The Summer of Dreamcast

Sega of America today confirmed with GameSpot News that the US version of the Dreamcast will become available for US gamers to rent starting in July.

As part of a special promotion, a soon-to-be-announced rental and retail chain will offer gamers the chance to rent a Dreamcast along with three finished Dreamcast games. While Sega would not reveal the name of that rental and retail chain, the company assured us that it would be a major nationwide chain. As of press time, the likely candidate, Blockbuster Video, hadn't returned phone calls inquiring about the special promotion. Sega also refrained from revealing the three finished US games.

As for the three games included with the rental system, possibilities include Sega games like Sega Rally 2, Sonic Adventure, CART Racing, and Dynamight Cop. Other possibilities could include third-party titles such as Power Stone from Capcom, which is easy to learn and showcases the console's power.

The PlayStation and Nintendo 64 currently rent for US$14.99 (five evenings) at most Blockbuster Video stores. So if Blockbuster Video is the unannounced rental and retail chain, upcoming Dreamcast rental prices could be similar to its console competition.

The Sega spokesperson didn't pinpoint the exact start date of the promotion but did say that it would be in effect by mid-July.