If you were in charge of creating a new Sega console...

[Original_Name]

What direction would you go in? We all know that it would be a suicide run, but hey - that's what the Sega we knew is SUPPOSED to do, right? Would you go for a hardcore platform or a casual platform? Would you go disk-based, download-only, or make a valiant return to cartridges? How would the console control? How would it be marketed? What would your killer-apps be? Would you encourage new, innovative IP's or would you market on nostalgia? Anything you want to detail about your plan, feel free to detail... now GO!

[tahoe2]

I'd call it the Sega Apicary. Then, make it backwards compatible with all sega games based on cd. I wouldn't do motion control though as its only way of controlling, otherwise it would be too similiar to the wii.

[Dylan]

Would you go for a hardcore platform or a casual platform?

Definitely hardcore, because that's still a fanbase that Sega has. Casual probably wouldn't work as well right now anyway, because frankly unless it had the word "Wii" in it people wouldn't bother rotating their casual heads the extra 12° to acknowledge it sitting under the brightly colored Wii consoles on top of them.

Would you go disk-based, download-only, or make a valiant return to cartridges?

I'd probably stick with discs for now. Download only isn't a great system on consoles, and cartridges have become tragically obsolete (though flash memory could hold some promise, it's about 10x more expensive to produce).

How would the console control?

It would use a regular controller, but with less buttons than modern consoles. We don't need any of these bumpers or clicky analogue sticks that those whippersnappers are using today.

How would it be marketed?

Ooh, that's a tough one. I don't think it would any longer be appropriate to hearken back to the olden days of Nintendon't, but I would definitely poke some fun at the competition. I believe a lot of impressive gameplay footage that pinpoints the originality of the console and its respective titles would be a good way to separate it from the rest of the crowd.

What would your killer-apps be? Would you encourage new, innovative IP's or would you market on nostalgia?

New IPs for sure. While I would like to bring back older series, I don't think that they could function well enough in today's market. Seriously, it would be pretty difficult nowadays to sell a game called "Comix Zone 2" at face value. The other problem is that any IPs that have managed to stick have been beaten pretty badly at this point, you all know who I'm talking about.

Essentially what I would like to happen would be a rebirth of Sega, and while I don't believe that it would be possible to become what they once were, I think that it would be better to reforge a new image and try to stick with what really worked back in the day. It's visible that the Segas that existed during the Genesis era and during the Dreamcast era were different companies, but with similar tastes. I would simply like to see the next step in this process, ignoring the era of decay that would have been intermittent.

[lisalover1]

I would call it the Sega Jupiter, and market the hell out of it as a hardcore, nostalgia machine. It would be the system that non-gamers would buy for gamers as a gift. A conversation about it would go something like this:

Non-Gamer 1: Oh, [Gamer]'s birthday is coming up. What should I get?
Non-Gamer 2: He likes video games a lot, doesn't he? How about getting him one of those Jupiter systems?

Yeah, I would flaunt the digital download system, where gamers could download old Sega games from any of their systems. The system would be disc-based for regular Jupiter games, though. The focus of the system, however, would be adding new features to old games, such as online play, High Definition, and DLC. These would raise a lot of hype over the system, and I would focus a lot of money into marketing it, as I said before. The controller would be very similar to that of the Dreamcast's, except with dual-analog pads, like on the Saturn 3D controller, 6 face buttons, the Saturn's D-pad, and upgrades to the VMU. These upgrade would be another button or two, several obvious technical upgrades to make it a PDA-like device, in usability. But, the main feature would be to take Master System, Game Gear, and Genesis games with you on the device. It would support multiplayer through 2+ VMUs, and may even support custom games.

More on the system itself, the controllers would be wireless, and would support up to 12-player local multiplayer. As for the Jupiter's games, all the initial launch titles would be sequels to famous Sega games [Jet Set R 3, NiGHTS 3, Alex Kidd in HD World, Ristar 2, and a home port of House of the Dead 4]. This would appeal to the console's core demographic. After the launch, new IPs would be created for the system, and, once again, marketed frequently. We want everyone to know that Sega is back in the game, and is pulling out all the stops. More on the games, it would be extremely essential to re-create good 3rd-party relations, and get big companies like Capcom, Konami, and maybe even long-time non-supporters like Square Enix. It worked for Sony, and it can work for Sega.

To summarize all of this, here is a what the initial commercial for the Jupiter would sound like:

Gamer: I am just SICK and TIRED of all these namby-pampy, juvenile, mass-market, "casual" games that keep clogging up store shelves! So, I've had it! Are you like me, and want real, hardcore gaming action, without a lot of the filler that makes you cringe whenever you see it? Well, our time has come. It's time for a new challenger to enter the ring; or rather, an old one is making a comeback. We are the gamers, and we will be heard! Our voices will echo through the galaxy... and Jupiter will rise. [Screen blacks out, Sega Jupiter logo fades in, followed by thew "Sega Scream" by a large crowd of gamers].

If that's not enough to make a gamer want one, I don't know what is.

[Dylan]

Gah! How could I forget Treasure? I'd give those guys a ring in a heartbeat.

[MrPopo]

I'd just rerelease the Genesis.

[Kebo]

In fantasy land?

I would launch with something similar to Dreamcast in physical design, in terms of being square shaped and just cool as hell. It would have LED lights in various places that were on just to look cool. The games would use flash memory inside of cartridges, at an increased cost, since after all, it's a suicide run. We'd go back to Sega Saturn shaped cases, but they'd be more durable this time. The games would have much faster load times and all the fanboys would flock to our superior technology. The system would launch with a high-res, hand-drawn Sonic game, Shenmue 3, Comix Zone 2, a new Nights that manages to be better than the original, a new Power Stone game, and a new Phantasy Star game done in epic bioware fashion. Marvel vs Capcom 3 would be unveiled on launch day and be in stores. Commercials would be gameplay videos and nothing else.

The system would only be $199 and cost us $800 to manufacture. It would be backwards compatible with every Sega system ever made. Even Master System. And you could plug any Sega controller into it. It will manage to convert every casual gamer to a hardcore gamer and sell 150 million systems worldwide. It launches in November 2011.

[slowslow325]

I would call it the Sega-doesn't-suck-that-hard-any-more-console and I would make a valiant return of cartridges. The games would be considered casual today, but for the "real" hardcore players (i.e. me, probably you) they would be considered hardcore. I would not have any 3D support and I would sell the games cheap. I would give it 3 amazing sonic games, plus another one that will act like Sonic and Knuckles. I will also make the physical console in the shape of a penis.

[t0yrobo]

I'd make it all about my favorite aspect of the Dreamcast and Saturn, arcade ports. It'd run current arcade games, and older ones as well through emulation or whatever. So it'd be a little bit like a neo geo. It wouldn't have a chance at being successful, but it'd be badass.

[DerekG52]

My system would make a return to "cartridge", using either flash or SSD technology. Feature all Mega Drive / Genesis / Saturn / Dreamcast games on the revamped Sega Channel. Leverage some existing technology to make the classic 2 person games playable over the net.