Dreamcast Zip Drive

Dreamcast Zip drive at a promotional display.

Made by Iomega Corp, the makes of the Zip Disc format, the Dreamcast Zip drive was made to increase the Sega Dreamcast's storage capacity but mainly for emails, web pages and other internet based files.

The 100MB storage disk drive is essentially the same as the ones made for PC's with slight modifications made to make it compatible with the DC. "We have chose a Zip drive for its durability and low cost. For gaming purposes durability is essential." said a Sega spokesperson.

The drive was conceived after their was a strong demand for more storage space than Sega servers were offering to save email and web pages onto. The drive could also save game-updata data so all those extra quake maps could be played at home.

The device was made to fit under the Dreamcast, using the slot the modem plugs into on the console. The modem then plugged into the side of the Zip drive. The Zip drive also includes a front-mounted USB port, which would have allowed the connection of all kinds of new peripherals. This was to help promote the DC from a console to a home entertainment / information system with the release of other accessories (Which were also never released).

The Zip drive was not going to be compatible with the PC Zip drives, but it was suggested that software for the PC would eventually be released to make it compatible with the DC Zip drive.

The Zip drive was to have a retail price of $199US and be released some time in the third quarter of 2000. Though it never was released to the market, a prototype was found and sold on eBay in fall 2007.