So, the Tokyo Game Show has finally come and gone. We all waited for what seemed like an eternity to see the Dreamcast and finally when we do, people start to bitch and moan about Rally 2, VF3, and are already getting wet over the next console from Sony.

First off let's talk about the show, I have been to the last three E3's and if there is one thing I've learned is that the latest version of a game is not always the one shown. The trade show is a tricky thing, you want to impress everyone there, but also psyche out and confuse your competition (who is next door to you in their booth). Case in point: E3 97' Capcom showed Resident Evil 2 in video form only, I watched it, being the huge Capcom fan that I am, and left fairly unimpressed, there was alot of pop up in the game and it looked alot like the first, save some nice lighting tricks, the next day I was watching it again, and started talking to the guy next to me, who happened to be a reporter for Game Informer, (I don't read that mag, so I can't remember his name) and he told me they had just played a version with considerably less graphic flaws, in the little mini-offices these companies have. All during E3 almost everyone I talked to told me that to see the good stuff you had to be "allowed" to see it. So I am assuming Sega did not want Sony's R & D dept. walking right up to the new console and analyzing it. Finally, every major player in the game development community has pledged support for this machine, does anybody else think that this means they know something we don't?

Now for all the people touting the glory of the next Playstation, I am a manager of a major computer store, and while I would not attest to know everything about computers, or their components, I know from technicians, and reps that a chipset capable of doing 10 million polygons per second, even if it was developed in house, would be far too expensive to put in a home video game console, couple that with a DVD ROM drive, and you are about halfway to the purchase price of a high end computer.

Now everyone is yelling about Sony's marketing muscle, "even if the Dreamcast is more powerful Sony will outmarket them" Normally I may not argue this point, as I know Sony is just a huge commercial looking for airtime, but let's not forget Sega's partner in this venture...Microsoft! I work for the largest Computer chain in the country, Sony can't tell us jack, but Microsoft, when they talk we listen. their revenues were higher than Sony's last year and Microsoft does not like to look bad. When WebTV first came out we couldn't give them away. 1 year later Microsoft took them over they are now one of our best selling items. This is the company that told the Justice Department to take a hike, and Bill Gates has been just looking for a chance to snub Howard Lincoln and Nintendo, beating them at their own game is just that chance. All this coupled with NEC, Yamaha, and from what I've seen, a new, hungry Sega. All this plus the world's most powerful arcade board as it's sister, means that Us, as Sega fans, are the real winners.

It's going to be an exciting time for Sega fans, who have hidden in the shadows for too long, and hardcore gamers around the world.