Sega to Release New Hardware?!

[PSLassic]

<blockquote>From gamerfeed.com<p>Sega's Explosive E3 Announcement<br>By Bryan Dawson -- Staff Writer<br>Published 2:44 PM CDT, April 29, 2004<p>Start the rumor mill, Sega has just announced a mystery briefing at E3 that could shock the world.<p>In less than two weeks time, on Wednesday, May 12, Sega will surprise the gaming world with an announcement from their booth at E3. According to an e-mail sent out to various media outlets this morning, the announcement will take place at 10:00 AM PST, and last for approximately 30 minutes. Sega is calling it an "Explosive Announcement Event".<p>In addition to the big announcement, the mystery briefing will also unveil the latest titles from Sega. Many people have speculated that Sega will announce Shenmue III exclusively for the Xbox, but the sheer magnitude of this event seems to point to something bigger. Stay with us as we'll have coverage of the event from the E3 show floor.<p>and also http://www.freewebs.com/realgamesplayer ... scoops.htm<br>On the 12 th of May, Day 1 of E3, Sega will showcase to the world it's re-entry into the Console hardware arena.<p>We first reported on a rumour regarding Sega returning to hardware about a month ago, but now the rumour is a reality, Financially revitalised, finally debt free, Sega now firmly belives it has what it takes to rule the roost.<p>But why you may ask are they doing this? wouldn't it be suicide? well no, not really. You see when Sega was making the dreamcast hardware it was selling an average of between 25-30 million units of software per year. Since going third party that number has always remained in the 6-10 million range. Besides the reason for going third party in the first place was to stop the losses and have a chance to get rid of it's debt (well over a billion dollars). Third party was never a permanent business plan. Did Isao Okawa give away he's life savings to save a software developer? No! re-entering hardware in the next round was always the plan. Did Sammy splash out half a billion dollars just for arcade floor space? No!<p>What we're trying to get at is that the signs have always been there, but now rejoice!<p>IT IS TIME FOR THE BIGGEST COMEBACK STORY OF ALL TIME.<p>*Update* A Sega rep has informed us that the next machine will be of platinum color.</blockquote> <p>This is the best day of my life.

[Mizehrith]

Wow, I hope this is true! That would be sweet! I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[zoothe]

You know, Sega's biggest problem was that they never listened to what the gamers were asking for (at least that was the case in America). One can only hope that they've seen the marketing strategies they once refused to employ succeed, and that they will now follow suit. I'd definitely buy a new Sega console. I'm glad Shenmue is for the XBox... I never liked that game, and I refuse to buy that system.

[Benoit]

I don't believe this. It's way too unbelievable. I'll wait for news from sites that I can trust.<br> <blockquote>You know, Sega's biggest problem was that they never listened to what the gamers were asking for (at least that was the case in America).</blockquote> <br>Huh? Could you elaborate? For Dreamcast, it was heaven in the US! Alien Front Online came out only there...<p>EDIT: Found info about this on GameSpot. Read the rumor mill page here.<br>And here's the excerpt which explains this:<br> <blockquote>RUMOR #1: At E3, Sega will announce it is getting back into the console business.<p>Source: An e-mail blast inviting press to Sega's "mystery event" at E3.<p>The official story: "SEGA cannot comment on rumors relating to its exclusive press event on day one of E3. SEGA remains excited about its powerful lineup of yet-to-be announced titles."--Sega spokesman.<p>What we heard: Ever since Dreamcast production ceased in 2001, the console's diehard fans have held out hope that it would rise from the ashes. This week, hope came in the form of a one-paragraph press invitation to Sega's E3 presentation. "Learn about SEGA's 2004 line-up and hear BIG news you'd NEVER guess," read the invite, which promised "explosive news--something even YOU won't be able to guess!" (Emphasis in the original). Within minutes, Sega loyalists were churning out messianic predictions of a new and improved Dreamcast. "Financially revitalized, finally debt-free, Sega now firmly believes it has what it takes to rule the roost," read one. But before you break out the straightjackets, consider this: Amusement-machine giant Sammy is Sega's majority stockholder, and its president Hajime Satomi is Sega's chairman. This year, Sammy's new Atomiswave arcade platform will replace the veteran NeoGeo format. The NeoGeo also came in a home console version which had a customer base fanatical enough to shell out hundreds of dollars per game--in other words, a proven (if small) market. The Atomiswave's hardware is even more compact than the NeoGeo's. Sammy has announced Sega will focus on developing games for the Atomiswave. Could Sega's big announcement be a new, Sega-branded home console based on the Atomiswave? Or is all this much ado about nothing?<p>Bogus or not bogus?: Although it's an intriguing theory, it's probably bogus. Note to Sega: kudos for making one publicity e-mail go a long way.</blockquote><p>[size=small][Edit by Benoit on [TIME]1083413938[/TIME]][/size]

[HuBBsDoctor]

I think it's complete bullcrap. I'm sure sega's big announcement is going to be something along the lines of a merger or several aquisition of smaller companies.

[Neo48]

Well well, another one for Nintendo to compete with. Better get that GC2 rolling. Just in case...

[LaconianShot]

Hmmm...not true. I don't think that Sega is out of debt, like the first article claimed. The "big announcement" is probably a joint deal with another company, like Nintendo or X-Box, or perhaps something to do with arcade. In short, too good to be true.

[zoothe]

<blockquote>Could you elaborate? For Dreamcast, it was heaven in the US! Alien Front Online came out only there... </blockquote> <p>Well, I'm not only talking about the Dreamcast. Look at some of the great games that only came out in Japan for the Saturn. Look at what they did to the Sega CD. Back when games like Lunar were popular, they were trying to sell us Sewer Shark! By the time the Dreamcast came out, Sega was done. Besides, the Japanese still had more great games than the US. Who cares about Alien Front Online?<br><p>[size=small][Edit by zoothe on [TIME]1083447354[/TIME]][/size]

[Benoit]

<blockquote>Well, I'm not only talking about the Dreamcast. Look at some of the great games that only came out in Japan for the Saturn.</blockquote> <br>Except for the two untranslated Shining Force III chapters, I don't see what you're talking about.<br> <blockquote>By the time the Dreamcast came out, Sega was done.</blockquote> <br>Yeah, Sega was so done that it sold tons of Dreamcasts!<br>The problem was that the US wasn't enough to support Sega.<br> <blockquote>Besides, the Japanese still had more great games than the US. Who cares about Alien Front Online? </blockquote> <br>Many people do, me included! :@ <br>And the Japanese didn't have that much more great games than us.

[HuBBsDoctor]

<blockquote><i>Originally posted by Benoit</i><br>Yeah, Sega was so done that it sold tons of Dreamcasts!<br>The problem was that the US wasn't enough to support Sega.<br></blockquote><p>Thats why it took the dreamcast 3 years to sell 5 million consoles worldwide, AFTER the price drop to $50

[zoothe]

<blockquote>Except for the two untranslated Shining Force III chapters, I don't see what you're talking about.</blockquote><p>Are you kidding? What about the Lunar remakes? Dracula X? Dragon Force 2? Freaking the Langrisser series?! The Saturn had some awesome games that never made it to the US. But I suppose, that's a matter of opinion eh?<p>As for the Dreamcast's popularity in the US... I know about dozen people who own that system, and all of them bought it after Sega announced it's demise and the price dropped to $99 or less.

[Benoit]

<blockquote>What about the Lunar remakes?</blockquote><br>I can just as well play the Sega CD versions. Remakes don't score that high with me.<br><blockquote>Dracula X?</blockquote><br>?<br><blockquote>Dragon Force 2? Freaking the Langrisser series?!</blockquote><br>Point taken.

[HuBBsDoctor]

Benoit tell me. Did they ever release Lunar for the mega cd in europe or did you people have to import?

[zoothe]

Dracula X was the Sega Saturn release of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It had a few additions that SotN did not have. And though the 3D graphics suffered a little compared to the PS, it's still SotN, which is a fantastic game!<br><p>[size=small][Edit by zoothe on [TIME]1083522049[/TIME]][/size]

[Benoit]

Keep in mind, though, that Sega didn't make most of the games you are mentioning, and thus couldn't have done anything about it.<br> <blockquote>Benoit tell me. Did they ever release Lunar for the mega cd in europe or did you people have to import?</blockquote> <br>I think it never came out here. Just like most RPGs never do. Usual shit...