Reception
The Bleem! emulator was released to mixed reviews, according to GameRankings. AllGame summarized the product as one suited for PlayStation owners who "have the patience", citing compatibility issues with some of the games, including those that would not run at all, but noting continued support for the software, as well as superior graphics and performance compared to the PlayStation, depending on the computer's hardware. In its assessment of versions 1.2 and 1.3 beta, IGN concurred, also praising the software's setup, but finding that almost every PlayStation title it had tested on Bleem! had some major flaw hindering the gaming experience.
PC Accelerator lauded the features and options with which to utilize the capabilities of a computer with a 3D accelerator card, but criticized the setup for being too complicated to the average user and lacking the means to automatically configure settings based on a system's hardware and software. The magazine also reported its tests of several popular PlayStation titles lacking a Windows port, which found a general improvement in picture quality, but some games suffering from sound issues and the graphics tending to be washed out when hardware-rendered. Electric Playground welcomed the emulator's ability to recognize cheat codes and import memory card files, but was deterred by the demanding hardware requirements and need to adjust system settings. Nonetheless, it praised Bleem Company's support and resolve to improve its software, recommending others to wait for the improvements.
Reviewing version 1.3 beta, Computer Games Strategy Plus was unimpressed by the emulator's speed mismatches with its console counterpart, choppy or omitted sound output, and gameplay pauses, despite praising the concept of a cheaper, 3D-accelerated alternative to a PlayStation console, ultimately failing to recommend the product over the console. FiringSquad was similarly disappointed by version 1.4's sound glitches even with the sound quality set to best and the lack of ability to tune the emulator's speed limiter option, also criticizing the inability to customize settings for each individual game and the lack of auto-configuration based on whether a title is Direct3D-supported according to the website's database. It went on to describe the product as "way out of its league" in the commercial space, calling it "a work in progress" that is "implemented horribly" despite earlier praising the novelty of an emulator enabling 3D acceleration and high resolutions.
Sony lawsuit
Two days after Bleem! started taking preorders for their emulator, Sony filed suit over violations of copyright. Sony had accused Bleem! of engaging in unfair competition by allowing PlayStation BIOSs to be used on a personal computer as this would ultimately damage Sony's sales of the PlayStation. The Judge had rejected the notion, and issued a protective order to "protect David from Goliath". Sony's second copyright allegation regarded the use of screenshots on their advertisements comparing the native PlayStation and emulated Bleem! versions. The district court had held in favor of Sony regarding the allegation and issued a preliminary injunction against Bleem!; however, Bleem! later appealed the decision providing their use of copyrighted material was protected under fair use. The appeal was successful, with the court stating that the use of screenshots of Sony's video games rather constituted comparative advertising.[5]
In spite of the loss, the release of the Bleemcast! caused Sony to file another lawsuit accusing them of unfair competition and patent infringement regarding the use of PlayStation BIOSs on the Dreamcast. This approach had become problematic for Bleem!, despite no actual court ruling against them. The main issue regarded the financial problems Bleem! had faced as they had to deal with defense costs of $1 million per patent. This had caused Bleem!'s work to decline, so that they had only managed to release three games:
