According to a report from Softpedia, Sega will soon discontinue production of its proprietary GD-ROM optical format in February. The GD-ROM is a format developed originally by Yamaha for exclusive use on Sega systems, including its Dreamcast console and NAOMI arcade hardware. The technology behind the disc is similar to CD-ROM, except it uses smaller pits on the recording surface, resulting in a capacity of up to 1.2 GB.
Released in Japan in late 1998 and worldwide in late 1999, the Dreamcast met an untimely demise only three years after its release. Some believe that rampant piracy and lack of support from EA were key causes of death. Sega ceased production of it last console in March 2003. Amazingly enough, the Dreamcast still sees periodic software releases, mostly as a result of the hardware’s close ties to Sega’s arcade board.
Reports are saying that the end is near, as Sega will no longer produce the media used for delivering games to the hardware. While some are spelling this as the end for new NAOMI arcade games, there is no reason to believe that developers won’t be able to run off ROM boards rather than GD-ROM. The end of the optical format does necessarily mean the end of Dreamcast games.
The Dreamcast still has a couple games left on its Japanese release calendar. Nearly all of the systems' new game releases are arcade shooters. Trigger Heart Exelica is expected to release on February 22 and Karous is slated for March 8.
Diehard fans of the system are hoping to band together in a petition to Sega to continue GD-ROM production in an effort to keep the system alive. Even if the petition doesn’t change anyone’s mind, the Dreamcast managed to stay alive for nearly a decade longer than anyone originally expected.
Thanks,
Released in Japan in late 1998 and worldwide in late 1999, the Dreamcast met an untimely demise only three years after its release. Some believe that rampant piracy and lack of support from EA were key causes of death. Sega ceased production of it last console in March 2003. Amazingly enough, the Dreamcast still sees periodic software releases, mostly as a result of the hardware’s close ties to Sega’s arcade board.
Reports are saying that the end is near, as Sega will no longer produce the media used for delivering games to the hardware. While some are spelling this as the end for new NAOMI arcade games, there is no reason to believe that developers won’t be able to run off ROM boards rather than GD-ROM. The end of the optical format does necessarily mean the end of Dreamcast games.
The Dreamcast still has a couple games left on its Japanese release calendar. Nearly all of the systems' new game releases are arcade shooters. Trigger Heart Exelica is expected to release on February 22 and Karous is slated for March 8.
Diehard fans of the system are hoping to band together in a petition to Sega to continue GD-ROM production in an effort to keep the system alive. Even if the petition doesn’t change anyone’s mind, the Dreamcast managed to stay alive for nearly a decade longer than anyone originally expected.
Thanks,
