You can always count on
the patent system to either fuel mass rumor and confusion or to spill the beans on something you were not meant to hear
about it yet. In this case, it's likely the latter as recent patent filings from Sega reveal a potential new "shell" peripheral that will house the new Revolution control and add kick-ass light-gun-like capabilities to the console.
According to the filing, "The gun-shaped controller comprises a controller in the shape of a gun and a trigger lever, and a cross-shaped directional key to be operated with a player's finger is arranged in the upper part of a grip." Yeah, yeah whatever. All we need to know is that it is a friggin' light-gun (or at least potentially the Revolution's version of it, using gyroscopic technology recovered from the wreckage of an alien spacecraft).
When asked about the new patent filing, Vice President Dick Cheney said, "Watch your back, fanboy. Watch you back."
[UPDATE: It seems as though some folks have discovered that the picture referenced by the patent is actually from an old Dreamcast light gun (down with Revolution Fanboy!). This is at least partially correct.. The patent information states that the abstract for this particular patent (#DE69928751D) is not available for review, but it does include the corresponding patents that support the precedent and validity of this new patent. The previous, historically supportive patents are attached to this new patent and the pictures and descriptions represent those previous filings... not necessarily this new one.
It continues to appear that Sega has applied for a new patent and that the new patent leverages previous Sega light-gun technology. In fact, this new patent information was posted on January 12, 2006 (which we believe is a bit past the Dreamcast's expiration date). It seems that something may be happening with a new light-gun controller from Sega. And, though we are discussing patents (and their ability to both cause confusion and let the cat-out-of-the-bag prematurely), we have added the word "potential" to the article above to further clarify that this is speculation based on new patent information, not on an actual announcement from Sega.]
[Thanks Anand]
