Dreamcast Sega Rally 2 Release Shipping Now Without Promised Multiplayer

Sega announced in a press release today that the Dreamcast version will be released earlier than expected, and without the promised multiplayer mentioned in the original game announcement.

Press release:

SEGA RALLY 2 FOR SEGA DREAMCAST SHIPS EARLY, JUST IN TIME FOR HOLIDAYS
Sega of America Makes Non-Networked Version of Game Available to Consumers

SAN FRANCISCO (November 11, 1999) – Sega® of America, Inc. announced today it is shipping “Sega Rally 2™” for Sega Dreamcast™ in North America earlier than previously announced. Originally slated for release next year, “Sega Rally 2” will now be available on November 23, just in time for the holidays. The new version of the game is enhanced specifically for Sega Dreamcast with new tracks and cars not found in the hit arcade version.

“Sega Rally 2” is an off-road arcade racer with detailed 3D courses, intense multi-player driving action and weather effects, including seasons that change to challenge gamers’ driving abilities. The Sega Dreamcast version will feature 17 tracks, 12 which were not found in the arcade version and 19 car types, including 11 exclusives. “Sega Rally 2” also features a 10-Year Championship Mode, challenging gamers to survive the rigors of the seasons for ten full years. Players have the power to fully customize their cars and change the suspension, tires and steering to adjust to road conditions.

Sega announced in April that “when ‘Sega Rally 2’ launched next year, it would be the first Sega Dreamcast game to take advantage of full multi-player online game play through the Dreamcast Network.” To meet the massive consumer demand for Sega Dreamcast and its games this holiday season, the company has decided to release a non-networked version of the game to allow consumers a chance to experience all the high-speed thrills and crashes with their new game systems they purchase during the holidays.

“We feel it is important to give gamers a wide variety of quality games this holiday season,” said Charles Bellfield, director of marketing communications of Sega of America. “‘Sega Rally 2’ is finished and ready to go. With the high demand for Sega Dreamcast games, we feel it is best to put this great game out now.”

The Sega Dreamcast Network
The online Sega Dreamcast Network is the definitive gaming super source. Accessible only through Sega Dreamcast and its built-in 56K modem, Sega Dreamcast Network users can receive regular updates via e-mail detailing games, hints, cheats and insider information. The Dreamcast Network currently offers access to chat rooms to discuss games, bulletin boards, e-mail, e-commerce capability and web browsing. In the first quarter of 2000, the Dreamcast Network will offer online-only parlor and “mini” games, including board, puzzle and card games. Immediately following in Q2 of next year, Sega will feature point-to-point direct-dial gaming through the Dreamcast Network. Then, in Q3 and Q4 of 2000, full multi-player online gaming will be available, linking thousands together to play fellow gamers across the street or around the world, effectively creating the world’s largest gaming community. Sega expects to have 8 to 12 full multi-player online games available by Q4 of next year.

Along with 24-hour customer care through the Dreamcast Network, gamers will also be able to communicate in real-time with Sega executives, developers and technicians. Additionally, the Sega Dreamcast Network will allow gamers to download saved games with the Visual Memory Unit (VMU), a 128K card that acts as a personalized memory device for strategic and portable game play.

About Sega Dreamcast
Sega Dreamcast is available in the US at a suggested retail price of $199, with a built in 56K modem, allowing for full Internet functionality. The system had 18 titles available at launch that will grow to 40 titles by the end of the year. Third-party titles currently in the works will bring the total Sega Dreamcast game library count to more than 100 in the year 2000.

Along with its low price point, Sega Dreamcast has achieved other industry firsts. Its advanced 128-bit architecture makes it the first console with evolutionary capabilities, allowing it to grow and change to match advances in technology and the needs and desires of the consumer. Sega Dreamcast is also the most powerful video game console ever created. It is 15 times more powerful than a Sony PlayStation™, ten times more powerful than a Nintendo® 64 and has four times the graphics processing power of the fastest Pentium II processor.

In the first 24 hours of availability, Sega Dreamcast netted over $97 million at retail, more than tripling the past entertainment industry record set by Star Wars: The Phantom Menace at $28 million on its first day. In its initial four days, Sega sold a total of 372,000 Sega Dreamcast systems, easily surpassing the previous industry record holder, Nintendo 64, which took six days to hit 350,000 when it launched in 1996. Since it launched, Sega Dreamcast has sold more than 750,000 units.

About Sega
Sega of America Dreamcast, Inc. is the arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Sega Enterprises, Ltd. responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega videogame systems and videogames in the Americas. Sega Enterprises, Ltd. is a nearly $2.5 billion company recognized as the industry leader in interactive digital entertainment media, and is the only company that offers interactive entertainment experiences both inside and outside the home. Sega of America Dreamcast, Inc.’s World Wide Web site is located at www.sega.com.