Dreamcast relaunch update -- refurbishment on the cards

by Jennie Lees { Dec 13th 2005 at 2:00PM }

We recently brought you news that German site Gamefront.de was reporting an imminent re-release for the Dreamcast in Japan. Sadly, the rumour's been shot down by Sega Europe, but there is a nugget of truth to it: Japanese customers who want to relive the glory days of Dreamcast will be able to purchase refurbished units from Sega Direct.

Sega state on their web page that customers should "be aware that, although these units now function as brand new machines, they still bare a little external damage in the form of scratches and other imperfections." So unfortunately it's a re-sale rather than a re-release, but if someone else's discarded hardware gets you going, it's a bargain.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

910do @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I love the Dreamcast, and I think that the gamecube took a lot from the dreamcast design , if uou look at the dreamcast , it's a flat gamecube (almost), even the controller plugs have the same shape !!!.....weird.

Mazinkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

This makes more scence now.

Drew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

ahh, the days of crazy taxi, i can see them now

funkonaut @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I missed the N64 and Dreamcast days due to partying, so I've been thinking about picking up each to play Samba de Amigo, Sin and Punishment, Perfect Dark, Jet Grind Radio, Conker's Bad Fur Day, etc.

I just need more hours in the day to play all these games...

Martin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

Good luck finding Samba de Amigo. I wonder if Sega will upgrade the firmware chips on these boxes so they don't play games burned to CD-Rs as easily.

Eh ... probably not.

Lectoid @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I hated crazi taxi after about 2 hours of playing it. For years all I could hear was "Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea" from the opening of The Offsprings' song on there.

smokeybeardog1 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

Code Veronica, Ryo Hazuki(Shenmue)the VMU kicked ass and a controller made for an adult this system did kick ass!

Simon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

If it's �50 or under then I may well buy one. I've built up a certain fondness for classic systems, and Dreamcast would be a great addition. Can anyone direct me toward a list of A-Grade titles that are worth getting for it?

Will @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I just need new AV cables my Dreamcast is fine the AV cables are destroyed.

Ed @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I loved my Dreamcast. Unfortunately, the laser unit died on my second and I am still in the process of obtaining a third unit.

As for the "having fun w/ Crazy Taxi" comment.. Crazy Taxi is the reason I just spent $40 on securing two working Dreamcasts. It's simple to do good, but difficult to master. Just remember: Forward gear to reverse, then forward gear and gas. Do it a bunch for a bunch of speed. Only way I get my games to $52k, ~200 passengers and make the game last 3 1/2hrs.

:'O

weaszel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

Simon, make sure you get Ikaruga and Skies of Arcadia. Sonic Adventure was really good, too. If you like racers, try Test Drive Le Mans.

Corrupt Mind @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I love the dreamcast, and it poineered a lot of things. Fisrt, it had one of the first unified online services, second, it had the VMU, a gameboy-esque unit and memeory card and second screen among other things. Then you have other gems like the DreamEye (yes the dreameye). Sega had actually released Eye-toy like hardware for the dreamcast called the DreamEye...i think sony may have gotten a few ideas from it.

I hope that sega will eventualy make a new system.