Younger gamers might not even realize this, but Sega was once a major competitor in the console space. This came to an end with the Dreamcast. While not a bad console in any way, its sales just could not hold the company's place in the console market so they changed to third-party publishing.
Looking at the Dreamcast's history reveals a bevy of fascinating information, including unique abilities other consoles did not even think of trying yet. Hopefully you'll gain a newfound respect for Sega's last major console after reading this list. There is also the mountain of classic games like Resident Evil - CODE: Veronica and Shenmue contributing to its legacy.
10 Internet Browser
The Dreamcast was the first console with online capabilities, a particularly impressive feat for 1999. Even more so, you could browse the Internet with the console, which would not become regular until two generations later with the PS3. Using a disc and an Internet connection in the home, you could access a variety of features. In the time before completely ubiquitous Internet, this seemed like pure magic.
9 Console Online Play
In addition to Internet capabilities, several games also supported network play. Unreal Tournament was playable online, something even the PS2 version of the game was not able to do.
Another notable title was Phantasy Star Online, which was one of the first console online multiplayer RPGs. While it lacks some features of modern MMORPGs to call it the first true console MMORPG, the game was still revolutionary when it came to online multiplayer.
8 Mouse And Keyboard Support
While not the first console to have a mouse or a keyboard, the Dreamcast offered a variety of features with it. In addition to the Internet browsing capabilities, you could also play some games specifically made for the peripheral. You would have a significant advantage over controller users in Unreal Tournament if you jumped into games with a mouse and keyboard. Additionally, the famous House of the Dead spin-off, Typing of the Dead utilized the keyboard peripheral for gameplay.
7 Video Chat
Video chatting apps and features have become vital to keeping in touch with friends and loved ones who are thousands of miles away. The Dreamcast offered video chats long before it became normal and easy for anybody with a laptop. SegaNet enabled all these features and was extremely ahead of its time. Despite success after launch, the PS2's immediate success caused the service to shut down after less than a year.
6 Motion Sensing Peripheral
The arcade game Sega Bass Fishing eventually made its way to the Dreamcast. The game is playable with a special peripheral to provide the ultimate arcade experience. This peripheral is seen as the predecessor to motion-sensing controllers like the Wiimote and PlayStation Move. The peripheral could also be used for other games if one was so inclined to grapple with the controls. Soul Calibur in particular has fans who use the controller.
5 Link Cable To The Neo Geo Pocket
Believe it or not, you could link your Dreamcast to the Neo Geo Pocket using a special cable sold separately. This is bizarre because the systems come from two different manufacturers. Few games actually utilized the capability. King of Fighters and Capcom Vs. SNK gave players extra content who linked the two up. The adapter cable was never released in the west, so good luck finding one if you are North American gamer.
4 The VMU
The VMU was a memory card made for the Dreamcast. It did more than just save game files, however. It included numerous other features, including second screen functionality. It also could play some games of its own. Games utilizing second screen functionality would not come back into vogue for almost ten years. Sony experimented with the idea for the PS Vita and PS4. Additionally, the Wii U's gamepad could be seen as an extension of this idea.
3 VGA Adapter
The VGA adapter could be used to plug the game into a computer display. It also had the ability to display games at 480p. While 480p is quaint by today's standards, back then it was quality beyond what most other console's offered.
The Dreamcast's graphics were groundbreaking for their day - to the point of making arcade perfect ports - so seeing them in the cleanest resolution available at the time was particularly striking.
2 It Had A Camera
These days everybody has a phone in their pocket, maybe even a few of them at one time. Back in 1999 such digital cameras were rarer. This made the digital camera for the Dreamcast all the more special. Not only could you send your photos to others using the Dreameye, you could also edit them a long time before everyone had the power to do so. Unfortunately, no games ever utilized it.
1 Microphone
Being an online-capable console, it only made sense for the console to have a microphone. With it you could talk to other players online. However, it also had a function for other games. Seaman, which includes narration by Leonard Nimoy, uses the microphone in gameplay. You order the half fish and half human character through the game using voice commands. It also works a lot better than other games of the time that tried similar things, like Hey You Pikachu!.