1998 · Sega · Japan · console
Sega Dreamcast
Launched on September 9, 1999 (9/9/99), the Dreamcast was Sega’s swan song as a hardware manufacturer.
Essential Trivial to run ▶ Watch on YouTube ↗
Launched on September 9, 1999 (9/9/99), the Dreamcast was Sega’s swan song as a hardware manufacturer. Packed with arcade flair, crisp 480p VGA output, and native online multiplayer, its library is one of the most concentrated bursts of innovation in gaming history.
Phantasy Star Online was an early home console online action-RPG, uniting players globally across dial-up modems. Yu Suzuki’s Shenmue introduced modern open-world design, quick-time events, and NPC routines.
Under the hood
- CPU
- Hitachi SH-4 (128-bit FPU core) @ 200 MHz with 16 MB RAM
- Sound chip
- Yamaha AICA (64-channel 48 kHz PCM/ADPCM sound processor with 32-bit ARM7 core)
- Graphics
- NEC / VideoLogic PowerVR2 CLX2, 640 × 480 60 Hz progressive scan (VGA output support), hardware tile-based rendering
- Media
- 1.2 GB GD-ROM optical discs, VMU LCD memory cards & Built-in 56k Modem
Hardware revisions
| Model | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| HKT-3010Dreamcast (Japan, NTSC-J)3010 = Japan | 1998 | — |
| HKT-3020Dreamcast (US/Canada, NTSC-U/C)3020 = US/Canada | 1999 | — |
| HKT-3030Dreamcast (Europe, PAL)3030 = Europe | 1999-2000 | — |
What it cost
only about 4% of a month’s pay in 2001 · about $175 today
| US 9/9/99 launch list price ($199 with 56k modem) |
$199 (1999)
only about 8% of a month’s pay · about $375 in today's money |
|---|---|
| Clearance price post-discontinuation announcement | $99 (2001) |
| Japan launch price (¥29,800) | ¥29,800 |
| Units sold | 9,130,000 9.13 million units sold before Sega exited hardware manufacturing. |
What it's worth now
Moderate $60–100 working, with controller
A rising cult platform; the most expensive common title (Marvel vs. Capcom 2) regularly clears $100+ complete.
A guide to collectibility, not a valuation — real prices depend on condition, completeness and demand.
Why it mattered
Phantasy Star Online was an early home console online action-RPG, uniting players globally across dial-up modems. Yu Suzuki’s Shenmue introduced modern open-world design, quick-time events, and NPC routines.
Emulating it today
| Emulators | Flycast, Redream, Demul |
|---|---|
| Setup effort | Trivial to run (1 on this site's scale) |
| Controls | A standard modern controller covers the ordinary controls, though unusual accessories may need custom mapping. |
| Runs on a handheld | Yes |
Smooth performance on Flycast / Redream. Flycast handles widescreen upscaling and online multiplayer effortlessly. The emulator names above are starting points, not a promise that every title or accessory behaves identically. Computer platforms usually add model selection, disk handling and keyboard setup even when CPU emulation itself is mature.
Dreamcast Boot ROM & Flash (dc_boot.bin, dc_flash.bin)
The Dreamcast boot ROM contains the system initialization routines and the iconic swirling startup animation, while the flash file stores system configuration, time, and language settings. Standalone emulators like Redream use high-level emulation to boot most games without it, but RetroArch/Flycast and Windows CE games require real boot and flash files.
How many files you need: 2. Two files: dc_boot.bin (system BIOS, 2 MB) and dc_flash.bin (NVRAM/flash settings, 128 KB).
Where it stands legally: The Dreamcast BIOS is copyrighted by Sega. You must dump it from your own console using an SD adapter or Broadband Adapter.
Firmware details checked 2026-08. Emulator requirements change — see Libretro — Flycast core documentation for the current list.
Where the software is
Preservation catalogues describe verified dumps; they do not grant permission to download commercial software. A curated, correctly matched set is easier to use than an undifferentiated archive.
Copyright: Commercial software remains copyrighted unless its owner explicitly released or relicensed it. Homebrew, public-domain programs and current reissues should be treated separately from abandoned commercial titles.
This site names preservation projects and explains what they are. It does not link to ROM downloads.
Where to start
- Shenmue I & II Open World Action Adventure
Yu Suzuki’s staggering $70M cinematic vision of 1986 Yokosuka and Hong Kong.
- Jet Set Radio (Jet Grind Radio) Inline Skating / Graffiti Action
Pioneered cel-shaded art with Hideki Naganuma’s funk-hop musical masterpiece.
- Soulcalibur 3D Weapon Fighting
The legendary launch title that looked vastly superior to the arcade original.
- Crazy Taxi Arcade Driving
The Offspring blasting while making crazy money driving fares across San Francisco hills.
- Phantasy Star Online (PSO) Online Action RPG
The pioneer of console online multiplayer co-op dungeon exploration.
- Skies of Arcadia JRPG
Airship pirate exploration through floating sky islands with discovery logs.
- Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes 2D Tag Fighting
56-character roster arcade-perfect tag-team hyper combo mayhem.
- Power Stone 2 3D Arena Brawler
Capcom’s frantic 4-player interactive multi-tier arena brawler.
- Ikaruga Shoot 'em up
Treasure’s black-and-white polarity absorption shooter perfection.
- Rez Musical Rail Shooter
Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s hypnotic electronic synesthesia wireframe journey.
- ChuChu Rocket! 1999 Puzzle
- Giga Wing 1999 Scrolling shooters
The verdict
The trailblazing 128-bit cult legend. Built-in 56k modem for online play, Visual Memory Unit (VMU) screens, and an avalanche of creative arcade magic (Shenmue, Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi,…
The strongest software can be rewarding, but original controls and setup assumptions may matter more than screenshots suggest.
- Worth it if
- Players curious about sega home consoles and willing to learn how the original machine worked.
- Not for
- Anyone who wants a large, instantly accessible library and no model, firmware or control decisions.
Scored 5/5 for fun today and 5/5 for historical importance. Those two scores decide the label at the top — a machine can matter enormously and still be no fun.
Read more & watch
This page is 75% complete against the facts we try to record for every system. Gaps are shown as gaps.