Stracon launches Net-enabled gaming console

Yogita Kasture

NAGPUR: The Delhi-based entertainment, content and sporting rights firm,

Stracon India Ltd., has launched an Internet enabled gaming console, ‘Dreamcast’

in Nagpur. Dreamcast is a product of Sega Corporation, Japan. Stracon now plans

to market Dreamcast in Maharashtra and Gujarat, within a couple of months.

Stracon vice president (sales and marketing), Sunil Sethi said: "Dreamcast

is a highly affordable and effective medium not only for top-notch entertainment

but also for more young consumers to become part of the Internet revolution. It

is a 128-bit, game console with built-in 56k modem, that can be used as a

network terminal for high speed Internet connections. It also doubles as an

audio CD player.

By moderately pricing Dreamcast and its software, we expect the product to

increase the Net penetration in the country. In this regard, we expect

Maharashtra and Gujarat to contribute 30 per cent of out top line revenues, with

cities like Pune and Nagpur leading this way."

Dreamcast hopes to focus on children and teenagers. The built-in Internet

connection will pick up, as favorable conditions prevail in the markets, such as

rapid increase in Net usage, he said. The firm, which was expecting a

substantial chunk of sales from Nagpur, Pune, Surat, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, is

targeting first year sales of 1 lakh units with an expected sales revenue of

over Rs 100 crore.

In order to maximize its reach, Stracon will push Dreamcast through multiple

channels and place it in a wide variety of retail outlets. Apart from retail

distribution, Stracon will also use the services of direst sales agents,

corporate sales super retailers and the Internet. In the retail segment, Stracon

will be extending Dreamcast in white and brown goods showroom, computer hardware

and peripherals stores, telecom equipment shops, super markets, video & VCD

libraries and select lifestyle retailers such as fashion outlets.

Stracon will also make available all of Sega's world famous game titles at a

highly affordable price. Stracon India aims at bringing in Sega's entire top

rated gaming titles on CD-ROM.