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Sega to Co-Develop DVD
Technology for Use with
Dreamcast?

Sega and three other technology
partners team up to provide a
DVD solution. Details inside.

June 09, 1999

Sony's recent announcement of the
PlayStation 2 and its DVD capabilities sent
a shockwave through the gaming
community. Many in the industry were
curious as to how Sega would handle the
considerable advantage of the DVD
format, and according to reports out of
Japan this morning, it looks like we may be
looking at an answer.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun Thursday morning edition reports that late
next month, development of an Internet/DVD distribution system will
reach completion. The system, which should reach consumers early next
year, is being co-developed by Sega, Hitachi Ltd., Nippon Columbia
Co., and Hirano & Associates Inc. One of the system's known uses will
be the release of disks containing multiple titles, which will then use a
special encryption technology, allowing users to decode a particular title
via downloadable software keys.

Not only will this go great lengths to prevent piracy, but will also give
Sega a number of options with regards to software packaging and
promotional activity. Larger titles, as well as the inclusion of demos,
movies, and other materials would instantly pragmatic due to the
increased storage capacity of the DVD format, which allows for 4.7 gigs
of information per disk, nearly five times that of the Dreamcast's
GD-ROM format.

When asked for comment by IGNDC, Sega of America's answer
provided some insight into the possibility of an American release of such
a peripheral, which would certainly be a welcome addition to existing
Dreamcast hardware: "We are aware of the technology, but Sega of
America has made no official announcement with regards to the release
of such a peripheral here in the United States." The spokesman went on
to say that, as confirmed by Sega COO Bernie Stolar in a teleconference
prior to this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, "The Dreamcast is a
continually evolving platform and Sega will offer a DVD solution for the
console."

This information puts a damper on recent rumblings of a new Dreamcast
model, which claimed that Sega has been working on a new model that
would feature an upgraded processor and some form of DVD
technology, but does leave the door wide open for a number of
interesting possibilities for the console. Currently, Sega of America
maintains that use of this peripheral will limited to promotional activity in
Japan, but one would have to wonder why a fully functional DVD drive
compatible with Dreamcast wouldn't make use of the aforementioned
features. The public reaction to the idea of yet another Sega add-on
would prove interesting, but perhaps they has something else in mind?
We'll be sure to keep you posted on further developments concerning the
technology, so be sure to check back to IGNDC for full details.

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Page Updated Tue Jun 15, 1999 1:40pm EDT