[bluelazergun]

Is the Dreamcast 2 just a rumor. I've read that it is. But maybe someone can tell me theres a chance. Or at least some type of new Sega console.

[mal]

I'm pretty sure the rumour has been officially denied.


edit: It has

[mtxblau]

I think I can definitively that there won't be a new system from Sega, ever. They were running in the red ever since the Genesis, and their name is tarnished so badly (still) that entering the market is a non starter.

Firstly, they're actually turning a profit by releasing games on multiple consoles. If they decide to do their own console, they console would need a lot of market penetration to justify the costs of development on that sole console.

Then they'd need an offering that's different from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. Family friendly games with a gimmick controller? Nintendo. Graphics? Sony and MS.

And what about a mascot? MS has Halo (wildly successful), Nintendo has Mario (ditto). Sony has MGS, had GTA and Final Fantasy...

Speaking of which, just look at the struggles of Sony. They're only *one* console removed from the awesome might of the PS2 (which is still selling quite well). And the PSP is barely putting up a showing against Nintendo's DS (which will probably be the best selling console of all time).

Sega, for its health and well being, should stay as a developer and publisher. Financially, they're lucky they managed to be bought out by Sammy.

And seriously, what would a Sega console offer to the market that isn't already available to the three consoles? I agree it's a pain in the ass to own multiple consoles to enjoy Sega's library, but would the games be any better if they were on only one console?

Personally, if Sega makes a hardware comeback, it'll be on those joystick+flash drive things that are getting increasingly popular. You know, 'relive the classics!' with a classic control pad and what not. Radio Shack has that type of thing for the Atari - 20 games for $14.

Believe me, if I could own a handheld that had nothing but sega genesis classics on a flash drive, I'd be all over it and buy many for friends and relatives. But even that is ambitious thinking.

[ExCyber]

MTXBlau said:

I think I can definitively that there won't be a new system from Sega, ever.

"Ever" is a long time. While the current players will all undoubtedly be around 10 or 15 years from now, I don't think we can really predict what the market will look like. Did anyone in 1991 expect Microsoft to release a console?

MTXBlau said:

Speaking of which, just look at the struggles of Sony.

The PS3 pains mostly look normal to me for a console's first year. 360's first year was pretty mediocre, as was PS2's for that matter.

[Kuta]

ExCyber said:

"Ever" is a long time. While the current players will all undoubtedly be around 10 or 15 years from now, I don't think we can really predict what the market will look like.

I think "ever" is a fair word to use in this case. Especially considering all current console manufacturers (except Sony) will end up quiting the hardware bussiness when they decide to start integrating them with other devices.

[mtxblau]

ExCyber said:

"Ever" is a long time. While the current players will all undoubtedly be around 10 or 15 years from now, I don't think we can really predict what the market will look like. Did anyone in 1991 expect Microsoft to release a console?

Maybe not in 1991 since computers were obscenely expensive, but after Sony went after the console market with the playstation, it was a given. If you've read any of Bill Gate's books, he's always believed in the notion of having a set top box in every living room and extending the computer into 'everyday and everything' use.

ExCyber said:

The PS3 pains mostly look normal to me for a console's first year. 360's first year was pretty mediocre, as was PS2's for that matter.

The difference now is how embedded the consoles are. The 360 was the first 'next gen' console - no real competition. What was the PS2's competition? The PS3 came late to the market, after the 360 established itself and Nintendo got on a roll.

I see it like MS Vista. XP was pretty terrible when first released, but! we dealt with it because there was no valid competition. Now you have Apple, with a highly regarded and tightly integrated package, and flavors of Linux being sold (albeit in small quantities) by major vendors, it makes the battle much harder.

And then there's the small detail that Sega isn't its own entity anymore anyway. Sammy is in the red the last I checked (even though Sega is turning a profit), and they're likely not going to bankroll a venture that could lead to more losses.

Will Sega get spun off? Maybe. Will they buy their freedom? Possibly. But the vibe I get from Sega is now they're the next EA, building up their franchises and establishing themselves as developers.

[1magus]

MTXBlau said:

I think I can definitively that there won't be a new system from Sega, ever. They were running in the red ever since the Genesis, and their name is tarnished so badly (still) that entering the market is a non starter.

Firstly, they're actually turning a profit by releasing games on multiple consoles. If they decide to do their own console, they console would need a lot of market penetration to justify the costs of development on that sole console.

Then they'd need an offering that's different from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. Family friendly games with a gimmick controller? Nintendo. Graphics? Sony and MS.

And what about a mascot? MS has Halo (wildly successful), Nintendo has Mario (ditto). Sony has MGS, had GTA and Final Fantasy...

Speaking of which, just look at the struggles of Sony. They're only *one* console removed from the awesome might of the PS2 (which is still selling quite well). And the PSP is barely putting up a showing against Nintendo's DS (which will probably be the best selling console of all time).


Sega, for its health and well being, should stay as a developer and publisher. Financially, they're lucky they managed to be bought out by Sammy.

And seriously, what would a Sega console offer to the market that isn't already available to the three consoles? I agree it's a pain in the ass to own multiple consoles to enjoy Sega's library, but would the games be any better if they were on only one console?

Personally, if Sega makes a hardware comeback, it'll be on those joystick+flash drive things that are getting increasingly popular. You know, 'relive the classics!' with a classic control pad and what not. Radio Shack has that type of thing for the Atari - 20 games for $14.

Believe me, if I could own a handheld that had nothing but sega genesis classics on a flash drive, I'd be all over it and buy many for friends and relatives. But even that is ambitious thinking.

"PSP is Actually doing pretty well, true DS is selling like Stupid Crazy but still, its been 2 years and the PSP is still here!"