News 

In a bid to go head-to-head with Sony over the Christmas period, Sega will sell its ailing console along with a standalone DVD player. This means that the competing console packages will have similar overall specifications - and be available at the same price of £299.

The only difference is that where there will be shortages of the PlayStation 2. Sega has enough stock to meet demand.

Speaking to the Financial Times, JF Cecillon, CEO of Sega Europe said, "I'm sure this deal will encourage many more consumers to pick up a Dreamcast for Christmas. They will have no problem finding Dreamcasts in stores as retailers are piling them high."

This is an interesting move by Sega, as Sony has been plagued by production problems that have halved the number of PlayStation 2 units shipping to the US. Also, the US and European PlayStation 2 is rumoured to be using hardware DVD playback in an attempt to improve the inferior software playback that features in the Japanese machines.