Dreamcast European Launch Day Details

10/18: Sega of Europe has announced that they expect 1 million DCs to be sold in Europe in a years’ time. Whether this will become a reality or not is yet to be seen, but the chances are very good.

10/15: 100,000 DCs sold made the first day of launch in Europe a great one. Here’s some more info thanks to DC United:

Demand for Dreamcast and launch software has surpassed all expectations and broken all previously held sales record for a video games console with an astonishing 100,000 Dreamcast consoles sold within the first 24 hours.

The sales rush began at midnight, Wednesday October 13, as prime retailers remained open late in major European cities, including London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris, Madrid, Stuttgart and Essen, to service the huge demand. Thousands of eager consumers queued to be among the first to buy Dreamcast and select from its exciting line-up of launch software and innovative peripherals.

JF Cecillon, Chief Executive, Sega Europe, said:

“The industry has never witnessed such enthusiasm for a new games console. I am delighted that our confidence is so widely shared with our European customers.”

How about the happenings over in Ireland? Sega X has that:

Well after checking out most of the retailers, I found that most were sold out. Some of that was due to some retailers receiving little stock of actual Dreamcast units. Even independent stores such as Gamesworld were finding it difficult to cope with demand. Most retailers received some games, it varied from store to store, and the same went for the peripherals. Thankfully, though, plenty more stock is expected by the weekend.

Also I’d better mention, Sega of Europe has already reported that over 3,000 people had registered their Dreamcast’s by noon today, just twelve hours after it’s launch. Overall, if you knew what you wanted, you probably could have found it.

Original Article 10/14:

This is the day UK Sega fans have been waiting for, the big launch in their country, and across Europe. Big events were held, and here are the details courtesy Next Generation:

The Dreamcast top ten has been complied from software sales between midnight and 8.00am GMT, Thursday 14 October. According to EB, thousands of pre-ordered machines were collected as soon as the stores opened at midnight. Sales of software also got off to a flying start and guess who’s leading the way?

Sonic Adventure
Sega Rally 2
Ready 2 Rumble
Power Stone
Tokyo Highway Challenge
TrickStyle
Virtua Fighter 3tb
Blue Stinger
Monaco GP
Dynamite Cop

Steve Wilson, EB’s console buying director said of the launch, “It was a fantastic start for Dreamcast. At store level, there was an incredible buzz in the build up to launch and, with our Dreamcast@Midnight event, we are expecting to attract a significant share of first day sales. As for the software chart – it’s obvious Sonic hasn’t lost his touch.”

We’ll have a load of new information tomorrow, as well as some public reaction.