Every marketer knows that scarcity is one surefire way to create demand for a new product.
The first half-million units, about half the quantity originally promised for the U.S. launch, were gobbled up within hours after they went on sale on October 26. Most had been pre-ordered and paid for. But enough about marketing tactics. SegaNet, the online console gaming network and ISP created for the Dreamcast device, signed up more than 100,000 users in its first month this fall. The online gamers play an average of two hours per day.