SegaNet

SegaNet
Developer	Sega
Type	Online service
Launch date	1996; 28 years ago (Saturn); September 10, 2000; 23 years ago (Dreamcast)
Status	Discontinued in 2002

SegaNet was an internet service provided by Sega for the Sega Saturn^[1] and Dreamcast video game consoles. The European counterpart for Dreamcast was called Dreamarena.

Sega Saturn (Japan)[]

In its inception, SegaNet was Sega's online service for the Sega Saturn in Japan. In the United States, it was called Sega NetLink.

Dreamcast[]

SegaNet became a short-lived internet service geared for dial-up-based online gaming on the Dreamcast game console. A replacement for Sega's original PC-only online gaming service, Heat.net, it was initially quite popular when launched on September 10, 2000. Unlike a standard ISP, game servers would be connected directly into SegaNet's internal network, providing very low connection latency between the consoles and servers along with standard Internet access.^{[citation needed]} Just over a month after launch, by October 27, 2000, SegaNet had 1.55 million Dreamcast consoles registered online, including 750,000 in Japan, 400,000 in North America, and 400,000 in Europe.^[2]

Online games on the Dreamcast initially allowed free access to their game servers, to be offset by SegaNet subscriptions and game sales. But with the demise of SegaNet, most games shut their servers down while Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 charged a monthly fee,^[3]^[4] and closed for the last time at the end of the year. There are some private servers still online that can be played with the following games: Phantasy Star Online Ver. 1 and Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2, Sega Swirl, 4x4 Evolution, Quake III Arena, Maximum Pool, Planet Ring, Toy Racer, Starlancer, ChuChu Rocket!, The Next Tetris On-line Edition, PBA Tour Bowling 2001, Sonic Adventure, Alien Front Online, Worms World Party, Racing Simulation 2 On-line: Monaco Grand Prix, POD: Speedzone, Ooga Booga, World Series Baseball 2K2, Jet Set Radio, NCAA College Football 2K2: Road to the Rose Bowl, NFL 2K1, NFL 2K2, NBA 2K1, NBA 2K2 and many more coming soon.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Closure[]

SegaNet originally offered a $200 rebate with a two-year contract, to encourage sales of the Dreamcast. But due to pressure from Sony's PlayStation 2 and the announcements of the Microsoft's Xbox and Nintendo's GameCube, sales of the Dreamcast continued to drop and, on July 23, 2001, Sega announced they would discontinue the service, shutting it down just 11 months after launch. At this point, all subscribers were given the option to transfer their accounts to EarthLink.^[8]^[9]

European counterpart[]

The European online service counterpart to SegaNet, Dreamarena, continued to operate until it, too, was discontinued in March 2003.

References[]

↑ "Saturn Overview". Giant Bomb. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Sega Announces New Corporate Focus On Networked Entertainmnet" (PDF). segasammy.co.jp/. October 27, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Vinciguerra, Rob (February 8, 2002). "SegaNet: no longer pay-to-play". dricasworld.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ ""SegaNet is FREE Now but Nobody is Playing". August 17, 2002. Archived from the original on August 22, 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "ChuChu Rocket Is Back Online!". dreamcastlive. June 7, 2016. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Dreamcast Live Games". dreamcastlive.net. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Charnock, Tom. "POD 2 Is Back Online". Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Seganet Links Up With Earth". IGN. Ziff Davis. July 30, 2001. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Sega Turns to Earth for Internet Link". IGN. Ziff Davis. July 20, 2001. Archived from the original on April 27, 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

External links[]

Official website

[1] "Saturn Overview". Giant Bomb. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[2] "Sega Announces New Corporate Focus On Networked Entertainmnet" (PDF). segasammy.co.jp/. October 27, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[3] Vinciguerra, Rob (February 8, 2002). "SegaNet: no longer pay-to-play". dricasworld.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[4] ""SegaNet is FREE Now but Nobody is Playing". August 17, 2002. Archived from the original on August 22, 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[5] "ChuChu Rocket Is Back Online!". dreamcastlive. June 7, 2016. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[6] "Dreamcast Live Games". dreamcastlive.net. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[7] Charnock, Tom. "POD 2 Is Back Online". Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[8] "Seganet Links Up With Earth". IGN. Ziff Davis. July 30, 2001. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[9] "Sega Turns to Earth for Internet Link". IGN. Ziff Davis. July 20, 2001. Archived from the original on April 27, 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2019.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

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Dreamcast
Accessories	Broadband Adapter and Modem Adapter • Dreameye • Light guns • VGA • VMU
List of games	Dreamcast games • Sega All Stars • Homebrew games
Online services	SegaNet • GameSpy • Dreamarena
Related	GD-ROM • Sega Aurora • Homebrew (KallistiOS • Dreamshell) • Bleemcast! • DC-UK • Dreamcast Collection

Sega
Arcade systems	Arcade games • Pinball machines • R-360 • VR-1 • Aurora
Video game consoles	SG-1000 • Master System • Genesis (CD • 32X) • Pico • Saturn • Dreamcast
Portable devices	Game Gear • Nomad
Dual systems	LaserActive • TeraDrive • Amstrad Mega PC
Licensed consoles	Sega Zone
Online gaming services	Sega Meganet • Sega Channel • SegaNet • ALL.Net • Sega Forever
Accessories	DC Broadband and Modem Adapter • Dreamcast Gun • Dreamcast VGA • Dreameye • GD-ROM • Lock-On • Master Gear • Menacer • Sega Card • Sega Net Link • Sega VR • VMU
Related	Development studios • Gulf and Western Industries • Sega Technical Institute • Sonic Team • Sega Sammy Holdings • SCSK Corporation • Sega v. Accolade • SegaWorld • Video game franchises (List of games)