Rumurs on Sega's *possible* Hardware Re-entry

[Megadrive1988]

thanks to otheranthony-ns on gaf for finding this

http://forums.gaming-age.com/showthread.php?t=7250

original source:
http://www.freewebs.com/realgamesplayer/

Clues of Sega's hardware aspirations (23 July 04)

There's been alot of speculation that's gone on on the internet in the last couple of months regarding Sega and if they'll ever return back to hardware. From journalists to insiders to sega otaku's on the many sega boards on the net.

Today I would like to chip in with some of my own personal thoughts regarding the matter-

I think in all honestly if you string all the clues together you would agree that if Sega did end up announcing another Sega console soon then none of use should be suprised. Why so? well let's look at all the clues shall we?

Clue 1- Yuji Naka's desire for a propriety platform

Clue 2- Sega's merger with Sammy

Clue 3- Hajime Satomi's desire for rapid expansion and willingness to invest Pachinko and Pachislot income into new businesses.

Clue 4- Sega's choice to choose PVR for their next arcade board, thus meaning it'll be custom and not based on any future next gen console when they could of easily adopted Chihiro 2 based on Xenon which is released mere months after Sega plans on debuting it's new arcade system into the arcades of Japan.

Clue 5- The size of the new Holding company to emerge on the 1st of October cannot be underestimated. Sega-Sammy on 2003-2004 fiscal year alone is only second to Nintendo and by May of next year will have supplanted the Kyoto company and by 2006 to 2007 when the re-organisation takes place the company is estimated to be bringing in a Billion dollars of net profits annually. On pure profit count alone that's not only bigger than Nintendo and EA, but also Sony.

Clue 6- The holding back of key franchises and general emptiness in the company's release schedules for the last year including the current one

Clue 7- Isn't kind of weird that Sega hyped up it's pre-e3 conference this year beyond belief, only for them to end up delivering the Matrix online?

Well I don't see it that way, I think what really happened was Sega was ready to unveil not only it's next gen console but also Yu Suzuki's Shenmue III. Why didn't it happen? Well according to some- Shenmue's trademark had expired and it was only in June when Sega got it back thus leaving Sega to think up of something else for the announcement, that something else being the Matrix online.

Clue 8- If you check Imagination Technologies upcoming year statements, when they refer to their next GPU they say that it targets arcades(sega's next board), PC desk top and also Consoles, I've heard many IMGtec guys in magazines over the last few months in PC mags saying the same thing, a few months ago one of them actually said- "this would be ideal for a next generation console" when refering to it's upcoming "high end" graphics technology.

The truth of the matter is this- we all know that both Nintendo and Microsoft have partnered with Ati to supply the GPU's for their future machines, as both companies have already announced this. So if Nintendo has Ati, Microsoft has ATi and Sony has it's own, then what machine are they "targeting" with their upcoming GPU? who else is left on the field? infinium and the Phantom 2?

Highly unlikely.

Just like you had Naomi and Dreamcast based on it, the chances for a Naomi3(or whatever it'll be called) and a home system based of it is seeming more and more likely as time goes on.

There are more clues that I'll be back to post later, untill then digest the above and realise that somethings stirring and that it's not out of the equation as some may have you believe.

-Zach Morris

I think that the 2006-2007 timeframe is one possible window, then the other window that's been discussed previously was the 2009-2010 timeframe. I think the later timeframe is the more likely, if it happens at all. I think Sega will remain a third party well into the Xenon-Revolution-PlayStation3 console cycle, if not for the entire cycle. still, rumors are always fun since they get the Sega-fanboi within me very excited


lets say that perhaps a new Sega home videogame system of some sort *is* in fact in the works, somewhere down the road. right now, its kinda like we are in 1995 or 1996, that is, one or two years before we knew ANYTHING about the *last* next generation Sega console plans, which we first learned about in 1997 (BlackBelt, and Dural/Katana)...which (Katana/Dreamcast) did not come out until 1998 in Japan and 1999 in the West..... So *if* (and I mean IF) there is a new Sega in the works, that is to be released within the next 4 to 5 years, we won't even *hear* anything on it for 1 to 2 years, at least..... just a few thoughts of my own. 8)

 

[jvd]

I'm a huge sega fanboi and I don't think this is going to happen.

They need to release a crap load of high quality games and get the sega name fixed up. Only then can the launch a succesfull system.

unless some how they hit a grand slam . They owuld need the most powerfull console at the cheapest price. They would need tons of third party support and strong first party tittles to even have a chance.


I would like to see a sega high end system. Like 800-900$ just for ports of its arcade games. I think this could be a good move for sega.

 

[GwymWeepa]

I'm a huge sega fanboi and I don't think this is going to happen.

They need to release a crap load of high quality games and get the sega name fixed up. Only then can the launch a succesfull system.

unless some how they hit a grand slam . They owuld need the most powerfull console at the cheapest price. They would need tons of third party support and strong first party tittles to even have a chance.


I would like to see a sega high end system. Like 800-900$ just for ports of its arcade games. I think this could be a good move for sega.

I was thinking the same thing, a super high-end console, you get perfect arcade ports, and superb graphics, but they continue to support the other consoles, make it a niche system, as long as they turn a profit on it, it should all be good heh.

 

[Wunderchu]

hmmmm ... just thinking of a new Sega console using a PowerVR Series 6 or PowerVR Series 7 VPU ....

 

[Megadrive1988]

I would GLADLY go for an $800~$900 (or 600~700 UK pounds) high-end SEGA-Sammy console that is mostly for arcade-ports, ala NEO GEO. Yeah that's a higher cost console than NEO GEO (packaged at $400 and $650 in 1990 ) but lower cost software: $50~$60, much like NEO GEO CD software... but like NEO GEO and NEO GEO CD, there would be SOME exclusive console games made for the home unit
(ala Samurai Showdown RPG (Phantasy Star in Sega's case) Iron Clad, Crossed Swords II, the cancelled Crystalis II etc)..

hmmmm ... just thinking of a new Sega console using a PowerVR Series 6 or PowerVR Series 7 VPU ....

as was I. if PowerVR Series 5 (and therefore NAOMI 3) is a sucessful part, i would concider it to be PowerVR's fresh start, then Sega would get a custom next-next-generation Series 6 or Series 7 for NAOMI 4 (or whatever) and the home version 8)

 

[Megadrive1988]

Nash on GAF said something extremely delicious:

Ok, I really shouldn't fuel this but ...

Phantasy Star Universe never had a platform(s) announced for it at E3, which was odd. If that trailer ended up realtime on proprietary hardware, that would be interesting!

 

[thop]

I'd buy a home arcade thingy like sega machine, but only at a reasonable price.
PS. How come GA accepted ~200 new members since i applied and i'm not one of them :|

 

[zsouthboy]

I'm not getting my hopes up, but I would enjoy seeing another Sega console in front of my TV.

 

[jvd]

I would Buy a 800$ sega system and 75$ video games if they were arcade perfect.


Just think they could add usb 2.0 support and not have to worry about making other things. You could get a great racing wheel or flight stick for the pc.

Hook it to this system.

Then play scud race 2 , daytona usa and what not. With next gen arcade graphics . As it is i only buy 2 or 3 console games a year.

 

[Megadrive1988]

the main thing is, this rumored new Sega home machine would have to be a quantum leap beyond the Xenon & Revolution, while rivaling or even surpassing the PS3. much like the NeoGeo was a quantum leap beyond the TurboGrafx-16 & Genesis, while rivaling or even surpassing the SNES.

that's probably too tall an order for PowerVR Series 5 / NAOMI 3. so we'd have to be talking about next-next generation graphics and CPU technology beyond the forthcoming consoles. something that pre-empts the Xbox3-N6-PS4.

key technical features probably needed:

-45 nm (2007-2008?) or 35 nm (2009-2010?) process
-several billion transistors between CPU+GPU
-better type of graphics rendering (raytracing, global illum. photonmapping, or whatever) not just better/faster scan-conversion. or at least a hybrid of the two.
-new method of user interaction beyond Revolution and PS3
-cheap solid-state or near solid-state media, or maybe even blu-ray or competing HD-DVD format.

 

[jvd]

the main thing is, this rumored new Sega home machine would have to be a quantum leap beyond the Xenon & Revolution, while rivaling or even surpassing the PS3. much like the NeoGeo was a quantum leap beyond the TurboGrafx-16 & Genesis, while rivaling or even surpassing the SNES.

that's probably too tall an order for PowerVR Series 5 / NAOMI 3. so we'd have to be talking about next-next generation graphics and CPU technology beyond the forthcoming consoles. something that pre-empts the Xbox3-N6-PS4.

Well first you need to prove that a quantum leap beyond xenon and revolution wouldn't rival or supras the ps3. I would say a quantum leap beyond xenon and revolution would be a quantom leap over the ps3 .


But at 800$ price point they could easily put in 2 to 4 power vr 6s .

a full dx 9 16x1 tbr at 400mhz would crush a x800xt pe and a 6800ultra . two series 6s would do the same to the revolution and xenon and would most likely shame the ps3 (depending on when it actually comes out)

 

[Megadrive1988]

Well first you need to prove that a quantum leap beyond xenon and revolution wouldn't rival or supras the ps3. I would say a quantum leap beyond xenon and revolution would be a quantom leap over the ps3 .

well you have a good point jvd, and I did not really intend to suggest that PS3 will or won't be a huge leap beyond Xenon and Revolution. I think they will all be on the same level, like TG16, Genesis, SNES, although SNES came somewhat later.

Sega would need "a Dreamcast of difference" over Xenon, Rev., PS3 like Dreamcast was over Saturn, PS1, N64. even though it wouldn't be on par with Xbox3, N6, PS4, like Dreamcast was not quite on par with PS2, GCN, Xbox... even though in some areas the Dreamcast surpassed PS2... hope everyone followed that..

 

[Megadrive1988]

But at 800$ price point they could easily put in 2 to 4 power vr 6s .

a full dx 9 16x1 tbr at 400mhz would crush a x800xt pe and a 6800ultra . two series 6s would do the same to the revolution and xenon and would most likely shame the ps3 (depending on when it actually comes out)

agreed. this is easily one of many possible senarios.

 

[jvd]

I would love to see it and i would buy it right away.

THe software at 75$ would give them some breating room so it doesn't matter if they only have the hardcore sega fans buying from them .

They could then downgrade the graphics for other systems . And stillmake a profit .

 

[Megadrive1988]

They could then downgrade the graphics for other systems . And stillmake a profit

........much like NeoGeo games were downgraded to SNES, Genesis and PCEngine Arcade Card CD, while still being released 100% arcade-identical on the NeoGeo AES home console.

 

[jvd]

They could then downgrade the graphics for other systems . And stillmake a profit

........much like NeoGeo games were downgraded to SNES, Genesis and PCEngine Arcade Card CD, while still being released 100% arcade-identicall on the NeoGeo AES home console.

exactly .

That would maximize profits . It be nice if they released more than just arcade games on this system. Like a full out panzar dragoon saga 2 with awsome graphics and then down grade it to other systems .

I think this is the only way for them to get back into the game.

Man 2 series 6s with a sh5 or sh6 would be amazing

 

[Megadrive1988]

absolutely.

Sega should still release some non-arcade games such as Phantasy Star 5 (if PSU turns out not to contain PS5) as well as a follow-up to Panzer Dragoon Orta, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Sonic, Alex Kidd, Wonder Boy, Sword of Vermillion. hey, even the NeoGeo had some platformers like Blue's Journey/RayGuy and some console-exclusive content like SS RPG,
Crossed Swords II, Ironclad, and some games (like console-only) that never made it out like Magician Lord 2 and Crystalis 2.

Sega could still be a multiplatform company, sort of a 3rd and 1st party, *almost* the way SNK was in the late 1980s with its NES releases, then going to NeoGeo, but Sega could do both at once.

 

[GwymWeepa]

To guarantee some decent sales, even at a very high price, they should investigate a virtual reality head-set, now that would make me want to buy one if they can make a decent one and sell it affordably as a great peripheral.

Also, every game they release on the other systems, should have a "superior" version on the main system.

 

[jvd]

To guarantee some decent sales, even at a very high price, they should investigate a virtual reality head-set, now that would make me want to buy one if they can make a decent one and sell it affordably as a great peripheral.

Also, every game they release on the other systems, should have a "superior" version on the main system.

well that would be the whole point.

A 800$ system would out class all of the other systems. Esp if sega also takes a loss on the system.

YOu get arcade perfect ports and mabye some extra exclusive chars or lvls that aren't in the ps3 or xennon systems

 

[Lazy8s]

The only "clue" from that list with any substance is #3. Satomi and the board is actually making consideration on the markets that the new company will address and how the company will go about it. With their resources, they're not content with just becoming an ordinary third-party publisher. Hardware is already a huge part of the company's operation as they manufacture the standard in boards for the pachinko, arcade, and related markets. They may not start up a new hardware business that goes into direct competition with the Sonys and Microsofts, yet they may still try some plan that ambitiously uses their resources to get them in something hardware-related.