With the release of Microsoft's Xbox fast approaching, perhaps it's time to give some older gaming devices one more quick look--like the Dreamcast from Sega. Though it has been on the market for some time, the Dreamcast was developed with technology that would allow gamers to go online via a built-in 56K modem to play Internet-enabled games. And isn't that what gaming today is all about?

The Dreamcast console comes with 200 MHz of Hitachi 128-bit 3D processing power, so users have the opportunity to be practically assaulted by vivid color and animation. More than three million polygons per second powered by the VR 2DC graphics engine also aide in the high graphic quality. As for audio, a 45 MHz Yamaha Super Intelligent Sound Processor powers 64 sound channels and 3D sound support, so users get sound as vivid as the graphics.

To load the graphics and sounds, the Dreamcast is furnished with 16MB main RAM, 8MB of video RAM, and 2MB of sound RAM. A 212X CD-ROM and 128 KB Visual Memory System (VMS) are also supplied for additional storage. To control the game, users are handed a game controller with a direction pad, left analog joystick, four main action buttons on top, two front analog triggers, and two expansion ports for memory cards, trigger packs, or VMS devices.

While soon to be overtaken by the hype and glitz of the Xbox, the Dreamcast is no shabby, old gaming device. Measuring 7.4 x 7.7 x 3 in and weighing in at 4.4 lbs, Sega's Dreamcast still packs a pretty good punch. Plus, Sega already has tons of games out for it, and with the Internet capabilities through the 56K modem, there's no reason users shouldn't be able to find someone out in cyberspace to toss around the virtual football with.

Pricing and Availability

Though the device has been discontinued, the Sega Dreamcast is still available at a list price of $99.95.