Press release: 1999-06-09: Sega Dreamcast has Record-Breaking Retail Pre-Order Campaign

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: The Free Library

Sega Dreamcast has Record-Breaking Retail Pre-Order Campaign; K B Toys Signs On To Support Pre-Order Campaign For Sega Dreamcast Launch On September 9, 1999

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 1999--

Sega (R) of America Inc. today announced the participation of retailer K B Toys in the official U.S. consumer pre-order campaign for Sega Dreamcast (TM) -- "the ultimate gaming machine," bringing the most advanced and realistic video gameplay ever developed to consumers.

KB Toys will be accepting pre-orders for the system both at retail and online at www.kbtoys.com. With still three months to go before the launch of Sega Dreamcast, the company joins five other retailers who have already secured 100,000 consumer pre-orders for the 128-bit videogame system and are expected to reach more than 200,000 by the release date on September 9, 1999.

Available in more than 15,000 retail store fronts on its launch date, and with more than 10,000 consumers lining up to place pre-orders for the system on a weekly basis, Sega Dreamcast is headed for the largest launch in the history of videogames.

Sega's pre-order campaign has already eclipsed Sony's 1995 pre-order drive for Sony Playstation (TM), when Sony reached only 100,000 pre-orders total prior to their U.S. launch. Answering the demand to experience Sega Dreamcast, there will be 6,000 interactive kiosks at retail by launch so consumers can try games and see the system first hand.

"K B Toys is dedicated to supporting Sega Dreamcast and offering the first-ever home entertainment console with Internet capabilities," said Chris Gilbert, senior vice president of sales, Sega of America. "Not only is K B Toys the nation's largest mall-based retailer, but Sega's core gamer shops at K B Toys, looking for the most advanced and realistic gameplay currently available on the market."

Fueling the fire of excitement at retail is Sega Dreamcast's announced price point of $199, including a 56K modem, providing Internet connectivity and four times the graphics processing power of a Pentium II chip at a very aggressive price.

Sega Dreamcast will also be the only new videogame system on the market this holiday season, a point not lost on retailers who traditionally make a significant portion of their sales during the fourth quarter.

"Sega Dreamcast has established itself as the must-have product of the holiday season," said James Mackenzie, divisional merchandise manager -- video of K B Toys. "We couldn't be more pleased about the reaction we have seen from consumers and the dedication we have seen from Sega to make the system a retail winner."

Sega Dreamcast will have 15 games available at launch, with the number growing to 30 by the December holidays. First and third-party titles now in the works will bring the total Sega Dreamcast game library count to more than 100 by the end of 2000.

Sega Dreamcast is also the first console to offer network capability. The 56K modem, which is packed in the box, will give the system full networked functionality, allowing consumers to play games over the Internet and giving them access to Internet capabilities, including e-mail, chat and browsing of the World Wide Web.

Along with its aggressive price point, Sega Dreamcast will achieve other industry firsts at launch. Its advanced 128-bit architecture makes it the first console with evolutionary capabilities, allowing it to grow and change to match advances in technology and the needs and desires of the consumer. Sega Dreamcast is also the most powerful video game console ever created.

It is 15 times more powerful than a Sony PlayStation and ten times more powerful than a Nintendo 64. In addition, Sega Dreamcast is the first console to utilize hand-held gaming through its Visual Memory Unit (VMU), which allows players to swap games with friends in the home, arcade or head-to-head using two VMUs.

K B Toys is the nation's largest mall-based specialty toy retailer, with $1.6 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Pittsfield, Mass., K B Toys is a division of Consolidated Stores (NYSE) and operates over 1,300 stores in four formats within all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Sega of America is the arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Sega Enterprises, Ltd. responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega videogame systems and videogames in the Americas.

Sega Enterprises Ltd. is a nearly $2.5 billion company recognized as the industry leader in interactive digital entertainment media, and is the only company that offers interactive entertainment experiences both inside and outside the home. Sega of America's World Wide Web site is located at http://www.sega.com.
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