Ideas for a new Sega console-Zach Morris/SegaLeaks Free Zone

[TeamXlink]

I'd like them to really go for it as a games first type of system. The Xbox 360 launched this way, but now with all of the media functionality, I feel like it has almost become a "games second" system. I was thinking about this last night.

-No avatars of any kind. They're superfluous and stupid. Have you ever been using your Wii or Xbox 360 and thought "oh hey, I wonder what kind of clothes this person's avatar has?" I think people don't even remember PlayStation Home exists.

-On that games first thing, I think they should clearly divide the media functionality of the console. I loved the original Xbox 360 dash. Everything was logically organized. I knew where to go for games (with a separate Xbox Live tab!), where to go for music, and where to go for movies. Now none of it really makes sense. The UI is a huge aspect of the console since we no longer go right into a game. I know my 360 play time really dropped dramatically when the NXE showed up. I put on 15000 achievements in my first years of the console. I've only added 7000 since the NXE. I hate that dashboard with a passion.

Sony's XMB interface is marginally better, but, I just don't care for it. I don't think it's as functional as it could be. The Wii does its job well enough, but there should be an option for that music.

-Sega would need to have an absurdly huge first party line-up. I think they would have a hard time attracting certain third parties, like what happened with EA and the Dreamcast. I think they would have an even harder time now since developers are constantly bitching about how high development costs are. Developers wouldn't exactly welcome a third high-end console.

-Because of the above point, they'd need to cut into the market when there's a very, very obvious weak point. Otherwise, they're going to get shafted.

What would my dream launch line-up be for such a system...?
-A new Phantasy Star Online in the style of the Dreamcast titles (what the fuck, Phantasy Star Universe), but with obvious updates to the gameplay.

-A reboot of the Shenmue series. Imagine these games with a conversation system like Mass Effect.

-Yet another reboot of the Sonic series. They've gotta get this right sometime.

-Original IP. This was where Sega shined on the Dreamcast. They released a lot of brand new games, and it's one of the things that made the console so memorable. If they can make some new IP that will turn heads, then it'll guarantee them a good competitive chance.

Not to mention the NXE dashboard has a considerably lower performance compared to the first one.

[MistaBuck]

The arcade market is not dying in Japan its been in a decline since 2006 in fact that decline itself has started to subside in Japan because the RING series arcade boards have become very successful and have helped bring down SEGA's operating income.

If you'd read the things you claim to get information from, you'd see that Sega's amusement center division had some pretty big losses. The Ring boards have brought more money into Sega, but they haven't helped the actual arcade business much.

Please, please, please stop using accounting terms too. You don't understand them. If the Ring boards were bringing down Sega's operating income it would mean that they're losing money.

Comrade's right. The only division of SEGA-Sammy that is really profitable right now is the pachinko/pachi-slot machine business. And I'm quite sure the management of SEGA-Sammy are not going to gamble the profits of that business away on a risky move back in to building consoles yet.

For me, Sega need to start building quality games consistantly, both for the home and in the arcades, this would help associate SEGA with quality again. SEGA has made a good start with the tie-up with Platinum Games and have also improved the quality of their Sonic games. Once they have a sound foundation of quality games, this will then help swell the fan base and potentially provide the launching board for a return to building consoles, but they have to differentiate themselves from the competition. Again using the example of Nintendo, Nintendo keep the quality of their own games consistantly high, this added to the innovations they introduced with systems like the DS and Wii allowed them to carve out their own slice of the market, this is where Sega needs to target.

SO
MUCH
WIN

[comradesnarky]

Not to mention the NXE dashboard has a considerably lower performance compared to the first one.

Seriously. It feels like I have to wait hours for my arcade games to pop up.

I did get my original Xbox back from an ex after about 3 years this past weekend. I'm planning on softmodding it and getting XBMC on it with a skin like the original 360 dash just for giggles.