Will Sega ever make another system?

[classicb]

I know the answer is probably no. But I didn't think they would try again after the Saturn. Also why didn't the Dreamcast play Saturn games.

[Rev. Link]

No.

Sega made the Dreamcast because they have a passion for games. They're a company that makes games and nothing else. Not PC software, not stereos, not portable TVs. They don't run a record label or a movie studio, either. They do games. That's why they made another system even though their previous one didn't do that well commercially.

That's also why DC didn't play Saturn games. Sega knew that most of the people who would be buying a DC already had a Saturn, so why add the nearly meaningless backwards compatibility feature?

[Garry Silljo]

Yes, it will bve called the "Sega Youwish!" and it will be backwards compatible with every Sega System ever in history to date, and also make you waffles with a special adapter......

er... in reality, I think they'll stick to games.

[sabre2922]

I like to lie to myself and say that this is Segas plan:
First: to regain a healthy financial status while developing and publishing games for the big 3 current generation
2nd:Blind side Sony and Microsoft with a surprise assault with the release of a NEW all powerful system with full support from all major publishers and Developers
3rd: the world is a perfect place again with Sega and Nintendo duking it out for first place!!!! :D
I probably would have better luck building a time machine from old PS2 part and zapping back to 1991 though @_@

[GaijinPunch]

They're a company that makes games and nothing else. Not PC software, not stereos, not portable TVs.

Actually, they DO make PC Software (Sakura Taisen, Crazy Taxi 3, and PSO just to name a couple of PC games) and they do have a Toy line. Nothing compared to Sony, but still... not just games.

[atomicthumbs]

I know I'm not alone in this one, but.... Does anyone else here feel a bit uneasy that Sega dosen't have a competing system on the market?

It's sad to know that I will never have to make room for a future Sega console in my collection (once I get the "SGs") *sigh*.

[sabre2922]

yeah atomic it does feel kinda like the twilight zone this era of consoles without a SEGA system to play along with my Xbox and Gamecube

[Richter]

they *had* a dediocated PC game development team (SegaSoft o think), but they went belly up a while back. Many of the PC game they have now are just ports

[GaijinPunch]

they *had* a dediocated PC game development team (SegaSoft o think), but they went belly up a while back. Many of the PC game they have now are just ports

I think ALL of their PC games were just that -- ports.
They still have to be coded though.

In fact, they're doing beta tests for PSO Ep I & II later this month.

[EnemyZero]

I would love to see sega back in the console business, but unless something happenes where sony were to drop of the face of the earth...which id really love to see happen ....i dont see sega coming back...id like to see sega go strictly on x-box tho...i think the reason i love xbox so much is because it reminds me alot of sega...but maybe thats just me

[Crzycarl7]

ok in my mind i would really hope they come out with a new system.
also they did in a way. i balieve that had some of their designers help out with xbox, since microsoft helped out with the DC. Also Microsoft needed people that knew how to make consoles, so that had a couple people at sega come over to Mircrosoft.
well anywho thats my conspiracy theory, and i will stick to it.

[dreamcaster]

If Sega released a new console I would readily ditch multi-console gaming.

Unfortunately, it'll never happen.
Hell, the only reason I have all three current consoles is so I don't miss any Sega releases.

[SegaTecToy]

Not anytime soon. They are making a good money making games. But who knows what will happens in some years from now? I hope that someday they will release a new one.

[Jive3D]

I'll keep my fingers crossed - but for now I'll continue to enjoy all the good games that are on the Dreamcast.

[rbudrick]

Are you folks forgetting that Sega does still dabble in the game hardware business?

They recently developed an arcade system with Nintndo, right? I think Sega will at least stick to hardware that doesn't seem like competition to their now-allies/former competition. I find it difficult to believe that that they wouldn't try somethign maybe 10 years down the road.

Hell, they may do something like a 3-d holographic system someday (or something way innovative like that), but it wouldn't be a big deal to Nintendo or Sony or MS, because they weren't competing in that market....bah, just talking out my ass, but it's an idea. Sega never REALLY left the hardware business entirely.

-Rob

[Ed Oscuro]

I know this is gonna get me flamed, but this topic is stupid, and everybody posting "no" is likewise an idiot.

No, not because Sega still makes arcade hardware (that's obviously not under the topic) and not because Sega has recently started to sell the Dreamcast again in Japan and supports the Pico.

The reason is simple: Sega is in it for the money, and if at some time in the (presumably distant) future it looks like they can get back into the home console/handheld market, they will.

Besides, who says traditional console-and-TV setups/handheld machines/Personal Computers are the only ways which folks will game in the future? No, that just lacks foresight. Sega is a corporation, and they'll do what makes money, now and in the future. There's a lot of money in the console business, and if they can make a go of it they will. Right now they don't have an argument to be in the business, but if the time is right you can bet they'll be there, with a unique and innovative offering (sorry, can't think of a beter term).

In other words: Cool down, folks, it ain't over 'till it's over (to quote Mr. Berra). Service Games is in it for the long haul -- been around since sometime in the 1960s (or earlier?) and they'll be around at least as long in the future if they keep making the right decisions (one of which was getting out of a market that was losing them money).

[GaijinPunch]

The reason is simple: Sega is in it for the money,

I'm frantically trying to name a company that is not in it for the money.

:P

[Rev. Link]

They're a company that makes games and nothing else. Not PC software, not stereos, not portable TVs.

Actually, they DO make PC Software (Sakura Taisen, Crazy Taxi 3, and PSO just to name a couple of PC games) and they do have a Toy line. Nothing compared to Sony, but still... not just games.

By PC software, I was referring to applications, OSes, etc. The things you listead are, after all, still games.

As for the toy line, lots of other developers have merchandising too. Most people would see that as a given.

What I was trying to get at in my original post, is that Sega is a game company. They're not an electronics/record/movie/etc. company that also happens to make games.

[udisi]

Unless to the way consoles are developed and marketed, I'd say "no you won't see another sega console....Sega has been slowly recouperating , and building money with software, but the console buisness is not good for money...PS2, and Xboxs are sold at a loss, to be made up on software....unless sega starts dominating the software market and raking in cash, they don't have the capital to design and release another console...which would most liktly have to be sold at a loss. Sega is lucky they were able to fight off sammy and Microsoft from buying the company. I'm guessing that sega will sit back and just release software.(where the money's at)

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm guessing that sega will sit back and just release software.(where the money's at)
If one could release software after going through a process of sitting back, I'd have a couple blockbusters out already ;)

Really, though, there's nothing wrong with Sammy butting in. They're reminding Sega that arcades are where the money's at...and that's not a bad thing.

@ Querulous Gaijin:

I see you, there. LOL

[udisi]

I'd agree that arcades in JAPAN are where it's at, but I'd think the US arcade market is kinda crappy...Most of the arcades around here that I use to go to no longer exist...I'd hate for sega to see that and give up on the US entirely....I hope they stick to console software.

Also wasn't inplying that they don't do anything innovative in the software department, just suggesting that they will stick to making steady money with the less risky software as opposed to taking the risk on console developent.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'd agree that arcades in JAPAN are where it's at, but I'd think the US arcade market is kinda crappy...Most of the arcades around here that I use to go to no longer exist...I'd hate for sega to see that and give up on the US entirely....I hope they stick to console software.
As long as they're around making good games in one format or another, I'm happy.

I'd personally like to see them cut back on the Sonic sh..tuff...and make more really awesome arcade games like they used to. Then they can port 'em over to the consoles, sort of like what Capcom did for the Saturn ;) Didn't save that system but the games are there :D

[Doonzmore]

It pissed me off that all they said about the Dreamcast on Video Game Documentaries on GSN was "IT BOMBED" :angry:

[Flack]

I'm sure Sega could release a new console if they wanted to. The question would be, why would they want to?

I don't know the exact numbers and I won't pretend to or make them up. However, just for argument's sake let's assume that each of the four "nextgen" consoles (Dreamcast, GC, PS2, XBOX) each held exactly 25% of the market's gaming share.

Every console maker continually whines about how their machine is sold at a loss. Assuming that's true, what you've essentially got is a software company (Sega) making software that's limited to 25% of the gaming market.

Compare that with now. First of all, they're not taking the beating on hardware sales that other companies eventually do (maybe the GameCube was making a profit at $199, but I doubt it is at $99). On top of that, they are now making games for all three of the remaining consoles, making games that can now reach 100% of the gaming market.

For Sega to re-enter the console market, they would have to do two things. Number one, is answer the question I asked at the beginning of this post: Why? Why spend millions of dollars on R&D when they can just wait until the next generation of systems comes out and develop games for them without all the overhead. And number two, they would have to convince US, the people who BUY consoles, why we should trust them AGAIN. In this world, gaming consoles are supposed to last 5 years between cycles, not 18 months.

[Darkness X]

It pissed me off that all they said about the Dreamcast on Video Game Documentaries on GSN was "IT BOMBED" :angry:

Yeah that pissed me off as well...

Also when they compared the PSX game to a Saturn game, and said how much better the PSX game looked.

As for Sega making a new console? I don't know, but I sure hope they do in the near future.

[GaijinPunch]

What I was trying to get at in my original post, is that Sega is a game company. They're not an electronics/record/movie/etc. company that also happens to make games.

Yeah, I know what ya mean. I was just nitpicking.

I do think Sega Toys is bigger than the other game peoples toy-lines. Mainly due to UFO Catcher stock more than anything.

I do know of one PC software they made though -- Dream Passport for PC.

[kainemaxwell]

I like to lie to myself and say that this is Segas plan:
First: to regain a healthy financial status while developing and publishing games for the big 3 current generation
2nd:Blind side Sony and Microsoft with a surprise assault with the release of a NEW all powerful system with full support from all major publishers and Developers
3rd: the world is a perfect place again with Sega and Nintendo duking it out for first place!!!! :D
I probably would have better luck building a time machine from old PS2 part and zapping back to 1991 though @_@

Though I doubt that would happen it'd be really cool if it did and would likely set the gaming, and business industry on its side in shock and awe.

[ddockery]

It pissed me off that all they said about the Dreamcast on Video Game Documentaries on GSN was "IT BOMBED" :angry:

Yeah that pissed me off as well...

Also when they compared the PSX game to a Saturn game, and said how much better the PSX game looked.

As for Sega making a new console? I don't know, but I sure hope they do in the near future.

I like the Dreamcast as much as the next guy (probably more in fact, it's my favorite system and the only one I plan to complete) but let's be realistic, it DID bomb. And in most cases I've seen the Playstation's graphics do look better than the Saturn's. This doesn't mean either console sucked, but let's face the facts, neither were exactly a huge success. The Dreamcast in fact, was a huge failure, otherwise it would still have new software coming out (a few titles in Japan doesn't cut it) and a new system would be on the way from Sega. Just because you like a console/company doesn't mean you need to be blind.

Now, o to the original question, I doubt Sega will get back into the hardware business. I could see them maybe helping with another design down the road perhaps, but probably not getting back into the hardware themselves. We can always hope though. Personally, I like things the way they are now - Sega releasing software for everyone else. Instead of wasting time dreaming up new hardware, they can stick to what they do best which is making games.

[SegaTecToy]

Actually, the Dreamcast sold very well. It just didn't sold well ENOUGH to allow an almost bankrupted company to support it.

Sony's terror tactics against developers, PS2 (shitty) DVD player capabilities, and 'hype machine' only helped its demise.

But what really drived Sega out of the consoles business was its lack of money (due to the general dumbness of their suits). Now, with the costs to launch a new machine rising everyday, I don't know if they will risk their recentlly acquired profitability in this risky business model again.

[GaijinPunch]

Actually, the Dreamcast sold very well. It just didn't sold well ENOUGH to allow an almost bankrupted company to support it.

Define "sold very well". It sold mediocre in the states, and sold shit numbers in Japan. To live, you need at least one of those markets to be huge, and the other to be relatively strong --- the DC had neither. It had a decent start in the US, but it was pretty much too late at that point in Japan, and while it did hold it's moment, the momentum never gained.

PS2 sold out months before launch (besides the 2 stores that didn't take pre-orders). That's almost a million units, in Japan, during recession. The DC didn't get close to that... in either country.

[roxybaby]

I'm sure it's not economically feasible, but I wish Sega would continue to release the Sonic games on Sega platforms. They're still my all time favorite games.