Sega pondering Dreamcast 2?

[fadeaway53]

http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/12/rumor-sega-pond.html

Sega has applied to trademark the name "Dreamcast," prompting speculation that the company is pondering a return to the hardware business.

The application, which was filed in August, covers home consoles, controllers, and "video game interactive controller, namely, hand held pads, and floor pads or mats; joysticks for video games; computer cursor control devices, namely, computer mouse; flash memory cards; video game software, computer game programs."

This may be nothing more than an effort by Sega to protect the Dreamcast brand, though apparently the original trademark filing for the name is still active. It's interesting to note the differences between the two filings, however, in particular the "floor pads or mats."

Well, seems pretty tenuous but, as someone who loved the original Dreamcast, this would be great. In many ways the Dreamcast was ahead of its time with online capabilities and awesome games like Shenmue, Virtua Tennis, Rez & Samba de Amigo.

[AndrewP]

More likely they'll offer some of the games for download on 360/PS3 or something.

[mr_woo]

There's more chance of Jodi Marsh becoming a nun than their is of Sega releasing a new console. I assume this is more Sega just protecting the Dreamcast brand name to stop anyone else using it rather than anything else and just taking the opportunity to include more hardware options under the new trademark.

[Space Duck]

My heart just skipped a beat when I saw this... I remember owning a Saturn, that's when it all began to go wrong... or was it the Mega Cd... or maybe the 32x? :D

I'd love for them to leap back into the fray but I seriously doubt it's gonna happen... Nintendo did well to pull it back, companies shouldn't just sit back and rely on their name/logo to sell a product! :(

[GAmbrose]

Dreamcast really wasn't that technically inferior to the Playstation 2, and I would argue that it had more quality games in the first year of release than the PS2 did in it's first year.

It definately deserved better than it got.

Gary A

[ShakeyJake]

Wasn't the Xbox the Dreamcast 2?

[anephric]

In the sense that Sega supported it with some Dreamcast franchises, yes. Basically, it's because Sega fanboys wanted to support anything that wasn't Sony, because teh $ony kill3d the DrEaM, and it had Shenmue 2 on it.

I imagine it's just Sega protecting its properties, because they let some registrations on domains of notable IPs lapse in the last few years and got a bit of egg on their face.

[ShakeyJake]

The Xbox controllers were very similar to the Dreamcasts, it had all the Sega sequels, and both were headed by Peter Moore. Oh and both had built in internet access.

[amkhan]

The Xbox controllers were very similar to the Dreamcasts, it had all the Sega sequels, and both were headed by Peter Moore. Oh and both had built in internet access.

The dreamcast controllers sucked, the xbox was great. Don't think they were that similar at all..

I still have my dreamcast, its collecting dust somewhere in the house :)

[ShakeyJake]

The dreamcast controllers sucked, the xbox was great. Don't think they were that similar at all..

I still have my dreamcast, its collecting dust somewhere in the house :)

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/1401/800pxdreamcastcontrollest7.jpg
http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/696/originalcontrollerge8.jpg

Very similar layout, other than the 2nd analog on the xbox and few more buttons, also both had 2 slots for various addons

[MetalGearAl]

My DC has just been ousted from underneath the TV as XBMC is now working again, but I might be able to squeeze it back in somewhere :)

Still wish I hadn't swapped my pristine condition Shenmue 2 for Headhunter. I wasn't going to play S2 but I'd like to have a perfect condition one now just for collector's sake.

[amkhan]

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/1401/800pxdreamcastcontrollest7.jpg
http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/696/originalcontrollerge8.jpg

Very similar layout, other than the 2nd analog on the xbox and few more buttons, also both had 2 slots for various addons

It looks a bit like it, but in actual use the DC controller felt awkward, where as the xbox one felt great, more so with the "S" type controller.

[anephric]

Ergonomically, they're very different (I hated the claw shape the DC forced your hands into). The only thing the Xbox pad copies really is the triggers, rather than DualShock-style shoulder buttons. The Dreamcast button layout, for example, is swiped from the SNES, which Sony pilfered also. The DC pad itself is just a further evolution on from the Saturn analogue pad (rolled out for NiGHTS).

In terms of analogue/D-pad layout, it's only a choice really of D-pad below the analogue stick, like the DC, or above like the DualShock.

[GProject]

Don Reisinger over at Crave was wishing the very same thing (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9829092-1.html) just this week. He called for a 9/9/09 release date after the original was released 9/9/99. That would be cool (not to mention great marketing) but unless development has been going on for a while, I don't think it could happen that quick.

[GarethH]

The Dreamcast was fantastic, my favourite console in the last 10 years. Personally I would prefer Sega put alot of effort into new and old IP that made the Dreamcast and the Mega-Drive so good.

[haxtond]

From a business point of view it would be a VERY stupid thing for Sega to do. Games sell machines, and i dont see how diluting the market with another piece of hardware will help. Developers will continue to work first on the most popular harware and then port across - as is happening with 360 - PS3 now. Remember before EA dropped the Saturn altogther their sloppy ps1 ports? And from memory, I dont think EA even touched the DC did they?

I loved my old Dreamcast, but im a gamer and the VAST majority of people with consoles these days just aren't.

[Bapapapa]

Multiplayer Daytona with linked DC's and steering wheels utterly rocked!!

Can't remember playing much else on it though.. :thinking::nuts:

Still got mine somewhere.... :dork:

[Space Duck]

I loved Sega Rally on my saturn :D

Didn't really get into the DC as I felt a little betrayed at the flop that was the saturn, Sega just seemed to let it die a death before it even began... :(

[scottwilson82]

Dreamcast was by far and away the best console at the time but just wasn't marketed properly, especially compared to the Playsation(s).

Still would love to Shenmue 3 released, one of the best game series I've ever played.

[fivebyfive]

Dreamcast was by far and away the best console at the time but just wasn't marketed properly, especially compared to the Playsation(s).

that was part of the reason, the cinema ads were ****, didn't even show of the graphics :cuckoo:

the other reason was the BS emotion engine hype from sony,

[mr_woo]

I just want Sega to make a new Jet Set Radio game, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease! :(

[Space Duck]

that was part of the reason, the cinema ads were ****, didn't even show of the graphics :cuckoo:

the other reason was the BS emotion engine hype from sony,

To be honest, Ninty and Sega both got into trouble because for a time they believed their reputation would carry their releases... they didn't market because they thought their name was enough... Ninty managed to claw it's way out of the trap... Sega, couldn't keep it's head above water.

NInty has proven you can come out on top in the end... I used to adore my Game Gear and Megadrive... Sega should attempt to penetrate the handheld market again.. except something with a little less then the six/eight batteries it took to run the game gear... I remember having to fill that puppy up with loads of batteries :D

[MrSpeed]

Dreamcast and Xbox360 are the only 2 consoles I've ever bought on launch day.

My DC and games are boxed away and overdue for another look at some of the classic games :)

[Deron]

Virtua Tennis (1) still the most perfect tennis game ever imo...

Powerstone was ace as well.