No doubt that the year 2001 has been the biggest year in video gaming history. This site is dedicated to this year, this time, and this world. Enjoy this section. 

~Online Gaming is Here~

2000/2001, Sega introduced online gaming thought the Dreamcast. Online play with such hit games like Chu Chu Rocket, and NFL Fever where great. We will talk more about Sega in another section, of course. This truly opened up alot of possibilities.

Early 2001, Sonic Team released it's Phantasy Star Online in the USA (A month earlier in Japan) and this opened up a whole new road for online gaming on a home system. (It already existed on PC, of course) Millions of Dreamcast owners, Phantasy Star fans, and people suddenly interested in the idea jumped up and snatched a copy. This game introduced people to not just RPGs, but as well as online games. Each block of each server was packed, with RPG fans, game fans, online addicts, and even complete strangers to the video game empire. Of course, such fun was not to last long. Cheating arouse. Not just any sort of cheating, such as making weapons, boosting leveling... but people had the ability to freeze your Dreamcast, to player kill, and much worse later found out.

Soon after, Sony and Microsoft announced online play, as well as PSO going to the X-box as well as the Game Cube. Dreamcast's server was going down, Sega was still losing money. So, after that, all games needed an account with Sega.net to play online. All online games went into this section, with the exception of PSO, that has it's own pay to play server.

Currently, neither Nintendo nor Sony has released a modem, but they tell the fans that it will be shortly. With PSO for GameCube due out this summer, and many other games already available for online play (Such as Tony Hawk 3) Sony and Nintendo better start working on it.

The future of online gaming sees bright. Phantasy Star Online's addictive and fun game play will carry onto the GameCube and Xbox. Final Fantasy XI, the first online FF game will be out. Fighting games such as Tekken 4 and many more have hinted to online play. Of course, what will happen with cheating? Will Sony have some sort of wall against it, will Nintendo be fighting cheating head to head, or will Microsoft buy them out? This will be interesting, indeed.

~Dance Dance Evolution~

1998-2000, Dance and Rhythm games where popping up. Games such as Bust a Groove, Parappa the Rapper Samba De Amigo, and Bemani games started becoming more popular. Of course, none as popular as Dance Dance Revolution. Of course, it wasn't till this last year did it become nation wide popular. You find Dance Dance Revolution in almost every arcade. Almost every video game store has some sort of game, if not DDR itself, for sale on home systems. 

You may wonder why these games are so popular. That means you haven't played them. These games aren't simple punch, kick, save the world. Or shoot zombies or toss a football. You must stay with the beat. Some games, like DDR use your feet. Games like Parappa make you use your mind and hands, some games like Guitar Freaks or Samba De Amigo let you use interments like a guitar and maracas! Then  games like Para Para Paradise make you use your whole body! Video Games and Asian Music are not just for fanboys anymore!

~Sega's Last System~

It was the end of 2000 when Sega announced that they where no longer going to continue making home systems, and that they have decided to switch into a 3rd party company. Millions of fans where shocked, some where upset, some where sad. Dreamcast would be the last Sega made system to grace our homes. Of course, as soon as this was announced, millions of questions arouse. What would happen to games that where due out for Dreamcast in 2001? What will Sega do? Will Nintendo and Sega join forces? Those where just some of the questions.

Of course, no doubt that games such as Sonic Adventure 2 and the ever popular Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 where going to be released. Though, to the disappointment of many fans, Shenmue 2 was not to be released in the US.

Fans felt betrayed. Why did Sega give up? Is it because Dreamcast did so bad? No, that is not it. It was because of the Sega Saturn. That system was a great one indeed, but could not compete against Sony's Playstation. Sega lost alot of money due to this. If the Dreamcast did good, it would bring Sega back on top. Unfortunately, the hype of the Playstation 2 hurt.. and the coming of Xbox and the GameCube.. the poor Dreamcast was overlooked. Such hit games like Grandia 2, Jet Grind Radio, and Bangai-O where over looked.

Where will Sega go from here? Well, all the AM3 games are going to PS2 and Xbox, like Shenmue and Virtua Fighter. Jet Set Radio and many sports games are making their way to those systems too. Nintendo got the right to the Sonic series (Ironic, neh?) as well as PSO coming to the Game Cube and Xbox. The future for Sega seems bright, if you're willing to follow another.

~Fall of SNK~

Winter time of 2001. SNK announces that it's doors are closing, and that there will be no more.

Some people may wonder who SNK was, before they left, or before SNK vs. Capcom was released.

SNK was quite popular in japanese, and had it's small popularity in the states. Such great games as Fatal Fury, Metal Slug, Magical Drop, and of course, the King of Fighters series.

Unfortunately, SNK's doors are closed. They where definitely one of the many  underrated companies in video game history.

Oh, and KOF fans, don't worry. Capcom still has rights to make SNK vs. Capcom games, and a Korean company got the rights to King of Fighters, so expect KOF 2002! Also, get ready for KOF on GameBoy Advanced! SNK may be gone, but their games will remain in our hearts, and our back pockets, forever.

~Nintendo Cubed~

Finally, changing their ways. For the first time in history, Nintendo created a CD/DVD based system, with hopes that it will fight better then it's late Nintendo 64. Not only will it have a CD/DVD based system, it will also be the first system not to have the name "Nintendo" in the official title, unlike Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. This new system, that resembles the late Dreamcast by Sega, was properly called "The Game Cube." What does it do? It plays video games. Hence the name, Game Cube. 

With power, big name titles such as Smash Brothers and Zelda, Nintendo plans to pull out all it's big name titles to fight. We can expect return from many games, such as the ever waited Metroid series. Get ready, big N is using claws now.

Oh, and for those of you who think it's a kiddy system, then I guess we're all gonna be kids when we're kicking Kirby's butt, blowing up Death Stars, and shooting off Zombie's Heads.

~Microsoft's Big Pockets~

The big name company has decided that they will take over the world of home video games. The big, ugly, and blocky Xbox will take up 2x's the space of any other system. Of course, where it lacks in looks, it makes up for in sheer power. Xbox is no doubt the most powerful system out there, but is power good enough?

With games like Dead or Alive 2, Halo, and Fusion Frenzy, Microsoft won't give up the fight. Even if the lose this fight, it's not gonna be the end. Expect them to be a big player in this war.

~The Future~

Many are asking "What is the future of video games?" Well, this is my point of view. With new comer Microsoft, who has lots of power, have enough money to fix any mistakes they have. The one flaw to Microsoft is if they end up becoming to powerful in the video game business. This is NOT a good thing for us who are into video games, and have been for a very long time. If Microsoft comes on strong and can beat both Sony and Nintendo, that may be the end of rival video gaming. I'm sorry, that's a horrible thing. 

Let's not forget head contender Sony who's been number 1 for the last few years with such game series as Metal Gear Solid, the Final Fantasy series, and many more. Sony may be the leader in this war too, it's sold more systems then both Xbox AND GameCube during it's launch weekend. Of course, when PS2 came out, that was the only next generation system out. With titles such as Final Fantasy X and Devil May Cry, PS2 wont fall easily.

Of course, let's not forget Nintendo. Who knows what kind of games fans want, kiddies or not, Nintendo's games are addicting. Smash hit titles like Metroid, Zelda, Mario, and more, Nintendo will be coming back with a punch. Now that Nintendo has learned from it's mistakes and good choices, they should have full power.

Of course, all 3 have a huge fan-base. The future is bumpy, that it is.

Rurouni Kaji 2002