Pammi
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Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 10:11
Just saw this on another forum, it's not confirmed, but we'll know in a few hours. This is HUGE news, important enough for a sticky in the main forum 
Sega to launch new handheld device.
E3 2004 will surely be remembered as the year of the portable gaming device. With Sony's PSP announcement and Nintendo's DS unveiling, this year's show has already had more than its fair share of portable goodness - but Sega's shock revelation that it is developing its own device must top the lot.
However, according to Yuji Naka, who unveiled the machine to shocked games industry representatives at a Sega E3 press briefing held just half an hour ago, with their new creation (code-named 'Prometheus') Sega are not attempting to directly compete with either Sony or Nintendo. 'Prometheus' is instead being billed by Sega as "the videogame equivalent of the iPod", and with the machine's pearl-white colour scheme it is obvious to see that the company wish to invoke the design-chic of Steve Jobs' ultra-popular music-playing machine. The similarities do not end there, however: rather than purchasing games from their local GameStop, gamers will download 'Prometheus' titles (called 'gamebits') from a special Sega online service which, Sega said, will operate in a similar way to Apple's iTunes software. With the use of a supplied USB cable (also white) users may then transfer up to twenty 'gamebits' on to their 'Prometheus' system's 15GB hard drive for play any time, any place.
The 'Prometheus' is roughly the same width as a CD case, and half the height. It will operate on a rechargeable battery (as yet unconfirmed as being lithium) which Sega say will last up to twenty hours. In a surprising move, in order to conserve battery power, the 'Prometheus' screen will not be backlit: a decision which we believe likely to alienate many gamers, and one inexplicable in lieu of recent technological developments which should negate such problems. Nevertheless, with the power, according to Sega, of "the Dreamcast, plus a little extra", and a genuinely innovative and cost-effective approach to game distribution, the 'Prometheus' certainly shows promise - and if the jubilant cheers and applause from the assembled journos are anything to go by, Sega's return to hardware is more than welcome.
Expect more tomorrow at the official Sega press conference where we hope to see at least footage of several potential launch titles.
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kcaz
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 11:02
Dude.... 
Well i hope people like it better then the Dreamcast.. I still don't see why that didn't sell well..
at one point here it was 29.99$ Canadain!
I think its gonna be expensive though, if it's anything like the Ipod
Post edited by: Kcaz, at: 2004/05/12 13:03
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wasabij
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 12:57
I cannot wait. If you have noticed, back in the day (1990-94), Nintendo had better handheld sales, but the SEGA handhelds would always be remembered as superior. First to have color screens, better processors, etc. I hope this thing does much better than GBA SP. I forsee that as its main problem, because SEGA has become known as just a game producer, even releasing its product cross platform, instead of merging. Not that that doesn't have its own merits; very smart move, its why EA is so popular, just don't know if they can keep both businesses (portable platform and cross-platform game prducer) up at the same time. I would assume Sony would cut off supply lines to and from SEGA, due to its PSP and the competition that would arise.
If all goes as planned for them, though, I'm going to buy one right when it comes out.
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Pammi
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 17:58
Ah well, turned out to be Matrix Online and Phantasy Star Universe. Damn 
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wasabij
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 18:34
Man.... I was all excited.
SEGA should release, many, many Sonic games. In rapid succesion. Now. Like, by the end of this sentence. <---Here. Right now. Just then. There. Here.
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kcaz
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 19:04
Oh, Shucks .. lol thats my subsittue for another word....
But yes there should a Sonic Adventure 3!!
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wasabij
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 19:40
My philosophy: there should be an ADVENTURE for every ADVANCE.
I miss chao...
*Cha-oo* doki-doki *Chao*!
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bcdcdude
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 20:31
Ugh ugh ugh!!! Who cares about Phantasy Star anymore?! And the Matrix is old news...that's the big announcement?!? There's no hope for Sega no more if they keep doing this!
I want my Shenmue III dammit!!!
I don't think more Sonic games is the answer...heroes was a tad dissapointing for me...
What's happened Sonic Team?! They are slowly and surely getting on my nerves now...they will only redeem themselves if they do Burning Rangers 2!
I'm sorry i sound so angry but how dissapointing is that?!
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wasabij
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 21:25
Well, DUH, I meant I wanted a good Sonic game. Nobody wants a bad or disappointing one.
Hmm... Burning Rangers 2....
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kcaz
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 22:48
House of the dead anyone? I liked it, altough it looks like a Capcom game for some reason...
Fighting Vipers was good
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Pammi
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/12 23:56
I've given up on Sega, there's a rant in the other thread. I'm really, really disappointed that Sega blew their chance at mainstream success. Again. I hope Microsoft, Nintendo or Sony buy them because they wont last long in their current form.
Edit: I should also mention that Matrix Online was dropped by Ubisoft (I think) because it sucked, why on Earth Sega picked it up for release is beyond me. Someone on another forum commented that it was about time Sega made another monumentally stupid business decision, looks like this was it They were right in that invitation, there was no way I could guess their "explosive" announcement was so awful!
Post edited by: Pammi, at: 2004/05/13 02:01
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kcaz
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/13 00:23
Okay, i tihnk its being overexagerated here...
I mean yes, Sega did F up, But at least there trying?
I mean Matrix online can't be that bad...
plus, Jun works for sega.
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Silhouette
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/13 15:32
Sega's big mistake is that they think like the Japanese, which doesn't work here in the US and Canada. Dreamcast is still going in Japan, but it's western hemisphere failure has thrown out most good game development.
Also, their biggest mistake of all time was the fact that they ALWAYS released the most advanced system type first. Master System was answered with NES, Genesis was shoved to the side by SNES, Saturn was preempted by Playstation, and their powerful Dreamcast was ruined by one bad business move. They released a whole bunch of Dreamcasts with the PS2 release, hoping that the initial PS2 sellouts would cause people to decide to buy a Dreamcast instead. It didn't work. Which made the way for 128 bit systems to rule, without the Dreamcast by their side. It gets me really angry, because Sega's systems have almost always been better...
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wasabij
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/13 16:34
Woman after my own heart! Videogame AND business! I'm in love *swoon*
Just kidding!
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bcdcdude
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/13 20:59
Ah - a combination i like!
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KyleJCrb
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/13 21:18
Silhouette wrote:
Genesis was shoved to the side by SNES
Though spec-wise, the Genesis was more powerful than the SNES. It was a close fight between 'em, and whoever truly won the 16-bit war depends on who you ask.
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kcaz
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/13 21:40
Well i found that the Genesis had a lower quality then the Snes.. The games that where made for both systems have turned out better on SNES.. But ofcoars Snes was not cool enough to get Sonic Games
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Pammi
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/13 23:06
Silhouette, you got it a little wrong. The Master System came out years after the NES, after which Nintendo bullied third parties into not making games for the MS. There was a famous antitrust lawsuit against Nintendo on this matter.
Specswise, the Genny and SNES sorta evened out, the genny had a faster CPU that allowed for insanely fast games (blast processing!), while SNES had higher spec'ed everything else (more colours, mode 7, etc).
The Genesis did win though, it dominated the UK and most of europe much like the SNES dominated Japan. In the US it was fairly even. The SNES only pulled ahead once Sega dropped the Genesis and the saturn came out.
The saturn came out before the PSX (one week before) and was simply a 2D machine with a rushed 3D chip inside. The PSX was far superior, as it was built ground up for 3D.
Finally, the real reason the DC failed was because of Sega's reputation. They basically had none. Add their financial troubles (4 years bleeding money), average marketing, and you have a recipe for failure.
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Silhouette
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/14 01:11
It's not that I got it a little wrong. My phrasing was incorrect in a few areas and I didn't mention some things. The Genesis was by far the most popular Sega system and definitely gave SNES a run for it's money. It's processing speed was better, but the sound, colors, etc. were slightly better for the SNES. I wasn't sure about the Master System release, but you're right about that.
Sega's release of the Saturn was well-planned (for them), but the lack of quality games on the US side was mostly what killed it. Because of the specifications you hinted at, 2D games were far superior on the Saturn than their PSX counterparts.
Also, Dreamcast still only failed in the US (etc.). Saturn wasn't killed by lack of quality games in Japan, so they had a fair reputation built up by then on the Eastern side. The failure was definitely imminent on our side of the video game equation, though. So you are right.
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wasabij
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Re:Sega returning to hardware?! - 2004/05/14 13:47
I was living in the Phillipines when Saturn/PSX were coming out in 94/95. The PlayStation became way more popular there than the Saturn. This might have to do with consumer styles over there, but all I know is when I came back to the states in October 95, I had never even heard of Saturn. Then, the N64 knocked 'em out in Las Vegas (where I lived). SEGA was dead to me by 1996, but was miraculously revived with the advent of the SEGA Channel later that year, and then in 1998 with the DreamCast.
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