Compared with the Sony PlayStation 2, the Sega Dreamcast has the advantage of maturity. The Dreamcast has used its year on the market to come down in price, build an online network, and establish a library of 200 games. By this time next year, the Sony PlayStation 2 will likely have enjoyed similar growths. This season, for less than the same price as a PS2, a Christmas shopper can purchase a different game system and DVD player separately. The PS2 and Dreamcast are part of what is considered the current generation of 128-bit systems.
Previous systems are still available, and offer an excellent range of software for a lower price.
New games will become infrequent as these older systems are phased out in favor of the next generation of systems. Its games run the gamut of genres. Dozens of sports titles, including hockey, soccer, football, and basketball, are released almost annually from EA Sports and Sony's 989 Studios. Many of these games are rated for teenage or mature audiences. Nintendo's trademark characters, such as Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon, can be found exclusively on the N64.