编辑“︁Dreamcast”︁（章节）

=== 競爭 ===
[[File:PS2-Fat-Console-Set.png|替代=|left|缩略图|200px|由索尼開發的[[PlayStation 2]]，是Dreamcast最大的競爭對手]]
儘管Dreamcast在首發時取得一定成功，索尼仍然在1999年年底以其初代家用遊戲機PlayStation占有北美地區整體電子遊戲機之市場達60％<ref name="BBC"/>。1999年3月2日，索尼在一份刻意公開、疑似[[霧件]]的報告中披露了部分「次世代PlayStation」的硬體細節<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Art of the Game: The Power of the PlayStation Is Challenging Designers to Match Its Capabilities-And Forcing Sony's Competitors to Rethink Their Strategies|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-59651752/the-art-of-the-game-the-power-of-the-playstation|accessdate=2019-07-25|author=|date=2000-03-06|last=Croal|first=N'Gail|format=|work=Newsweek|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031033940/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-59651752/the-art-of-the-game-the-power-of-the-playstation|archivedate=2014-10-31|dead-url=no}}</ref>。索尼的報告重點集中於「次世代PlayStation」（又稱「[[PlayStation 2]]」）將採用的中央處理器「{{link-en|Emotion Engine|Emotion Engine}}」，報告指出該處理器由索尼與[[東芝]]共同開發，頻率達294 MHz，時任[[索尼電腦娛樂]]社長兼執行長[[久夛良木健]]聲稱該處理器頻寬為當時電腦處理器平均的1000倍，且[[每秒浮點運算次數]]達62億次，可與當時大多數[[超級電腦]]相比<ref name="Innovation and competition"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=A history of videogame hardware: Sony PlayStation 2|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/a-history-of-videogame-hardware-playstation-2/|accessdate=2019-07-25|author=|date=2014-06-25|last=Parkin|first=Simon|format=|work=Edge|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031500/http://www.edge-online.com/features/a-history-of-videogame-hardware-playstation-2/|archivedate=2014-11-29|dead-url=yes}}</ref>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|pp=560–561}}。索尼耗資逾12億美元投資興建[[大规模集成电路|大型積體電路]]{{link-en|製造封裝工廠|Semiconductor fabrication plant}}以製造PlayStation 2的中央處理器，目的就是要讓PlayStation 2可以渲染比任何電子遊戲機都要更多的多邊形<ref name="Gamecube or PS2?">{{Cite web|title=Gamecube Versus PlayStation 2|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/04/gamecube-versus-playstation-2|accessdate=2019-07-25|author=|date=2000-11-03|last=Casamassina|first=Matt|format=|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104021340/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/04/gamecube-versus-playstation-2|archivedate=2014-11-04|quote='''Jason Rubin:''' If the PlayStation 2 is going to sell as many hardware units as the PlayStation 1 sold, then I don't care if I have to pierce my nails with pins to get it to work, I'm going to do it because that's where the money is.|website=IGN|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="ATIP2">{{Cite journal|title=Sony Playstation 2 and HPC|author=|url=|date=1999-12-31|journal=|publisher=Asian Technology Information Program|issue=|doi=|others=|year=|volume=|page=|language=en|pmid=|pp=4–5}}</ref><ref name="Emotionally charged">{{Cite magazine|last=Diefendorff|first=Keith|title=Sony's Emotionally Charged Chip|magazine={{link-en|Microprocessor Report|Microprocessor Report}}|volume=13|number=5|date=1999-04-19|pp=1, 6–7|language=en}}</ref>。索尼當時表示，PlayStation 2每秒可以渲染7500萬個原始多邊形，而在不含任何物理輔助效果下也有3800萬個原始多邊形<ref name="Gamecube or PS2?"/><ref name="ATIP2"/><ref name="Emotionally charged"/>；索尼並估計，PlayStation 2每秒可以渲染750萬至1600萬個多邊形<ref name="Gamecube or PS2?"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Reaching for the limits of PS2 performance|url=http://www.technology.scee.net/sceesite/files/presentations/PSP/HowFarHaveWeGot.pdf|accessdate=2019-07-25|author=|date=2003|format=pdf|publisher=SCEE Technology Group. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe|pages=32|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031210074645/http://www.technology.scee.net/sceesite/files/presentations/PSP/HowFarHaveWeGot.pdf|archivedate=2003-12-10|dead-url=yes}}</ref>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=560}}。相較之下，Dreamcast每秒估計僅能渲染300萬到600萬個多邊形<ref name="ドリームキャスト"/><ref name="Unified"/><ref name="EGM115"/>。同時，PlayStation 2將採用[[數碼多功能影音光碟|DVD-ROM]]格式，可以保存較Dreamcast的GD-ROM格式達4倍之多的數據{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=561}}。以主機強大的性能以及與網際網路無限的可能性，索尼期望PlayStation 2成為家庭娛樂未來的标杆<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 30 Defining Moments in Gaming|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/30-defining-moments-gaming/3/|accessdate=2019-07-25|author=|date=2007-08-14|format=|work=Edge|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023173834/http://www.edge-online.com/features/30-defining-moments-gaming/3/|archivedate=2014-10-23|quote=The Sega Dreamcast was the first home console that could go online out of the box, and the first to offer pay-to-play online games. These features clearly affected Sega's primary rival, Sony, who promised many online features for the upcoming PlayStation 2 in press reports from 1999. Once Sega abandoned the Dreamcast, Sony quietly dropped its plans for online gaming and movie distribution, and settled for a much less ambitious patchwork strategy.|p=3|dead-url=yes}}</ref>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=562, 580}}。此外，還有謠言聲稱PlayStation 2能夠指示導彈航線、擁有《[[玩具總動員]]》電影等級的輸出畫質，久夛更表示PlayStation 2能有讓消費者「身歷《[[駭客任務]]》世界」的能力<ref name="Toy Story and Japanese launch blues"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Here Comes PlayStation 2: More Than Just a Superpowerful Game Console, Sony's New Black Beauty Aims to Turn the Company into an Internet Giant|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-59651751/here-comes-playstation-2-more-than-just-a-superpowerful|accessdate=2014-10-30|author=|date=2000-03-06|format=|work=Newsweek|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031032341/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-59651751/here-comes-playstation-2-more-than-just-a-superpowerful|archivedate=2014-10-31|dead-url=no}} cf. {{Cite web|title=How Consoles Die|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/how-consoles-die/4/|accessdate=2015-03-05|author=|date=2008-09-17|last=Grift|first=Kris|format=|work=Edge|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031400/http://www.edge-online.com/features/how-consoles-die/4/|archivedate=2014-11-29|quote=The Sony hype machine didn't help Dreamcast's prospects either, as execs promised PS2 graphics on par with the CG movie ''Toy Story''.|p=4|dead-url=yes}} cf. {{Cite web|title=Iraq buys 4000 PlayStation 2s in world conquest bid|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/12/19/iraq_buys_4000_playstation_2s/|accessdate=2014-11-14|author=|date=2000-12-19|last=Smith|first=Tony|format=|work=[[The Register]]|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129012637/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/12/19/iraq_buys_4000_playstation_2s/|archivedate=2014-11-29|dead-url=no}}</ref>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=571}}。此外，索尼宣稱PlayStation 2將向下相容逾數百款的初代PlayStation平臺作品<ref name="Finn"/>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=561}}。雖然後來的深入報告顯示，PlayStation 2沒有如初始預期的那麼強大，而且軟體開發製程十分複雜，但仍然使Dreamcast相較之下顯得疲弱<ref name="Finn"/><ref name="Gamecube or PS2?"/>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|pp=561, 568–569}}。同年，任天堂與微軟皆開始研發次世代家用遊戲機（即後來的[[任天堂GameCube]]和[[Xbox (遊戲機)|Xbox]]）<ref name="Gamecube or PS2?"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=A history of videogame hardware: Xbox|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/a-history-of-videogame-hardware-xbox/|accessdate=2015-03-05|author=|date=2014-06-27|last=Parkin|first=Simon|format=|work=Edge|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121024245/http://www.edge-online.com/features/a-history-of-videogame-hardware-xbox/|archivedate=2014-11-21|quote=In the run-up to the launch of Sony's PlayStation 2, a number of Microsoft engineers became concerned at the Japanese company's claims that their new console was set to wipe the PC from the home.|dead-url=yes}}</ref>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|pp=563, 574}}{{sfn|DeMaria|Wilson|2004|p=313}}。

{{External media|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Iz92bxYyeU CBBC推出的關於PS2北美首發與入交昭一郎專訪的新聞專題]|video2=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r1j2QdS4Os IGN推出的Dreamcast調侃PS2的短片]}}

Dreamcast發售初期的銷售力道維持不久<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sega's sales fly despite business woes|url=http://news.cnet.com/Segas-sales-fly-despite-business-woes/2100-1040_3-235509.html|accessdate=2014-10-30|author=|date=2001-01-11|last=Davis|first=Jim|format=|publisher=CNET News|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031031716/http://news.cnet.com/Segas-sales-fly-despite-business-woes/2100-1040_3-235509.html|archivedate=2014-10-31|dead-url=no}}</ref>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=566}}。Dreamcast於北美地區的銷售速度在1999年年底總銷量突破150萬部之後就開始減緩；加上主機於日本的銷量本就不佳，長期不振的結果導致日本世嘉於1999[[財政年度]]（2000年3月結算）連續第三年虧損，淨虧損達428.8億日圓（與1998財政年度的淨虧損額428.81億日圓相當）<ref>{{Cite web|script-title=ja:株式会社セガ 第41期事業報告書 （平成10年4月1日～平成11年3月31日）|url=https://segaretro.org/images/archive/0/07/20171103000023!41JigyouHoukokusho_JP.pdf|accessdate=2019-07-16|author=|date=1999-03-31|format=pdf|publisher=SEGA|language=ja|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716051748/https://segaretro.org/images/archive/0/07/20171103000023!41JigyouHoukokusho_JP.pdf|via=SEGA Retro|archivedate=2019-07-16|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/659554.stm|title=Sega warns of losses|date=2000-02-28|work=[[BBC News Online]]|accessdate=2019-07-25|dead-url=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111081448/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/659554.stm|archivedate=2013-11-11|author=|publisher=|language=en|format=}}</ref>。儘管世嘉產品的總體銷售額增長了27.4％，而且Dreamcast在北美和歐洲的銷量超越了公司的預期，然而這些利多卻多半被鉅額的宣傳及開發成本所抵銷；同時由於市場條件日益惡化，使日本世嘉之[[街機]]業務盈利下滑，並被迫關閉246個街機機臺據點{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=582}}。為了對抗即將推出的PlayStation 2，美國世嘉與日本世嘉一樣建立了自有網際網路服務供應商「{{lang|en|SEGA.com}}」，由布拉德·黃擔任執行長<ref name="Superhero"/><ref name="SegaNet launch">{{Cite web|title=SegaNet Launches|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/seganet-launches/1100-2625699/|accessdate=2014-10-30|author=|date=2000-09-07|last=Satterfield|first=Shane|format=|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713030636/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/seganet-launches/1100-2625699/|archivedate=2015-07-13|website=GameSpot|dead-url=no}}</ref>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=571}}{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|pp=578–579}}。2000年9月7日，SEGA.com為Dreamcast推出了線上遊戲及多媒體服務{{link-en|SEGANet|SegaNet}}，支援線上聊天、收發電子郵件以及瀏覽網頁等機能，月費為21.95美元<ref name="SegaNet launch"/>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=579}}。美國世嘉為SEGANet舉行了盛大的宣傳活動，包括贊助於當天舉行的[[MTV音樂錄影帶大獎]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sega.com Launches the World's First Online Console Gaming Network, SegaNet|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega.com+Launches+the+World's+First+Online+Console+Gaming+Network%2c...-a065062861|accessdate=2014-12-03|author=|date=2000-09-07|format=|work=BusinessWire|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209074409/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega.com+Launches+the+World%27s+First+Online+Console+Gaming+Network%2C...-a065062861|archivedate=2014-12-09|dead-url=no}}</ref>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=579}}。雖然在SEGANet推出前僅有發行一款支援Dreamcast的線上多人遊戲《{{link-en|咻咻火箭|ChuChu Rocket!}}》（由[[Sonic Team]]開發），不過美國世嘉在SEGANet上線的同時推出了擁有豐富線上相關機能的運動遊戲《{{link-en|NFL 2K1}}》，意圖提振Dreamcast在北美地區的銷售情況<ref name="SegaNet launch"/>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=578–579, 581}}。SEGANet的支援範圍隨後擴大至《{{link-en|轟炸超人Online|Bomberman Online}}》、《[[雷神之锤III竞技场|雷神之鎚III競技場]]》及《[[魔域幻境之浴血戰場]]》等遊戲<ref name="gamasutra1"/>。世嘉對Dreamcast的線上遊戲相關服務採取了相當優惠的定價策略。在日本，每部Dreamcast皆同捆一年免費的網際網路服務，費用由日本世嘉總裁大川功本人自掏腰包支付<ref name="Okawa PSO">{{Cite web|title=Behind The Scenes: Phantasy Star Online|url=http://www.gamestm.co.uk/uncategorised/behind-the-scenes-phantasy-star-online/|accessdate=2019-07-25|author=|date=2011-02-16|format=|work=[[GamesTM]]|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021063050/http://www.gamestm.co.uk/uncategorised/behind-the-scenes-phantasy-star-online/|archivedate=2014-10-21|dead-url=no}}</ref>。另外，在SEGANet推出之前，美國世嘉為自Sega.com購買兩年期網際網路服務的Dreamcast玩家提供了200美元的折扣<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sega unveils plans for free Dreamcast, online gaming|url=http://windowsitpro.com/windows-server/sega-unveils-plans-free-dreamcast-online-gaming|accessdate=2019-07-25|author=|date=2000-04-04|last=Thurrot|first=Paul|format=|work=Windows IT Pro|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031032052/http://windowsitpro.com/windows-server/sega-unveils-plans-free-dreamcast-online-gaming|archivedate=2014-10-31|dead-url=yes}}</ref>。為了增加北美地區的SEGANet使用者基數，美國世嘉將Dreamcast主機價格降至149美元（相較之下，PlayStation 2的首發售價為299美元）；如果訂閱18月期的SEGANet服務，還可以149美元的價格同時取得Dreamcast以及Dreamcast鍵盤配件<ref name="RetroinspectionD"/><ref name="SegaNet launch"/>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=579}}。

摩爾表示，世嘉必須在2000年底前在美國賣出500萬部Dreamcast，以保持與索尼的PlayStation 2抗衡的實力，但最終其銷量僅達300萬部<ref name="businessweek.com"/>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|pp=581, 588}}。此外，世嘉試圖通過降低售價和提供折扣來刺激Dreamcast的銷量，導致公司財務損失不斷擴大<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dreamcast may be discontinued, Sega says|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/techreviews/games/2001-01-23-dreamcast.htm|accessdate=2019-07-25|author=|date=2001-01-24|format=|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225010445/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/techreviews/games/2001-01-23-dreamcast.htm|archivedate=2014-12-25|dead-url=no}}</ref>。截至2000年9月的前六個月中，日本世嘉公司合併淨虧損為179.8億日圓，財報中並估計全財年淨虧損達236億日圓（最終虧損額增加了一倍多至517億日圓）<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=|url=https://www.segasammy.co.jp/japanese/media/file/ir/library/archive/sega/sega_jigyo_tuuki_2001.pdf|accessdate=2019-07-16|date=2001-03-31|format=pdf|publisher=SEGA|language=ja|script-title=ja:株式会社セガ 第43期事業報告書 （平成12年4月1日～平成13年3月31日）|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716051937/https://www.segasammy.co.jp/japanese/media/file/ir/library/archive/sega/sega_jigyo_tuuki_2001.pdf|archivedate=2019-07-16|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/11/24/sega_fullyear_loss_to_widen/|title=Sega full-year loss to widen|first=Tony|last=Smith|date=2000-11-24|work=The Register|accessdate=2019-07-25|dead-url=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111081410/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/11/24/sega_fullyear_loss_to_widen/|archivedate=2013-11-11|author=|publisher=|language=en|format=}}</ref><ref name="Financial statement">{{Cite web|title=Sega Issues Financial Statement|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/02/sega-issues-financial-statement|accessdate=2014-12-05|date=2001-02-01|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208064813/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/02/sega-issues-financial-statement|archivedate=2014-12-08|website=IGN|dead-url=no}}</ref>。雖然PlayStation 2由於硬體製造瑕疵，導致在2000年10月26日於北美地區發售時先前預售的100萬部主機只有50萬部準時出貨，但這並沒有使Dreamcast受益；許多消費者繼續等待PlayStation 2，同時PSone（初代PlayStation的衍生機型）成為了2000年美國商業旺季最暢銷的電子遊戲機<ref name="businessweek.com"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Old PlayStation tops holiday game console sales|url=http://news.cnet.com/Old-PlayStation-tops-holiday-game-console-sales/2100-1040_3-249457.html|accessdate=2014-10-30|author=|date=2000-12-05|last=Becker|first=David|format=|publisher=CNET News|language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031031819/http://news.cnet.com/Old-PlayStation-tops-holiday-game-console-sales/2100-1040_3-249457.html|archivedate=2014-10-31|dead-url=no}}</ref>{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|pp=585–588}}。摩爾說：「我們試圖倚靠的『PlayStation 2效應』並不奏效……消費者們會儘可能地長時間地等待……PlayStation 2的供貨問題實際上凍結了整個市場的運作。」{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=588}}最終索尼與任天堂分別占有北美家用遊戲機市場份額的50％和35％，而世嘉僅占有15%<ref name="RetroinspectionD"/>。貝爾菲爾德稱，儘管每賣出一部Dreamcast主機可以帶來8份軟體的附帶收益，但主機銷量基數過小，導致世嘉無法在電子遊戲機市場中穩定立足{{sfn|L. Kent|2001|p=585}}。