SEGA'S Big Announcement. READ IT HERE:

[TisLord]

I am pissed...

http://www.gamemag.nl/nieuws/item.php?id=3754

Sorry in German I belive anyway this link was taken off of the Sega boards.

http://boards.sega.com/sega/viewtopic.php?t=10019

Phantasy Star Universe...thats it thats the big suprise....woodpty freakin do...ahhh!!! :angry:

[TisLord]

Or Maybe Not...Damn it I wish people would get there stuff right...now I feel like and ass.

[Daria]

So umm... what is it exactly? A new Phantasy Star game? Or another online game? Or a compilation? Or... well what is it?
________
VAPIR VAPORIZER REVIEW (http://vaporizerinfo.com/)

[Cmosfm]

This has already been announced....the announcement will come TOMMORROW!

*carry on people*

[ManekiNeko]

Apparently, the retardos at Sega are releasing their own portable game system, codenamed the Prometheus. And just like Jay Sherman's Prometheus, this system will hang itself before anyone notices it.

JR

"Oh no, Promotheus."
"Psst... that's PromEtheus!"

[Jasoco]

MORE INFO ON THE DANG HANDHELD, PLEASE!

Carry on.

[Ed Oscuro]

"Oh no, Promotheus."
"Psst... that's PromEtheus!"
Pro methane? LOL

UGH

Well, the new Phantasy Star title is, yay, and stuff.

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh, and it's alright TisLord. I read the GameSpot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/12/news_6097766.html) page and thought that was the big announcement, too :/

[djbeatmongrel]

damnit sega, no handhelds. you dug your hole nailed your coffin and signed the death certifcate before you even stepped into this cruel cruel handheld world. sega imo has a better chance releasing a new console instead of a handheld. gba will unfortunately reign supreme sega will be left in the dust. I get it on release day though, i still love sega with all my heart and i hope for the best in this unlikely situation :bawling:

[Jibbajaba]

That isn't German; it's Dutch.

[NE146]

@ManekiNeko I got that quote about the "prometheus" on IRC.. I don't know if it's true though. :P But I just threw it out there as gossip fodder. Just fyi ;)

[roxybaby]

This has already been announced....the announcement will come TOMMORROW!

*carry on people*

They postponed their announcement? What, did they lose the script? This bodes well for Sega...sigh. I don't have the patience for this. :bad-words:

[tynstar]

Sweet a new Phantasy Star game that is not Pokemon!!!!

[ManekiNeko]

@ManekiNeko I got that quote about the "prometheus" on IRC.. I don't know if it's true though. :P But I just threw it out there as gossip fodder. Just fyi ;)

Grr! What is this, April 1st?

JR

[NE146]

@ManekiNeko I got that quote about the "prometheus" on IRC.. I don't know if it's true though. :P But I just threw it out there as gossip fodder. Just fyi ;)

Grr! What is this, April 1st?

Well no.. I just said I don't really know! :) Just throwing out whatever information I come across. But hey, look at this, just a couple hours old...

http://www.totalvideogames.com/pages/articles/index.php?article_id=5739SEGA Handheld???


12/05/2004
By: arron hanley



Is SEGAs big announcement a return to the hardware market with a new handheld…

Rumours have just filtered through of SEGA’s big announcement, with suggestions that the Japanese publisher will shortly announce a return to the hardware market in the form of a new handheld – as if PSP and DS wasn’t enough.

Early suggestions indicate DIVX and MP3 support, although we’re a little sceptical for now; we should know for certain within the hour however as doors open and we’re finally let in.

Stick with us for the latest development.

[Ed Oscuro]

Haha, damn

Thanks for the info, guys! I've posted it @ GameSpy Forums, currently home of brave DS supporters trying to fend off rabid PSP (aka "We want our 2.5 hours to be CGI") fanboys. :P

[hydr0x]

That isn't German; it's Dutch.

hey, that's my part :hmm:

[jerkov]

I guess it's not enough that Nokia crashed & burned with their handheld that could do everything, now Sega wants another taste of failure too.

I'd rather see them come out with another real console, but unfortunately that'd be destined for failure as well.

[DigitalSpace]

Not to sound like a Sega fanboy or anything, but I'm going to wait until I actually hear Sega's official announcement of this new handheld before declaring it an automatic failure. Just because it's "yet another handheld" and because the Game Gear and Nomad failed doesn't mean this will be doomed to failure as well.

However, "Promethus" is a dumb name.

[Ed Oscuro]

Not to sound like a Sega fanboy or anything, but I'm going to wait until I actually hear Sega's official announcement of this new handheld before declaring it an automatic failure.
Actually, that doesn't sound like something a Sega fanboy would say. LOL

As far as I know, the Nomad was a specialized item sold in small quanities, so I don't think it really was able to "fail."

[DigitalSpace]

Not to sound like a Sega fanboy or anything, but I'm going to wait until I actually hear Sega's official announcement of this new handheld before declaring it an automatic failure.
As far as I know, the Nomad was a specialized item sold in small quanities, so I don't think it really was able to "fail."

I stand corrected on that one.

[jerkov]

I'm not saying its doomed for failure just because it's Sega (although that may be reason enough to damn it due to their undeserved track record), but because someone mentioned that they may be trying to make it a DIVX and MP3 player as well as a gaming system. Nokia tried the same thing with the NGage, making it a cell phone as well as an MP3 player and other shit. I think people want something to play games on, not serve a hundred different purposes. I could be wrong, but it's hard to argue against the utter failure of the NGage and the astounding success of the GBA.

[GaijinPunch]

I think the consensus on this is that it's total bullshit, just like the supposed announcements about:

1: The new Atomiswave home console
2: Re-releasing the DC with new games
3: Shenmue 3

This one is just the latest, so seems more viable. C'mon people -- you think Sega is going to pour millions (more) down the tubes in an already saturated market?

[Charlie]

The last guy is right. There is no room for another handheld. The market is overcrowded and Sega doesn't have the resources to dump hundreds of millions of dollars into a new console, handheld or otherwise. I think the annoucement will be something along the lines of being exclusive to one console from this point forward.

[SoulBlazer]

Heh, I wish it WAS Shenmue 3. :o

I just finished the second and want a REAL ending, damnit! :angry:

[DigitalSpace]

According to this Gamespot article (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/12/news_6097970.html), the big announcement is The Matrix Online.

As long as they can do a Matrix game better than Atari did...

Which means the "Promethus" handheld is probably a rumor.

[rxd]

According to this Gamespot article (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/12/news_6097970.html), the big announcement is The Matrix Online.

As long as they can do a Matrix game better than Atari did...

Which means the "Promethus" handheld is probably a rumor.

That's Sega's big announcement? Wow, how did Sega become irrelevent so fast? How the mighty have fallen....

[ManekiNeko]

They've been falling for a long time, man. The 32X was the beginning of the end for them.

JR

[Syxx573]

32x? WTF, no way. Just because the Saturn didn't do that great in the US doesn't mean it did poorly overall... The Japanese version was very popular.

[NintendoMan]

I mean I was hoping for another system or handheld too, but can't see why so many people are dissapointed that the big announcement wasn't a system. I mean damn, do you actually think SEGA was going to bomb another sytem? I would have bought whatever they put out, but why would they just want to go back into debt again?
What, all of a sudden they learned how to sell great games again, but forgot how to with the saturn and DC?

[ManekiNeko]

See, when they said they had a major announcement, we were expecting something better than what they actually gave us. It didn't have to be a system, but it should have been something really amazing, like this:

SONIC TEAMS UP WITH MARIO!

Not this:

PLAY A SIMULATION OF A SIMULATION OF REAL LIFE, INSPIRED BY A CRAPPY MOVIE SERIES!

JR

[Darkness X]

So the big "secret" isn't a new console or handheld?! It's a stupid Matrix game?!

Damn, just when I was getting my hopes up...

[autobotracing]

that blows ! some big suprise x_x :hmm: :angry:

[VACRMH]

According to this Gamespot article (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/12/news_6097970.html), the big announcement is The Matrix Online.

As long as they can do a Matrix game better than Atari did...

Which means the "Promethus" handheld is probably a rumor.

Nooooooooo :(

[Cmosfm]

Ok, I've waited all day for some other kinda super big news to be leaked, but I guess not.

Sega builds up KILLER hype, saying it's something we will NEVER guess...something HUGE! And it turns out to be a shitty game, based on a shitty movie, that was leaked to magazines weeks ago!

I'm sorry, but I am UTTERLY mad over this. Ive been so hyped over this day for a long time, well...a week maybe, and this is what I got. MATRIX ONLINE!

Fuck you Sega.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm with Cmosfm on this one...I'm not really mad but this is a killer move, as in "we're going to alienate our fanbase." They dump those who want to see a return to the old days when Sega made great action/arcade games, and go for a bad movie franchise that's been whored out entirely too much already. Which isn't what they should really be doing anyway... :o

Damn them, Sammy better get on their asses and force them to stick with arcade stuff...

[classicb]

sega said in that intial letter it would be something we would never guess.
well they were right none of us thought it would be that lame. I'm actually upset over this, which I know is stupid but I am. what a bunch of crap i would be more intrested in another Sonic game.

[Flack]

The general public's opinion is that the original Matrix film (1999) was a decent movie. The second had some good action and the third one was horrible. Why would you bank big bucks on a franchise that people collectively think poorly of?

Strange decision, but you guys are right. I never would have guessed it ...

[Rev. Link]

So has it actually been confirmed that Matrix Online is the big deal?

That sucks...

But don't get too down on Sega, folks. Remember when Nintendo's "megaton" turned out to be a Naruto game? -_-;

[Jasoco]

But don't get too down on Sega, folks. Remember when Nintendo's "megaton" turned out to be a Naruto game? -_-;A what game?

[Rev. Link]

Wasn't that what it was, Naruto?

I know it was a game based off of some anime/manga.

[Jasoco]

And when was this?

[Rev. Link]

You don't remember this? Sometime last year, some Japanese game magazine said that Nintendo had a "megaton" announcement to make. People saw this and started making rumors. Like big time rumors. People were saying that Nintendo was gonna buy Sega and Capcom. Some folks thought Nintendo was dropping out of hardware production, etc., etc.

In the end, Nintendo was like "uhh, what?" 'cuz they never said they had a big announcement to make. It was just that magazine. And the whole big deal was some anime game (that was only released in Japan) that the editors of that magazine were big fans of.

[Jasoco]

Oh, so that's what the announcement was? Actually, I thought some other company had an announcement I never heard, but didn't know it was "N". I had forgotten all about it.

[Kid Ice]

This was indeed something I'd never expect because it's SO STUPID. And they had the audacity to make us wait an extra day for this "news".

Ahhh, so many sins I have forgiven you Sega.

TODAY FORGIVENESS IS OVER.

Sega is officially off the big player scorecard. It's MS, Nintendo, and Sony from here on in. Sega has turned itself into a JOKE. The Matrix? What's next, a MMORG based on Babylon 5?

What a waste. Of course I expected the big (what was the word they used again? Explosive?) announcement to be lame, just not THIS lame. Are they serious?

[ManekiNeko]

Ahhh, so many sins I have forgiven you Sega.

TODAY FORGIVENESS IS OVER.

Congratulations, you've just written the sig file I'll be using on all my outgoing E-mails!
(You will, of course, be credited as the author. Is that "Kid Ice" with two I's?)

JR

[Ed Oscuro]

What's next, a MMORG based on Babylon 5?
Actually I'd be more interested in that. Walter Koenig > what's his faOH KEANU REEVES LOL

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

What's next, a MMORG based on Babylon 5?
That would ROCK! I even have my character ready:
http://www.thelogbook.com/earl/persona/bab5.gif

[Darkness X]

Oh man this sucks ass! When I posted last it was still a "rumor" of what the Big Secret was... So it's been confirmed that the secret was a shitty Matrix game huh?!

That really pisses me off, I almost feel like I could take my Sega systems and throw them out the window(only I wouldn't since they are my favorite consoles ever)

Anyway, I guess it just shows that Sega is way passed their prime... Much like Nintendo seems to be nowdays. :(

[EnemyZero]

Well ok i AM total sega fanboy and im gonna say, A) they already did announce shenmue 3 for xbox a while ago, B)Sega doesnt release bad hardware, IE Saturn, and DC were amazing consoles, both the best of there generations i think, its just that the majority of the gaming public, are very single minded when it comes to video games, and all they know is PLAYSTATION. Whatever it is sega comes out with will definitely have my support, and anyways if it is a handheld, i certainly don't see the PSP being very popular, its time for sony to taste the sweet sweet taste of failure!

[IcewynG]

That's not the first time that a company overhypes a product to get interest. Heck, Hollywood does that all the time with their movies! And it's another one in a long line of Sega's marketing "faux-pas". Don't get me wrong, I like Sega (Dreamcast being my favorite system, followed by the Saturn) but a Matrix game?? C'mon... Sure we couldn't guess that, so what? Do I really care?

I am disappointed, but not surprised. Will I hate Sega from now on? Of course not. But the next time they will get a press release out, don't expect me to find much interest in what they say....

IcewynG

[classicb]

That really pisses me off, I almost feel like I could take my Sega systems and throw them out the window(only I wouldn't since they are my favorite consoles ever)
:(


I felt the same way. What a bunch of crap. I'm glad I came to my senses
before any sega systems were hurt.

Does anyone know how much money they blew on this license?

[Rev. Link]

Anyway, I guess it just shows that Sega is way passed their prime... Much like Nintendo seems to be nowdays. :(

Whoa, whoa, wait a minute! What the hell kind of backhanded shot at Nintendo is that?!

Have you even seen any of the E3 news? Nintendo is nowhere near past prime. I'd say their in their prime right now! It's almost like the SNES days again.

[Ed Oscuro]

Nobody had anything this innovative back in the SNES days...hell, Nintendo didn't even make the SNES backwards compatible with NES games, and it wouldn't have been too hard given that the processor has hardware emulation of the NES chip. That would've been neat, but they didn't do it. Sega had a lot of backwards compatibility on their old hardware, but that was more a matter of never really having upgraded much (until the Mark III/SMS came out, when it was actually pretty darn nice to have).

[katchoo]

Sega is officially off the big player scorecard. It's MS, Nintendo, and Sony from here on in. Sega has turned itself into a JOKE. The Matrix? What's next, a MMORG based on Babylon 5?


i'd play that babylon 5 game LOL

actually, i really want shenmue 3, but maybe i should finish shenmue 2 first...

[youruglyclone]

and here I thought astroboy was the big thing...hopefully the matrix thing isn't the big thing since all they are doing is publishing it.

[GaijinPunch]

Anyway, I guess it just shows that Sega is way passed their prime... Much like Nintendo seems to be nowdays. :(

I don't think Sega was ever passed their prime until they bombed out. On the contrary -- I think they were generations ahead of their audience, unfortunately.

[Rev. Link]

Wait a minute, I thought the Matrix game was the big announcement, officially?

Is it, or isn't it?

[classicb]

Wait a minute, I thought the Matrix game was the big announcement, officially?

Is it, or isn't it?


sadly it is :( I know it seems hard to believe

[kainemaxwell]

i think their announcement was PS Universe...

[Epicenter]

Nope, it's really the Matrix MMORPG. Sega's slapping their name on a game to increase their marketing credibility. Odds are they're not even co-developing it.

The hype-o-matic has come to a stop. You are now in .. THE DESERT OF THE REAL. Please check your area for personal belongings and take care as you exit the train. Have a nice day and thank you for riding with SEGA. :P

[Ed Oscuro]

I don't think Sega was ever passed their prime until they bombed out. On the contrary -- I think they were generations ahead of their audience, unfortunately.
They were certainly leaving their Saturn titles in the last generation, that's for sure. Nintendo could afford to cut NES compatibility from the SNES, but I think adding that feature would've helped the Dreamcast immensely.

SNES supoprt might've had an impact on the N64 as well...but that's a different story :P

[Darkness X]

Whoa, whoa, wait a minute! What the hell kind of backhanded shot at
Nintendo is that?!

It's not, I was just saying that I believe Nintendo is a mere shadow of what they were in the NES/SNES days. And no I'm not a Nintendo hater, I own NES,SNES,N64,GCN(since launch say), and all versions of the GB(minus the GB:Light). So all I'm saying is I had a lot more respect for Nintendo back in the day.


Have you even seen any of the E3 news? Nintendo is nowhere near past prime. I'd say their in their prime right now! It's almost like the SNES days again.

Uhh yeah, I don't live in a cave... Ok, maybe "past their prime" was a little hard, But in the NES/SNES days Nintendo was at the top of their game(sorry for the pun), now they just don't have that "magic" feel I get from playing NES/SNES(or as many awesome games). Maybe Nintendo is making a come back, but I wouldn't even come close to considering this their prime. As for it being like the SNES days? I don't think so... I don't think any console generation will ever be as good as the 16-bit days.

Note: I'm not trying to start a flame war, just stating my opinions.

[Rev. Link]

It's cool, don't worry about it.

I probably exaggerated, too, when I said this was like the SNES days. I do think, however, that Nintendo is reaching a new height in their career. They're finally starting to listen to the fans, even if only somewhat.

[Darkness X]

It's cool, don't worry about it.

I probably exaggerated, too, when I said this was like the SNES days. I do think, however, that Nintendo is reaching a new height in their career. They're finally starting to listen to the fans, even if only somewhat.

I agree with that, the main reason I started to notice this is when I found out the new Zelda isn't going to be Cel-Shaded. That also makes me happy, since even though I liked Zelda:WW, I really missed the realistic look of the N64 games.

Anyway, I better stop before I get in trouble for being off topic.

Peace :)

[Push Upstairs]

They're finally starting to listen to the fans, even if only somewhat.

I commend Nintendo for giving the world a new 2-D Mario game as well as a more "mature" Link...perhaps they are listening to the fans (hopefully not the obsessive ones). Here is to hoping Mario is gagged for the new game and doesnt bless us with his annoying accent.


As for SEGA....It was easy, "STREETS OF RAGE 4" BAM! Good times all around. Matrix online? Thats about as exciting as hearing about Nintendo's 4-player Pac-Man

[Rev. Link]

Aw, c'mon now, my friends and I played that Pac-Man Vs. to death for a few months. And Mario's voice usually makes me laugh, too.

But if Sega wanted to drop a real bombshell, they should have announced a number of sequels to classic franchises, all exclusively on GC. It just seems right to me, Sega and Nintendo teaming up.

[Nez]

Sega why have you forsaken us!? :bawling:

[Push Upstairs]

Aw, c'mon now, my friends and I played that Pac-Man Vs. to death for a few months.

I'm sure the game is fun but my feelings are that the time and energy could have been spent making a new game instead of a variation on the Pac-Man game.


And Mario's voice usually makes me laugh, too.

A man has got to have his limitations and Nintendo surpassed mine after one play of "Mario Advance" . Super Mario Bros. 2 is far superior without the canned, accented quips.

And Princess was just as bad.


But if Sega wanted to drop a real bombshell, they should have announced a number of sequels to classic franchises, all exclusively on GC. It just seems right to me, Sega and Nintendo teaming up.

They should have..for any system. I'm not partial to anyone in this generation i just want a good sequal to a franchise i like on the best system.

Oddly, Outrun 2 makes me excited but neither the DS or the PSP has made me excited about portable gaming :?

[anagrama]

You mean it wasn't Greendog the Beached Surfer Dude pt 2? Ah, rats :D

But seriously, this thing got totally blown out of proportion anyway. Sega issues a single short press release, and then every fanboy with a computer starts wetting themselves - "It's Shenmue 3", "It's a handheld Dreamcast" "It's an Atomisware-based high-end machine in collaboration with SNK" etc. LOL
I mean, come on, did anyone seriously expect something like that? More fool you if you did.
Anyone remember Nintendo's "HUGE" announcement a year or so back? That was similarly hyped by rabid fanboys, but I can't even remember what it was now.
And thank fuck it wasn't NiGHTS 2. Some things just shouldn't be messed with.

[Nature Boy]

Who s*it in everybody's cornflakes?

I hardly think Sega is to blame for a rumour. If you heard the rumour and are 'disappointed' about the actual announcement that's unfortunate, but blaming Sega seems misguided. Blame the press.

I *love* the people who immediately chimed in with "this is gonna fail miserably." Shouldn't you actually *see* a product before you take your fanboy stance?

A Matrix MMORPG *is* a big announcement. Regardless of what you may think about the franchise, it's gonna sell. Kudos to Sega for attaching themselves to a recognizable franchise in an effort to give themselves more awareness in the eyes of today's gamer.

[calthaer]

A Matrix MMORPG *is* a big announcement. Regardless of what you may think about the franchise, it's gonna sell.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. MMOGs are so 90s. Maybe the console people who are just getting their hands on these things now have some temporary excitement about it, but I'm not sure that will last. Give me good multiplayer coop with around 6 players and I'll be happy.

The fact that the franchise has been dragged through the mud by the last two movies doesn't help, either. With so many MMOGs coming out - why should I make Matrix mine? Seems like a huge hype wagon to me. I'd put my stock in Tabula Rasa or some other original property by industry veterans before a limp, wilted, frail franchise weed like Matrix Online.

[Cmosfm]

As for SEGA....It was easy, "STREETS OF RAGE 4" BAM! Good times all around.

YES!

[optic_85]

Well ok i AM total sega fanboy and im gonna say, A) they already did announce shenmue 3 for xbox a while ago, B)Sega doesnt release bad hardware, IE Saturn, and DC were amazing consoles, both the best of there generations i think, its just that the majority of the gaming public, are very single minded when it comes to video games, and all they know is PLAYSTATION. Whatever it is sega comes out with will definitely have my support, and anyways if it is a handheld, i certainly don't see the PSP being very popular, its time for sony to taste the sweet sweet taste of failure!

Word Brother! I will always stick with SEGA. Never let it be said that i am a fair-weather-fan.....As a wise man onece said "the sweet just aint as sweet without the sour". And a new matrix game is just about as sour as it gets....

[Nature Boy]

I wouldn't be so sure of that. MMOGs are so 90s. Maybe the console people who are just getting their hands on these things now have some temporary excitement about it, but I'm not sure that will last. Give me good multiplayer coop with around 6 players and I'll be happy.

The fact that the franchise has been dragged through the mud by the last two movies doesn't help, either. With so many MMOGs coming out - why should I make Matrix mine? Seems like a huge hype wagon to me. I'd put my stock in Tabula Rasa or some other original property by industry veterans before a limp, wilted, frail franchise weed like Matrix Online.

It seems to me that those that are quick to dismiss a game like this are those who enjoy bashing the franchise. I hate to tell you, but the franchise is big, regardless of your feelings towards the latter two movies. And Sega is a very competant games maker who, in my opinion, can really use a big name like The Matrix and do something special. For the actual fans of the movies as well as for themselves.

Online gaming is still very much in it's infancy - especially on the consoles. Microsoft claims to have around a million gamers using Xbox live - but they've sold around 16 million consoles. That's only 6.25% on what is considered the best console online experience. So the console people just getting their hands on this kind of thing *can be* a very big thing indeed if it gets more people online.