Sega Europe’s DC Network Plans: The Press Release

SEGA Europe releases Europe’s first on-line console game, ChuChu Rocket! Free to all European Dreamcasters. €10m spend to support marketing programme.

MAY 19th 2000: SEGA Europe is proud to confirm its commitment to bringing the best in interactive entertainment to European games players with the launch of Dreamarena Ltd.

Dreamarena Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA Europe, has been created to develop the on-line activities of Dreamarena, SEGA Europe’s on-line portal. To date Dreamarena is the fastest growing on-line games portal with more than 250,000 registered Dreamcasters. Dreamarena Ltd. intends to double this in time for Dreamcast’s first European anniversary on October 14th 2000.

The driving forces behind this bold and exciting move, JF Cecillon and Kazutoshi Miyake, SEGA Europe’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, will become Dreamarena Ltd’s chairman and vice-chairman and a strong line up of key executives will be announced shortly.

Today’s announcement coincides with the confirmation of the forthcoming release of Europe’s first on-line console game ChuChu Rocket! on 9th June 2000.

ChuChu Rocket! is a fast and furious puzzle game which allows gamers to compete with up to three other players from anywhere in SEGA’s Europe – the UK, Germany, Spain and France; Ireland and Italy to follow. The launch of ChuChu Rocket! marks the first of many multi-player on-line games to be released by Dreamarena Ltd. Other on-line games due for release this year include killer titles Black & White, Quake III and exclusive to Dreamarena, Phantasy Star Online.

SEGA Europe will continue to release top titles throughout the year 2000. These will include ‘Ecco the Dolphin’ – the stunning underwater action adventure ,‘Space Channel 5’ – a radical new genre in gaming, ‘Metropolis Street Racer’ and ‘Jet Set Radio’, all from SEGA. Third party releases will include ‘Resident Evil: Code Veronica’ from Eidos, ‘V-Rally 2: Expert Edition’ from Infogrames, ‘Fur Fighters’ from Acclaim, ‘Toy Story 2’ from Activision, ‘Marvel vs Capcom 2’ from Virgin, ‘Heroes of Might & Magic 3’ from Ubi Soft, ‘Tony Hawk’s Skateboarding’ from Crave and ‘Grand Theft Auto 2’ from Take 2.

Since its October 1999 launch, Dreamcast has become the world’s fastest selling games console having sold through over 750,000 throughout Europe. The establishment of Dreamarena Ltd. now moves Dreamcast into its second phase – on-line gaming. To support the pioneering of on-line gaming through the establishment of Dreamarena Ltd, all registered Dreamcasters will receive a free copy of ChuChu Rocket!

JF Cecillon, Chief Executive Officer, SEGA Europe & Chairman, Dreamarena Ltd said:

“Yet again SEGA Europe has produced an industry first for gamers with the introduction of Europe’s first multi-player on-line game. On-line gaming has arrived, but we won’t stop here.

“This Europe-wide marketing programme reconfirms SEGA Europe’s commitment to providing our customers with the ultimate gaming experience. Together with the exciting software line up and development of more peripherals, SEGA Europe looks forward to providing further enhancements for the console, as Dreamcast continues to evolve. There is plenty for Dreamcasters to look forward to”

Kazutoshi Miyake, SEGA Europe’s Chief Operating Officer & Dreamarena Vice-Chairman said: “Third parties can feel good about their partnerships with SEGA. With Dreamarena the opportunities to develop on-line games are real and here!”