Sega Dreamcast

The Dreamcast was the first console to ship with a modem as standard — connecting to SegaNet in Japan, Dreamarena in Europe. Quake III Arena and Phantasy Star Online delivered real online play in 1999-2000, years before online gaming became expected. The VMU (Visual Memory Unit) save device had a 48×32 pixel LCD screen, two buttons, ran on two CR2032 batteries, and could execute mini-games downloaded from cartridges — a concept the Nintendo DS would revisit in different form. The GD-ROM format was difficult to pirate with contemporary burners, but a BIOS vulnerability allowed autoboot CD-ROMs with a simple swap disc — no modchip needed. Today GD-ROMs suffer disc rot: discs with compromised lacquer layers simply don't read.