Rumorang: Updated 'Dreamcast' trademark spurs Dreamcast 2 speculation
by Scott Jon Siegel 
{ Dec 7th 2007 at 6:30AM }
At best, this rumor is a stretch. Renewing trademarks is a common practice for companies, and any overlap between previous filings and updates can be attributed to the indeterminable amount of time between filing and proper registration of those trademarks.
To either confirm or deny the speculation, GameDaily contacted Sega for an official response, and while PR rep Charlie Scibetta was unsure of why the trademark was updated, he did state that Sega has no intentions of re-entering the console business. According to Scibetta, Sega's quite content with their current platform-agnostic status, and it would be unwise to shift their business strategy during a period of "outstanding growth." Sadly, it seems like this rumor might be little more than smoke and mirrors. Of course, we're always happy to be proven wrong.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Amir @ Dec 7th 2007 6:42AM
I just had a blast with my Dreamcast last night. 1-player Samba de Amigo, 2-player Typing of the Dead, and best of all 4-player Virtua Tennis 2.
WHERE IS SHENMUE III :( !
Platinum_Skeet @ Dec 7th 2007 3:11PM
I propose the next-gen have Dreamcast backwards compatibility in all consoles....
JET GRIND RADIO!!FTW!!11!
Kn1ves @ Dec 7th 2007 6:42AM
ANNOUNCED! Nintendo and Sega working on HD Wii version with MULTIMEDIA CAPABILITIES!
Their new tagline is
"So real, you'll wii when in my dreams!"
/explodes.
FOXHOUND @ Dec 7th 2007 7:29AM
Personally, I'd wait until the next(8th)generation of game consoles; or just drop a handheld into the market if they absolutely need to jump back in.
Of course, it'd be even *better* if they could fix up the piss-poor SONIC TEAM into making better StH games or even revive ageless classics like STREETS OF RAGE, COMIX ZONE, and even VECTORMAN to name a few...
StrangeBum @ Dec 7th 2007 8:20AM
@FOXHOUND
Oh hell yeah! I loved Vectorman, was one of the coolest games I played as a kid. I still remember the mild transformations you could pick up to get like in-line skates and stuff.
Dan @ Dec 7th 2007 9:03AM
presumably its just so that nobody else can take the name and ruin it.
B1gC72 @ Dec 7th 2007 9:26AM
Foxhound you couldnt be more spot on. i never played Comic Zone but i loed Streets of Rage and Vectorman. but seriously, given their current track record with the Sonic games i hope they dont make them because they would probably suck. and for them getting back into the hardware business, i dont think there is room on the market for 4 major home consoles so the handheld market would be ideal for them. as long as they dont do it like GameGear they would be fine.
DemonGSides @ Dec 7th 2007 10:58AM
Comix Zone was the shit.
Bring back Sega Channel!
Jtenma @ Dec 7th 2007 12:38PM
OMG Foxhound, cant believe you said it.....many people forget about one of the best beat 'em ups ever!!!
SOR2 2d brawler...PROVE ME WRONG.(if you say golden axe...)
Jtenma @ Dec 7th 2007 12:40PM
*SOR2 2d brawler..
*forgot to put BEST!
NativetjTJ @ Dec 7th 2007 4:40PM
Maybe it is for the Virtual console?
generic @ Dec 7th 2007 6:44AM
I'm a proud and happy Dreamcast owner, but I really feel that Sega actually getting back into the console market would only spell disaster. The market's saturated enough as it is, and a fourth console would only prove to annoy, confuse, and divide consumers.
I see the PS3 doing well in the future, but damn, look at the hard time a company like Sony has had! They're a bloody giant, and with deep pockets like theirs, along with a diverse product range, they can afford a bit of a lull in their gaming division. Sega though, would be destroyed by a similar year.
Besides, much as I'd love to say otherwise, the quality of ideas coming out of Sega simply isn't there anymore. With the kind of crap they've been churning out on the software end of things, I'm not sure I'd even trust them to be competent enough to do a proper system launch. I'll still uphold the Dreamcast as the most forward thinking console of its time, but that time's past. It's time to move on.
Brett from Atlanta @ Dec 7th 2007 12:45PM
I have to disagree with you. Here's a little fact that you may not realize, many, many Sony fanboys used to be big Sega fanboys. Ask some of them about what they played growing up and they won't tell you Crash Banditcoot, they'll throw Sonic and Vectorman, and Comic Zone at you. This goes for Nintendo people too. Just look at some of these posts. If Sega was ready, now would be the time to launch their console. With Sony doing better, but still not doing well, there are a lot of these "Sony" fanboys I've mentioned earlier, waiting for the PS3 to drop in price and get some more exclusive titles. If Sega made a quality console, with two or three really good launch titles and had it out within the next year, they could really steal Sony's thunder. As for the software problem you talked about. I agree with you, they've been spoon feeding us shit lately, but I think that would change if they were developing for their own system. Also, like you said, a year like Sony's would ruin them, so they would have to build great titles out of necessity. And finally the four consoles being confusing argument, I have all three and wouldn't ming buying a fourth, besides, more competition keeps the other console companies honest. The more competition , the better games we get. It science. I would gladly pick up a Dreamcast 2.
Brello @ Dec 7th 2007 2:59PM
Sega's investors would have a heart attack if they went back in the hardware business. I can't see this ever happening. They're having a hard enough time turning out a decent game, much less supporting an entire console again. Sorry, it's time to put those fond memories of Sega in their Genesis heyday behind. Their quality has since taken a nose dive.
Larz @ Dec 7th 2007 3:42PM
I loved NES, I loved Genesis, and nowadays I love PS3. So I guess you have a valid point.
When the Dreamcast came up I was thinking "alright, after a year or two when it drops in price I'll get one." Well, we all know what happened next.
Interesting facts: a lot of the Dreamcast team now works for MS, and the Genesis team now works for Sony.
generic @ Dec 7th 2007 6:30PM
@ Brett:
"they've been spoon feeding us shit lately, but I think that would change if they were developing for their own system"
Not necessarily. Right now, they're focussing on software as their main source of income. If they were to get into hardware again, and didn't take a hit on the systems, they could make a profit on them, but the easiest source of income is through licensing. In-house software development would only supplement that income, and under the current model, your profit margin is actually larger as a producer, not a developer, so they would more than likely just slap their names on more of other people's work. Of course you'd want your own system to succeed by backing it up with solid software, but there wouldn't be any "trying harder". If you're a business, you want to make money, and you're always "trying harder".
And trust me man, I know about the migratory patterns of fanboys. I'm not going to do the "hard-core gamer cred" dance here though, because I feel that's ultimately detrimental to the kind of community Joystiq can be, and I don't want to come off as a troll. I just feel this really would be poor timing. Sega was sunk the last time they walked into the middle of a firefight, and being a fan of Sega in the past, I'd rather wait twenty years and get a system that succeeds and lives up to its fullest potential, than get one now that lasts six months, with only half-implemented features.
Also, keep in mind that you're one of the fortunate ones. The vast majority of console owners only own one of the major systems, and when you toss a fourth system into the mix, it really does dilute each company's profits. Hell, I don't have any of the next-gen systems yet, because I can't afford them. If or when I do end up with all three, they will by that time be either new-gen, or last-gen. I was an early adopter with the Dreamcast mind you, but I had much more disposable income then, hahaha.
This is all moot though, as it's highly unlikely that Sega would release a new system anytime in the near future anyhow.
thedoogla @ Dec 7th 2007 6:59AM
If the Wii does get a hard drive I could see dreamcast games going onto the virtual console.
Anthony @ Dec 7th 2007 7:06AM
I would and wouldn't like to see another Sega console, One Sega made some really great first party games, however, there are already enough consoles on the market . Sega will need to make their system stand out of the crowd such as Nintendo in order to reap the success they had with the Genesis/Saturn days
Po0py @ Dec 7th 2007 7:05AM
I can't see this happening. There are already three major consoles out. Four if you want to include the Ps2 which is still selling bucketloads. A portable Dreamcast would be viable option, though.
ThornedVenom @ Dec 7th 2007 7:14AM
If the rumour is true, then the Dreamcast will succeed ONLY if it fills a gap that other consoles can't provide.
I can't put my finger on it, but we have to admit that this generation is kind of screwed up: a PS3 force-feeding fluff with Blu-Ray, but lowering its pricetag by removing more essential features; a 360 with still unreliable hardware and charging unfair prices for online play and DLC; and a Wii with lazy developers, non-HD graphics and limited online.
And contrarily to what other commenters have posted, there actually MIGHT be another slot for another console manufacturer: before, it only took 3 for the monopoly. Now, there are 2 in next-gen and 1 in new-gen: there's still space for one market or the other (although the latter seems more appealing).
generic @ Dec 7th 2007 7:54AM
"before, it only took 3 for the monopoly"
Historically speaking though, the third one has always done rather poorly, and this is the first time that the market is large enough to support that kind of competition. Let's keep in mind though, that the Wii's success is largely part of Nintendo's ability to create a new demographic, rather than appeal to an already existing one. While I don't believe the market in general could support four consoles at this time, I REALLY have no doubt the Wii's demographic couldn't support two of a similar ilk.
NATO_Duke @ Dec 7th 2007 9:54AM
I agree with some of your points, but have to point out that "charging unfair prices for online play and DLC" makes no sense to me.
What is fair? If the market supports it, and the userbase believes it makes their service better, then I would say its fair.
Larz @ Dec 7th 2007 3:58PM
"PS3 force-feeding fluff with Blu-Ray"
I don't agree with that point. It makes sense to me to keep moving forward with video cards, processors, AND media. I didn't see anyone complain that the PS2 had a DVD drive and say they should have stuck with CD's. Also, it seems that people often think the Blu-Ray drive is just for movies... no, all games are on Blu-Ray, so you can pack in more textures, sounds, videos, levels, code, etc. Being able to also play Blu-Ray movies is just a side benefit.
"360 with still unreliable hardware and charging unfair prices for online play and DLC"
I think they've overcome the hardware issues at this point. I have to agree that it's ridiculous to pay for online play. PS3 gives EXACTLY the same service for free. Want more examples of where online gaming is free? How about BattleNet, Steam, and so on. I imagine DLC prices are not set by MS, but rather the company that produced it.
It's hard to critisize Wii for making a console based on pure fun and a different way of interacting with the console. They've done exceptionally well too. However, I agree 90% of games for it are utter crap. I think it's suffering from fad status and developers are just throwing crap at it knowing that with such a huge install-base they should be able to make decent profit without much effort. To some companies it's purely a numbers game, they don't actually have 'a vision' of some great game, they just brainstorm something up to make money.
MinorHavoc @ Dec 8th 2007 12:26AM
"I have to agree that it's ridiculous to pay for online play [on XBox Live]. PS3 gives EXACTLY the same service for free."
Yes indeed. Just like both over-the-air TV and satellite TV give exactly the same service out in the boondocks where I live.
FK @ Dec 7th 2007 7:34AM
MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!
DONT F@*CK THIS UP SEGA!!
ThornedVenom @ Dec 7th 2007 8:36AM
Do you KNOW how many times people have said that?! And do you KNOW how many times they have failed?!
Oh wait, that was just for Sonic. Thank god Bioware is making Sonic RPG.
GiantHaystax @ Dec 7th 2007 7:41AM
downloadable dreamcast game on ps3 or 360 of course could be the other reason that doesn't seem to have been mentioned.
WiNG @ Dec 7th 2007 8:45AM
PLEASE make Dreamcast Pocket
It would not beat the DS but it would crush PSP hard
Brello @ Dec 7th 2007 3:08PM
@ Wing
You know what would make even more sense? Just start making dreamcast games for the PSP. It has the exact same button button layout, hell, it even has only 1 analog stick. Who needs a psp branded as a dreamcast? The PSP could probably run anything Sega could throw at it anyway. Unfortunately, all they're throwing is shit with their Sonic Rivals shovelware. Sega just isn't the same anymore.
DarthDavid @ Dec 7th 2007 8:37AM
I got my Dreamcast back in 9/9/99, and it still works 100%.....I still plug it in now and then for some Third Strike, Power Stone, and Grandia II.....The Dreamcast was the ONLY system to give me chills, turning on the console for the first time with Soul Caliber was such a huge leap at that time (It still looks good today). Sega isn't the same anymore, there games don't have the "Sega" feel to it. The last batch of games that had that "feel" was the XBOX stuff (JSRF, Panzer, GunV, etc) Maybe Nights will bring it back.....before I forget (eyes tearing) Sega will NOT go back to the console biz....but if they do I will be first in line.....=(
Zsavior @ Dec 7th 2007 8:44AM
Holy crap I told sega to do this the other Week and now the rumor. Sega hold tight to the reins of destiny, and make this system. All will be forgiven come back to the open arms of gamers. NAO.....I mean please!
ALH @ Dec 7th 2007 8:45AM
new dreamcast or no new dreamcast, 09/09/09 will be a date to keep an eye on
Nigeria @ Dec 7th 2007 8:52AM
I personally would prefer a pocket Sega Saturn.
The Saturn was miles better than the Dreamcast.
License to ill @ Dec 7th 2007 9:00AM
SEGA doesn't even make good games anymore...
colinbell @ Dec 7th 2007 9:01AM
My wish list
A graphic card thats at least halfway as good as 8800 - maybe a 256 bit 48 shader 24 texture unit system running at 600MHz
512MB graphics RAM
256 MB system RAM
80GB hard disc
HDMI + wifi
Cell processor
Motion sensing technology as in wii
Live-standard service (achievements, etc) with server support instead of P2P and free multiplayer
Full compatibility with Dreamcast 1 games - MSR, Soulcaliber, Shenmue, Jet Set, etc etc
Blu-ray
xFenixKnightx @ Dec 7th 2007 9:11AM
Good stuff except for.......THE CELL
*Screams like a girl*
Michael @ Dec 7th 2007 9:30AM
so, you want an updated PS3?
Matt W. @ Dec 7th 2007 3:32PM
All Sega consoles were more powerful than an 8800... considering the Altair 8800 is over 30 years old.
Larz @ Dec 7th 2007 4:15PM
You just almost exactly listed the PS3 specs.
Even "Live-standard service (achievements, etc) with server support instead of P2P and free multiplayer."
PSN is exactly the same as Live, except with server support and free multiplayer. Achievements are called Trophies on PS3. Not many games support them yet, but I imagine a lot more will next year, especially when Home hits.
That's also one of the things I like about Sony over Microsoft, being a software engineer myself... Sony doesn't force you to do anything if you don't want to. You don't want your game to have achievements? Perhaps you'd rather spend time making the game that much better rather than dicking around programming achievements? No problem, whatever you want as a developer, it's your choice. But I can see how from a purely consumer perspective, you might like the console maker to force stuff on the developers.
colinbell @ Dec 7th 2007 9:04AM
True..but when you go back and check the games they came out with in the first year of the Dreamcast - its unbeliveable, probably the greates burst of creativity the gaming world has ever seen
xFenixKnightx @ Dec 7th 2007 9:08AM
If Sega did it right then it would definately sell.
SEGA Dreamcast II
*HD Graphics
*HDDVD Drive ;)
*Wifi
*Free online
*100 Gig Hard Drive
*No Cell lol
*Hardware that could handle Crysis without blinking
*Motion sense Rumble Contollers lol
*$499.00
-Next Gen Titles
Shinobi
Vectorman
Golden Axe
Sonic
Shenmue III
Streets of Rage
Phantasy Star
Etc.
Yeah, Im in! But.......never happen =( Damn Tease
xFenixKnightx @ Dec 7th 2007 9:13AM
Forgot to add achievements to that list =) lol
Zsavior @ Dec 7th 2007 9:48AM
499 is not a price that sells systems. They stay away from HD, make a system, that has great high end graphics. They stick with Regular DVD format and focus on Good games.
Game no blu-ray no HD-DVD something with high end graphics, that plays video games. and can be priced at, 300 dollas. Then they get back to making the sega games that made them sega.
Vidikron (FU) @ Dec 7th 2007 10:03AM
@Zsavior
By the time a DC2 made it to market one of the HD disc format would likely be a much more affordable. HD-DVD players prices are already hitting the $200 mark this holiday.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 7th 2007 11:22AM
Sure, but 200 dollars is 2/3rds of the target price of 300 dollars. So unless you're willing the get the cheapest crap with the rest of your 100 dollar per console budget, an HD disc format is NOT in the cards.
rv @ Dec 7th 2007 3:58PM
I would get that along with xbox 720!
samfish @ Dec 7th 2007 9:10AM
I would welcome Sega's return with open arms.
...but this isn't going to happen. MAYBE they'll come out with some sort of portable DC-esque system, since I think Sega still puts out little portable game thingies in Japan, but they just don't have the financial muscle right now to re-enter the hardware business.
Plus, Sonic doesn't even sell in Japan anymore. I mean, us in the States still buy his games (although he's taken a good hit here, too), but Japan is just kinda PISSED at Sonic, judging by sales.
Frankly, what I'd LIKE to see happen is Sega un-merge with Sammy. If they're going to merge with anybody, it should be Nintendo, if only for poetic reasons...plus Nintendo would give them the kick in the ass that they need.
Still, none of that is ever gonna happen anyway, so...
ThornedVenom @ Dec 7th 2007 10:44AM
ZOMG Princess Peach with a Christmas hat!
Larz @ Dec 7th 2007 5:07PM
And look at that bod! Where's the tramp-stamp?
dan stabbingworth @ Dec 7th 2007 9:17AM
motion controls confirmed!