Official Dreamcast Magazine | |
Editor: | Chris Charla |
Editor Title: | Editor-in-chief |
Editor2: | Simon Cox |
Editor Title2: | Editor |
Frequency: | Monthly/bimonthly |
Category: | Computer and video games |
Company: | Imagine Media Inc. |
Firstdate: | September/October 1999 |
Finaldate: | March/April 2001 |
Finalnumber: | 13 |
Country: | USA |
Issn: | 1525-1764 |
The Official Dreamcast Magazine (commonly abbreviated as ODCM and formerly known as Official Sega Dreamcast Magazine) was a video game magazine for the Dreamcast video game console published in the United States. It was published by Imagine Media.
The magazine's initial issue "0" was released in June 1999, a full 3 months before the launch of the system. This issue featured Sonic the Hedgehog on a black cover, along with the launch date and some of the system's unique features. Upon the magazines release on August 24, 1999, they printed 330,000 copies of the debut issue. The magazine ran for twelve issues from the September 1999 Dreamcast launch to March/April 2001, shortly after Dreamcast was discontinued.
Starting with issue 2, each issue came with a GD-ROM with demos of Dreamcast games. The final issue did not come with a disc. This was explained as Sega looking for a new way to distribute demos. The cancellation was apparently unexpected as the magazine promised more information about demo distribution in future issues and had a preview for the next issue where Phantasy Star Online was to be reviewed. Many of the staff went on to work for Official Xbox Magazine.
The magazine was published bimonthly, but during the 2000 holiday season, issues were sold monthly due to additional relevant content being available for the shopping season.
The magazine used multiple reviewing techniques, including the 24-hour review, where a reviewer would play the game for 24 hours, even if the game was bad. They also compared games to similar ones.