I've been looking forward to this day for a while. If only for all the Dreamcast retrospectives. Now as it's about to hit midnight and become just another day, I just I'll post some thoughts and memories on the system's anniversary.
 
My earliest Dreamcast memory is from August 1999, when after spending the morning with my friend and her dad going through South Boston, we ended up at a Toys R Us to get some Pokemon cards. They had recently set up the line of Dreamcast kiosks, and I caught a glimpse of a kid playing the killer whale sequence of Sonic Adventure. It was the quintessential way to be introduced to the system, on a sunny summer day with the most eye catching moment drawing my attention. I ultimately made the decision in April 2000 to get an N64 over a Dreamcast, a decision I don't regret. 
 
I ended up buying a used Dreamcast from EB Games in February 2000, and eventually purchased a handful of games including Jet Grind Radio, Sega Rally 2, and Daytona USA. I had some enjoyment with them, but ultimately sold it on eBay 2 years later. I do regret that. I would've gladly played it today in celebration. 
 
The Dreamcast is a very interesting system. Most people are surprised that it's already 10 years old in the US, but I'm not. It feels like a classic system, and has felt that way for a long time. By 2003, it was history. PS2 turns 9 next month, and it is still very relevent, DC was a memory by its 3rd birthday. It may belong to the same generation, but it is very separated. However, everything about it is just...cool. The logo is great, 9/9/1999 is as cool of a release date as it gets, it has the ambitious features that set it apart, and the highly celebrated game library. 
 
I think I may buy one of the sealed Dreamcasts at some point in the coming year just to get the feeling of opening a new one. I'll gradually build up the library and see how it all stacks up a decade later. These nine 09.09.09 quick look throwbacks provided a great glimpse into the amount of fun that can still be had with the system, whether it's September 9th 1999, or 2009. The Dreamcast gave the 90s a glimpse of the 00s, and continues to enjoy rabid loyalty as we head into the 2010s. No anniversary of the system will match this one, and I honestly feel that GB has provided the best coverage.

My third 360 arrived today from the 360 repair center. Here's a run down of my 360 lifespan history:

Xbox 360 the First: December 25th 2006 - September 1st 2007
Xbox 360 the Second: September 24th 2007 - July 3rd 2009
Xbox 360 the Third: July 27th 2009 - Present

The wait hasn't been that bad since my attention has been on my shiny new PS3 anyways. Also, my 360 is still under warranty, so I don't feel very bitter about it. The 360 was actually delivered to my house twice last week, but I was on vacation. Sorry UPS guy with the exposed hairy chest.

Now it's time to turn off Resistance and its annoying lack of checkpoints, set my 360 back up, and try out some of that discount N+ I downloaded during it's demise. I also gotta give the Splosion Man demo a shot.

I was just thinking about what games I can recall that split a fanbase of an established franchise. Here's what came to mind:

Burnout Paradise: There seems to be a major divide between those who loved the streamlined experience of Burnout 3 and those who appreciate the open world and online innovations of Paradise

Grand Theft Auto IV: The GTA 3 trilogy was one of the most acclaimed game series of last gen. GTA IV has become one of the most acclaimed games of this gen, but is also faces one of the most prolific fanbase splits. Some loved how ridiculous the series got by San Andreas, others praise the more serious nature of GTA IV.

Halo 2: Many were dissapointed by how the storyline went down, while others were too distracted by the multiplayer that set the modern standard for console online multiplayer. 

Resident Evil 4: For many, 2005's game of the year came less than 2 weeks into the year. This highly influencial game reset the series gameplay with a new over the shoulder aiming mechanic and a higher focus on action rather than adventure. Some longtime franchise fans resented that change.

Every Console Zelda Game Following OoT: If there is one thing that just about every Zelda fan can agree with, it's that Ocarina of Time was an exceptional entry in the series and a landmark moment for video games. The 3 major sequels that followed it then provided some noticable cracks in the fanbase. People seem to either love or hate Majoras Mask. Wind Wakers cel-shaded art style provided a new aspect of the series to debate. Most recently, Twilight Princess has created an entirely new split between those who dug the fan service experience it strived for while others were turned off by how similiar it is to OoT and the tacked on motion controls the Wii version included.

Other Ones

Sonic Adventure
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
Jak II
Street Fighter 3
Guitar Hero 3
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts
Metal Gear Solid 2
Colin McRae Dirt
Call of Duty World at War
Rainbow Six Lockdown
Left 4 Dead 2
Deus Ex: Invisible War
SW Knights of the Old Republic 2
Super Mario Sunshine
World of Warcraft
Final Fantasy XI and XIV
Fallout 3

Really? Best internet music video I've seen since Average Homeboy

Just saying