes transparent Dreamcast, Seaman video game, microphone headset, Video Memory Unit, and mini game. 500 packs are sold. [810.22]
- August 9
- Sega of America announces it is beginning a US$100 million marketing campaign to promote the Dreamcast video game system, with television advertising showing the system. [597]
- (month unknown)
- Unit sales of video game systems in North America to date: Sega Master System 1.5 million, Sega Genesis 19 million, Saturn 1 million, [378.59]
- September 7
- ADV Films releases the Sonic The Hedgehog - The Movie film on DVD (US$29.98) and VHS tape (US$19.98) in the USA. [810.7] [1098.179]
- September 9
- Sega releases the Dreamcast video game system in the US, preceded by a US$100 million marketing campaign. It features 200 MHz 128-bit Hitachi SH-4 processor, NEC PowerVR DC video chip, 16 MB RAM, 8 MB video RAM, 2 MB sound memory, 12x 1 GB CD-ROM drive, 56 kbps modem, four game ports. Price is US$199. Optional accessories: keyboard US$19.95, controller US$24.95, Visual Memory Unit for mini-games US$19.95, Jump Pack for rumbling controller US$19.95. Code name during development was Katana. 250,000 units sell on the first day. In the first 24 hours, Sega sells US$97 million worth of hardware and software, setting an entertainment industry record for highest-grossing day. (514,000 Dreamcast units are sold in the first two weeks. 10 million units are sold during the product's lifetime.) [361.44] [372.38] [375.60] [376.22] [377.62] [383.79] [384.194] [597] [674.46] [810.13,93] [819.16] [825.132] [1099.38] [1151.60] [1183.133] [1343.59] (first week sales: 119,996 [643.35])
- Sega releases the Sonic Adventure video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [411] [737.191] [779.40] [810.13]
- Namco releases the Soul Calibur video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [304.150] [411] [737.191] [810.13]
- Sega releases the NFL 2K video game for the Dreamcast in the US. Price is US$49.99. [376.22] [810.13]
- September 16
- Microsoft announces the Windows CE toolkit 2.0 to help developers write Windows CE-based games for the Sega Dreamcast will be available in October. [597]
- September (month)
- Total sales of the Dreamcast in the US during the month: 500,000. [819.16] (700,000 [684.17])
- Top selling Dreamcast video game in the USA for the month: NFL 2K. [819.22] [1100.36]
- (month unknown)
- Sega releases the Virtua Fighter 3TB video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [308.69]
- Sega releases the Sega Rally 2 game for the Dreamcast in the US. [304.127]
- October 14
- Sega releases the Dreamcast video game system in the UK and Europe. [1340.15]
- October 22
- The 33rd annual Tokyo Motor Show is held in Tokyo, Japan. Sega has a F355 Challenge arcade machine in the Ferrari booth. [820.24]
- October 31
- Unit sales of Dreamcast video game system in North America to date: 750,862. [597]
- (month unknown)
- At an Okawa Foundation event in Japan, Sega shows prototype Dreamcast peripherals, including Zip drive, camera, microphone, and network card. [1295.34]
- November 15
- Eidos releases the Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation video game for the Dreamcast in the US. (Total lifetime sales on the PlayStation: 900,000.) [308.82]
- November 22
- Unit sales of the Dreamcast video game system in North America to date: 1 million. [370.95] [377.62] [597]
- November 26
- Sega announces its plans to make the DreamCast the center of its Web strategy, focusing on multiplayer online gaming. [377.62]
- December 2
- Sega releases the Shenmue: Chapter 1 Yokosuka video game for the Dreamcast in Japan. Included within the game are Space Harrier and Hang-On video games. [737.191] [825.58]
- December 14
- Sega of America and Excite@Home announce a partnership to build Sega's Dreamcast Network, an Internet gaming portal. [597] (December 13 [377.62])
- December
- Sega releases the special Dreamcast Model Seaman Christmas Package in Japan, limited to 850 units, including controller, VMU, and Seaman video game. Price is 34,800 yen (about US$340). [753.38]
- October-December
- Market share of shipments of video game systems in the US during October to December: PlayStation 49.1%, Nintendo 64 32.1%, Dreamcast 18.8%. [748.202]
- Year
- Unit shipments of Sega Dreamcast systems in the US during the year: 1.55 million. [597] [684.17]
- Market share of video game systems in the US: PlayStation 34%, Game Boy 31%, Nintendo 64 17.5%, Dreamcast 16%. [684.17]
2000
- February 1
- Sega releases the Crazy Taxi video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [554.17] [753.8]
- February 16
- In Tokyo, Japan, Sega releases the Dreameye digital camera for the Dreamcast video game system. [597]
- March 29
- Capcom releases the Resident Evil Code: Veronica video game for the Dreamcast. [411] [577.103] [834.17]
- April 5
- Comedy Central airs the South Park TV show in the USA. The Sega Dreamcast video game system is mentioned. [1246]
- April
- Sega announces that its SegaNet online service will go live on September 7. [1294.32]
- April 30
- Rockstar Games releases the Grand Theft Auto 2 video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [411] [734.16]
- May 11
- At the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Sega announces a price cut of US$50 off the Dreamcast, to US$149, and free SegaNet subscription, for a limited time. [597] [824.58]
- May
- At the Electronic Entertainment Expo, bleem debuts the bleem! for Dreamcast software, which allows the Dreamcast to play PlayStation titles with enhanced graphics. 400 titles are supported. Price is US$19.99. [824.16]
- May 31
- Midway releases the Gauntlet Legends video game for the Dreamcast. [411]
- June 9
- Sega releases the Virtua Tennis video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [304.127] [411]
- June
- Computer hackers break the copyright protection system used in Sega's Dreamcast system, and distributes several hacked games that can be played on unmodified systems. [597]
- (month unknown)
- Sega releases the Skies of Arcadia game for the Dreamcast in the US. [304.130]
- August 7
- Lifetime Television airs the film The Truth About Jane on television in the USA. A Nintendo game system is heard being played, but a Sega controller is shown. [928]
- August 31
- Sega drops the price of the Dreamcast in the US from US$199 to US$149. [473.41] [674.48] [748.202]
- September 7
- Sega launches the SegaNet online gaming network. Dreamcast players can play against other players via the dial-up network. Price is US$21.95 per month. Current Dreamcast owners can receive a US$150 rebate for signing an 18-month contract; new purchasers can receive a free Dreamcast for the same 18-month contract. [473.40] [597] [990.26] [1294.32]
- Sega releases the NFL 2K1 video game for the Dreamcast in the US. This is the first console game to include online game play. [411] [473.40] [551.30]
- October 5
- Capcom releases the Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike game for the Dreamcast in the US. [304.144] [411]
- October 23
- Sega releases the Quake III Arena video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [304.126] [411] [473.40]
- November 14
- Sega releases the Sonic Shuffle video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [396.24] [554.17] [779.40]
- November
- Eidos releases the Tomb Raider Chronicles video game for the Dreamcast in the US. [308.82]
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