Net-enabled Dreamcast enters Indian game market

KOLKATA: The Delhi-based entertainment and media firm Stracon India Ltd., has
announced the launch of the Internet enabled gaming console -Dreamcast.
Dreamcast is being manufactured by the $2.5 billion company-Sega Corp. of Japan
which had sold around 1.8 million units of the product in the previous year.

The product is being marketed by Stracon, which is expecting a domestic sale
of 1-lakh units within the year and is expecting revenue of Rs 400 crore by
2004. The console offers gamers a 3-D graphic output, 128-bit processor and a
sophisticated 3D audio capabilities delivering the most intense and compelling
gaming experience.

The hardware includes a Dreamcast console, an internal 56K modem, a standard
controller, stereo A/V cable, power cable, Internet browser CD-ROM and a game
sampler among others. The customer gets a 25 hours of ISP connectivity.

On the potential market in India, firm officials were optimistic and said
Dreamcast would try to foray into 3 million homes that have more than one
television. "We see Kolkata as an upcoming hub in the IT &
entertainment sector. Stracon expects a very good market for the console in
Kolkata. The product will also be pushed through multiple channels like retails,
direct sales and Internet tie ups with entertainment parks," said Stracon
India’s MD Surojit Sen.

The console will be made available in Delhi, Pune, Agra and Indore and will
soon be marketing to Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Surat and Ludhiana.