SegaNet

SegaNet

Developer	Sega
Type	Online service
Launch date	September 10, 2000
Platform	Dreamcast
Status	Shut down (2002)

SegaNet was an internet service provided by Sega for the and Dreamcast video game console. The European counterpart was called Dreamarena.

Saturn (Japan)

In its inception, SegaNet was Sega's online service for the Sega Saturn in Japan, which was called Sega NetLink in the United States.

Dreamcast

SegaNet became a short-lived internet service 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 on September 10, 2000. Unlike a standard ISP, game servers would be connected directly into SegaNet's internal network, providing very low connection latency between the consoles and servers along with standard Internet access.^{[citation needed]}

Online 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 shut their servers down while Phantasy Star Online version 2 charged a monthly fee., but was closed for the last time at the end of the year.^{[citation needed]}

Closure

SegaNet originally offered a $200 rebate with a two-year contract, to encourage sales of the Dreamcast. But due to pressure from PlayStation 2 and the announcements of the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube, sales of the Dreamcast continued to drop, and in July 23, 2001, Sega announced they would discontinue the service, causing this online service to last a short-lived life of 11 months. At this point, all subscribers were given the option to transfer their accounts to EarthLink.^{[citation needed]}

European counterpart

The European online service counterpart to SegaNet, Dreamarena, continued to operate before that was discontinued too, in March 2003.

See also

• Dreamarena
• Sega Meganet
• Sega NetLink