- SegaNet
SegaNet was an internet service provided by
Sega for the Sega Saturn and Dreamcastvideo game console s.aturn
SegaNet is Sega's online service for the
Sega Saturn inJapan . Unlike other online services, one doesn't connect to a central service, but instead tells the dial-up modem connected to the Saturn's cartridge slot to call to the person whom one wishes to play with. Since it requires no servers to operate, the service can operate as long as at least two users have the necessary hardware and software, as well as a phone line.Fact|date=February 2007Dreamcast
SegaNet was a shortlived internet service operated by
Sega , geared for dial-up based online gaming on their Dreamcast game console. A replacement for Sega's original, PC-only online gaming service,Heat.net , it was initially quite popular when launched onSeptember 10 ,2000 . Unlike a standard ISP,game server s would be connected directly into SegaNet's internal network, providing very low connection latency between the consoles and servers along with standardInternet access.Fact|date=February 2007SegaNet originally offered a $200 rebate with a two-year contract, to encourage sales of the Dreamcast. Sales continued to drop, and in
July 2001 , Sega announced they would discontinue the service. At this point, all subscribers were given the option to transfer their accounts toEarthLink .Fact|date=February 2007Online games on the Dreamcast initially allowed free access to their game servers, to be offset by SegaNet subscriptions and game sales. But with the demise of SegaNet, most games began charging for game server access, or closing down their servers altogether. An example of this was the discontinuation of online service for the games
Phantasy Star Online . The online gaming service was reactivated briefly in the fall of2002 sans service charges [" [http://web.archive.org/web/20040603083451/http://dc.dricasworld.com/?20020802a SegaNet: no longer pay-to-play] " – an article announcing the elimination of subscription fees for SegaNet] [" [http://web.archive.org/web/20060626221454/http://dreamstation.cc/news/video_games/id680 SegaNet is free now, but nobody is playing] " – a 2002 article on the decaying state of SegaNet] , but was closed for the last time at the end of the year.Fact|date=February 2007Although SegaNet is offline in
North America , it still remains online in parts ofEurope as DreamArena.Fact|date=February 2007ee also
*
Dreamarena
*Sega Meganet
*Sega NetLink Notes
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