Does Sega Have Secret Plans To Release A New Home Console?

[Weekend_Warrior]

Not sure if this has been posted before, but I was just looking over the history of Sega Arcade boards and discovered some very interesting information.

Wiki Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Se ... tem_boards

If you scroll down to the bottom of the page you'll find Sega's latest ventures, the Sega Lindbergh platform and more notably the "Sega Ring" series.


Here are some interesting quotes from these sections:

SEGA LINDBERGH

"The Sega Lindbergh platform is a Linux-based embedded PC. Sega had originally planned to use the Microsoft's Xbox 360 as the basis for the arcade board, but instead opted for an architecture based on standard PC hardware. This decision was probably made because it is usually more cost effective to use a PC as a gaming platform than it is to use a console.

According to Sega-AM2 president Hiroshi Kataoka, porting Lindbergh titles (such as Virtua Fighter 5) to Sony's PlayStation 3 is generally easier than porting to Xbox 360, because the Lindbergh and PS3 use a GPU designed by the same company, Nvidia.

The Lindbergh has been superseded by the Ring series (RingEdge and RingWide), so there will be no new games developed for this system."

*MY NOTE* - Ok. So the Sega Lindbergh platform that utilized a similar GPU by Nvidia and was similar in nature to the Xbox 360 is now considered obsolete. In other words, according to Sega the present home consoles are already old balls.


SEGA RING SERIES

"The Ring series of arcade machines are also based on PC architecture. Initially announced models include RingEdge and RingWide. The 2 pieces of hardware will have Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2009 as its operating system. The reason Sega decided to use a Windows embedded system was so other third-party companies would find it easier to produce games for it. The first game for the Ring platform is Border Break, running on the RingEdge. Border Break does not take full advantage of the graphics card on the RingEdge, but introduces touch-screen functionality and a special controller system. It allows players to play next to each other in the same arcade or against other people in another arcade using Sega's ALL.NET feature. Also in Fall 2009 an image appeared around the web of what was apparently a leaked RingEdge BIOS and it appears the disc drive supports the now defunct HD DVD. On February 10, 2009, Sega approved a patent for two controller designs, one that looks similar to the Sega Saturn 3D pad with a added touch screen device and one that looks similar to the Mega Drive 6-button pad.

Sega also approved a patent for USB Flash Memory cards and Hard drive on July 7, 2009. Because of these patents, rumors have been spreading that Sega is going to release a new home console based on Ring hardware in 2010 or 2011. Sega has yet to clarify exactly why these patents were issued, possibly because these rumors may be true.

SEGA RING EDGE

The RingEdge is the main console of the Ring Series. It has better graphics and a larger storage than the RingWide. It also sports a better graphics card than the Lindbergh system, allowing for a higher performance graphically, all while costing less to produce. The use of an Intel Pentium Dual-Core (1.8Ghz per core) processor delivers better performance than Lindbergh's Pentium 4 (3.0Ghz) processor. A Solid State Drive also greatly reduces wear-and-tear due to lack of moving parts, and also has much higher transfer rates than a hard disc drive, leading to better performance and loading times.

SEGA RING WIDE

"The RingWide is more basic than the RingEdge, and only has 8GB(Compact Flash) of storage, while RingEdge has a 4 times larger storage (Because of the use of the RAM Drive and SSD). The RingWide will be used to support games that are less graphics-intensive and that require less high-end specifications in order to cut down costs for those particular games. Sega also appears to be poised to be designing a streaming hybrid for use with household TVs simIlar to OnLive from the system's hardware as shows this patent that was issued by them on November 17,2009.

*MY FINAL NOTE* So there's been reported patents and leaks regarding new arcade games, hardware, controllers with touch-screen functionality, bios, solid state drives, memory cards, better transfer rates and loading times, streaming hybrids for HOUSEHOLD TV's and mentions of developing variations of hardware components to "reduce cost." Hmm. That sounds an awful like Sega may be brewing a home console to me, and may be even banking on this "Border Break" game as the first "exclusive" arcade-to-home conversion title.

Something to chew on:
Sega Megadrive/Genesis was built with the popular Sega System 16 board in mind.

Sega Saturn utilized basically the same architecture as the Sega Titan (ST-V) board.

Sega Dreamcast shares the same hardware components as the Sega Naomi board.

Q. Will Sega finally re-enter the home console market with their new advanced Ring series?

What do you guys think?

[MrPopo]

I honestly don't think Sega has any plans to enter the market. They'd be competing against Microsoft and Sony and they still have a low brand image among the masses. Every Sonic game continuously underperforms, and the idea of a company trying their hand in a market they left usually doesn't go over well.

[dgamemuster]

if they do, i'll be surprise.

[Weekend_Warrior]

I honestly don't think Sega has any plans to enter the market. They'd be competing against Microsoft and Sony and they still have a low brand image among the masses. Every Sonic game continuously underperforms, and the idea of a company trying their hand in a market they left usually doesn't go over well.

But Sega still has an EXTREMELY STRONG cult following the the video game community. And.. this is a shot in the dark now, but perhaps the newer Sonic games suck on purpose?

Anyway, we already know about "Project Needlemouse," right?

From Wiki:

Project Needlemouse is a code name for a platform video game in development as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is targeted for release in 2010. The game was first announced through GameSpot by Sega of America on September 8, 2009, the eve of the tenth anniversary of the launch of Sega's Dreamcast video game console and the release of its launch game, Sonic Adventure in North America.

The game will be a two-dimensional side-scrolling platformer reminiscent of the original Sonic games, with an emphasis on speed. It will be playable in high definition. In an interview with Digitalgames.fr, Sega France spokesperson Franck Sebastien hinted that Project Needlemouse may be targeted for the Xbox Live and PlayStation Network platforms.

*MY NOTE* I think "hinted" is the key word there. Maybe it's actually for this "streaming hybrid" online deal that is mentioned in the Sega Ring Wide section?

Border Break and the new Sonic game.. there's two potential launch titles right there.

[VincentX]

I'm gonna say no.

Let's face it; despite the cult status of nearly all of Sega's consoles at this point and our fond memories of them; their only real success was the Genesis (though the Dreamcast is actually still getting the random title is impressive).

Yes the Genesis, Saturn and Dreamcast have some amazing titles from both Sega and other publishers and many of these games have never seen re-release (Panzer Dragoon Saga, Jet Grind Radio, etc) Sega themselves made too many mistakes. Yes the Dreamcast got everything right but by that point so many people were tired of Sega's crap (many fans, EA, etc) that it was pushed aside.

Now I'll admit I was anti-Sega at the time (aka Sony fanboy...which I am not proud of) and now that I look back I see that the Dreamcast was a great console and had a ton of unrealized potential. I also see it as the last console made truly for gamers and the last console to truly realize unique games like Jet Grind Radio, Sea Man, Typing of the Dead, Chu Chu Rocket and others. I would love to have that system still be alive and producing amazing games like those and I honestly believe it would've beaten the Game Cube in sales.

However making a system costs A LOT of money now and Sega was the last company to try and make a profit off of their console and unfortunately it didn't work. Even if Sega fixed all the internal problems that they had in the past (many of which were responsible for the Saturn's slump and premature death), even if they got everything right with the new system in terms of hardware and peripherals and even if they had a kick ass marketing campaign...they can't predict sales. Right now they're successful as a software only company and while some of that software is fading in quality (Sonic 06, Golden Axe Beast Rider) they are making money, which is what they weren't doing with the Dreamcast.

Now if Sega did release a new console and it had a launch like the Dreamcast's, I would probably buy it. I would support them 100% if I thought they were truly behind their product and were ready to give the hardware game (no pun intended) another real chance. I would talk it up to my friends and everyone I knew and help convince people to buy it.

However Sega can't take the risk again. If they released a console and it flopped; I honestly believe they would be done for. While companies like Sony and Microsoft have plenty of other sources of revenue; Sega only has their games. If they made a console that died then that would be it.

I'm a child of the 90's and I have to admit I do miss the old days when Sega and Nintendo were in a full scale war with each other and Sonic was the dude with an attitude. I do miss the old Sega and after getting into the retro-gaming scene and playing games like the Panzer Dragoon series, Sonic CD; and pretty much everything that Smilebit made (Jet Grind Radio, Typing of the Dead) I do wish that they could come back full force like before.

If they could, I'd love it; but unfortunately I don't think it will happen.

[Weekend_Warrior]

However making a system costs A LOT of money now and Sega was the last company to try and make a profit off of their console and unfortunately it didn't work.

Um.. how about the Nintendo Wii? You don't think they've made incredible profits off their new control system?

[UBERTRON777]

I don't think it's going to happen any time soon. The best I can hope for is that Sega will release these Ring games in some form or another in the U.S. If they did make a new console, I would be so pumped that my head would probably explode.

[Inazuma]

As much as I would love a new Sega console, I doubt it's really gonna happen. If it does though, I will be sure to buy it. Sega is probably my favorite game company, or at least used to be.

[VincentX]

However making a system costs A LOT of money now and Sega was the last company to try and make a profit off of their console and unfortunately it didn't work.

Um.. how about the Nintendo Wii? You don't think they've made incredible profits off their new control system?

Forgot about the Wii. Though the Wii is the first console that can turn a profit on hardware sales alone since the Dreamcast. Though to be fare the Wii is using older and cheaper tech than the 360 and PS3.

[Weekend_Warrior]

Yeah, I know. Just sayin'