Newsletter: Sega World Weekly issue 42 (then Dreamcast Weekly)
From Video Game Morgue File
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/_______> > > DREAMCAST WEEKLY MAGAZINE < < <________\
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////// ~Issue #42 - www.DreamcastWeekly.com~ \\\\\\
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\\\\\\ Sega X - http://www.segadreamcast.net //////
\\\\\\ Sega 2000 - http://www.sega2000.com //////
\\\\\\ Media Site - http://media.seganet.com //////
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o> Please scroll down to Editors Comments for the start <o
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======| ABOUT THE MAGAZINE |==============================
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Any DC questions can be sent to spikez43@hotmail.com and
questions about this magazine by just clicking reply.
Our forum is at http://sega.shoptok.com/boards/695
For the latest game news, reviews and previews visit the
Premier Video Games Site http://www.totalvideogames.com
With over 300 archived News Articles and the greatest game
reviews. Up-dated throughout the day with everything!
----------------- www.totalvideogames.com ----------------
Our domain name for DC Weekly is provided thanks to Total
Video Games, the UK's premier video games magazine up-dated
daily, and The Junction, the best place for Teens to chat.
------------------ www.the-junction.com ------------------
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======| EDITORS COMMENTS |================================
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A Super Sonic Issue! Why? Because it's Sonic's 8th Birthday,
and we have a cover story about his history. Also a
downloads page a fan created with things like ICQ skins,
screen savers and more. Then finally, Sonic Trivia Vol 2.
Happy Birthday!
But that's not all, we have SOA's Weenie Roast report
amongst other news (A MP3 Playing VMS!!), and you don't
want to miss the Metropolis play test (Page 8).
Again we reached our 30k mailing list limit (doh! And I
already cut out the rumors and letters section this week),
but I promise next week, we WILL have the game mistakes
feature.
Until next week then, Happy Gaming!
~ Tails (Editor - madcow@ihug.co.nz)
O Page 1 - Contest O
O Page 2 - Cover Story O
O Page 3 - The News O
O Page 4 - Sonic Downloads O
O Page 5 - Importing O
O Page 6 - Play Test! O
O Page 7 - Sega Trivia O
O Page 8 - Best Of The Web O
O Page 9 - Credits & More O
HOT QUOTE This Issue: "...Red Hot Chili Peppers' on-stage
fist fight with a security guard!"
-- SOA's Weenie Roast Update - In The News Section
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======| CONTEST |=========================================
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! The winners of our 4 free VMU's Contest !
On Saturday, we randomly selected 4 address's from our
mailing list, and they won a free VMU, just like that!
Congratulations to the winners, and for everyone who's
disappointed... Extreme Imports (our sponsor) have something
much bigger coming soon!!
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======| COVER STORY |=====================================
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>>>> Sonic's 8th Birthday
>>>> Written By Tails
It's someone's birthday! A certain blue hedgehog, that 8
years ago on June 23rd, 1991, took the video gaming world
by storm. The original Sonic the Hedgehog was released on
the Sega Genesis. Before then, Mario was the king of
platform games, and in 1991 Sonic almost re-invented that
genre!
Where Mario was fat, Sonic was new and very, very cool.
His super sonic speed, and awesome attitude had never been
seen before, and it wouldn't be the last time. Gamers all
over the world were in love, and Sonic took Sega to the
top. Since then, he has appeared in countless games. Well,
maybe not countless, as they are listed below, heh, but
anyway...
In this feature, we've got a complete list of all the games
Sonic's been in, information about the very original Sonic
game, memories of people's 1st time playing, and the best
sites around the net to see Sonic.
As Sonic would say while tapping his foot, "I'm waiting...",
so lets get right into it...
>>>> Starring Sonic The Hedgehog:
Sonic 1 (Genesis, Master System, Gamegear and PC), Sonic 2
(Genesis, Master System, Gamegear and PC), Sonic 3 (Genesis
and PC), Sonic & Knuckles (Genesis and PC), Sonic Spinball
(Genesis), Sonic 3D (Genesis), Sonic 3D Blast (Saturn), Sonic
Chaos (Master System and Gamegear), Sonic Triple Trouble
(Gamegear), Sonic Drift (Gamegear), Sonic Drift 2 (Gamegear),
Sonic Labyrinth (Gamegear), Sonic Jam (Saturn), Sonic R
(Saturn and PC), Sonic CD (Sega CD), Dr. Robotnik's Mean
Bean Machine (Genesis), Sonic The Fighters (Arcade), Sonic
Arcade (Arcade), Christmas Nights (Saturn), and finally,
Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast).
Personally, Sonic Adventure & Sonic 3 are my favorites, both
are required playing if your going to call yourself a gamer.
>>>> Sonic Guest Stars:
Tails Adventure (Gamegear), Knuckles Chaotix (32X), Rad
Mobile (Sega CD), Crusader of Centy (Unknown), Bug (Saturn,
PC), Daytona USA (Arcade, Saturn and PC), Super GT (Arcade),
Spike Out (Arcade), and finally a small (and I do mean
small) appearance on Fighters Megamix (Saturn).
Add to that 3 TV series, "The Adventurers of Sonic The
Hedgehog", Sonic SAT-AM, and "Sonic Underground". You also
can't forget the 3 comic's, and over 20 books, including
pick-a-path adventures. More below...
>>>> A Star Was Born - Written By Suneet Shah
On June 23, 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog was first released on
the Genesis in USA. Sonic was a fresh new idea. His Super
Sonic speed and his attitude were two things the world had
never seen before.
Sonic has gone places no other video game character has.
For example, Sonic has 3 cartoon series based on him and
his friends. There was the one that ran on ABC, featuring
the Knothole Freedom Fighters. Then there was the one,
which ran on UPN (now on Toon Disney). Sonic's latest
cartoon, Sonic Underground, is now running in France and
the UK, and will be airing here in the US this fall.
Sonic also stars in his own two-episode Anime. "Sonic
the Hedgehog: The Movie", (the Sonic Anime) will be
dubbed and coming to the USA this September. Look for
it two days before the Dreamcast's launch.
Sonic currently has three comic series in print. There is
the Sonic the Hedgehog comic, run by Archie Comics. Then
there is Knuckles the Echidna, also run by Archie. Last,
but not least, there are the Sonic Fleetway comics
available in the UK. The Sonic Comic run by Archie is
approaching its 75th issue, and the Knuckles comic
recently reached its 25th issue.
Saying that I am a Sonic fan, would be an understatement.
I don't think that any mascot has come as far as Sonic.
With the release of Sonic Adventure in USA, Sonic is
bound to take his edge to a higher level. We all wish
him a Happy 8th Birthday!
>>>> 1st Experience Going At Super Sonic Speeds
RRJIVE - "As I mentioned, the original Sonic was like nothing
before. Here's what a few people remember from when they
first got their hot little hands on the Genesis controller...
It all started with making the really good decision to
purchase the Genesis, and not the Turbo grafix 16 that My
father and I originally wanted. I purchased the geny at a
local store (about 31 miles from my house :P) and it was
packed in with Altered Beast, and the ONLY reason why I got the
genesis, besides it was the only one left, was because I had
played Altered Beast in a local Restaraunt. And I was extremely
impressed, going form Mario 3 to seeing the cut scenes with
the Wolf changing into the Dragons (DROOOL) ;)
SO anyways... I beat that game in one day.. And I was happy
with the game but I wanted more, and I noticed this slip in
the box for a free sonic game with proof of purchase. I'm like
(COOL!) so I sent it in, and WAITED for "6-8 weeks for shipping)
it came exactly 8 weeks later while I was outside playing on
my swingset ( I was a young one) and then I gathered everyone
around after a saw that UPS truck pull Up, I knew it was
for me!
We all went upstairs and played for like 8 hours. Then Day
after Day after Day for like 4 weeks, 5 hours a day (there
went that summer :D)
I was so impressed with the game, I went out and showed
everyone, and at the time, Genesis was new in my area, and
people were just AMAZED and dropped their Nes's and went
for their Gene.
But when I played sonic I knew it was the best choice I
could have made.. Sonic.. Owns.. in short.. Thank you."
SONICFAN - "I never really got to play Sonic all that much,
because my kids were always playing. I never thought that
I would let them get a game system, because I know how much
time I spent (wasted?) playing video games in college
(doh!). But my daughter talk us into getting one after
Christmas 1993. It was down to the SNES or the Genesis,
we went with Sonic. About this time Sonic and the Genesis
were probably at their peak in popularity.
Sonic 2 was amazing to watch, that is about all I got to
do at first. My son, who was only 4 at the time, seemed
indifferent as to even getting a system, but that changed
quickly. For being so young, he was great at Sonic. The
scary thing was how long he could keep playing without
food or water, I remember his hands would get all cold
and clammy feeling, but he just had to get to the next
level!.
He is the real Sonicfan, (but not as big as one as Suneet,
but close). He turns 10 in July, and will be getting the
news on his birthday that we will be getting a Dreamcast
and Sonic Adventure on 9/9/99."
TOZTWO - "The first time I played, I sorta just walked
through Green Hill Zone Act One just to get a feel,
then I reset and ran all the way trough it the second
time. I think my record was 31 seconds. I never could
beat it. I first attempted to get to the special stage
in the Marble Zone Act One. It was awesome! I couldn't
believe what I was seeing. Not just the rotation, but
the birds became fish, and then changed back again. But
the most surprising thing was the music from the
Starlight Zone. That song still sits in my head and
plays every once in a while.(It's doing so now.) My
all time favorite Sonic Is Sonic CD. It was truly what
Sonic should be. I can't wait for Sonic Adventure."
CAFEMAN - "I had been out of the gaming scene for most of
my 4 years at college, but I still had my Atari 1200XL
computer & I was used to that level of 8-bit graphics.
A married couple invited my wife & I over, mainly to
drink some beers & to show off his new 386 computer &
Links golf. But my friend's wife was over on the TV
playing this 16-bit game Sonic the Hedgehog -- I was
captivated! I was amazed at the detail, the colors,
the speed, the playability, the freedom you had in
this game. Even those rotating bonus rounds just blew
me away. When she got to the 2nd zone (marble zone?) I
was once again amazed at how long this game was. But
probably the most remarkable thing was the Sonic character
himself -- this "Sonic the Hedgehog" had attitude and
he was just too cool with his blue spikes, speedy rolling,
and foot-tapping impatience.
Well, the story really isn't over there. Withing a week or
two I bought my Genesis with Sonic and even my wife played
it until she beat it. I'd get home from work and she'd be
on a new stage that I'd never seen. In fact, Sonic 1 and
Sonic 2 are the only videogames my wife ever really played
a lot of.
Flash forward to 1999 -- my 4 year old son's favorite game
-- Sonic Jam on Saturn. In fact, when he was born my gaming
pal bought my son a Sonic stuffed doll that my son still
sleeps with at times."
SONIC - "Ahh my first experience with the hedgehog. I was
8 at the time and it was Christmas. I got a genesis form
my dad and my brother had a Turbo Grafix 16. But when I
got home to play it, (divorced parents) I was totally
mesmerized by it. I would just sit there playin it and
could not take my eyes off the TV. It was not the graphics
cuz I really did not go into all the hype about graphics
then. When I fist turned on the genesis and saw the word
SEGA and then I heard the voice, I thought hmm pretty
cool. Then I got right into the game after the little
introduction of when Sonic came from out of nowhere. So
then I started playin it and I just kept on goin and goin
and goin. My mom and dad had been talkin for a while and
had not been payin any attention to them. So then my dad
left and my mom told me it was bed time, but I couldn't
possibly see how that was possible. So I got up to the
Marble Garden Zone and then had to go to bed. The whole
night I could not stop think bout the little blue hedgehog.
I know it isn't the most exciting story but I completely
fell in love per se with Sonic and SEGA from then on.
From that night on I have been a SEGA fanatic and a
hardcore SEGA loyalist. (Even though I own a PSX but
now I have found out, every 1 in 15 games are good)"
DARTHEZ - "My story is pretty amusing (at least to me).
Anyway, I was a kid and I was at a restaurant with my
parents. The whole time I begged and pleaded with them
to buy me Sonic. Well, it worked. So I brought it home
to realize that I traded my Gennie for my friend's
TG-16! >:( (not for keeps)
So my dad had to drive me over Mikey's house, and I
showed him Sonic. The first time we played it we were
rolling around on the floor it was so cool. When it
was time for me to go, Mikey actually thought the
trade was still on, and he was gonna borrow my new
Sonic, too! Can you believe that?
I kind of felt bad for him though... thinking the whole
time we were playing that he would be borrowing it. :P"
>>>> Sonic Hits The Net
Here are some of the best places I found on the net to
read about Sonic... 4 sites could keep you busy for a
long time.
http://www.suneet.com/soniczone/ - PLENTY of content,
including fan stories, and even free online postcards!
http://www.videogamers.com/ggibbon/ - A place I often
visit, and they have a Sonic Musuem you just can't miss.
http://www.emulationzone.org/sonichq/ - Sonic HQ, a
very well designed Sonic site!
http://www.emulationzone.org/sections/sonic/secret/index.html -
he Secrets Of Sonic The Hedgehog, everything that never
got released in the final games.
>>>> Sonic Today...
Sonic has died down these last few years, but the Sonic
posters are still on my wall, I still use my Sonic Pencil
Case, and wear Sonic's T-Shirt... I have a feeling the
end isn't even in sight for our favorite blue hedgehog.
Lets hope it brings back even more fond memories this
September.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0 Happy Birthday Sonic Hedgehog! 0o0o0o0o0o0o0
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======| NEWS |============================================
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>>>> New VMS To Play MP3 Files!
Reported From Magic Box: Marigul and Sega are developing
a new version of the DC VMS card, which will have much
higher memory capacity and will be able to store and play
MP3 music, a headphone jack will be added to the new VMS
card as well.
>>>> Top Skater 2 For Arcade & Dreamcast
This news is bound to make plenty of people happy!
According to one of our Asian contributors Tom Chang,
Sega are currently developing Top Skater 2 for the Naomi
arcade board. Due to its complex graphics and nature,
the original was limited to an arcade only version.
With the sequel based on the Dreamcast friendly hardware,
a conversion, while unconfirmed, is by no means out of
the question.
Surprisingly enough, AM3 (who produced the original) will
not be developing the game, as another division from Sega
will be doing so instead. Plans for release are currently
not set in stone, but a debut in Japan next Spring is
looking likely.
>>>> SOA's Weenie Roast Update
The sun was shining, the music was loud and the people
were just plain crazy at this year's KROQ Weenie Roast
in Los Angeles. The all-day jam fest was the first official
public showing of Sega Dreamcast, and like that bands
that played that hot Saturday, the most powerful videogame
system ever created didn't disappoint. Alternative music
fans crowded Sega's three custom Sega Dreamcast tents to try
to get their hands on games like Sonic Adventure, Sega NFL 2K,
Sega NBA 2K, Soul Calibur, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing and Power
Stone. From the opening bell to the closing horn, people
were lined up for a chance to play these games that won't
be available in the US until 9-9-99. Even Blink 182's nude
antics on the main stage could not pull the players away
from Sega Dreamcast. Highlight of the day had to be Flea
from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' on-stage fist fight with
a security guard. Judging from his speed and upper cuts,
Flea had spent a good deal of time playing Ready 2 Rumble
and Sonic Adventure earlier in the day.
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======[ SONIC DOWNLOADS ]=================================
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Matt Lemens has made TONS of sonic adventure stuff, here
it is...
The first thing is a Windows 95/98 Microsoft Plus! Theme...
it includes wallpaper of Sonic and Tails in front of Sonic
Adventure logo, animated cursors of Sonic, desktop icons
of Sonic and gang, sounds, startup and shutdown screens...
and much, much more.
This is the only Sonic Adventure theme in the world that I
know of. Go down for the address where you can download it.
The second thing I have is the site to get ICQ Plus. Read
the next one and you will know why you need it.
The third thing I made is an ICQ PLUS SKIN of Sonic
Adventure. THIS is the coolest thing I have ever made.
ANY version of icq will work with this.
All you need is ICQ Plus and the Sonic Adventure skin. Here
is what it is... in the background of icq there is sonic,
tails, and knuckles in a white background instead of the
gray. And the buttons all have Dreamcast logos on them and
when you put the mouse cursor over them, they change
colors. AND there is an animated DC logo on the bottom
left too. There is a bunch of sonic adventure stuff for
icq, you can get it all below. This is also the only one
in the world.
The fourth thing I made is a Sonic Adventure screensaver.
It is all 5 videos commercials of each of the characters...
his is WORTH the download, believe me. It is one long
screensaver movie of Sonic Adventure. Again, you can get
this at the address below. And this is the only one in the
world too.
SOON TO COME... ICQ Sonic Adventure sounds scheme, Sonic
Adventure homepage (you'd have to go to the site to see
what I mean), Sonic Adventure screensaver 2 (this is
screenshots of Sonic Adventure)
So to get the Sonic Theme, Sonic ICQ skin, ICQ plus, Sonic
Screensaver, etc. go to the URL shown below. You can get all
of this for free at www.advertisnet.com/rcl/sonic.htm
Go to the site for more detailed info And this is free only
if you try your best to get a DREAMCAST....:-)
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* www.advertisnet.com/rcl/sonic.htm *
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======| IMPORT-ANT MATTERS |==============================
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>>>> Street Fighter 3 Zero & Buggy Heat
Both games are coming out June 8th, and are going to be
BIG! Pre-orders are now open.
>>>> 4 New Games OUT NOW!
o King of Fighters Dream Match '99
o Giant Gram - All Japan Pro Wrestling
o Capital City Highway Battle
o Expendable
>>>> JUNE Special Deal
o BLUE STINGER - Save $20
o SONIC ADVENTURE - Save $20
You can pick up those games for $79AUD each (the normal
price is $99AUD), which comes out at about $50US. This is
only open to Dreamcast Weekly readers. You can order now
from www.extreme-imports.com
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* http://www.extreme-imports.com/ *
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======| PLAY TEST! |======================================
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>>>> Metropolis
>>>> Release Date: Launch Title - Europe / NZ & Australia
>>>> Written by Matthew Langan & Neil Turner
Well, it’s now Sega X's third time to visit Bizarre
Creations and our second time to play Metropolis Street
Racer. So what have they done since we've last been there?
San Francisco is now playable and it’s a vastly different
course in terms of how it looks and plays compared to
Shibuya. Much of the criticism directed at Metropolis
Street Racer when shown at E3 was in relation to how the
car handled. The post-E3 version we played seemed to be
improved some what, although there’s still work to do.
That said, Martyn Chudley, responsible for the control
system for F1 on the PlayStation, is improving the controls
as we speak.
Graphically, this game has looked amazing from day one so
things can only get better. Since our last visit, the frame
rate on both courses has been fixed at a rock solid 30fps,
along with no slow down and just about no pop up. Many
new effects have been added in such as tail light blur,
similar to what was seen in Ridge Race Type 4, only better.
Environment mapping on the car has also been vastly improved.
Basically, Metropolis Street Racer will match any effects
going or better it.
The Shibuya and San Francisco courses, as I mentioned above
briefly, are vastly different to each other. The San Francisco
course basically has more corners and one nasty U turn. Also,
the hilly terrain of the course makes for a bumpy ride but
manages to show off the cars amazing physics and suspension
to full effect. If you were to compare the two courses,
Shibuya is definitely the easier one. But as many of you out
there prefer a challenge, I’m sure you’ll like the San
Francisco course just as much as we do.
Albeit early, we were also able to witness the construction
of the UK courses. With the most complete one based on
Trafalgar Square, we were unfortunately unable to drive
around in one of the game's many vehicles. Instead, we were
able to take advantage of a clever camera mode allowing us
to manoeuvre around the course just like we were actually
driving. While we're certainly no experts of that specific
area, the attention to detail was completely stunning! Before
our departure on to the Furballs area, we were given a quick
glimpse of an as of yet unannounced UK track. Featuring only
the surface, very little had yet to be implemented, bar an
unexpected lens flare or two.
In case you haven’t noticed, we're more than happy with MSR's
progress. It was certainly unfortunate that Bizarre had to
rush an early version of the San Francisco track out in
time for E3, but we can safely say that fans of this
forthcoming title have nothing to worry about. Without a
doubt, this is going to be a stellar release.
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======| SEGA TRIVIA |=====================================
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>>>> Weekly Sega Trivia
>>>> Special Sonic Trivia: By Suneet Shah & Samad Lotia
1: When was Sonic 1 released in the USA?
2: Which was the first game, in which Sonic took up
a snowboard?
3: When was Sonic Adventure released in Japan?
4: Which game broke the tradition of having only 7
chaos emeralds?
5: In which issue of Sonic did Sonic and Tails
leave to find Ixis Nagus?
>>>> Answers
1: June 23, 1991.
2: Sonic 3
3: December 23, 1998.
4: Sonic and Knuckles
5: Sonic Issue #57
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======| BEST OF THE WEB |=================================
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There are sooooo many Sega sites across the web, wouldn't
it be great if one place listed the most interesting bits??
Presenting the "Best Of The Web" section...
o> New Forum Online: http://sega.shoptok.com/boards/695 <o
>>>> Sega X - www.SegaDreamcast.net
Plenty of news added every day, and the best coverage of
the US Launch details you'll find anywhere.
>>>> Sega 2000 - www.Sega2000.com
Sega 2000 is down at the moment, but we hope to be back
online and updating again next week!
>>>> Media Site - http://media.seganet.com
A brand new design, and what a design!! You have to see this!
They have the biggest collection of video game mp3's, video's
(including some Saturn video's you've probably never seen
before) and more. Also don't forget to vote for your favorite
staff member.
>>>> Dreamcast.net - www.Dreamcast.net
Updates daily, to keep you up with the latest on all things
Sega.
>>>> Gaming Central Starpath - www.startpath.com/gamingcentral
Our newest support site and provides hundreds of links for
anything a gamer might be interested in.
>>>> SegaDC - www.segadc.co.nz
Updated daily with lots of news, a forum and more, this is
a must see site for any Sega fan.
>>>> The Sonic Zone - www.suneet.com/soniczone/
Updated daily with a HUGE amount of Sonic content that is
sure to blow you away! From Fan Fiction to Chatting to
Cheats and even Fan Created Games this is your one stop
Sonic site. You can now send online postcards too!!
>>>> www.videogames.au.com
The newest supporter of Dreamcast Weekly, and a site with
a great design. Be sure not to miss this site!
>>>> DC Australia - www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Fortress/6831/
Dreamcast Australia has gone undercover to find out the
latest in release dates, prices and titles for the
Australian Dreamcast launch. Add in some of the best
previews, reviews, news and other info and this is one
hell of a site. Have a look.
The official website for the Dreamcast Weekly is now open at
www.dreamcastweekly.com :) We've got the history of the
magazine, daily news and plenty more. Specially if your a
webmaster, there is lots of great information about how
you can be involved as well! Then in the future... who knows,
hopefully we'll be a print magazine one day :)
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======[ CREDITS ]=========================================
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O Writer: Graham Parker "Tails" - madcow@ihug.co.nz
O Co-editor: Steve - spikez43@hotmail.com
O DC Questions: Please send to - spikez43@hotmail.com
>>>> www.DreamcastWeekly.com - Official Website!
o> New Forum Online: http://sega.shoptok.com/boards/695 <o
----------------------------------------------------------
Copyright, 1998-9 Graham Parker - MADCOW@IHUG.CO.NZ
Written and edited by Graham Parker. No parts may be
copied without prior permission. I would have to send
out my group of highly trained thugs otherwise, who will
have a tea party with you until you crack and your mind
turns into jello... MMmmmmm.... Sweet Sweet Jello....
hehe.
Oh and finally...
-----------------
Everyone wanting to send birthday presents to Sonic... you
need help, and besides, the cost of postage to Mobious
would be HUGE!
