SEGA SAMMY CONSUMER HARDWARE ROADMAP - New SEGA Console Coming in 2010?

[parallaxscroll]

http://fgnonline.webs.com/



SEGA SAMMY CONSUMER HARDWARE ROADMAP (WORLD EXCLUSIVE REPORT PART 1)

- 05/11/09

Today we would like to present to you part 1 of our world exclusive report in which we shed light on SEGA SAMMY's plan for a HD casual system in development since 2007 and scheduled for worldwide release for the holiday season of 2010.

History

At the end of 1999 SEGA held a press conference where they laid out their hardware ambitions and talked extensively about broadband and a whole host of future technologies. Shoichiro Irimajiri was stated here as saying that SEGA would strike back with a vengeance in the next millenium. By Spring 2000 Irimajiri-san was already tasked with heading the development of SEGA's next console, Irimajiri was stated as saying that it would be a joint venture with numerous companies because the future box would do more than just play videogames thus they had to partner with cable companies, telecommuncation companies and Hollywood conglomerates. The aim for the design was a single chip solution measuring in at 250 million transistors ready for a Q4 2004 worldwide release. What is not known by the mainstream is that SEGA at this time was also in early stages of development for a 3D handheld which was to be based on the chip that went on to be known as the MBX developed by Imagination Technologies PowerVR division. The PowerVR MBX hit silicon in 2002 about the time SEGA had initially planned on launching a new Game Gear. This device would have beaten the PSP to market by 2 years. All of these plans where scrapped however by Isao Okawa who foresaw a software future for the company, the rest of the company however where vehemently against the idea of software only.

Fast forward a few years to early 2003 when Hideki Sato and the rest of SEGA's high level executives were desperately in search for either a merger or even a sale of the company. The discussions where being held with Sammy, Namco, EA and Microsoft. Again what is not known to the general public is that the reason for SEGA's desperation was that at this very moment SEGA had yet another system in development which had a worldwide target ship date of Q4 2005. This system would have competed against what went on to be known as the XBOX360 and Sony's PS3. The system was designed around a PowerVR Series 5 GPU and an unknown CPU, using standard DVD it was to be a cost/performance solution targeting a $300 launch price tag whilst simultaneously incorporating equal 3D throughput as the higher priced offerings by the competition. SEGA and Imagination Technologies on the 18th of March 2004 released a press release regarding the development of the chip for arcade use. Come Jamma 2005 when the world was expecting SEGA to unveil it's PowerVR based arcade board everyone was shocked to learn of the LINDBERGH which was basically a PC tower with an nVidia 6800GT and a Intel Pentium 4 3GHz Prescott. Whatever happened to the PowerVR based integrated silicon arcade board? Simple, the console that was to be based on the arcade board was scrapped by the newly formed SEGA SAMMY. With no console counterpart for the arcade board it wasn't financially feasible to spend tens and indeed hundreds of millions of dollars on integrated silicon thus SEGA quietly without telling anyone just took a mother board and slotted in components from a mid range PC from 2004 and called it "LINDBERGH". The PowerVR Series 5 whose development SEGA funded lived on however as the PowerVR SGX series of mobile GPU's. The Series 5 architecture was designed to be highly scaleable, low end parts for mobile phones and high end parts for arcade boards and consoles, unfortunately the world never got to see the performance of the higher end variants.

So to recap -

There was a next gen system in development in 2000 which was scrapped by owner Isao Okawa and there was a next gen system in development in 2003/2004 which was scrapped by Isao Okawa's friend and new owner Hajime Satomi.

Present and Future

With the Nintendo Wii hitting retail and gaining worldwide superstardom of the likes never witnessed SEGA SAMMY once again immediately got to work on another system with orders from the boss himself Satomi-san. This system shall be a HD casual console and is designed to compete with the successor to the Wii. The design of the system FGN can officially confirm was finalised in late 2008, it's arcade variant goes by the name "RINGEDGE" the specifications of the system are as follows.

The chosen CPU is the Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz Dual-Core Processor, the GPU of choice is the Shader Model 4.0 compliant 9600GSO with 384 MB GDDR3 RAM, System memory measuring 1GB DDR2-800. Other features include an onboard HD audio DSP, 32GB SSD, standard DVD, and WiFi connectivity. SEGA SAMMY plans on shipping the system with two controllers, a motion sensing remote and one which looks similar to the Saturn 3D controller. One for casual gaming the other for non-casual. To top this off SEGA SAMMY shall be using a stripped down version of Microsoft's Windows Embedded Standard 2009 for ease of development. This particular version differs from the standard version where only the DirectX functionality is included, the standard edition costs $90 per shipping device. As SEGA SAMMY's version doesn't include the non gaming features SEGA SAMMY has managed to get a hold of the OS for less than half of that cost.

SEGA SAMMY plans on launching the system in time for the holiday season of 2010 for no less than $200 and no more than $250. The company doesn't plan on publically acknowledging the project this year, thus an official announcement won't take place until 1H 2010.

Stay tuned for part 2 of our world exclusive where we shed light on SEGA SAMMY's consumer plans for the "RINGWIDE"



Do I think SEGA Sammy is gonna actually launch a new consumer console in 2010 or anytime in the next 2.5 years (upto fall 2011) ? NO.

Do I believe SEGA was working on consumer consoles & handhelds beyond the Dreamcast, earlier this decade that got canceled when they quit the hardware biz? YES Absolutely.

[PapaStu]

Do I believe SEGA was working on consumer consoles & handhelds beyond the Dreamcast, earlier this decade that got canceled when they quit the hardware biz? YES Absolutely.

Yeah, it was called the XBox.

[parallaxscroll]

Yeah, it was called the XBox.



No.

There was a real Sega console in development during 1999-2000 that was going to be a successor to the Dreamcast, entirely seperate from Xbox.


from the book 'Opening The Xbox' by Dean Taikahashi (an extremely credible book and author) page 192-193:


'Another plan involved buying Sega, the maker of the Dreamcast console. As far back as 1998, Microsoft had initiated talks to acquire Sega. The companies already had a working relationship since Microsoft provided software for the Dreamcast, but relations had soured in part because game developers didn't use that software. Sega was in third place with its console was still losing a lot of money.

Worldwide, Sega had barely sold 5 million units as of early 2000, giving it a base far smaller than Sony's estimated 73 million units. Moreover, the older Sony machine and the Nintendo 64 continued to outsell the Dreamcast. Sega had launched dozens of games in the United States, but only one of those titles, a football game, sold over a million units. Sega didn't gave the financial wherewithal to stay in the race, and that prompted third-party publishers like Electronic Arts to support the other consoles instead.
By buying Sega or otherwise investing $2 billion in the company, Microsoft could acquire not only the Dreamcast technology but a lot of talent that it didn't have, like Sega's nine game development studios--which had consistantly created hits like Sonic The Hedgehog, key sports titles, and Virtua Fighter. Sega also had a hardware design group that crafted new consoles.

Shoichiro Irimajiri, who was the CEO of Sega Enterprises in Japan, said his company was surprised to learn first from other game developers that Microsoft was planning to enter the console business. He was angry that he hadn't heard it from Microsoft first. His complaints led to meetings to discuss whether Microsoft and Sega could work together on the next-generation console. At first, he wasn't interested in selling out to Microsoft because the Dreamcast appeared to be doing well in the United States. The Microsoft side was equally lukewarm to the idea

"Every time we looked at them, we thought all we wanted was the software," said Chris Phillips, who managed the Sega relationship until he left Microsoft in early 2000. "They weren't willing to sell just their software business. They wanted Microsoft to do a box that could combine the Xbox and the Dreamcast2."

Yet like a bad rerun, Sega kept coming back and getting audiences with Bill Gates. One of Sega's top messengers was Kay Nishi, a former Microsoft employee and the CEO of ASCII in Japan. Nishi had a very close friendship with Bill Gates. Whenever he came to town, he could get meetings on short notice with Gates. He used that influence to get Gates together with Sega's top executives, Isao Okawa and Shoichiro Irimajiri.

In some ways, Sega was appealing. Some Microsoft executives had their doubts about the feasibility of coming up with a truly killer application that would drive people to buy the console over other systems. Ed Fries, who had confidence in his own game group of 700 developers, opposed the Sega deal because he believed Microsoft could create its own hit games.
Irimajiri said Sega wanted Microsoft to make the Xbox compatible with the upcoming Dreamcast 2. Okawa also wanted the Xbox to run games made for the original Dreamcast.


Also

http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2000/6/12-69



Sega to license Dreamcast out?
Some very interesting plans may be in the works at Sega. Including Dreamcast 2.
The Asian Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sega is in talks to license Dreamcast technology to other companies. Also, Sega is negotiating with various semiconductor companies to to form a joint venture that would build an advanced chip to power the next incarnation of the Dreamcast, as well as other devices. The JV could open as soon as October of this year.

"The future game box will be an all-in-one, set-top box," Sega Vice Chairman Shoichiro Irimajiri said in a telephone interview. "In that case, Sega's role is one part of many functions, so we cannot do it alone. We need very good alliances or a joint venture."

Apparently, Sega is already talking to potential licensees, including automobile companies, hardware makers, and satellite-television and cable-TV providers. These talks have been confirmed by Mr. Irimajiri.

The AWSJ reports that Mr. Irimajiri traveled last week to the U.S. and this week to Europe, to meet with up to 15 companies to discuss Sega's plan. He emphasized that the discussions are preliminary and he declined to identify the companies involved. "Everything is still unclear," he said. It looks like Sega is approaching NEC Corp., Hitachi Ltd., Philips Electronics NV; chip maker STMicroelectronics NV, who is making their own next generation graphics chip based on the PowerVR technology that powers the Dreamcast, and Imagination Technologies, the Company behind the PowerVR technology itself.

According to the AWSJ, officials at NEC, Hitachi and Imagination Technologies declined to comment. A spokesman at Philips said the executives he contacted were unaware of any talks with Sega. Officials at STMicroelectronics couldn't be reached for comment.

Chip makers are the likely partners because Sega hopes to build a complex processor for use in Internet appliances, the people familiar with the plans said. Sega appears to be looking to put many functions of a game machine onto one piece of silicon, making it easy to integrate advanced computer graphics into other products.

Also, in reference to the free Dreamcast plan "If our intuition is right Sega will be the dominant force in the narrowband Internet world," Mr. Irimajiri said in the report. It was also stated that he believes broadband won't be widely available until 2005.


http://www.computerandvideogames.com/r/?page=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=8642



ISAO OHKAWA CONFIRMED AS SEGA PRES

Sega has confirmed the swap of Ohkawa for Irimajiri at the head of Sega, although those sales figures make seriously interesting reading…

According to Nikkei, the Japanese business news service, poor domestic sales of Dreamcast are the reason for the decision, but rumour is already circulating that Ohkawa has been brought in to oversee something far more significant; such as the sale of the company.

The Japanese report also claims Irimajiri will concentrate his efforts on designing a successor to the Dreamcast, already known to have been in development for some years.

Sega failed by around 500,000 to meet its 1.1 million Dreamcast sales target for the second half of the year ended March. Ohkawa is to overlook the restructuring of the company, although details of what this will mean for the hardware future of Sega are still unconfirmed.

As far as the sale of Sega goes, these rumours are nothing new to the company. Microsoft is well known to have had talks with the upper echelons of the Dreamcast manufacturer in March, and fresh talk of a Sony buy-out has sprung up in recent weeks.


http://www.gamasutra.com/newswire/news/index20000522.htm



Sega is confirming a shuffle of the top brass. As speculated, Sega Enterprises President Shoichiro Irimajiri will step aside to allow Isao Ohkawa, president of Sega parent company CSK, to takeover. Ohkawa is moving into the hot in order to oversee a massive restructuring of Sega's development activities. The reorganization plan, originally announced in November, will split Sega's interested into a total of nine separate units organized by region and specialty. Irimajiri will stay on in a vice presidential role to focus on the creation of a Dreamcast successor.

There are other articles out there mentioning the successor to Dreamcast, but the ones here should be enough to give you an idea that there, legitimately, actually *was* indeed at least one more Sega console in development before Sega canceled all hardware projects and announced they would end production of Dreamcast.

[ProgrammingAce]

You mean this xbox, circa July 2000 with sony's custom testing software installed? The one that was given to me by someone in Microsoft's internal testing facility?

http://gameoftheart.com/games/XDK3910.html

Or how about this xbox with a chihiro connector installed? Circa May 2000

http://gamerhistory.com/images/Xbox1Protos/Proto(11).jpg

Sega of America was helping Microsoft develop the Xbox hardware. I'm not sure if Sega of Japan knew this or not. That's why Peter Moore jumped ship from Sega to Microsoft.
Sega sent engineers to help develop the Xbox1 so they could use the part

[SegaAges]

You mean this xbox, circa July 2000 with sony's custom testing software installed? The one that was given to me by someone in Microsoft's internal testing facility?

http://gameoftheart.com/games/XDK3910.html

Or how about this xbox with a chihiro connector installed? Circa May 2000

http://gamerhistory.com/images/Xbox1Protos/Proto(11).jpg

Sega of America was helping Microsoft develop the Xbox hardware. I'm not sure if Sega of Japan knew this or not. That's why Peter Moore jumped ship from Sega to Microsoft.
Sega sent engineers to help develop the Xbox1 so they could use the part

Dude, you are all into this shit, so I knew it was a matter of time before you posted.

I knew about the set top box way back when, but did anything ever happen with that?
Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the set top box got released in other countries.

As far as my information goes (programmingace, I am sure you can correct me), but I thought that the set top box was basically going to allow for downloading dc games to the box instead of using gd-r's

[lagartija_nick]

If this were true it would it not stand to reason that Sega would at some point have to stop publishing games on Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo Consoles?
If there games were not exclusive to their own hardware why would anybody by their system?

What I am getting at is 2010 holiday seems a little soon, At some point they would have to cut off production for other consoles. If that happens (short of bankrupcy) then we will know for sure something is up.

I don't know how far Sega's publishing plans extend to at this point, but if games for other hardware companies are being published by Sega close to holiday 2010 and beyond then this cannot possibly be true.

[SegaAges]

Whether I want this or not, which I do, my educated guess is that it is new arcade hardware.

That makes a shitload more sense.

As for home use, well, I have seen consolized atomiswaves on eBay if that counts, hehehe

[ProgrammingAce]

You mean this xbox, circa July 2000 with sony's custom testing software installed? The one that was given to me by someone in Microsoft's internal testing facility?

I of course meant Sega here.



As far as my information goes (programmingace, I am sure you can correct me), but I thought that the set top box was basically going to allow for downloading dc games to the box instead of using gd-r's

To be honest, i don't know anything about the set top box. But if that was their plan, it was a pipe dream. Storage capacities and bandwidth would never have been able to handle the gigabyte of data that each GD-Rom holds.

It may have been the precursor to the original xbox live arcade, but that's neither here nor there and complete conjecture on my part.

I think it's safe to assume that if Sega was helping Microsoft with the hardware they may have been helping with Xbox live as well. If not intentionally, then because Microsoft scalped a bunch of Sega employees. It's pretty impressive what Microsoft managed to put together in a year, it's not hard to imagine that former Sega employees were part of that.

[Zap!]

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeee be true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[123►Genei-Jin]

If they're truly developing new hardware, I hope it's arcade only. Considering the only decent game series they currently have is Virtua Fighter, a new console would most likely be yet another failure.

[G-Boobie]

If they're truly developing new hardware, I hope it's arcade only. Considering the only decent game series they currently have is Virtua Fighter, a new console would most likely be yet another failure.

Don't forget Yakuza and (hopefully) Valkyria Chronicles. Their recent attempts to bring the Phantasy Star series back into respectability aren't half bad either.

Interesting find, Parallaxscroll. Thanks for posting.

[BHvrd]

I would say fuck Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo and immediately jump on this baby day one.

The chance to own a new Sega console is just too exciting in itself.

[ShinobiMan]

I would say fuck Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo and immediately jump on this baby day one.

The chance to own a new Sega console is just too exciting in itself.


My thoughts exactly, BUT... I don't think it's going to happen. Wishful thinking maybe, but the chances of it happening are slim. Time will tell I guess.

[segagamer]

My thoughts exactly, BUT... I don't think it's going to happen. Wishful thinking maybe, but the chances of it happening are slim. Time will tell I guess.

I agree with you 100%.

[Zap!]

Let's hope it comes with Alex Kidd and they return to their SMS roots. Sonic as mascot turned me to rival Nintendo.

[Ed Oscuro]

This isn't like the old days where a console will bring a completely different gaming experience, but that's not such a bad thing here actually. Mainly I'm looking forward to some competition in the DLC and game pricing arenas. Would be nice to see the Nintendo console have some pricing pressure put on it for example.

[Sonicwolf]

If Sega released a console now it would be a disaster. That kind of saturation in the market is unwarranted and the consumers would not bother buying a system that would basically have the same games as the PS3 and the 360. Also, its not like anything would be a massive leap forward like each new console launch used to bring. Each new generation is less of a jump in graphics than the previous to the previous.

[Zap!]

If Sega released a console now it would be a disaster. That kind of saturation in the market is unwarranted and the consumers would not bother buying a system that would basically have the same games as the PS3 and the 360. Also, its not like anything would be a massive leap forward like each new console launch used to bring. Each new generation is less of a jump in graphics than the previous to the previous.

You have to remember, there are a lot of die-hards Sega fans out there and haters that don't like Sony, M$, or Nintendo. I'm no longer a hater (used to hate Sony but recently came around), but I am pro-Sega and would love to see a familiar face re-enter the market. It'll make me feel like a teen again, I am obsessed with the past. Hell, bring back Atari too.

[Sonicwolf]

You have to remember, there are a lot of die-hards Sega fans out there and haters that don't like Sony, M$, or Nintendo. I'm no longer a hater (used to hate Sony but recently came around), but I am pro-Sega and would love to see a familiar face re-enter the market. It'll make me feel like a teen again, I am obsessed with the past. Hell, bring back Atari too.

It is very doubtful that a large bunch of Sega fans have held off buying a new game console since 2001 because they hate the big three companies. Also, Do you really think that a good amount of the 80+ million people that have bought home consoles already from this generation would buy another just because its a Sega console? You could bring in the argument that its Sega and Sega has Sega games. Well, Sega's primary franchises have been milked and degraded for years now and their games arent exactly as quality-ridden as they used to be. I already have a PS3, 360, and Wii and if Sega brought out a new console it would have to have one hell of a selling point to get me to buy it. Believe me, I love Sega(or getting to the point of 'used to love'). Dreamcast and Genesis are some of my favorite consoles but I feel their time has passed and unless their is a major home console failure of the current big three, they should remain backed-off until a more oppurtune time arrives.

[Zap!]

It is very doubtful that a large bunch of Sega fans have held off buying a new game console since 2001 because they hate the big three companies. Also, Do you really think that a good amount of the 80+ million people that have bought home consoles already from this generation would buy another just because its a Sega console? You could bring in the argument that its Sega and Sega has Sega games. Well, Sega's primary franchises have been milked and degraded for years now and their games arent exactly as quality-ridden as they used to be. I already have a PS3, 360, and Wii and if Sega brought out a new console it would have to have one hell of a selling point to get me to buy it. Believe me, I love Sega(or getting to the point of 'used to love'). Dreamcast and Genesis are some of my favorite consoles but I feel their time has passed and unless their is a major home console failure of the current big three, they should remain backed-off until a more oppurtune time arrives.

Who said they held off? No, many have reluctantly switched to Nintendo, but wish there were more choices out there than only one long-time video game maker (Sony and M$ have not been making games for 30+ years like Sega and Nintendo) in the hardware business.

If Sega completely cuts off making games for the big three, and their 2010 Sammy comes with a new Shenmue, Alex Kidd, Fantasy Zone, or Phantasy Star, then this thing could sell. I will get this on day one and be willing to wait in the freezing cold.

[Ed Oscuro]

Each new generation is less of a jump in graphics than the previous to the previous.
In absolute terms I would disagree; compare the differences in poly counts between the 360 to the Xbox, and from the Xbox to the Dreamcast or Saturn (your choice).

But clearly in terms of what the average schmo can obsess over, it doesn't seem as big a leap as going from the NES to the Genesis (or the Neo Geo if you want to be a REAL HOT DOG!), which I guess puts you in the Wii camp ;)

Market saturation might not be such an issue with Microsoft and Sony busily duking it out in the stratosphere during a recession. Just as netbooks are the one bright spot in the computer hardware industry (according to Intel and agreed with by many), low-cost entertainment computers may be a growth industry in these years.

[Sonicwolf]

In absolute terms I would disagree; compare the differences in poly counts between the 360 to the Xbox, and from the Xbox to the Dreamcast or Saturn (your choice).

But clearly in terms of what the average schmo can obsess over, it doesn't seem as big a leap as going from the NES to the Genesis (or the Neo Geo if you want to be a REAL HOT DOG!), which I guess puts you in the Wii camp ;).

Best example of the evident slowing of graphic jumps would be this

Oddysey > A2600 > Nintendo Entertainment System > Sega Genesis > PlayStation > PlayStation 2 > PS360

From Oddysey to the PlayStation, each step was pretty big. From white cubes to multicolored cubes with lots of movement to Sprites and smoothly moving effects and animations to a greater degree of that to 3D polygon games. Then it started just updating the 3D graphics and with each generation, the realism gets closer to real life and eventually it will slow to a crawl in terms of Graphic capability diffferentiation. Once you get to a certain point, improvements become minute and the ability to improve is hampered by a lack of reason or direction in potential improvement. In other words - Once something becomes photorealistic you cant improve on it at all really.

Personally, I believe that once we reach that point in realism we will start looking towards augmented and virtual reality for the home. I hope that will be greatly realised someday soon.

[Sonicwolf]

If Sega completely cuts off making games for the big three, and their 2010 Sammy comes with a new Shenmue, Alex Kidd, Fantasy Zone, or Phantasy Star, then this thing could sell. I will get this on day one and be willing to wait in the freezing cold.

So you are saying it is a feasable idea that Sega could get its act together and release a new console alongside many, many games that many, many people have cried for since the death of the Dreamcast? In 1 year?

[Ed Oscuro]

Best example of the evident slowing of graphic jumps would be this

Oddysey > A2600 > Nintendo Entertainment System > Sega Genesis > PlayStation > PlayStation 2 > PS360
We're obviously using different criteria. You're using the bullet-point checklist features, and I'm going by how much the vastly increased poly counts and special effects improve the immersion for me - at least if it's running a consistent 30 FPS (cough Left 4 Dead 360).

Now, I'm not saying you're wrong, as that's a very reasonable way of doing it and for years the method that reigned supreme in comparing consoles, but when I compare the new screens with those of last generation's stuff, the sense of improvement is every bit as great. No doubt I'll feel the same sense of wonder in the future. Obviously, as your post points towards, and the example of the Wii suggests, people aren't interested in simple graphical fidelity anymore; they're interested in more meaningful and varied interactions, too.

Yep, graphicswhore. Reason I've got a Radeon HD 4870x2 (although that doesn't explain why I haven't used it thus far..that would be the budding conservationist in me).

[Sonicwolf]

Yep, graphicswhore.

Oh please. I have every current generation console and I spend all of my game time playing Nintendo Entertainment System and Genesis games. I find more enjoyment our of Galaga and Asteroids than I do Grand Theft Auto IV

And believe me, I mean ALL game time...

I have had my PS3 for 10 months and have put less than an hour of game time into it. My Wii has not gotten regular use since last June and the same goes for my 360.

I believed the graphical approach to the argument was the best approach because it was one of the better points as to why a Sega console would not sway a multitude of people now.

[ShinobiMan]

Think of it this way.

- New Sega console for $200 or less
- Brand new Sega games that put the emphasis on ARCADE gameplay
- Public's desire for something new (No plans for a new 360 & PS3 in 2010)
- Many diehard Sega fans just waiting to put down money
- The apocalypse coming in 2012, end of the world.

Yeah, I could see this happening.

[swlovinist]

As many of you know, I am a huge Sega Fan, but lets face it....Sega these days is in no shape financially to launch a system, nor would they want to. The market has a system for every price point, and it would not be feasable. I would love to see it, but honestly...I am fine with the Dreamcast being the last system, and what a fine system it was.

[SegaAges]

I know I am not alone in being a die hard sega fan, but I did want to throw some points out there that many people might have missed:

It is incredibly possible that newer games are being made for this system, and have been, but have been done pretty secretly. I mean, a good example is punch out on the wii. Somebody said that we don't even have a full character list and the game is coming out in a few days.

It is incredibly possible that the newer games have been in the works for awhile. Hell, wishful thinking again with some true facts, they have a bunch of the stuff done for Shenmue 3. They could have easily decided to finish it.

What was one of the selling points of the Wii (1 of the selling points)? Price

Now for $200, Sega could easily push out a console. When it comes to DLC, Sega has enough of a library to push out as many games as needed for the next 50 years. This is the same with WiiWare or whatever the Wii one is called.

You better believe that if this was true, I would be in line 3 days in advance with a sleeping bag during a blizzard to get the new Sega console on release day.

Enough games for a launch in a year? If it is true, they could already have games ready to go.

As for us Sega peeps holding out since 2001, I went with 360, but that was because when I wanted a current gen, my options were short.

I don't hate the other companies, I just like Sega was fucking more.

Sega could easily just make a nice consolized version of the atomiswave or something and release that. Sega has been doing that shit for years. Even if the home came out before the arcade, the compatibility there has been around (ST-V/Saturn, Naomi/DC, etc).

Honestly, if Sega played their cards right and brought out a more arcade style system, they could attract more people to arcades themselves.

Sure, over the years some of the ip's of Sega have been falling, but that does not mean for one second that Sega has died. They have enough IP's to keep them satisfied for years.

Think of a current gen version of vectorman. Wow! That would be so fucking awesome. That is just one example.

With the Sonic Unleashed DLC that has come out, Sega knows that people enjoyed the 2.5D Sonic way more than the werehog. Which is why the DLC is coming out with more and more daytime levels.

Honestly, if Sega did it right, it would be so fucking awesome. They have enough games and IP's that they have not even attempted current gen on. Ecco is another good one. Shit, the DC version of Ecco was amazing. I really enjoyed the Xbox version of Panzer Dragoon (Panzer Dragoon Orta). I could go on and on, but there are so many flagship characters even outside of sonic, that Sega could easily pull this off.

Will it happen? I have some serious doubts it will really happen.
Do I hope and pray that it will happen? Every single day since 2001

[Sonicwolf]

I must apologise to those who I was belligerent to earlier. I am pretty adamant that old things made new are ruined. This decade lives off the copying and ruining of the franchises, ideas and styles of the golden years of society (1950s to 1980s). I also feel that it wouldnt matter how awesome a new Sega console could be. The Dreamcast was spectacular with excellent and creative games but that didnt save it from the power of the Sony fanbase.

[CosmicMonkey]

I really can't see Sega releasing a new home system. What I would like is something similar to Examu's Ex-Board arcade system (http://www.examu.co.jp/ex-board/index.html). VGA/DVI/HDMI output, USB for controllers, 110/240v PSU and we're good to go.

If enough decent fighting and driving games were announced that were system exclusive, never to see a PS3/360 port, I'd be more than happy to splash the cash.

[Tupin]

I'm not expecting a new system, but I would wait in line to get one the day it comes out. Even if it's not a consumer system, it could be a new arcade hardware.

We shall see. Sega would break a lot of contracts if they made their own systems again.

[ShinobiMan]

This decade lives off the copying and ruining of the franchises, ideas and styles of the golden years of society (1950s to 1980s).

Wow, you just summed up what I've been feeling for a long time now. So true.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Sega kick started the next decade with a new console? Man, we're all dreaming.

[Zap!]

I must apologise to those who I was belligerent to earlier. I am pretty adamant that old things made new are ruined. This decade lives off the copying and ruining of the franchises, ideas and styles of the golden years of society (1950s to 1980s). I also feel that it wouldnt matter how awesome a new Sega console could be. The Dreamcast was spectacular with excellent and creative games but that didnt save it from the power of the Sony fanbase.

The Sony fanbase is not what it was in 1999, 2000, or 2001. Their main rival now could be Nintendo. It could be 1992 all over again.

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

you guys must be high if you think:

a) sega's classic ip's would be relevant in today's market (alex kidd, seriously? nobody besides us remembers that)

b) sega has anyone with half a brain left in their employ who could make a fun modern game from their ip's (sonic anyone?)

c) sega would blow the hundreds of millions of dollars it takes to design and market a fourth system when they've been having a rocky road of it just being a multiplat dev/pub

if you guys want a current gen sega machine, buy an xbox.

[Zap!]

if you guys want a current gen sega machine, buy an xbox.

No thanks, I much prefer the PS3 and Wii.

[Rickstilwell1]

If there ever was a new Sega I would buy it for sure.

I always buy every system, but having the one that less people have would give me something to show my friends "hey look at this cool thing, did you know it existed?"

I really don't know who this guy is, giving that kind of information, but I would welcome Apple and Sega to both jump into the console market even if both of those companies are just being rumored about. The news implies that Apple may also be interested in making a console if they go through in acquiring EA Games.

And besides, with Neo Geo gone Sega could fill that arcade home system market for a lower price than that system did.

I wonder what Sega would call a system if they knew it was going to be their final? Maybe the Sega Omega just because Omega means final and it rhymes? But yeah that name was my idea for the ultimate Sega Clone back when they stopped the Dreamcast.

I was like if they're going out of hardware they should have made a Sega that plays all their past games in one system. A cartridge / CD combo where the CD part can run Dreamast, Saturn and Sega CD and the cartridge part being like the Neptune so it could run both Genesis and 32X games without a special cord and have a second cartridge port for SMS games. In the front could be card slots for SMS cards and Game Gear carts.

I would like to see somebody make a clone that can run CD based games, but a whole new console would be even more exciting just because it would be something brand new. Either a clone like I mentioned or a new system would excite me.

[SegaAges]

EDIT: Part 2 was asked to not be posted on that website by Sega Sammy legal department. I figured I would spread the wealth of knowledge for the people that did not check out that site

To assume even on a rumor that Sega would mess it up is kinda biased.

The DC was an awesome system, and Sega didn't make many mistakes with that system.

I don't know if you guys know this, but Sega does have 1 or 2 more IP's than Sonic, maybe a few more.

To simply say, "Well, not many people liked the new Sonic games, and Sonic Team has not been able to pump out a huge success" does not mean that the entire company is going to fall.

I can go over multiple IP's from multiple other companies that have been done wrong, but I will not. I will also not say that those companies are doomed to fail.

With that mindset, the company will get no love and will fail.

Under that same notion of classic IP's: The newer Tony Hawk's are turning more and more into crappy rehashes of the older games with spiffier graphics. Well, I guess that company is doomed to fail.

Wow, that was a big statement to make.

That is what I see when I see posts like, "Well Sonic Team can't handle a game, so screw Sega and whatever they push out". It is one team. One. Sonic Team is not the entire company. Sonic Team does not control every single IP that Sega has either.

Sure, Sega has under taken many other games like a bunch of crappy movie based games, but hey, do we need to discuss the other companies that push out crap upon crap? I can if you want.

Shall we talk about the systems that allow so many crap games onto their systems, that we have to check up with websites and shit before we even attempt to start shipping for some systems.

It was already said by others that Sega is still pushing out very good games. Very good games. Negating those to make a point is not all that great. Negating all of the remakes of classic IP's that have turned out extremely well to make a point is also not all that great.

I can sit here, again, and tell you why Sonic 06 was an awesome game. I won't, because there is a search within the forums for a reason. Sonic Unleashed was also a very fun game. I seriously enjoyed it.

Yes, I may be a Sega fanboy, so I will help you out.

Sonic games that SegaAges did not like:
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic R
Sonic Riders (difficulty was way too hard even on easy)
Sonic 3
Sonic 2 on Game Gear
Sonic Drift 2

Dude, a next gen Ecco. Seriously. That would be so awesome. They did it on the DC and look how it turned out.

Sega has many, many good IP's that they have not dusted off in years, but they are also coming out with some awesome new ones as well like Mad World.

Sega always has a good formula with the Virtua Tennis IP. Same with their Virtua Fighter IP. VF5 is fucking awesome.

I haven't played the sequel even though I own it, but Condemned 1 was pretty awesome, I haven't played 2, but if it is anything like 1, then that is also an awesome newer IP.

Now at this point, the main reason why I doubt Sega will have a new system by 2010 is that it would definately be a make or break for Sega to dump all that money into a new system.

Think about it: with how established the current 3 systems are, unless Sega is planning to do something truly next gen, they would need to stop making games for other systems. Why? Would you buy another system for the same exact games that you can get for a 360 or ps3 when you already have a ncie library of games for that system. It would be like the same shit as in the early 80's when there were too many systems and games out.

I may be a Sega fanboy, but I am not completely blind. Pulling out of making games for other systems at this point would be dumb. If they put all of their eggs in one basket and that is a current gen system, then they would have to base it all on success, and if it failed, that would be a blow that Sega might have bigger troubles recovering from than they did with the DC.

Now if they go for next gen, they could continue with their software department in the current gen, while getting the new games on their next gen.

[Steve W]

I don't trust the article listed by the original poster since the author made simple mistakes like mixing up words like 'were' with 'where'. It's a pipe dream. Someone really wanted to stir up shit so they wrote an article about a new Sega console. It sounds like fan fiction to me.

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

re: SegaAges

madworld and condemned were published, not developed by sega. just sayin'...

[DreamTR]

Ⅰ'm so sick of Sega fanboys trying to defend the idea of them making a system a 'good' thing.

Mind you, I am NOT a Sony fan, but Sega and their 3rd parties involved DO NOT SUPPORT the systems.

You buy a 32X, Saturn, Sega CD, heck, even Dreamcast, there were never a lot of games and just a lot of broken promises. I'm not saying the DC was a bad system, but I see Microsoft and Sony and Nintendo haters all over the place but at least you get your money's worth on games and they support the systems into the ground, even if they lose money.


I like Sega's games, but you have to be a fool to defend them if you really look back at what they have done in history for consumers....

[Sonicwolf]

The Golden Age of Sega is long dead. I think after 8 years it is time to move on.

[CosmicMonkey]

Ok everyone, here's your new Sega system. Infact, there's two!

RINGEDGE
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9531/ring1s.jpg

RINGWIDE
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1370/ring2w.jpg

And here's an English translation of the Sega page with their technical details. (http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://sega.jp/corp/release/2009/0220/&ei=jGQZSu--MJTQjAehsrzyDA&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://sega.jp/corp/release/2009/0220/%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3Db6u)

As I theorised in my previous post, these systems are very similar to the Ex-Board. We have DVI output, USB 2.0 for joysticks and you'll need a PSU. Very simple to plug into your LCD TV if you have the disposable income available. Border Break (http://borderbreak.com/) certainly looks fun.

[exit]

1: New Console
2: ???
3: Profit!

How about they just translate Yakuza 3 and we'll call it a day.

[Enigmus]

The Sony fanbase is not what it was in 1999, 2000, or 2001. Their main rival now could be Nintendo. It could be 1992 all over again.

Wow... World Game War III. :o

[Sonicwolf]

Wow... World Game War III. :o

I believe the Sony and Sega fanbases have degraded considerably since the mid 90s. Another game war would most likely just be Microsoft and Nintendo.

[Zap!]

I believe the Sony and Sega fanbases have degraded considerably since the mid 90s. Another game war would most likely just be Microsoft and Nintendo.

If that's the case, you're going down once and for all, Micro$haft! :)

[Sonicwolf]

If that's the case, you're going down once and for all, Micro$haft! :)

Unless Nintendo starts chugging out extremely good titles, kill apps if you will, that appeal to both the audience of gamers who like motion interactivity and the audience of gamers who prefer controller based games, I dont see Nintendo taking out Microsoft...

[Zap!]

Unless Nintendo starts chugging out extremely good titles, kill apps if you will, that appeal to both the audience of gamers who like motion interactivity and the audience of gamers who prefer controller based games, I dont see Nintendo taking out Microsoft...

I'd love to see anyone take out Microsoft. Do you guys realize for nearly 8 years it's been JUST Sony, MS, and Nintendo (let's not count V-Smile and un-serious systems that count for less than 1%)? We need a change, someone has to go. I always thought Apple would try out the hardware market, but guess not.

[Sonicwolf]

I'd love to see anyone take out Microsoft. Do you guys realize for nearly 8 years it's been JUST Sony, MS, and Nintendo (let's not count V-Smile and un-serious systems that count for less than 1%)? We need a change, someone has to go. I always thought Apple would try out the hardware market, but guess not.

I agree. Its been almost 8 years of pure boring stagnancy. Its always interesting to have a market shakeup or something involved a new system from a different company.

[SegaAges]

Ⅰ'm so sick of Sega fanboys trying to defend the idea of them making a system a 'good' thing.

Mind you, I am NOT a Sony fan, but Sega and their 3rd parties involved DO NOT SUPPORT the systems.

You buy a 32X, Saturn, Sega CD, heck, even Dreamcast, there were never a lot of games and just a lot of broken promises. I'm not saying the DC was a bad system, but I see Microsoft and Sony and Nintendo haters all over the place but at least you get your money's worth on games and they support the systems into the ground, even if they lose money.


I like Sega's games, but you have to be a fool to defend them if you really look back at what they have done in history for consumers....

I am a massive Sega fanboy and you can read what I put, as I have serious doubts that it would ever happen.

[Enigmus]

If that's the case, you're going down once and for all, Micro$haft! :)

I'm considering the Ninten-soft War to be like the Cold War: Just 2 sides threatening each other with nuclear arms, or, in this case, games and crazy new accsessories.

[zack1123]

I just thought i'd mention this for those who don't already know SEGA IS releasing a new console, it's called the zone SEGA(or SEGA zone not quite sure) for 2010, one theory i thought up is, they're getting back into the console buisiness using this as a way of... warming up for it as well as checking out the demand of classic sega games. it may also interest you to know sega also has releases a handheld, a predecessor(i think that's the right word) to the nomad called the retro gen, it plays genesis games but with a rechargable battery pack, can be hooked into the T.V. and looks like a 6-button gameboy advanced. I wasn't sure it'd be of any relevence to bring that up but perhaps it's helping them warm up for hand-helds as well? just theory as i have explained.

EDIT: sorry forgot to mention the Zone Sega/Sega Zone is one of those classic re-release consoles not a full console but there are apparently 30 new games, or something like that

[Zoltor]

I really don't see this happening(atleast this year), I mean come on, games like Sonic 4 would be prime games to put on a new sega system, but yey It's going Wii,PS3,360 instead. If they were gonna come out with a system in 2010, they would've purposely pushed back the release of such an iconic title(It's even 2D, just like the original series) just so it could be released on their new system(and "only" on their system), and as such, if they are planning to make a new system, it won't be out until 2011.

[zack1123]

i see what your getting at but i'm not talking about a new system to compete with like xbox 360 and such but more of an emulation of old games here's the link to the site where i got the information

http://www.techshout.com/gaming/2010/06/new-sega-zone-console-set-to-launch-this-summer (http://www.techshout.com/gaming/2010/06/new-sega-zone-console-set-to-launch-this-summer/)

[Zoltor]

i see what your getting at but i'm not talking about a new system to compete with like xbox 360 and such but more of an emulation of old games here's the link to the site where i got the information

http://www.techshout.com/gaming/2010/06/new-sega-zone-console-set-to-launch-this-summer (http://www.techshout.com/gaming/2010/06/new-sega-zone-console-set-to-launch-this-summer/)

Oh ok.

PS. It won't even open a front page to the site(all that comes up, is a white page saying forbidden, bla, bla, bla).

[zack1123]

oh, sorry then here's another link,

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/31177/new-sega-console-hitting-summer

if that doesn't work just copy and paste it in manually, it should work if you
copy it.

EDIT:forgot to mention, I agree with you, Sega won't release the new Competitor console this year, but I do think they're only chance of getting back in the console business is if it's released before 2014(expected release-date of ps4)

[Zoltor]

oh, sorry then here's another link,

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/31177/new-sega-console-hitting-summer

if that doesn't work just copy and paste it in manually, it should work if you
copy it.

That one worked.

Yea thought it was something totally different. However I must say, if it Isn't gonna have every sega game(or atleast most), It's pretty pointless.

[zack1123]

it may or may not have the ability to play old genesis games they didn't explain it well my only real idea of this is the last sentence


It is, however, able to take old cartridges and is priced at £39.95

so... could be more of a genesis model 5 just to help them get back into the business and make spare cash to afford it, like how nintendo had like 5 versions of the nintendo DS, it was to make money while they worked on the next console.

[Zoltor]

it may or may not have the ability to play old genesis games they didn't explain it well my only real idea of this is the last sentence



so... could be more of a genesis model 4 just to help them get back into the business and make spare cash to afford it, like how nintendo had like 5 versions of the nintendo DS, it was to make money while they worked on the next console.

hm ok.

[thunderkid]

You do know that these SEGA ZONE "consoles" are not a real SEGA product right? These are crappy clones that are just officially LICENSED from SEGA. These are kind of like the hyperkin/ @tgames genesis releases from the past couple of years.

[zack1123]

no, no i did not

[thunderkid]

See a couple of threads below...

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140898

[nebrazca78]

If Sega was to release a new console, fall 2010 would be a great time. It looks like the current gen leader, Nintendo, is going to ride out the Wii for several years. Microsoft is coming out with Natal in 2011 but it isn't really a new system, more like Xbox 360+ with new control methods. Sony has the PS4 lined up for 2014. That would give the new Sega system a nice window to sell a ton of systems before anything truly new comes out.

There seems to be too many roadblocks though. Some people are saying graphical capabilities will become moot soon once all consoles reach photo-realism. I agree with this but personally I don't think it will happen until around 2020. When I play Xbox 360 or PS3 games I see a LOT of room for improvement. I haven't been as impressed as some with their graphics. I am not a programmer so I don't know exactly how to explain it, but the fine detail isn't there in the games. They have a long way to go until the visuals approximate real life.

All this means is that if Sega is going to release a new console, hardware is going to be paramount. This leads to high production costs. There is no way Sega in its current form can absorb the losses that will be necessary to roll out a new high-powered console. They don't have the money to lose a millions upon millions of dollars like M$ or Sony. It can be done, but it would definitely involve a partnership or takeover by a bigger company.

The games themselves must also be considered. As of now, Sega has no console-selling games. Obviously they publish for multiple platforms, but even if you took their best games and made them exclusives, we're still not talking about titles that will sell the amount of consoles necessary to make the new system a success. This problem can also be overcome, but I don't know if the Sega of today can do it. What they really need is a new Sonic game that is absolutely sensational. Sonic is really the only franchise they have that everyone still recognizes. Someone else said it earlier, all those Sega franchises we know and love are not known and loved by the masses, except Sonic. The killer Sonic app and at least 3 other phenomenal Sega games per year plus excellent 3rd party support is the prerequisite.

Even that might not be enough. Sega really needs to create the perfect storm to complete. DLC would be a huge boon to the new system. Sega does have seemingly endless classic titles which should all be available to download to the new system. I'm talking every Sega-made title from Master System to Dreamcast. It would also be nice to include their older arcade games. While these titles are off the radar of the masses, there is still a good percentage of people who do recognize them. These games are already completed products and would be straight profit for Sega.

Additionally the new console must be "cool" to own. While nearly everyone around here is concerned almost exclusively with the games, the masses are not the same. Take Dreamcast vs. PS2 for instance. The Dreamcast has fantastic internal hardware and great games. But if you look at the system and its controllers, it really looks like it's for kids. The PS2 had tons of hype and a cool looking new system that looked like it was ready for serious business. This made the DC look dated and childish and it was easy for a lot of people to drop DC when the PS2 came out. The coolness of the DC faded fast when PS2 was released even though, IMHO, DC had better graphics for quite a while until PS2 developers figured out how to get rid of all the horrific jaggies that system had.

Compare that situation with the Xbox 360 vs. PS3. Xbox 360 looks cool, ready to rock, has great controllers and some great games. Even long after the release of the PS3 it is still cool to own a 360. Even though the PS3 has better graphics and its legions of PS2 fans, 360 is still doing fine. The new Sega machine will need this kind of street cred to keep selling well even when Natal comes out. If the new Sega could weather the Natal release, that would carry it on through to fall 2014 when the new PS4 comes out. A year or two after that Sega would be ready to release yet another console and would be in a great position to complete with the new PS4 and whatever else comes out around then. They just need to remember not to drop support for the previous system like they are now known for.

All of this is fine and good, but do we really need a new Sega system anyway? The Sega that we all know and love is dead. They still release decent games but when was the last time a Sega game was amazing? The glory days of Sega making such spectacular games seems to be gone. I would be extremely surprised to find out that most of the people who made all of those great games still work at Sega. There has been so much of a shakeup at Sega over the past 10 years that the culture they once had is gone. The only thing that really ties the new and the old are the franchises. I would love to see a newcomer to the console wars. I'm not sure I really care if it is Sega except for the opportunities it would bring to DLC. Unless the current staff at Sega have a willingness to show major respect for what Sega meant to gaming culture between 1980 and 2000, I don't think it makes a difference who the newcomer is. But if they ARE willing, I am behind them 100% and would be ecstatic about a new Sega console.

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

take a puff from the inhaler and calm down guys. the 'sega zone' or whatever its called is little more than those bootleg n64 controllers with 200 roms on them. sure, it's official, but it's not a prelude to sega's grand comeback or anything. it's an easy way to make some money whoring out their brand name selling nostalgia to cvs shoppers who've forgotten about them for 20 years.

sega doesn't have the money to seriously launch a console against the big boys. take a look at these figures for 09:

revenue
sega: 1.64B
nintendo: 20.6B
sony: 79B
ms: 58.4B

net income
sega: 190M
nintendo: 6.2B
sony: -1B
microsoft: 14.5B

if you want a dreamcast 2, buy an og xbox.

[lagartija_nick]

Really as far as I am concerned, I would not Sega to come back into hardware until they were strong enough as a company to ditch Sammy.

I believe Sammy has a controlling interest in Sega.

Now I am not saying that Sega does not make its share of bad decsions of course they do. But I am sure Sammy dictates what Sega can and cannot do as well.

Sega today is not the Sega of yesterday. But for me any chance of Sega returning to glory can only happen when they are their own entity and is not at the mercy of a parent company.

Sega is weaksauce until they are strong enough to stand on their own.

Untill Sega is strong enough to stand on its own, they are better off just making software for the time being.

They have to prove with software that they are ready for a leap into hardware and that is not happening currently. It would take a tremendous effort to build up consumer confidence to the point that Sega would feel confident enough to put hardware out.

Do I want it to happen?. Being a huge Sega fan yes. But it would be a disaster if not done properly and would sink the company for good.

At least they are still around in name and could be a contender in the future.

[Muscelli]

Sega isn't coming out with a new console.. period. Its not happening. I feel bad for the guys who still think there is a chance 10 years after they discontinued.

[Sonicwolf]

Sega isn't coming out with a new console.. period. Its not happening. I feel bad for the guys who still think there is a chance 10 years after they discontinued.

I dont think its going to happen anytime soon but never say never for the future. Some weird things happen.

20 years ago, the idea of Nintendo losing dominance for 2 generations was ludicrous.

[G-Boobie]

Sega isn't coming out with a new console.. period. Its not happening. I feel bad for the guys who still think there is a chance 10 years after they discontinued.

Me too.

Does anyone even WANT a system from modern day Sega? Yes, Dreamcast era Sega was glorious, but what have they given us since? Phantasy Star Universe and Shadow the Hedgehog. THAT is the company people are waiting on for new hardware? Isn't three consoles enough of a financial drain?

[Zap!]

Me too.

Does anyone even WANT a system from modern day Sega?

More than anything. In fact, if they produce a new system and Micro$shaft drops out, it won't even be a dream. I'll be my fantasy.

[SegaAges]

If Sega released a new system, sure, I would order it day one, but I have as much as hope for a new Sega console as I do Shenmue 3 coming out, which is very little.

Of course I have not given up on Sega. I think the company is badass.

Unfortunately, as has been mentioned before, today they are more like Atari. Atari will release plug and plays and flashbacks every now and again, and Sega does the same.

I do have to say though, this will be a good year for Sega. Bayonetta and AvP are going to help them. No, they are not Halo or Super Smash Bros or Madden, but it will at least be a little extra boost for Sega.

Now, even for the scenario that Sega did decide to drop a new console, you better believe that it will never be called Dreamcast 2. That will never happen. Yes, there is an entire generation of gamers under me, but there are still many in my generation that know and remember DC vs PS2. When DC was out super early and PS2 is still releasing games, the masses will take note of that right away.

Also, if Sega was dropping some type of console this year, they would need alot of hype behind it. Whether we like it or not, in this day and age, you can't just drop a system and expect it to sell like hot cakes. Just look at Sonic 4. That game is not coming out until summer and they already have a trailer for it.

Something like a new console, they would really need to amp up the masses to want it and to buy it.

Seeing as we have heard nothing. I don't know, Sega would have to push it pretty hard and start very early in their marketing in order to even make sales, and seeing as how we have heard nothing, there is little to no chance it will happen this year. Possibly next year if they wanted to do it, but I highly doubt it.

As was mentioned before, they just do not have that extra cushion to support the high costs of a new console.

[betamax001]

I always thought Apple would try out the hardware market, but guess not.

They did. It's called the Pippin.

If Sega did come out with a next gen system, I would buy it if there was a solid line up of games. I really can't imagine they would because the days of console exclusives are pretty much dead. Wii aside, the only big name exclusives that come out for the Xbox 360 or PS3 are the ones Microsoft and Sony come out for. So Sega would have to step it up with their IPs and come out with some stealler games for the new Sega and I will be all over it.

[Wraith Storm]

I would have loved to see a new Sega console years ago, but not these days.

Arcades are pretty much dead. It's not like the mid to late 90's where Sega and other companies were pumping out classic arcade game after classic arcade game. That's what was so great about owning a Sega system like the Dreamcast. Tons of classic arcade games got ported almost flawlessly.

That was what the Dreamcast brought to the table. It was an arcade at home. Sure, it had some phenomenal original titles too, but no other console (PS2, Xbox, Game Cube) could match the arcade vibe that the DC gave.

Now look at the Arcade scene these days. By comparison there are virtually no new arcade games being made. A new Sega system wouldn't have the same arcadish feel that Sega systems always had. So they would have to rely on mostly original titles. This wouldn't have been a big deal years ago, but most of Sega's key staff members have been gone for quite some time.

Until arcades make a huge resurgence, I wouldn't expect a Sega system to either.

[Compute]

Sega's was always best at bringing the arcade home imo. Have you gone to the arcade recently? Do you want Sega to bring home such greats as "spinny game where you get tickets" and whac-a-mole? Actually, Sammy is all about that stuff so maybe that is the strategy LOL

[BetaWolf47]

I dont think its going to happen anytime soon but never say never for the future. Some weird things happen.

20 years ago, the idea of Nintendo losing dominance for 2 generations was ludicrous.

More like the idea of Sony going from first place to third place in one.

[StoneAgeGamer]

The Sega Zone is not a Sega console. That's like saying the GenMobile is a Sega system. The Sega Zone is obviously made by AtGames. Just because its officially licensed does not make it a Sega console. Its like saying the Radica TV plug and plug Sega games were Sega consoles.