Sega’s Dreamcast – millstone or milestone?

1999-09-09

Despite Sega’s first-to-the-market position for its next generation games console, pipping both Sony and Nintendo to the post, the forecast is not so good for the games company. But, hang on – what’s this got to do with IT?

The answer is simple. These machines are an indicator of the shape of things to come for consumer use of technology. They have two key features: TV access, and Internet access. They also have a price tag which is much more within the bounds of the mass market.

There’s been a major, but little talked about, problem with the home PC. The question has been, where to put it? Chances are, it will be in the spare bedroom, dining room, cubby hole under the stairs or office. However, a large proportion of the predicted uses of PCs are social activities – home shopping, chat, direct video or audio, and, of course, games. The games console bridges several worlds. It is accepted by the young, it is allowed in the living room and it is understandable by all. No boot failures or install problems plague it, it is reliable, resilient and quiet. The games market may well choose to shut out Sega, however successful it is in the short term. However, it may also close the door on the PC mass market. PCs have a place – data storage, hobbies, word processing. But as for their mass market potential, the future of the PC is far from sure.

(First published 9 September 1999)