Official Dreamcast release date set

[02.08.99] » North American launch details revealed: September 9th is the date to remember.

   For once, the rumors have proved true: The Dreamcast now has an official North American and European release date of September 9th, 1999 (9/9/99), just as many predicted. Sega of Germany confirmed the date at the recent Nuernburger Toy Show, as well as additional plans for the launch.

   Among the other pieces of information, Sega announced that Yu Suzuki's epic Shen Mue would be available in North America and Europe by the end of the year (as well as action title Blue Stinger). And in a move that surprises absolutely no one, the Dreamcast will use standard territorial lockouts to prevent games of one region from be played in others.

   Most of the Japanese peripherals will also see North American and European releases. Among them are the light gun, Arcade Stick, Puru Puru Pack (force feedback unit), a one-gigabyte hard drive, and the VGA Box, which connects the Dreamcast to a PC monitor for higher resolutions. The one peripheral that will not be seeing the light of day outside of Japan is the Fishing Rod, used with the fishing game Get Bass.