The Sega Dreamcast is sort of the James Dean of consoles. It had a very exciting launch coupled with great games. It ushered in many advances in the Console scene some that are just coming to light. Many great games where released in it's short life span. Games like Crazy Taxi, Jet Grind Radio, Shenmue, Powerstone 1&2,Phantasy Star Online, Resident Evil Code Veronica, NFL 2k series and a few others. When it launched things where looking good for the Dreamcast and Sega. Gamers where amazed by the graphics and sound, finally we had realistic Sports games. Systems where selling at a brisk place. Sega managed to turnaround some of the naysayers. The Dreamcast had a tough battle even before it launched. Sega's reputation for abandoning their hardware to early took their tolls. Developers and the gaming public where skeptical from the start. Still some 3rd party devolopers took the chance and consumers did as well. After the first year the Sony PS2 loomed on the horizon. Sony overly hyped the PS2 graphics capabilities and promised a gaming experience like no others. Rumors where spread by Sony's marketing department that Sega would abandon its hardware. It encouraged consumers not to buy the Dreamcast but instead wait for the PS2. It was a David and Goliath marketing battle. Add to this the PS2 came with a DVD player(low end no name brand DVD players where around $300). Initially launch PS2 games looked worse than DC games however Sega never really used this to their advantage. Add to this a workaround was found to easily pirate Dreamcast games with no mod chips. The little profit Sega was making from software sales diminished because of this. Disputes and indifference's with Sega America and Sega Japan also contributed to problems. Sega was bleeding money, SOA wanted to continue the fight but SOJ(Sega of Japan) president pulled the plug after a short 18 month period. The innovations Sega tried to usher in the gaming public was just not ready for it at the time. Also the Dreamcast was caught in between generations early on developers didn't utilize the systems full potential. Most games where ports of PS1 and N64 games or games that didn't look much better than PS1 games. Sega relied on Shenmue to rescue the system like Sonic once did for the Genesis. Inevitably Shenmue had a determinable effect Sega pulled its last remaining resources on this game. The initial game cost $47 Million to develop. The game was a game that you either loved or hate. It didn't sell well and in fact put Sega even deeper in the hole. They where many hit games on the DC but they never had that 1 game that made people go out and buy the DC. Meaning there was no game that developed enough of a buzz the DC had its share of great games.  Soul Caliber helped with the initial launch to sell systems. At one point Max Payne was been developed and Halo as well. One can imagine if these games where released it might of helped. Although the developers of Halo deny a Halo build existed for the DC. Hal-Life was supposed to be that killer game unfortunately it was canceled as by then the DC was essentially on it's way out. Although you can find it as it was leaked and the game was essentially 90% completed. I myself think Sega gave up to quick and would of like to see them hang on for another year. But 3rd party support was pulling from the DC scene by the droves. Today like James Dean the Dreamcast is still loved by many loyal fans in fact games are still been released by Indie developers. Most of them don't do it for profit but simply for love and admiration for the Dreamcast. It still is thinking.