Sega set to cease GD-ROM production, spells end for Dreamcast games

Sega's loved-by-some ignored-by-others Dreamcast console hasn't exactly seen a flurry of game development as of late, but it looks like any hopes of a future shoot 'em up renaissance have been all but dashed, with Sega announcing that it will be ceasing production of its proprietary GD-ROM discs in February of this year. In addition to delivering Dreamcast games to loyal Sega gamers, the relatively high-capacity discs also served as the storage option of choice for Sega's Dreamcast-based NAOMI arcade platform, meaning that it too has likely also seen its last game. Of course, just because there's no new games coming out doesn't mean you can't still snag a used or refurbed Dreamcast and relive the good old days of a different type of console war.

[Thanks, fyreblazer]

[Matt @ Jan 18th 2007 5:50PM]

Dreamcast pwns!

[citykids @ Jan 18th 2007 5:58PM]

It's a sad day for Dreamcast fans, but I'm curious - couldn't SEGA license the GD-Rom technology to those parties still interested in making software for the Dreamcast?

[Jonathan Sundy @ Jan 18th 2007 5:58PM]

It still reads regular cds, and burnt ones.

Live on Dreamcast,live on.

It's thinking...

[Cardbored @ Jan 18th 2007 5:59PM]

wow.... didn't know sega even made the discs anymore...

[Jeff @ Jan 18th 2007 6:05PM]

"the relatively high-capacity discs also served as the storage option of choice for Sega's Dreamcast-based NAOMI arcade platform, meaning that it too has likely also seen its last game."

This is not true and I don't know why people keep reporting it this way. NAOMI games could be made to run with or without the GD-ROM, and most NAOMI games do *not* use GD-ROM's. The Wikipedia entry has a list of both types:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_NAOMI#List_of_NAOMI_games

It's not as if NAOMI has seen a huge number of releases, though, so it's probably likely that there won't be too many new NAOMI games anyway. But it's not because of the death of the GD-ROM. I mean, NAOMI was first launched before the GD-ROM even existed, after all.

[Alex @ Jan 18th 2007 6:08PM]

"just because there's no new games coming out"

just because there is no new games coming out?

just because there ARE no new games coming out!

"just because there're no new games coming out"

[moofree @ Jan 18th 2007 10:04PM]

At least he didn't say "just because they're no new games coming out?"

[Ellianth @ Jan 18th 2007 7:36PM]

You're such a bully! :P

-
where was your last quote from?
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/there're

[v_dogg @ Jan 18th 2007 6:15PM]

dang the dreamcast was an awesome system..

[PreGHz @ Jan 18th 2007 6:47PM]

The first time I got all the chu chu into my rocket.

The first time I worked all day so I could buy more milk and cheese, and hoping that I would pull a winner out of the raffle bin.

Those are unforgettable days...

[Jico @ Jan 18th 2007 7:34PM]

r.i.p.

[Andy @ Jan 18th 2007 8:18PM]

Good thing the Dreamcast can run games off of CD-R :) Pirated games can be burned on CD-R and run perfectly fine, so if pirated games can be run off a normal CD, I'm sure commercial games could be made on standard CD without the help of Sega's GD-ROM, which was barely ever used to the capacity, as most Dreamcast ISOs are under 700 MB.

[evo @ Jan 18th 2007 9:00PM]

The real news here is that Sega was still making GD-ROMs...

[Will @ Jan 18th 2007 10:36PM]

Still my most favorite console of all time. Chu Chu Rocket, Jet Grind Radio, Skies of Arcadia, Nester DC(for you homebrew guys)....ah, I must dust off my Dreamcast when I get home :)

[n3tfury @ Jan 18th 2007 10:45PM]

i agree, Will, best system ever. i STILL play it to this day.

[o rly @ Jan 19th 2007 1:48AM]

Donald Melanson, you might want to read a sister site of yours regarding no new games coming out.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/dreamcast-the-system-that-wont-die/

[Frank @ Jan 19th 2007 8:32AM]

I love you DC..sweet dreams.

[Luke @ Jan 19th 2007 1:08PM]

Dreamcast was the sh**.

[Luke @ Jan 19th 2007 1:10PM]

this is terrible

[romablog @ Jan 21st 2007 2:53PM]

This is such horrible news to hear. I really hope that Sega hears the voice of the hardcore Sega community and helps it survive by reversing this decision. The Dreamcast enthusiast crowd, I believe, is an integral part of Sega's past and future.

[q can fix it @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:19PM]

they should declare it open source and let the beast out.

on a separate note, they still make those things--- holy crap.

[1234321 @ Mar 14th 2008 1:13PM]

but a new game just came out
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-x-49-en-15-Last%2BHope-70-1lza-43-99.html

[Jim @ Jan 18th 2007 7:26PM]

Yeah, the Dreamcast can run bootable code from any CD-R, and seeing as a CD is only about 300mb's smaller than the game data section, you can still fit a decent sized game on there...if you wanted to that is!

[1234321 @ Mar 14th 2008 1:15PM]

test

[JohnTitor @ Mar 14th 2008 1:17PM]

test