151a894e   
   XPost: alt.sega.genesis, alt.games.video.sega-dreamcast, uk.game   
   .video.dreamcast   
   XPost: alt.games.video.sega-saturn   
   From: weaponx013@yahoo.com   
      
   sprite scaler wrote:   
   > Why Sega should release a new console   
   > Posted by Don Reisinger   
   >   
   > Sega is in trouble. According to its latest filing in Japan, the   
   > company incurred a loss $501 million during its 2008 fiscal year and   
   > its video games division lost about $56.3 million. And as the company   
   > was quick to point out, something needs to be done on the video game   
   > front.   
      
   This is about the worst fan service article I have ever seen.  He   
   basically compiles evidence that Sega will never be successful again and   
   then says they should jump off the deep end with a new console.  What a   
   waste of time.   
      
      
   >   
   >   
   > "As rebuilding our consumer video game business is crucial, we now   
   > need to review our game title strategy more flexibly to adapt   
   > ourselves to changes in the trend of the market," said Koichiro Ueda,   
   > head of Sega's public relations department.   
   >   
   > Of course, Sega did what it could to downplay the news of its   
   > impending failure on the video game front and said that it thinks it   
   > can turn things around, but I just don't see how that's possible with   
   > just games. Let's face it -- the company's once proud Sonic franchise   
   > is floundering and there's no indication that it's really that   
   > valuable on Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo platforms. Beyond that, the   
   > company has done poorly with other titles it has released and aside   
   > from a lingering desire for the return of the Shenmue series, few   
   > people even think about the developer any more.   
   >   
   > With that in mind, Sega needs to change its strategy and turn things   
   > around. And the only way it can do that is to release its own video   
   > game console.   
   >   
   > As soon as you read that, I'm sure it immediately conjured up thoughts   
   > about the Saturn and Dreamcast and the failure that both of those   
   > consoles were. And while you may be right in having doubts about   
   > Sega's ability to create an extremely popular console, I'm starting to   
   > think that we're ready for it.   
   >   
   > Depending on the study you read, the average gamer is anywhere between   
   > 30-35 years old. Because of that, it's safe to assume that the vast   
   > majority of gamers remember the days of Sega console gaming and there   
   > is still a huge group of Sega zealots in the wild that long for   
   > another Dreamcast.   
   >   
   > Realizing that, I think it's safe to assume that Sega should be able   
   > to capitalize on those that are still keen on using a Sega-branded   
   > console and through the use of some serious hype and a far better   
   > hardware strategy than it formally employed, it could become a major   
   > hit.   
   >   
   > Of course, the plan doesn't quite end there.   
   >   
   > There's no debating the fact that Sega has been a relative failure in   
   > the software space. Since its decision to drop out of the hardware   
   > game, the company has had a few minor hits, but nothing has been   
   > developed that we can classify as a blockbuster. And in an environment   
   > where we're seeing a significant push towards consolidation, the   
   > company really only has two options: sell the company to the highest   
   > bidder or develop a console.   
   >   
   > And considering the fact that there are a slew of more attractive   
   > developers out there with better franchises, I just don't see too many   
   > large firms going after Sega. And it's for that reason that it needs   
   > to find a way to differentiate itself and take a stab at the hardware   
   > market.   
   >   
   > In order for Sega to truly keep its game division afloat, it'll need   
   > to develop hardware that's both forward-thinking and inexorably tied   
   > to the online space. Beyond that, it'll need to repair the issues it   
   > may still have with retailers and some other developers and endeavor   
   > to build a console that can compete on the same level with the Xbox   
   > 360 and the Playstation 3.   
   >   
   > But it's the relationships with developers that will truly matter to   
   > Sega. Due to the expected high price of the hardware, Sega will need   
   > to sell the console at a loss and (hopefully) make up for it through   
   > deals with third-parties. In order to do that, it'll need to establish   
   > itself as the "real third console" that developers should expect to   
   > sell games on. After all, third-parties are having trouble selling   
   > games on the Wii and if they believe that they can turn an even   
   > greater profit by selling games on three consoles, the deals should   
   > start to build up.   
   >   
   > After forming the deals with developers, Sega will need to build the   
   > hype machine up as much as possible. Instead of following the faulty   
   > plan of years ago, it needs to show off a console that's both more   
   > powerful than anything available, offers a Blu-ray drive, and has the   
   > kind of online component we're only seeing in the Xbox 360. The   
   > company also needs to play by the rules: it shouldn't announce the   
   > console and release it on the same day and it should take as much time   
   > as it needs to ensure all of its ducks are in a row before it launches   
   > it.   
   >   
   > More than anything though, the return of Sega should be the   
   > centerpiece of its entire campaign. I truly believe that there are   
   > millions across the globe that would invite Sega back into the   
   > hardware business and as long as the games were plentiful, even those   
   > who have never played a game on a Sega console may want to get in on   
   > the action.   
   >   
   > Although it's risky, I simply don't see any other way Sega can revive   
   > its business. With slow growth and losses each year, how can the   
   > company truly expect to compete in this increasingly competitive   
   > market without some sort of action?   
   >   
   > Sega should be a hardware company. It's as simple as that.   
   >   
   >   
   > http://www.cnet.com/8301-13506_1-9945007-17.html?tag=cnetfd.mt   
      
      
   --   
   Scott   
      
   http://www.gamepilgrimage.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)