View Full Version : Did Sony have a big release on 9/9/1999 or thereabouts?
Ed Oscuro
01-30-2006, 02:47 AM
I'm talking with somebody and they're pretty sure Sony had a big release the day the Dreamcast launched. I've checked around a bit, but I haven't found anything.
I do see that the PS2 hype machine was in full swing (http://ps2.ign.com/articles/074/074446p1.html) at that date, though.
Another interesting tidbit: Bernie Stolar left SoA three weeks before (http://money.cnn.com/1999/08/12/companies/sega/) the DC launch...just as he had left Sony three weeks before the American PSX launch. From that article:
"Bernie has done a fine job positioning the product," Leibowitz said, "orchestrating a media blitz that has resulted in a sell-out before it hits the shelves."
My personal theory is that the DC's failure within three years had nothing to do with Stolar or anything internal - I think people were wary of Sega after the Sega CD and 32x, and looking forward to the backwards-compatible PS2 at the time.
Zadoc
01-30-2006, 03:27 AM
It was FF:IX
InsaneDavid
01-30-2006, 04:34 AM
The way I hear it, Bernie Stolar had no intention of leaving Sega of America before the Dreamcast launched. He got into an argument with Sega of Japan top brass and said "fine, seeya" - again, that's the way I've always heard it.
It was FF:IX
I don't think so. I'm pretty sure that Final Fantasy IX was released when I was working with Target Corporation and I didn't begin with them until September of 2000.
Side note - MGS2 was released on the same day as the XBox.
JLukas
01-30-2006, 04:56 AM
It was Final Fantasy VIII.
Steven
01-30-2006, 05:32 AM
What JLukas said. Indeed it was. I remember the ads still. On one page you had 9.9.99 DC baby! On the other you had 9.9.99 new minty FF game! Fanboys rejoice on both ends... what a great time. New system in time to enjoy for the last holiday season of the 20th century, playing DC and the new FF when 2000 rolls in -- man it was some good times huh
Ed Oscuro
01-30-2006, 06:44 AM
The way I hear it, Bernie Stolar had no intention of leaving Sega of America before the Dreamcast launched. He got into an argument with Sega of Japan top brass and said "fine, seeya" - again, that's the way I've always heard it.
The article said the same thing was likely the case, yes.
As for Final Fantasy VIII, that released on August 31st, 1999. Nine days short. Yes, it'd definitely be something big in the news, but not a 9/9/99 release.
tylerwillis
01-30-2006, 06:55 AM
The way I hear it, Bernie Stolar had no intention of leaving Sega of America before the Dreamcast launched. He got into an argument with Sega of Japan top brass and said "fine, seeya" - again, that's the way I've always heard it.
The article said the same thing was likely the case, yes.
As for Final Fantasy VIII, that released on August 31st, 1999. Nine days short. Yes, it'd definitely be something big in the news, but not a 9/9/99 release.
I would have sworn that it was FFVIII; IGN lists a 9-9-99 release date.
Steven
01-30-2006, 07:00 AM
Ed where did you get that date? I swear it was released on 9-9-99. Every single ad promoted it as such, and EGM even had a "Which will you buy on 9-9-99 if you could only pick one -- FF VIII or DC?"
I swear it...
Oobgarm
01-30-2006, 07:31 AM
The way I hear it, Bernie Stolar had no intention of leaving Sega of America before the Dreamcast launched. He got into an argument with Sega of Japan top brass and said "fine, seeya" - again, that's the way I've always heard it.
The article said the same thing was likely the case, yes.
As for Final Fantasy VIII, that released on August 31st, 1999. Nine days short. Yes, it'd definitely be something big in the news, but not a 9/9/99 release.
I would have sworn that it was FFVIII; IGN lists a 9-9-99 release date.
Allgameguide.com is listing it as a 9-7-99 release, which makes sense since most games release on a Tuesday, and arrive in stores on Wednesday. I'd trust their info over IGN any day.
Ed Oscuro
01-30-2006, 09:28 AM
Ed where did you get that date? I swear it was released on 9-9-99. Every single ad promoted it as such, and EGM even had a "Which will you buy on 9-9-99 if you could only pick one -- FF VIII or DC?"
I swear it...
Oh, sorry - GameSpot.
GrayFox
01-30-2006, 10:09 AM
Final Fantasy 8. That was it.
I know for a fact it was 8. I went to GS that night and picked up my Dreamcast with Sonic Adventure and Soul Cal, and also snagged a copy of FF8 I had reserved.
Official date was 9/9/1999. They had ads for that date. Did some store release copies early? Who knows, but the date that it was supposed to be released was the 9/9/1999, atleast according to Square's 'WIN THIS CAR!' ads they had running for FF8 at the time.
Ed Oscuro
01-30-2006, 10:13 AM
Alright, I'm convinced then :D
Thanks for the help, everybody!
http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/ff8/ad-02.jpg
http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/ff8/ad-01.jpg
keiblerfan69
01-30-2006, 10:56 PM
http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/ff8/ad-02.jpg
Well thats all the proof we need.
Xexyz
01-30-2006, 10:57 PM
Oooh, a Toyota... -_-
poopnes
01-31-2006, 01:08 AM
Oooh, a Toyota... -_-
Man, I forgot how ugly Echo's really were.
Jasoco
01-31-2006, 02:41 AM
New system in time to enjoy for the last holiday season of the 20th centuryNope. That would be the end of 2000. Not the end of 1999.
smork
01-31-2006, 11:27 PM
Ick, still regret choosing FFVIII over a new DC. Love my DC now, never did like FFVIII. Ah, you know what they say about hindsight.
keiblerfan69
01-31-2006, 11:38 PM
Ick, still regret choosing FFVIII over a new DC. Love my DC now, never did like FFVIII. Ah, you know what they say about hindsight.
I still regret choose a PS2 or a Dreamcast.
smokehouse
01-31-2006, 11:45 PM
I regret having bought a DC, it sat unused on my gaming shelf for years. I finally sold the damn thing last summer.
As for the PS2 I bought one on release day, returned it a week later and used the $$ to buy my first Dolby Digital/DTS receiver. A Yamaha RX-V596 I believe. That was a smart move. To this day I still don’t own a PS2, I just borrow one from time to time.
Bloodreign
02-01-2006, 09:29 PM
Aha, I figured something was released that was major for Sony on the same day Dreamcast came out, just had the wrong game in mind. I actually purchased FF VIII on that day, but I had completely forgotten exactly what I purchased, this thread has helped me remember now.
Joker T
02-02-2006, 10:59 AM
I bought a Dreamcast in 2003 and even then it amazed me.
It was easily my best find ever:
-Black Sega Sports Dreamcast with Controller
-White Sega Controller
-Official Sega Carry Case
-Black VMU
-Jet Grind Radio
-Soul Calibur
-Marvel V.S. Capcom
-NBA 2K
-NFL 2k2
All for a mere $35.
I couldn't be happier with the system but I do have trouble finding games. All my EB Games and Gamestops have none.