New Sega Console...kinda...

[Jasper061992]

Lookie.

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/31177/new-sega-console-hitting-summer

Apparently, its yet another firecore console that comes preloaded with 50 games, some consisting of Arcade, Mega Drive and "Interactive Games", like the Wii. It will retail for £50. The name of the console you may ask? "Sega Zone"

I'm disappointed, I was about to scream for joy that Sega has FINALLY came back into SERIOUS Videogame console industry. I guess this is somewhat a step in the right direction. You could say they are taking babysteps lol. What disappoints me even more, is that there is no way to load more than the included 50 games!!

What do you think of this? Did Atgames merely yet again get a licence from Sega to do this??

[Jesse813]

I have no idea but that thing looks like garbage.

[Guntz]

Sega is eventually gonna learn the hard way that classic games can only get you so far. Time for them to unveil the home video game console version of Ring Edge/Wide... Maybe they'll call it Sega Pheonix. :p

[Jasper061992]

The thing is, I think i've seen that Wii like console shape before lol, but in white.


Sega is eventually gonna learn the hard way that classic games can only get you so far. Time for them to unveil the home video game console version of Ring Edge/Wide... Maybe they'll call it Sega Pheonix.

That would kick so much **** it isn't even funny!

[Knuckle Duster]

Sega is eventually gonna learn the hard way that classic games can only get you so far. Time for them to unveil the home video game console version of Ring Edge/Wide... Maybe they'll call it Sega Pheonix. :p

Get you so far? It's all gravy. This is licensed & costs them nothing.

Their brand recognition is already in the mainstream toilet.

RingEdge/Wide is just x86 hardware running an embedded windows OS.
They would need to kiss Microsoft's ass from day one to license it for home-consoles & the conflict of interest is too big.

[Nick16]

I didn't know Sega is licensing the black Nintendo Wii under their name!
But really, this looks less than stellar, why post it if it's just a Wii knockoff?

[Christuserloeser]

Sega is eventually gonna learn the hard way that classic games can only get you so far.

Well, their catalog of classics could as well catapult them back into the race like Wii did for Nintendo, but this...

...this is just another sell out to make a quick buck...

I am speechless...


Edit: I know that as a Sega fan I shouldn't be! I should be getting used to it but no, I am again and again amazed just how far they can take it.

[TheRollingStoner]

If I hadn't sold my soul earlier this week, I would bet it that this is yet another AtGames product. The menu screen in the pics is exactly the same as the Gen Core, Gen Mobile and the like. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it fares, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Guntz]

Get you so far? It's all gravy. This is licensed & costs them nothing.

Their brand recognition is already in the mainstream toilet.

RingEdge/Wide is just x86 hardware running an embedded windows OS.
They would need to kiss Microsoft's ass from day one to license it for home-consoles & the conflict of interest is too big.

Eh, I wasn't really thinking with that post.

It would just be nice to see Sega doing something that doesn't consist of making crappy hardware used for emulating hardware and smearing Sonic's good name on the floor... :(

[Guntz]

Well, their catalog of classics could as well catapult them back into the race like Wii did for Nintendo, but this...

I am speechless...

If you think about it, this whole Wii knock-off thing is a total oxymoron brain fart. Did Sega forget they had old games on the Wii VC already? Why the need to compete with it?? :confused:

[FoxHound]

at least the box looks good. Funny how they show the zone 40 or whatever in one pic.

[Jasper061992]

Oh, that white one beside the bladk one was the one I seen somewhere before. My bad. Well, theres one good thing about this yet-to-be-released clone, is that it's black. All Sega's consoles prior to the Dreamcast had that trademark black colour to them. :D

[InternalPrimate]

Why do people keep on insisting that Sega will eventually rejoin the console race? It's not going to happen.

[Guntz]

All Sega's consoles prior to the Dreamcast had that trademark black colour to them. :D

Because Sega was BADASS. :cool:

[Guntz]

Why do people keep on insisting that Sega will eventually rejoin the console race? It's not going to happen.

Fans can have their nonsensical dreams, can't they?

[Christuserloeser]

If you think about it, this whole Wii knock-off thing is a total oxymoron brain fart. Did Sega forget they had old games on the Wii VC already? Why the need to compete with it?? :confused:

Well, Sega sold the license to AtGames long before Wii was released:

Initial anouncement from 2004: http://www.atgames.net/Eng.pdf

Anouncement of Titan hardware from 2005: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/20050513003.html

[PimpUigi]

If Sega would only make a HD Wii, with Wind Squid as a launch game.

: (

[Christuserloeser]

If Sega would only make a HD Wii, with Wind Squid as a launch game.

: (

A Super MasterSystemMegaDriveGameGearSegaCD32XSaturnDreamc ast with HDMI out.

[NeoVamp]

whoohoo more firecore crap! http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/icons/meh.gif

[Guntz]

A Super MasterSystemMegaDriveGameGearSegaCD32XSaturnDreamc ast with HDMI out.

That's too messy, you gotta spell it this way.

Sega MasterGenGearSatCast32X CD. ;)

[QuickSciFi]

I've seen this before:
http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/zo/zone-40-wireless-gaming-console.jpg

It sells for $20 at CVS pharmacies (the non-sega type, that is). It seems Sega struck a deal with the company that makes them (that's why they're keeping "zone" in the name). It's exactly the same shell. And, by the looks of it, it will be 100% emulation. I like that it has the SEGA logo on it, though. But it certainly looks like it won't be much more than a 2-player, wireless plug N play.

[Melf]

They could at least include games not ALREADY RELEASED ON A MILLION COMPILATIONS. Damn it Sega, if you're going to keep milking your Genesis catalog, at least mix up the titles you use. I'm not buying the Sega Genesis Collection on a plug-'n-play.

[tz101]

This is almost identical to some Wii knockoffs I saw selling at Walgreens before Christmas, only they didn't have the Sega game titles included and were white in color.

Why do these companies insist on mimicking the Wii with their motion control stuff. How about some good old fashioned games with classic Sega 6 button controllers?

[snakesqzns]

What demographic are they marketing to with this?

[Honey the Cat]

Probably soccer moms who like the Wii design?

[omp]

They could at least include games not ALREADY RELEASED ON A MILLION COMPILATIONS. Damn it Sega, if you're going to keep milking your Genesis catalog, at least mix up the titles you use. I'm not buying the Sega Genesis Collection on a plug-'n-play.

Agreed, why not a compilation of the Disney games for 1, such as the SMS and MD version of Castle of Illusion, Land of Illusion, Legend of Illusion, Quackshot, Deep Duck Trouble, Alladin etc. Then to mix it up both versions of Ghouls n Ghosts, The Asterix games, Thunderforce series. Bloody hell the list could go on......

[kool kitty89]

All Sega's consoles prior to the Dreamcast had that trademark black colour to them. :D
Japan launched with a light Gray Saturn, later replaced by White. (with pink and gray power/reset and multicolor controller buttons)

[Guntz]

Japan launched with a light Gray Saturn, later replaced by White. (with pink and gray power/reset and multicolor controller buttons)

The Sega Mark systems were also white/grey, but he was talking about US released Sega systems, which they all were released in black except for Dreamast.

[Scooter]

If I want to play Sonic, I'll just plug my Sonic cart into my Genesis.

The market is all those 10 year olds whose parents remember classic gaming at least a little and can't or don't want to lay down the cash for a modern system (or a classic system for that matter).

[MN12BIRD]

What a pile of shit. Why does it have 4 face buttons A, B, X and Y like an SNES? God they just used some cheap clone shell that's already been used and threw some Sega games into it.

[0x15e]

http://i27.tinypic.com/voa5wx.jpg

[Nunzio]

http://i27.tinypic.com/voa5wx.jpg

Random but does anyone know the name of this font?

[PimpUigi]

Fire Font

http://d.facdn.net/art/pimpuigi/1201671051.pimpuigi_looks.png

[kool kitty89]

The Sega Mark systems were also white/grey, but he was talking about US released Sega systems, which they all were released in black except for Dreamast.

You mean released in black as standard as the DC most certianly was avialble in black. ;)
http://cdn1.ioffer.com/img/item/236/499/62/o_clist1_118.jpg

[PimpUigi]

I was pretty sure there was a rare black DC, that didn't bear the Sega Sports logo as well.

I wonder if you can scratch it off or something....

[Guntz]

Who cares, the Sega Sports DC looks bad ass just like the rest of Sega's US released consoles. :cool:

Do want! ... But they're probably expensive aren't they?

[ooXxXoo]

It depends I guess....I got mine for $10 (complete) at a yard sale and later passed on another one priced at $15 (again complete) at a local Goodwill....


There is another 3rd-party made custom DC shell (clear black/ smoke)...Maybe he is thinking in one of them..

[zetastrike]

sega is such a whore, it's not even funny

[17daysolderthannes]

Who cares, the Sega Sports DC looks bad ass just like the rest of Sega's US released consoles. :cool:

Do want! ... But they're probably expensive aren't they?

not really, just a little more than a gray one. Even better, if you're even halfway competent you can swap the internals from a gray DC into a dead Sega Sports case. Also, I think the logo is just a sticker, but it's been too long since I've seen one to confirm that.

[Knuckle Duster]

Sega hardware is dead.

It's not coming back, move on people.

Find something new to desperately clutch as you silently cry yourself to sleep at night.

17daysolderthanyourchiapet has embraced this philosophy and regularly stress tests the iPhone's love-stain resistance for the betterment of human knowledge.

So to everybody else; What have 'YOU' done since 2002 that rivals the greatness in that, huh?

NOTHING?! :shame:

[17daysolderthannes]

Sega hardware is dead.

It's not coming back, move on people.



that's not necessarily true, if someone were to buy Sega out, there's really nothing stopping it. That said, it would be a Sega system in name only, much like every Sega game for the past ~9 (post DC) years has been a Sega game in name only. In other words, a new Sega system would probably be like what Terminator 3 was to Terminator 2: unnecessary and lame by comparison.

[Dant]

Sega hardware is dead.

It's not coming back, move on people.


/thread

Sad, but true.

[kool kitty89]

not really, just a little more than a gray one. Even better, if you're even halfway competent you can swap the internals from a gray DC into a dead Sega Sports case. Also, I think the logo is just a sticker, but it's been too long since I've seen one to confirm that.
Gray DC? I thought they were all white?
Hmm, wiki lists the early models as having a slight gray tint, but I've never seen one like that unless it's super subtle (can't see it in any pics online either), if it's a subtle as the difference between black and the N64's "smokey gray" then that would explain it. (so close, it's barely noticable)


that's not necessarily true, if someone were to buy Sega out, there's really nothing stopping it. That said, it would be a Sega system in name only, much like every Sega game for the past ~9 (post DC) years has been a Sega game in name only. In other words, a new Sega system would probably be like what Terminator 3 was to Terminator 2: unnecessary and lame by comparison.
Well, any new Atari system/game to come out after 1984 wasn't "really" Atari either in that sense. (granted Atari Games still had a lot of th eolder staff -much less so for A Corp) Though in that same line, anything from A.Games or A.Corp would have a lot more to do with they old Atari Inc. than anything after ~1996. (especially the currently rebranded Infogrames, ironically using Atari Inc. as the name)

So I'd say the current Sega is probably most like Atari Games from the late 80s/early 90s in that sense: a lot of the older staff still having at least soem role in the new company and still producing home console (Tengen), computer, and arcade games. (the other difference being that Atari Games changed ownership numerous times, going from Warner -keeping it after selling off the consumper holdings in '84, soon selling it to Namco who subsequently dropped it and Atari Games became independent from 1986 until Time Warner bought them in 1993, then Midway got the rights in 1996 and was dispanded in 2003)

As for the T2 vs T3 comparison (assuming T2 would be the Dreamcast), remember what market the console would be coming out in, either against the current gen systems or who knows what ends up next gen. Sony's lost their place as the market leader with only moderate success with the PS3 -granted with a substancialyl larger share if continuing PS2 sales are included, MS totally screwed themselves over with 360 snafus (it seems probable that they're loosing a lot of money on it overall -with software sales not being enough to compensate and MS absorbing th elosses via other divisions' profits), and the Wii which is the leader in sales of the 3, but has a different major demographic and an arguably sustainable market. (the the shift in PC games to some extent, becomign more generalized towards multiplatform consoel titles, lacking the more complex PC specific genres to some extent -and other formerly PC oriented genres becoming widespread on consoles -namely FPS) And handhelds would probably be even less friendly, in spite of there being fewer competitors (PSP is realtively weak, DS is huge, and you could include the iPhone/iPodtouch I suppose), but that maket has shown to be very hard to crack from Nintendo's hold. (albiet relatively few have really pushed it, so who knows with that either)

I'm not saying it's very likely (a home console probably being more likely than handheld), but if things continue anywhere near what the current trends tend to be, I think it might be possible, albeit remotely. So it wouldn't be like comparing T2 to T3, but T3 against some contemporary generic action movies perhaps.

[Jasper061992]

TBH, It's a shame this is how Sega turned out to be after ultimately losing the console war, turning into a whore...Gasp! It Rhymes!!

But seriously, licencing your name out to any and anyhow to milk all your classic games dry to the point there isn't any milking left to do. In other words, getting tiring to see the SAME games reissued from compilation to compilation over and over again. Not even at least splitting out to licencing any other Mega Drive game that was never rereleased before. Easy money, hey?

Oh Sega, how you once were console king nearly 2 decades ago leveling down to the whore, desperately licencing out their games to anyone (even chinese cloners) willing to pay up. When I initially saw this announcement, it really did have me going for a while lol. I thought Sega finally was going to launch some form of new console with it's own set of games. Turns out they just whored out to Atgames yet again. It just makes me wonder if Sega currently wishes they were in Nintendo's shoes...

Ohwell, how else would they make their "free" money?

[PimpUigi]

Whores are hot though...easy money.

[Jasper061992]

Oh and another thing. I bet this thing will use the SAME emulator used in the RetroGEN, GENMobile, Firecore, Blaze clones with the same b0rked sound emulation. What do I bet you guys?

[MN12BIRD]

Bet? Nothing because we all know it will be the same crap as all the others.

[PimpUigi]

Scared to improve.

: (

[Guntz]

Whores are hot though...easy money.

You'd like to hope so lol.

[sasuke]

Why is this thing on every video game related site I go to. This is even on Engaget!

Journalists, this isn't a "new" Sega console, it's a Vii with a Firecore tacked onto it. :roll:

[djshok]

:mad: It looks like a F###ING Wii :mad:

This is blasphemy! Seriously, how much can they milk the classics.

On the flipside though it shows you just how awesome the Genesis was if there's still a deman for these.

[kool kitty89]

I'd be interested in a saga plug an play if it:
-used original style controllers (preferably having actual controler ports -so OK even with the cheap controllers like Atgames uses),
-used clone/integrated ASIC hardware rather than emulation with decent video and sound quality (Genesis 3 at least, mono would be OK, but stereo would be great) composite would be acceptible, but S-video should be pretty simple to include with minimal cost (the connector would probably be the most expensive and that coule be minitgate dby using a multi av port -same for stereo audio) and preferably RGB as well for EU users. (again, multi av out would facilitate this)
-and finally it would have to include some good games which are rare in cart form (and/or unreleased in all regions) as well a popular classics that lots would be interested in regardless.

For that, even with fewer games (say 20-25) that would be much more attractive, and I'd be willing to pay say $30, maybe $50 for something like that, and I don't much care for clones. (with a cart slot, $50 easy if it included the games I had in mind) Now if they inclded Virtua Racing compatibility (with a cart slot obviously) then you'd also have PBC and 32x compatibility, albeit the latter only if RGB was supplied.

[Wildfire McCloud]

This is all part of their master scheme to make a console comeback. They keep releasing similar compilations of Genesis games to get as many people as possible to play them. Then when they unveil their new console launching with brand new games in those classic franchise series, people have those games in the back of their mind. These people will go, "Hey, it's that there Sega video game company! What's this, Streets of Rage 4 for the new Sega Exodus? Hey, I played the first 3 on one of them compilation things!" And then the masses flood the Gamestops, Wal-Marts and Best Buys for the brand new Sega console, and Sega goes on to conquer the world of video games. The End :D

[Jasper061992]

This is all part of their master scheme to make a console comeback. They keep releasing similar compilations of Genesis games to get as many people as possible to play them. Then when they unveil their new console launching with brand new games in those classic franchise series, people have those games in the back of their mind. These people will go, "Hey, it's that there Sega video game company! What's this, Streets of Rage 4 for the new Sega Exodus? Hey, I played the first 3 on one of them compilation things!" And then the masses flood the Gamestops, Wal-Marts and Best Buys for the brand new Sega console, and Sega goes on to conquer the world of video games. The End :D

Cool story bro!! No really, I mean it! :D

[Christuserloeser]

This is all part of their master scheme to once and for all ruin all chances of making a console comeback. They keep releasing similar compilations of horribly emulated mediocre Genesis games to get as many people as possible to hate the name Sega. Then when they unveil their new console launching with brand new games in those classic franchise series, people have those badly emulated games in the back of their mind. These people will go, "Hey, it's that there Sega video game company! What's this, Sonic 4 for the new Sega Exodus? Hey, I played Spinball on one of them compilation things! That sounded terrible!" The End :(

Fixed.

[Elusive]

Why is this thing on every video game related site I go to. This is even on Engaget!

Journalists, this isn't a "new" Sega console, it's a Vii with a Firecore tacked onto it. :roll:

Do you think the 'Vii with a Firecore tacked onto it' angle or the 'WOE IS SEGA WHERE DID YOU GO WRONG WAAAH' angle gets more hits & adviews?

[kool kitty89]

The case is totally different than the Vii, especially the later model (which doesn't resemble the Wii at all), the earlier model is boxier and a bit larger than the Wii, rather different than this one. (which is a tked on clone nonetheless, jut no relation to the Vii)

[Why-Disciple]

Why is this thing on every video game related site I go to. This is even on Engaget!

Journalists, this isn't a "new" Sega console, it's a Vii with a Firecore tacked onto it. :roll:

Because everyone is an idiot except us. We're the only ones who know what a Firecore is. Nobody else realizes that Genesis clones have existed since, uh, the Nomad, and they don't realize these clones are not actually produced by Sega as a console comeback, but rather by a third party to only please the hardcore fans.

[kool kitty89]

Genesis clones have existed since, uh, the Nomad Try before that, there were plenty of Genesis/MD consoles durring its main lifespan (some using discrete components with clone hardware of onle th ecustom portions -like VDP), I'm not sure on specifics (I think TmEE has some, maybe ooXxXoo), I know the Scorpion 16 is one of them, but there are many others. especially asian) Soem have faster rated CPUs and greater overclocking capabilities iirc.
I wouldn't even call the Nomad a clone whatsoever, the Techtoy MDs are ASIC based clones though. (licenced/sanctioned by Sega iirc -with TECTOY buying the licence for that region at some point) Also note that the VA4 Model 2 and all Model 3s use single chip ASICs including the sound chips, VDP, 68k, Z80, and Z80 RAM, but were official and manufactued by Sega, so also not clones.

Plenty of modern clones also use hardware ASICs (many derived from TECTOY's iirc), like the GenX, GN Twin, and FC3 Plus. (the latter having great sound, and one of the former having Virtua Racing compatibility stock)


and they don't realize these clones are not actually produced by Sega as a console comeback, but rather by a third party to only please the hardcore fans.
It's not that they have to produce for hardcore fans, it's just that actual clone hardware shouldn't be more expensive, will be more accurate (being real hardware), and can potentially meet or exceed the A/V quality of original models (depending on video encoders used, output supported, and audio circuit used -FC3Plus nailed the latter). Using native controllers would be good too, and probably would make perfect sense on any Sega specific clone (not multisystem like Yobo's stuff), at least the Firecore Does that.

Having native SMS compatibility should be simple too given the ASIC should support the SMS compatibility modes as well, the greatest cost would be an added cartslot. (so sensible for a European release at least) The controller logic is the same, so none of th eissues with Nintendo+Sega combo clones.

They could easily have SMS ROMs built-in even w/out the cart slot. (and could use a cheap PBC equivelent to add SMS functionality as well) Actually the latter would be awesome as that should work with real genesis/MDs as well. (and possibly a few other clones -I think GN Twin was the one suporting Virtua Racing, so propably PBC as well)



These emulation based clones only makes sense with tacked-on gimickes (like the promoted "64-bit" or "pseudo 32-bit" firecore games and such) or producing the same peice of hardware for different platforms using different emulation software.
Simple ASIC based clones should be less expensive to produce.