SEGA Delays Launch of Online Virtual City-State

TOKYO, Japan - Sega said Friday it was delaying the launch of an online virtual city-state for Dreamcast where users will be able to socialize, shop and even go to the movies with a member of the opposite sex.
Sega had planned to launch Fourth Place this year but Dreamcast owners will now have to wait until early 2008, the head of Sega Corporation, Kazooie Suzuki, revealed at the Tokyo Game Show.
The delay is another setback to Sega, whose Dreamcast faces fierce competition from Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's XBox 360, Nintendo's Wii, cel phones, Viewmaster and kaleidoscopes.
The free service is envisioned as a cross between MySpace and Second Life, and will allow users to set up an apartment for life-like virtual characters, or avatars, which can invite friends over, share pictures and videos, and reminisce about the Saturn.
"We came up with the name Fourth Place after home, work and Starbucks," explained Suzuki. "This will be the special Fourth Place where people will spend their free time, and money."
Although the popularity of Dreamcast has waned in recent years, it continues to appeal to a core fanbase with titles targeting niche gamers, such as the upcoming CFL2K8.