History MediaNotes / TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames

** ''VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy''

* ''VideoGame/{{Extermination}}''

** ''Sakura Wars V Episode 0: Samurai Daughter of the Wild''

The Sixth Generation of Console Video Games was a time of the maturing of the video game industry. It was a time when many trends were started that would reach their height in UsefulNotes/{{the Seventh Generation|OfConsoleVideoGames}}.

The first out of the gate this time was Creator/{{Sega}}. Things had been looking very grim indeed for Sega after the disastrous launch of the Saturn and its subsequent failure, so the company decided on going for a gamble. The Platform/{{Dreamcast}} was released in the fall of 1998 and was touted for its online features, with online play and downloadable games, as well as reviving the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series that was strangely on hiatus during UsefulNotes/{{the fifth generation|OfConsoleVideoGames}}.[[note]] Aside from the third-party games ''VideoGame/SonicR'' and ''VideoGame/Sonic3DBlast''. Sega had attempted to develop a main-line Sonic game for the Saturn -- ''VideoGame/SonicXtreme'' -- but it had a very TroubledProduction. [[DevelopmentHell Originally slated for release in 1996, its release was pushed back to 1998 before the game was dropped completely]].[[/note]]

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories''[[note]]Technically part of the seventh generation since it debuted on the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, but it would see a [=PS2=] port[[/note]]

The first out of the gate this time was Creator/{{Sega}}. Things had been looking very grim indeed for Sega after the disastrous launch of the Saturn and its subsequent failure, so the company decided on going for a gamble. Platform/{{Dreamcast}} was released in the fall of 1998 and was touted for its online features, with online play and downloadable games, as well as reviving the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series that was strangely on hiatus during UsefulNotes/{{the fifth generation|OfConsoleVideoGames}}.[[note]] Aside from the third-party games ''VideoGame/SonicR'' and ''VideoGame/Sonic3DBlast''. Sega had attempted to develop a main-line Sonic game for the Saturn -- ''VideoGame/SonicXtreme'' -- but it had a very TroubledProduction. [[DevelopmentHell Originally slated for release in 1996, its release was pushed back to 1998 before the game was dropped completely]].[[/note]]

Meanwhile, Sony, who hadn't even broken a sweat in last generation's Console Wars, was gearing up to release the Platform/PlayStation2. The hype surrounding this console, as well as many dubious or bad decisions on Sega's part in previous generations leaving them with a shaky public opinion, only made sales worse, and eventually Sega had to concede defeat. And as such came the sad and swift end for the Dreamcast as it was discontinued in early 2001[[labelnote:†]] (in the West; like the Saturn, it lasted a little longer in Japan)[[/labelnote]], and the former console maker, which a mere decade before had gone toe to toe with Nintendo, had to drastically downsize and go third-party.

** ''1080º: Avalanche''