Australian Dreamcast distributor, Ozisoft, has moved to allay concerns of retailers over plans to give the console away to people who sign up for a two year ISP deal.
Dreamcast spokesperson Michelle Bell watered down statements from Ozisoft staff last week that the company would go ahead with the deal.
She said a final decision had not yet been made on whether Ozisoft would follow the Sega of America lead and give the console away free to people who signed up for the ISP deal later in the year.>> Go to ZDNet Australia's FULL COVERAGE of E3
A decision would depend on negotiations with Telstra's Big Pond Internet Service Provider. Ozisoft executive were yesterday in discussions with Telstra, however, a decision is not expected for some time.
Sega of America announced its free Dreamcast deal at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles last week. Under the US arrangement Sega will create its own ISP called SegaNet and any existing Dreamcast owner who signed up for the Internet deal would receive a refund on the price of the console.
The deal was announced as part of a major push into online gaming by the company which exhibited 16 multiplayer games capable of Internet play that are scheduled for release later in the year.
Australian Dreamcast spokesman Steve O'Leary said at the time Ozisoft would hold discussions with Telstra soon about replicating the US offer, however, it was unlikely to come into effect until late in the year.
In the meantime the price of Dreamcast consoles is expected to drop sharply within the next five to six weeks.
In the US Sega has announced the console will sell for US149 (about AU$260), however, it that price is subsidised by Sega Japan and it is not expected to drop that low in Australia where the current retail price is AU$499.
O'Leary said that the introduction of the goods and services tax would cut about AU$50 from the price and there would be further reduductions on top of that.
He would not comment on suggestions that the price would fall to AU$299, saying that the new price had yet to be decided and would be determined by Sega Europe.
Ozisoft