Do We Really Want a Dreamcast 2?

[GSZX1337]

Before I say my piece, I just want to say that I'm not trying to recreate the flame-bait thread that TheRev made.

A lot of (perhaps most) Sega Geeks out there would like to see Sega return to the console scene with a Dreamcast 2. I won't spend too much time on this, since I'm assuming that if you're a member here you either want to see a new Sega console or at least encountered someone who does. Oh, and I think I'm required by law to link this: http://youtu.be/9xsiLS48gqI

On to the main question: "Do We Really Want a Dreamcast 2?" I ask this because in the context of the modern gaming scene, Sega having a game console seems almost completely detrimental to me. There are two reasons why I say this. The first is that without a proprietary platform to develop for, Sega is able to release their games for everything under the sun. The second reason is that there's so many gaming devices out there, a Sega console would come off as just another machine out there.

Lemme elaborate: For the first point, since Sega has no interest in exclusivity they release their games/IPs across many platforms. Some games even get released on everything. I like this because no matter what device I choose to play my games on, I'm guaranteed to have Sega games for it. I can play Sonic on my phone, AfterBurner on my Xbox, NiGHTS on my PC, Super Monkey Ball on my Wii, and House of the Dead on my PS3. If Sega were to make another console, it's entirely possible that Sega's content would be exclusive to only their hardware with the occasional port to the PC like it was Dreamcast. We might be lucky and have the Sega IPs appear on competing platforms like they did back in the Master System/Genesis days, but I think that's highly unlikely.

Imagine titles like Bayonetta, Binary Domain, and Condemned available only on the Dreamcast 2. That would suck. Now I will say that the big disadvantage to this is that you'd have to own everything to get all of Sega's content whereas if Sega had a platform to call their own, you'd likely only need to own that device to have access to all of their content. I think this is an acceptable disadvantage since most of Sega's games are available on more than one platform so there's a bit of overlap.

As for the other reason, the gaming landscape has changed significantly since the Dreamcast. Back then, there were five relevant platforms. Since the Dreamcast was part of a transition in the gaming industry, you could argue there were more relevant platforms, but for now let's say there's three consoles, a handheld, and the PC. In the past decade, we've been introduced to a new console competitor, smart phones, micro consoles, cloud gaming, Sony managing to wedge themselves into the portable space, and Macintosh/Linux games are also on the rise. In the past decade, we've gone from five relevant platforms to more than ten. That number can easily double depending on your definition of "relevant" and if you consider each Android device (eg. Ouya, smartphone, GameStick) a separate platform.

It's entirely possible even likely, that a new Sega console would get lost in the crowd. The Dreamcast 2 could be like the Wii-U in that it's the machine to get their style of games. However, I don't think the market has enough room for two consoles designed to be "unique". There's already too much out there and a new Sega console would come off as yet another platform with yet another account to create.

Basically, I like the way things are right now and I think having a Dreamcast 2 would only change it for the worse. Does anyone else feel this way?

[BoringSupreez]

We've talked about whether a Dreamcast 2 would be a good thing or not many times for years and years, and the general consensus is no. The topic we should be debating is: Dreamcast 3.

[samsonlonghair]

Of Course! Dreamcast3! That solves everything!

[GSZX1337]

We've talked about whether a Dreamcast 2 would be a good thing or not many times for years and years, and the general consensus is no.

I don't remember a thread where anyone outright said they didn't want a Dreamcast 2. The only threads I can think of are two bullshit threads, the first being that TheRev thread and the other being a faux design document for a pyramid shaped Dreamcast 2. Whenever I search for Dreamcast 2, the search engine drops the two, making it difficult to pull up even those threads.

The topic we should be debating is: Dreamcast 3.

[BoringSupreez]

Of Course! Dreamcast3! That solves everything!

Dr3amcast.

[samsonlonghair]

Here is the totally real, not at all fake, definitely not photoshopped picture of the dreamcast 3:

[Jmenglan]

I wouldn't want one. The Dreamcast is still my favorite console of all time, but the studios that made most of those games no longer exist. Sega is a shell of itself compared to what it was in the late 90s.

[BoneSnapDeez]

A new Sega handheld with a small number of niche titles would be ideal.

Kind of like a modern-day Neo Geo Pocket Color.

Sega Dreamcast Portable - SDP!

[samsonlonghair]

Sega Dreamcast Portable - SDP!

You down with SDP?
Yeah, you know me!
http://youtu.be/qmuFlaFYdgE

[fastbilly1]

How about Sega just release more upgraded Dreamcast games on other platforms - specifically Steam. A new Alien Front Online or Outrigger would just be perfect. Hell, I would be happy if they just gave us Phantasy Star Online 2 in English (I know I can hack it into English but an official release would be superior).