[NEC_Avenue] Interesting article relating the DC and TG

I snipped this from Bit Age Times (http://tomheroes.com/bit_age_13.htm)
I found it interesting, perhaps somebody else might as well.

-Pedrum

As I look at the Sega Dreamcast and its exit from the industry, I cannot
help but think of a similar system that suffered a similar fate.  The
more I looked at the two, the more similar their situations were.  This
system is the Turbo Grafx.  While there are some noticeable
differences, namely that the Turbo Grafx was a big hit in Japan, where
the Dreamcast was a bust in Japan.  But look at the similarities and
see if you can see them.

First off, both systems are favorites of hardcore gamers, the people who
own multiple systems and lots of games.  The Turbo offered some
great games like Splatterhouse, Devil's Crush, Bonk's Adventure and
Military Madness.  Many of the games were great games, but never
caught on with the general public.  The Dreamcast also has lots of
innovative games and great playing ones that are also overlooked.
Games like Shenmue, Jet Grind Radio and Virtua Tennis are great games
that had less than stellar sales.

One big problem that the Turbo Grafx had was that it was considered
underpowered upon arrival.  While it boasted a 16 bit processor, it
really was two 8 bit processors, where the Sega Genesis and later the
Super Nintendo actually had 16 bit processors.  While it was quite
capable of producing great games, the press was not quite so kind to
it.  The Dreamcast suffered a similar fate.  While it also was more than

capable of producing great looking and playing games, the Playstation
2's potential was more than it could compete with.  Plus, with DVD
becoming the media of choice for next generation systems, the Dreamcast
shipped with a souped up CD Rom drive, the Gigadrive.

One of the biggest problems that both systems had was they were unable
to unseat the reigning champion of the time.  In the Turbo Grafx's
case, it was the 8-Bit Nintendo.  While the Turbo offered better
graphics, better sound and bigger games, people still bought the
Nintendo
over it.  With the Nintendo's immense library and all the big franchises
aboard, it was the system of choice.  The Dreamcast also was plagued
by a seemingly invincible system, this time the Playstation.  With 70
million systems sold and possibly the largest game library of all time,
the
Playstation offered so much to gamers, especially the casual ones.  It
was cheaper and more readily available.  No matter how much better
the Dreamcast's games were, it could not win out against the
Playstation, which continued to outsell it.

Another similarity between the two systems was they both paved the way
for a major innovation in the video game market.  The Turbo Grafx
was the first home console with a CD Rom player, something that was a
big deal at the time.  For the first time, you could put animation, real

music and actual footage in a game.  Games like Dragon's Lair were
suddenly a real possibility.  The Dreamcast was the first system that
offered a built in modem and a real network, designed strictly for game
playing.  Online gameplay, something that was reserved just for
computers was now available on a home console.  In both cases, the
innovation will see greater acceptance and usage on other systems.

Here are two different systems.  They came out in different eras and
competed with different systems for market share, but they both
suffered a similar fate.  As time goes by, I really think the Sega
Dreamcast will become much like the Turbo Grafx in the eyes of hard core

gamers and collectors of video games.  It will be considered a great
system that died a premature death.  It will remain in demand among
gamers and will retain more of its value than other systems of the era.
So you may want to pick up a system and some games before the
system totally vanishes and it becomes a sought after collectible.

 Addendum - People always want to know what games will be the valuable
ones.  While I am far from a fortune teller, there are a few games
on the Dreamcast that have the potential to be highly sought after
games.  Here are a few that I think will be in demand and why (Please
remember this is just a person's opinion.  I am not liable if you decide
to sink little Jimmy's college fund into these games and they become
worthless.  Video games are not a good investment.):

Bangai-Oh-The game is made by Treasure, one of the most collected and
coveted of the software companies.  Can you say Radiant
Silvergun?  While this will probably not become that much in demand, it
has potential.

Typing of the Dead-Due to its quirky nature and similarities to House of
the Dead, many people passed on this gem.  Too bad as the
gameplay is great and fun and there is so much to the game.  Plus, can
you think of a better way to learn to type?

Illbleed-This is a love it or hate it kind of game.  But it is also a
game that is so unique and so different that it could become a cult
classic.
This especially bodes well with the genre it is in.  Plus, with some of
the negative feedback, especially from the magazines, the game is in
very short supply.

Record of Lodoss War-RPGs are always in demand and this game is probably
the hardest to find of all the Dreamcast RPGs.  It doesn't hurt
that the gameplay is great and the game is deep and alot of fun to
play!  Add in that it is based on an anime series and you have a lot of
potential.

Skies of Arcadia-The best RPG made for the Dreamcast also came out when
the Playstation 2 was hot and the sales of this game were far
from stellar.  Too bad as the game is incredible!



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