Dreamcast, we hardly knew you. Although it was technically on the shelves for three years it felt like it was only a few months. Well, maybe I just feel that way because I bought it for $99 when it was cleared out in 2001. I still have troubles understanding why it wasn't competitive. Graphically, I can't see the difference between it and the PS2 or Xbox. I'm sure some PS2/Xbox fanboys will foam at the mouth at this statement. Whatever. I think the Dreamcast more than holds its own against the other systems of its era.
The Dreamcast, like its grandfather the Sega Genesis, ended with a hockey game. For a sport that gets lower ratings than poker it's amazing that hockey video games sell. Of course I doubt 90% of the people who buy hockey games can name a single player in the league. Unless Wayne Gretzky is still playing I'm in the same boat (well, except the last hockey game I bought was the original NHL Hockey for Genesis at a garage sale for a cool buck).
Like the Sega Genesis, the Dreamcast called it quits with an update to a sports franchise. Unlike the EA '98 releases for the Genesis, NHL 2K2 was a notable improvement over it's predecessor. The initial NHL 2K was so poorly received that they passed on releasing a 2K1. The result was a more refined 2K2 sequel. Unfortunately it was released more than a year after Sega ceased production of the Dreamcast.
(ad)