Sega Dreamcast

The Dreamcast (ドリームキャスト Dorīmukyasuto?) is a video game console that was released by Sega in November 1998 in Japan and later in 1999 in other territories. It was the first entry in the sixth generation of video game consoles, preceding its rivals, the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube. The Dreamcast was Sega's last home console to date.
Sega intended to launch the console as part of a comeback after its previous efforts with the Sega Saturn failed. With a strong marketing campaign and reformed studios to develop new creative content, the Dreamcast was initially well received with a very successful launch and strong sales. However when Sony announced the eagerly awaited PlayStation 2, sales of the Dreamcast plummeted and it lost its momentum. Sega later came to the realization that it did not have the resources to compete as it was in dire financial straits. The company discontinued the Dreamcast in North America early in March 2001,[4] withdrawing from the console hardware business altogether and restructuring itself as a third-party developer. Support of the system continued in Europe and Oceania until the end of 2002, while in Japan, consoles were still sold until 2007 and new licensed games continued to be released. 10.6 million units were sold worldwide, as of 2002.
Despite its short lifespan, the Dreamcast was widely hailed as ahead of its time. It saw the release of many new game series which have been considered creative and innovative, such as Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, and Shenmue, the most expensive game ever produced upon release. Ports of games from other platforms were also praised for the system and the console introduced many aesthetic and software design features to be later emulated. It was the first[citation needed] games console to render full frames (as opposed to interlaced only) in VGA mode at 640×480, and it continues to be held in high regard for pioneering online console gaming; it was the first console to include a built-in modem and Internet support for online play. The Dreamcast is still highly regarded and remembered, and its influence can be greatly seen in Microsoft's Xbox, as Sega worked with the company before the Xbox's release. As of 2013, the Dreamcast is still supported via small independent companies such as RedSpotGames and the GOAT Store. The Dreamcast was chosen as the best console ever by PC Magazine.