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The Dreamcast is Still Dead

00_NOP writes "Dreamcast lovers' hopes were raised earlier this month when it came to light that Sega had extended trade mark protection on the console's name. But hopes have now been dashed that we'll ever see another Dreamcast console, as even GameDaily's optimistic take on Sega's motivation makes clear. 'SEGA has no plans to get back into the hardware business, but we also want to protect our past and current brands. The trademark application was filed to protect our current and potential future use of the word DREAMCAST and to prevent other parties from using it in a way that could be confused or linked with SEGA.'"

9 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. That's just what they *want* you to think... by squiggleslash · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not quite. That might be what they're claiming but the truth is more amazing.

    I have a spy in Sega, and they are planning to release the all new "Dreamcast 360x3". It features:

    1. "EHDVD+", Sega's new high definition DVD format. Not compatible with Blu-ray or HD-DVD because it's better.
    2. A 64 bit PowerPC that's multicore. IBM is specially designing this for Sega.
    3. Some kind of ATI graphics, including a 1080i mode.
    4. The ability to connect to the Internet. A new service, "Dreamcast Connected", will allow you to subscribe to multiplayer games and stuff.
    5. Wireless controllers, with tilt detection for that "Not quite a Wii-mote" functionality
    6. Large size and with big glowing lights on the front ensuring you'll never miss it when it's sitting in front of your TV

    Sega hasn't come up with a final price yet, but they're expected to release different models of it for somewhere between $400 and $900. The $400 version will have the smaller hard drive and only an S-Video hookup, whereas the $900 will include a bundled copy of "Sonic XII: The SecondLife edition" plus an exclusive Hi-def copy of Employee of the Month on EHDVD+.

    This is amazing stuff, a truly innovative console that will turn the market on its head.

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    1. Re:That's just what they *want* you to think... by ByOhTek · · Score: 3, Funny

      More likely they are just saving the IP for a download-and-play on the Nintendo Yoo (successor to the Wii) out in 2012...

      --
      Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
    2. Re:That's just what they *want* you to think... by InfinityWpi · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, I think you had it right the first time.

  2. Please don't forget this by 00_NOP · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The mods chopped it from the posted article, but you are a Dreamcast owner I'd really like your help

  3. Make this a daily update by Sciros · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just so we're "in the know" on the livelihood of Dreamcast. Also please have daily updates on how dead the Sega Saturn is, how dead Asheron's Call servers are, how dead Betamax is, how dead the musket is, and finally how dead Van Damme's career is.

    --
    I like basketball!!1!
  4. What do you mean, still dead? by BenoitRen · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Dreamcast never really died. It kept getting new games, mostly in Japan. Then there's the whole homebrew game scene, of which some games get a commercial release once in a while.

  5. Re:Maybe they should make a console by Nitroadict · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Sega is sitting this round, and most likely, the next round out for console making. This is obvious via Sega & Nintendo's recent chummy friendship, which has developed since Sega primarily makes games nowadays (although they still do arcade hardware in Japan & USA methinks).

    However, the aqquisition of Sammy made me think that they do indeed have some type of long term plans, possibly with a new console at some point, but they are probably really worried about experiencing another Saturn or Dreamcast, which wouldn't bode well financially, albeit Dreamcast was just an incomplete victory in a battle that was ahead of it's time.

    You can speculate all you want, but realistically, no, Sega is not going to revive the DC, make a new one, new console, or whatever for quite some time. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they never made another console as long as the company still exists in it's current form.

  6. IMHO - The Xbox is the Dreamcast II by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I noticed when I got an Xbox... that the Dreamcast I had ran on Windows CE, that the controllers for the Dreamcast and the Xbox had notable similarities in terms of button layout and gameplay, and have been of the opinion that Microsoft borrowed (or bought) heavily from Dreamcast in much the same way Windows NT borrowed from the OS/2 project. I just hope that Sega fared better in the deal than IBM had in theirs.

  7. python by tute666 · · Score: 3, Funny

    It is an ex-console