Sega System Speculation thread

[snoci]

Originally Posted by Paraloop

On a previous page I said people should stop looking forward to another console but I was pretty bitter that day. Forgive me.

Alright. So I had this thought. If SEGA did have a console in the works, would it be foolish of them to come out of the closet with it while at the same time selling games on other consoles until theirs were to release?

For example they sell games on the 360, PS3, and Wii while they promote their upcoming console and it's lineup. Would Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony agree with a plan like that?

I know it sounds pretty dumb but it's just a thought that jumps into my head at times.

If SEGA is releasing big-selling games, then they would be stupid to block them. For instance, if sony blocked them, and MS kept them, it would be sony's loss. Also, I bet that the big three would be over-competitive about beating SEGA... they wouldn't see SEGA as a big threat (at least at first).

[Pun Laca]

This sounds like SNK territory...

It may be difficult to do something like this because you have to find a balance between content, timing, and sales. It's possible as long as you don't port your best games right away. Sonic would still have to be accessible to all systems, cuz Sonic turns a profit no matter what. But you'd have to be careful how you *****...I mean, how you spread him out, or else no one would feel the need to buy your hardware.

It'd be very difficult to release massive amounts of hardware. First, Satomi would have to be convinced. Then he'd have to somehow convince the banks that partially own Sega (which are wholly owned by the gov't) to let him try to find a partner who isn't bleeding money out left and right to back them while they try at it. Right now, I can come up with only 2 companies in Japan that meet that requirement: Toyota and Honda. Honda's wasting lots of money on **** like the U3-X. They're not even really trying to sell this thing:

Actually, there are no plans to sell this electric unicycle to the public. Instead the idea is to initially use it in airports and hotels.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009...tc=th_rss_cars

They're also going to build jets. Private jets.



WTF?! We're supposed to be in a global recession. Why is Honda starting to make stuff that they either aren't going to sell to anyone or no one can afford to buy? Sega needs to find a way to dump Satomi for these guys quick.

[Paraloop]

A unicycle. REALLY HONDA? A FREAKIN UNICYCLE?! And I thought the Segway was bad.

And wow I never realized so much went into making a single console. I knew money was involved but I didn't know that it was this technical.

[MCPHREAK]

In my opinion Sega would be shooting themsleves in the foot by trying to re-enter the console game.

In the current econmy Sega would have to dump huge amounts of capital to make a console that is viable, plus they would have to do something really innovative to stand out.

Mind you there are fanboys out there who would look at the console out of brand loyalty, but without something innovative there would be no hook to get the casual gamer in.

The Wii was a perect storm, I remeber when it was first speculated people said that this was Ninetendo's death knell, but Nintendo shocked the world by bringing something new to the table.

What would Sega have to do to hook the casual gamer?

Plus at this point Sega can devlope games for each system and deliver the best content possible. Plus the great way you can get Sega games on Wii-Shop...kiss that good bye.

I just dont see them trying to jump back in. At this point Sega should be concentrating on making there games viabale an increasingly crowded software market.

[Paraloop]

I noticed that in several post in this thread the term "casual" has popped up. Can you not create a console that solely caters to people who live and breathe video games in this day and age without being unsuccessful?

[MCPHREAK]

Yes you can create one for the "hard-core" gamers.

However given the current prices for games $70-80. The companies are realizing that there is an untapped market for the "casual gamer."

In this instance I'm referring to someone like my father in-law. He wouldn't pick up a PS3 and play a Final Fantasy game if his life depended on it.

But yet he plays the Wii and games like Big Brain Academy or Wii Fit.

In order for game systems to make a profit they have to reach new markets. Nintendo did that with the Wii. People who wouldn't normally play a game let alone own a console were buying Wii's faster than companies could keep them on the shelves.

The real challenge for Sega heck any company is making games of quality that appeal to the "gamer" but not neglecting the newly aquired market.

Consider the fact that Sega has people who will buy a game regardless of quality if it has the words "Sonic" in it. This is a example of brand loyalty. What Sega needs to do now is create quality games that both the casual fan can enjoy but still appeals to the "gamer."

[Pun Laca]

Originally Posted by MCPHREAK

Consider the fact that Sega has people who will buy a game regardless of quality if it has the words "Sonic" in it. This is a example of brand loyalty. What Sega needs to do now is create quality games that both the casual fan can enjoy but still appeals to the "gamer."

EA Sports has this system down pat. Just completely buy out a license to something that everyone likes. Then make it look necessary to keep selling physical copies of games that really only have updated rosters for 60 bucks every year. Then create a system for that series of games that's simlar to All-Play that allows people who suck to be able to kick as much *** as the people who don't. This method has been proven to work. Now if Sega could just scrap together enough coinage to buy exclusivity rights to a league that's as popular as the NFL...

There's always a new way to appeal to people when it comes to hardware. It's called recycling ****. If you do it just right, people won't even notice:

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[TylerDaniels]

If Sega were to make a new console they need to include something to sweeten the deal.

My suggestion was including all there old genesis, master system and game gear titles in the console for free, in todays world I doubt they would take up much space and to any sega fan being able to place all there classic games in all in one place would be wonderful.

Then they can make a profit off selling saturn/dreamcast games online.

Plus Sega does not need to worry as much about game publishers signing on right away because the console will come with 300+ titles plus whatever sega decides to release.


Of course I highly doubt Sega is making a console in the first place but if they were to do it, I would think this would have to be there make it or break it idea.

[TheCoolinator]

What do you guys think if Sega made a new console that was completely downloadable content and doubled as a cable box?

[Paraloop]

Originally Posted by TheCoolinator

What do you guys think if Sega made a new console that was completely downloadable content and doubled as a cable box?

It'd take me a while to think about buying the console. I'm not a fan of digital distribution. I even wish that the games I have on my PS3 hdd were in stores.