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The OFFICIAL word from Sega; Articles taken from IGN.com;
Sega Sinks Console Efforts?
Rumors swirl around troubled console. But is Sega's hardware doom a reality?
January 23, 2001
Rumors have once again surged to the forefront of the Dreamcast newswire: the typically reputable Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that Sega has concrete plans to cease production of its Dreamcast hardware in March, and will move forward with plans to develop for other hardware platforms, specifically, Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameBoy Advance platforms at the start of fiscal year 2001.
The story goes on to say that Sega will continue to market the Dreamcast console, but will cut off sales as soon as it gets rid of its existing inventory. The Japanese newspaper also indicates that Sega will continue to support the Dreamcast via software in 2001, with some 100 titles expected to hit the console over the course of the year.
Obviously, information like this is cause for some serious concern on the part of Dreamcast owners everywhere, so we got in touch with Sega to see if there was any truth to the report. Vice President of Communications for Sega of America, Inc. Charles Bellfield, denied any truth to the story, stating, "Obviously it's a very slow news day, and people are very bored."
He continued by explaining the source of the story, which has since spread across the 'Net to various game-related publications, as well as respected mainstream news sites like MSNBC, by saying that the whole thing was a complete misunderstanding and is 100% false.
"This is the continued misinterpretation of facts based on an announcement Sega Japan made last October 2000. It was a mistranslation then and it's a mistranslation now. It's rumor building upon rumor and I can honestly confirm on this point that Sega has said nothing about its intention to make PlayStation 2 or any other console games, except for Dreamcast. Dreamcast is a core part of our business. Next week you will see new announcements based on the further technology and improvements on the Dreamcast, which we will continue to support." Bellfield went on to explain that the source publication, Jiji news, apparently pieced together the story after hearing little back from Sega on the rumor, which has been circulating nearly as long as the Dreamcast hardware itself.
He continued, "The press releases from the business announcement we posted last year doesn't include other consoles, but other electronic devices, i.e. digital cameras, phones, etc. I realize that is a very bold announcement, but this current news story is rumor mongering and speculation. Sega will make these new announcements next week."
Just exactly what Sega's exact plans are going forward remains to be seen. Obviously, if Sega has plans to support the Dreamcast through this calendar year, owning up to outside console development this early in the game could be potentially damaging for the company's current interests. Add to this the fact that commenting on any software deals with current hardware publishers could easily hamper any negotiations with other players who plan to enter the market in the near, and you can see why Sega is being careful with its words at this point.
The release Bellfield mentioned above commented on Sega's intent to "take other strategic measures such as utilizing its vast software library of more than 1,000 titles to develop content for other consumer entertainment and mobile devices, making full use of Sega's renowned brand and characters to expand its game software business." The original wording of the document was somewhat vague, and an initial translation may indeed have led many to believe Sega was loosely proclaiming its intention to develop for other hardware platforms.
Sega quickly refuted such rumors, reiterating its continued commitment to Dreamcast, and as was the case last October, Sega has released an official statement today about the latest rumblings saying:
Sega of America stated today that the company globally reaffirms its commitment to Dreamcast. In fact, Sega has more than 100 games worldwide coming out for the platform in the next year. It is not Sega's policy to comment on rumors and the company has not made any statement regarding ceasing manufacturing of Dreamcast or development for other videogame platforms.
What is curious about such a statement, however, is that it does little to address the specific nature of the allegations found in said article. The piece, which also said that Sega would release over 100 Dreamcast titles in 2001, claimed that Sega has as many as five PlayStation 2 titles presently in development, and that in March, Sega plans to stop taking orders for Dreamcast hardware -- neither of which Sega even slightly hinted at in said announcement.
It is interesting to note that earlier rumors linking Acclaim to Sega-developed PS2 titles also listed the number of titles in development at five. It remains to be seen if said titles are, in fact, the same titles mentioned above, or completely different projects.
Also curious is a new hardware package which Bellfield hints at in his quotes above. Could these rumors of halted Dreamcast development have to do with a new hardware configuration? Or is Sega really calling it quits? The picture remains a bit cloudy at present, but we will continue to follow the story, and should have some sort of update next week following Sega's announcement.
Says Bellfield, "In the next week or so, Sega will make some new announcements about the Dreamcast that will help to explain our future strategies. At that point you'll be able to see that Dreamcast technology will incorporate a whole new videogaming experience. Our future is very, very rosy." For the sake of the millions of Dreamcast owners worldwide, we hope you're right, Charles.
Sega Confirms PS2 and Game Boy Advance Negotiations
Straight from the horse's mouth, well, from Sega of Japan's PR department, that is.
Sega of Japan issued a press release today (1/24 in Japan), commenting on various "Dreamcast is Dead" reports that circulated yesterday through news sources in Japan and America. The press release at long last confirms a few of those countless stories that we've been asked by Sega of America to treat as nothing more than rumors.
The release confirms three specific things being planned by Sega as part of the company's New Management Strategy first announced on October 27th of last year:
1. A structural reformation of Dreamcast manufacturing, sales and distribution is being planned. However, the company will still be continuing its Dreamcast business with a focus on software. Over 100 titles are planned for this year (see this story for a partial list of some newly announced DC games).
2. Sega is currently in negotiations to supply software for PS2 and Game Boy Advance.
3. Sega is continuing to pursue the installation of the Dreamcast architecture in PCs, Set top boxes and various other electronic devices.
Keep in mind that this information is not from a news site - it's taken directly off of Sega of Japan's website as a translation of a press release issued by the company. The release specifically mentions Game Boy Advance and PS2, rather than mentioning "Home Electronics Devices" as previous releases have. That said, keep in mind that Sega has yet to confirm development for either system - just negotiations.
We expect further comments from Sega of America tomorrow.
-- Steve --
Sega Sinks Console Efforts?
Rumors swirl around troubled console. But is Sega's hardware doom a reality?
January 23, 2001
Rumors have once again surged to the forefront of the Dreamcast newswire: the typically reputable Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that Sega has concrete plans to cease production of its Dreamcast hardware in March, and will move forward with plans to develop for other hardware platforms, specifically, Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameBoy Advance platforms at the start of fiscal year 2001.
The story goes on to say that Sega will continue to market the Dreamcast console, but will cut off sales as soon as it gets rid of its existing inventory. The Japanese newspaper also indicates that Sega will continue to support the Dreamcast via software in 2001, with some 100 titles expected to hit the console over the course of the year.
Obviously, information like this is cause for some serious concern on the part of Dreamcast owners everywhere, so we got in touch with Sega to see if there was any truth to the report. Vice President of Communications for Sega of America, Inc. Charles Bellfield, denied any truth to the story, stating, "Obviously it's a very slow news day, and people are very bored."
He continued by explaining the source of the story, which has since spread across the 'Net to various game-related publications, as well as respected mainstream news sites like MSNBC, by saying that the whole thing was a complete misunderstanding and is 100% false.
"This is the continued misinterpretation of facts based on an announcement Sega Japan made last October 2000. It was a mistranslation then and it's a mistranslation now. It's rumor building upon rumor and I can honestly confirm on this point that Sega has said nothing about its intention to make PlayStation 2 or any other console games, except for Dreamcast. Dreamcast is a core part of our business. Next week you will see new announcements based on the further technology and improvements on the Dreamcast, which we will continue to support." Bellfield went on to explain that the source publication, Jiji news, apparently pieced together the story after hearing little back from Sega on the rumor, which has been circulating nearly as long as the Dreamcast hardware itself.
He continued, "The press releases from the business announcement we posted last year doesn't include other consoles, but other electronic devices, i.e. digital cameras, phones, etc. I realize that is a very bold announcement, but this current news story is rumor mongering and speculation. Sega will make these new announcements next week."
Just exactly what Sega's exact plans are going forward remains to be seen. Obviously, if Sega has plans to support the Dreamcast through this calendar year, owning up to outside console development this early in the game could be potentially damaging for the company's current interests. Add to this the fact that commenting on any software deals with current hardware publishers could easily hamper any negotiations with other players who plan to enter the market in the near, and you can see why Sega is being careful with its words at this point.
The release Bellfield mentioned above commented on Sega's intent to "take other strategic measures such as utilizing its vast software library of more than 1,000 titles to develop content for other consumer entertainment and mobile devices, making full use of Sega's renowned brand and characters to expand its game software business." The original wording of the document was somewhat vague, and an initial translation may indeed have led many to believe Sega was loosely proclaiming its intention to develop for other hardware platforms.
Sega quickly refuted such rumors, reiterating its continued commitment to Dreamcast, and as was the case last October, Sega has released an official statement today about the latest rumblings saying:
Sega of America stated today that the company globally reaffirms its commitment to Dreamcast. In fact, Sega has more than 100 games worldwide coming out for the platform in the next year. It is not Sega's policy to comment on rumors and the company has not made any statement regarding ceasing manufacturing of Dreamcast or development for other videogame platforms.
What is curious about such a statement, however, is that it does little to address the specific nature of the allegations found in said article. The piece, which also said that Sega would release over 100 Dreamcast titles in 2001, claimed that Sega has as many as five PlayStation 2 titles presently in development, and that in March, Sega plans to stop taking orders for Dreamcast hardware -- neither of which Sega even slightly hinted at in said announcement.
It is interesting to note that earlier rumors linking Acclaim to Sega-developed PS2 titles also listed the number of titles in development at five. It remains to be seen if said titles are, in fact, the same titles mentioned above, or completely different projects.
Also curious is a new hardware package which Bellfield hints at in his quotes above. Could these rumors of halted Dreamcast development have to do with a new hardware configuration? Or is Sega really calling it quits? The picture remains a bit cloudy at present, but we will continue to follow the story, and should have some sort of update next week following Sega's announcement.
Says Bellfield, "In the next week or so, Sega will make some new announcements about the Dreamcast that will help to explain our future strategies. At that point you'll be able to see that Dreamcast technology will incorporate a whole new videogaming experience. Our future is very, very rosy." For the sake of the millions of Dreamcast owners worldwide, we hope you're right, Charles.
Sega Confirms PS2 and Game Boy Advance Negotiations
Straight from the horse's mouth, well, from Sega of Japan's PR department, that is.
Sega of Japan issued a press release today (1/24 in Japan), commenting on various "Dreamcast is Dead" reports that circulated yesterday through news sources in Japan and America. The press release at long last confirms a few of those countless stories that we've been asked by Sega of America to treat as nothing more than rumors.
The release confirms three specific things being planned by Sega as part of the company's New Management Strategy first announced on October 27th of last year:
1. A structural reformation of Dreamcast manufacturing, sales and distribution is being planned. However, the company will still be continuing its Dreamcast business with a focus on software. Over 100 titles are planned for this year (see this story for a partial list of some newly announced DC games).
2. Sega is currently in negotiations to supply software for PS2 and Game Boy Advance.
3. Sega is continuing to pursue the installation of the Dreamcast architecture in PCs, Set top boxes and various other electronic devices.
Keep in mind that this information is not from a news site - it's taken directly off of Sega of Japan's website as a translation of a press release issued by the company. The release specifically mentions Game Boy Advance and PS2, rather than mentioning "Home Electronics Devices" as previous releases have. That said, keep in mind that Sega has yet to confirm development for either system - just negotiations.
We expect further comments from Sega of America tomorrow.
-- Steve --
'Inconsistencies in the Auteur Theory in Regards to Roman Polanski' 2009
Montage Film Reviews freelancer Ian Viggars BA (Hons) MA (Hons) has written a review of the film 'What? (Che?)' 1972 (dir. Roman Polanski); in which he uses the auteur theory as a frame work to examine 'What?' as being something of an unpleasant and unsuccessful oddity amongst Polanski’s otherwise formidable group of work. He considers how it fits (or not) into his cannon of classic filmmaking.
To read the review see HERE
Montage Film Reviews freelancer Ian Viggars BA (Hons) MA (Hons) has written a review of the film 'What? (Che?)' 1972 (dir. Roman Polanski); in which he uses the auteur theory as a frame work to examine 'What?' as being something of an unpleasant and unsuccessful oddity amongst Polanski’s otherwise formidable group of work. He considers how it fits (or not) into his cannon of classic filmmaking.
To read the review see HERE
Here's some more pasted off another site:
"The Japanese games industry was in shock this morning when news leaked out that Sega will be developing software for Sony's PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox and possibly ditching the Dreamcast.
The former deadly rival of Sony has suffered dwindling sales figures and recently reported losses of 22 billion Yen for last year. While Sega's hardware section is struggling in Japan against the likes of Nintendo and Sony, its software releases are still some of the best to hit the shelves for any platform.
A Sega spokesman in Tokyo said the company needs more time to make a decision, but would not elaborate on when an announcement could be expected. Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported yesterday that production of its Dreamcast console would end after March and that sales would continue only as long as inventory lasted. "The idea that Sega should give up making machines has been around for some time," said Masahiro Ono, analyst for UBS Warburg in Tokyo. "Making games for Sony is positive for Sega, and it's positive for Sony. Sega is strong on developing games."
Last November, Sega Strategic Counsel Tetsu Kayama confirmed Sega's plan and its main goal: to boost Sega's console software marketshare to 25 per cent. Currently its games account for just 4.2 per cent of the market. Sega also announced plans to launch Sega games on a multitude of platforms - PDA's, set-top boxes and phones but no mention of other consoles. With a library of licences such as Shenmue, Sonic and Phantasy Star to name a few, Sega could very well become one of the biggest software developers in the world. How many PlayStation owners wished they could play Jet Set Radio?
This news has come as no surprise to industry experts, especially after the rumours of the tie-in that was allegedly being forged with fellow Japanese games giant, Nintendo, last year. With the city reacting positively to the news and the appointment of a new President, set on expansion of the software division and a re-organisation of the company, the writing is said to be firmly on the wall for Sega."
Source: AOL News
"The Japanese games industry was in shock this morning when news leaked out that Sega will be developing software for Sony's PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox and possibly ditching the Dreamcast.
The former deadly rival of Sony has suffered dwindling sales figures and recently reported losses of 22 billion Yen for last year. While Sega's hardware section is struggling in Japan against the likes of Nintendo and Sony, its software releases are still some of the best to hit the shelves for any platform.
A Sega spokesman in Tokyo said the company needs more time to make a decision, but would not elaborate on when an announcement could be expected. Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported yesterday that production of its Dreamcast console would end after March and that sales would continue only as long as inventory lasted. "The idea that Sega should give up making machines has been around for some time," said Masahiro Ono, analyst for UBS Warburg in Tokyo. "Making games for Sony is positive for Sega, and it's positive for Sony. Sega is strong on developing games."
Last November, Sega Strategic Counsel Tetsu Kayama confirmed Sega's plan and its main goal: to boost Sega's console software marketshare to 25 per cent. Currently its games account for just 4.2 per cent of the market. Sega also announced plans to launch Sega games on a multitude of platforms - PDA's, set-top boxes and phones but no mention of other consoles. With a library of licences such as Shenmue, Sonic and Phantasy Star to name a few, Sega could very well become one of the biggest software developers in the world. How many PlayStation owners wished they could play Jet Set Radio?
This news has come as no surprise to industry experts, especially after the rumours of the tie-in that was allegedly being forged with fellow Japanese games giant, Nintendo, last year. With the city reacting positively to the news and the appointment of a new President, set on expansion of the software division and a re-organisation of the company, the writing is said to be firmly on the wall for Sega."
Source: AOL News
Wow, long post. I still don't know what to believe about all this. I mean they could have changed their minds about Dreamcast production 199 times before the news gets here!
I'll wait till I see a press release from Sega, I still want a dreamcast though, I was fishing today, caught a whopper! I did! Sega Bass Fishing I think...had trouble reeling in though
The Game
I'll wait till I see a press release from Sega, I still want a dreamcast though, I was fishing today, caught a whopper! I did! Sega Bass Fishing I think...had trouble reeling in though
The Game
Great news! Hopefully it will simply be a misinterpereted report.
I think it would be stupid for sega to pull out now. Let's face it- the console is sellinmg really well in the states, and will propbably continue to dominate the charts. Sega could make alot of money be shifting all resources away from Japan ,and concentrating on this one market!
As for the other consoles. Sega will no doubt make games for WAP phones and the GBA (like they did on the Neo geo). Sega do not see the GBA as a challenge to the DC, and are happy to make money any way they can. You may see 3 sega games on the PSone/2, because of a deal between sega and acclaim for the production of ferrari 355 (acclaim own the rights to ferrari games in the west). The games include Crazy Taxi.
SonicRav
I think it would be stupid for sega to pull out now. Let's face it- the console is sellinmg really well in the states, and will propbably continue to dominate the charts. Sega could make alot of money be shifting all resources away from Japan ,and concentrating on this one market!
As for the other consoles. Sega will no doubt make games for WAP phones and the GBA (like they did on the Neo geo). Sega do not see the GBA as a challenge to the DC, and are happy to make money any way they can. You may see 3 sega games on the PSone/2, because of a deal between sega and acclaim for the production of ferrari 355 (acclaim own the rights to ferrari games in the west). The games include Crazy Taxi.
SonicRav
The OFFICIAL word from Sega; Articles taken from IGN.com;
Sega Sinks Console Efforts?
Rumors swirl around troubled console. But is Sega's hardware doom a reality?
January 23, 2001
Rumors have once again surged to the forefront of the Dreamcast newswire: the typically reputable Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that Sega has concrete plans to cease production of its Dreamcast hardware in March, and will move forward with plans to develop for other hardware platforms, specifically, Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameBoy Advance platforms at the start of fiscal year 2001.
The story goes on to say that Sega will continue to market the Dreamcast console, but will cut off sales as soon as it gets rid of its existing inventory. The Japanese newspaper also indicates that Sega will continue to support the Dreamcast via software in 2001, with some 100 titles expected to hit the console over the course of the year.
Obviously, information like this is cause for some serious concern on the part of Dreamcast owners everywhere, so we got in touch with Sega to see if there was any truth to the report. Vice President of Communications for Sega of America, Inc. Charles Bellfield, denied any truth to the story, stating, "Obviously it's a very slow news day, and people are very bored."
He continued by explaining the source of the story, which has since spread across the 'Net to various game-related publications, as well as respected mainstream news sites like MSNBC, by saying that the whole thing was a complete misunderstanding and is 100% false.
"This is the continued misinterpretation of facts based on an announcement Sega Japan made last October 2000. It was a mistranslation then and it's a mistranslation now. It's rumor building upon rumor and I can honestly confirm on this point that Sega has said nothing about its intention to make PlayStation 2 or any other console games, except for Dreamcast. Dreamcast is a core part of our business. Next week you will see new announcements based on the further technology and improvements on the Dreamcast, which we will continue to support." Bellfield went on to explain that the source publication, Jiji news, apparently pieced together the story after hearing little back from Sega on the rumor, which has been circulating nearly as long as the Dreamcast hardware itself.
He continued, "The press releases from the business announcement we posted last year doesn't include other consoles, but other electronic devices, i.e. digital cameras, phones, etc. I realize that is a very bold announcement, but this current news story is rumor mongering and speculation. Sega will make these new announcements next week."
Just exactly what Sega's exact plans are going forward remains to be seen. Obviously, if Sega has plans to support the Dreamcast through this calendar year, owning up to outside console development this early in the game could be potentially damaging for the company's current interests. Add to this the fact that commenting on any software deals with current hardware publishers could easily hamper any negotiations with other players who plan to enter the market in the near, and you can see why Sega is being careful with its words at this point.
The release Bellfield mentioned above commented on Sega's intent to "take other strategic measures such as utilizing its vast software library of more than 1,000 titles to develop content for other consumer entertainment and mobile devices, making full use of Sega's renowned brand and characters to expand its game software business." The original wording of the document was somewhat vague, and an initial translation may indeed have led many to believe Sega was loosely proclaiming its intention to develop for other hardware platforms.
Sega quickly refuted such rumors, reiterating its continued commitment to Dreamcast, and as was the case last October, Sega has released an official statement today about the latest rumblings saying:
Sega of America stated today that the company globally reaffirms its commitment to Dreamcast. In fact, Sega has more than 100 games worldwide coming out for the platform in the next year. It is not Sega's policy to comment on rumors and the company has not made any statement regarding ceasing manufacturing of Dreamcast or development for other videogame platforms.
What is curious about such a statement, however, is that it does little to address the specific nature of the allegations found in said article. The piece, which also said that Sega would release over 100 Dreamcast titles in 2001, claimed that Sega has as many as five PlayStation 2 titles presently in development, and that in March, Sega plans to stop taking orders for Dreamcast hardware -- neither of which Sega even slightly hinted at in said announcement.
It is interesting to note that earlier rumors linking Acclaim to Sega-developed PS2 titles also listed the number of titles in development at five. It remains to be seen if said titles are, in fact, the same titles mentioned above, or completely different projects.
Also curious is a new hardware package which Bellfield hints at in his quotes above. Could these rumors of halted Dreamcast development have to do with a new hardware configuration? Or is Sega really calling it quits? The picture remains a bit cloudy at present, but we will continue to follow the story, and should have some sort of update next week following Sega's announcement.
Says Bellfield, "In the next week or so, Sega will make some new announcements about the Dreamcast that will help to explain our future strategies. At that point you'll be able to see that Dreamcast technology will incorporate a whole new videogaming experience. Our future is very, very rosy." For the sake of the millions of Dreamcast owners worldwide, we hope you're right, Charles.
Sega Confirms PS2 and Game Boy Advance Negotiations
Straight from the horse's mouth, well, from Sega of Japan's PR department, that is.
Sega of Japan issued a press release today (1/24 in Japan), commenting on various "Dreamcast is Dead" reports that circulated yesterday through news sources in Japan and America. The press release at long last confirms a few of those countless stories that we've been asked by Sega of America to treat as nothing more than rumors.
The release confirms three specific things being planned by Sega as part of the company's New Management Strategy first announced on October 27th of last year:
1. A structural reformation of Dreamcast manufacturing, sales and distribution is being planned. However, the company will still be continuing its Dreamcast business with a focus on software. Over 100 titles are planned for this year (see this story for a partial list of some newly announced DC games).
2. Sega is currently in negotiations to supply software for PS2 and Game Boy Advance.
3. Sega is continuing to pursue the installation of the Dreamcast architecture in PCs, Set top boxes and various other electronic devices.
Keep in mind that this information is not from a news site - it's taken directly off of Sega of Japan's website as a translation of a press release issued by the company. The release specifically mentions Game Boy Advance and PS2, rather than mentioning "Home Electronics Devices" as previous releases have. That said, keep in mind that Sega has yet to confirm development for either system - just negotiations.
We expect further comments from Sega of America tomorrow.
-- Steve --
Sega Sinks Console Efforts?
Rumors swirl around troubled console. But is Sega's hardware doom a reality?
January 23, 2001
Rumors have once again surged to the forefront of the Dreamcast newswire: the typically reputable Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that Sega has concrete plans to cease production of its Dreamcast hardware in March, and will move forward with plans to develop for other hardware platforms, specifically, Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameBoy Advance platforms at the start of fiscal year 2001.
The story goes on to say that Sega will continue to market the Dreamcast console, but will cut off sales as soon as it gets rid of its existing inventory. The Japanese newspaper also indicates that Sega will continue to support the Dreamcast via software in 2001, with some 100 titles expected to hit the console over the course of the year.
Obviously, information like this is cause for some serious concern on the part of Dreamcast owners everywhere, so we got in touch with Sega to see if there was any truth to the report. Vice President of Communications for Sega of America, Inc. Charles Bellfield, denied any truth to the story, stating, "Obviously it's a very slow news day, and people are very bored."
He continued by explaining the source of the story, which has since spread across the 'Net to various game-related publications, as well as respected mainstream news sites like MSNBC, by saying that the whole thing was a complete misunderstanding and is 100% false.
"This is the continued misinterpretation of facts based on an announcement Sega Japan made last October 2000. It was a mistranslation then and it's a mistranslation now. It's rumor building upon rumor and I can honestly confirm on this point that Sega has said nothing about its intention to make PlayStation 2 or any other console games, except for Dreamcast. Dreamcast is a core part of our business. Next week you will see new announcements based on the further technology and improvements on the Dreamcast, which we will continue to support." Bellfield went on to explain that the source publication, Jiji news, apparently pieced together the story after hearing little back from Sega on the rumor, which has been circulating nearly as long as the Dreamcast hardware itself.
He continued, "The press releases from the business announcement we posted last year doesn't include other consoles, but other electronic devices, i.e. digital cameras, phones, etc. I realize that is a very bold announcement, but this current news story is rumor mongering and speculation. Sega will make these new announcements next week."
Just exactly what Sega's exact plans are going forward remains to be seen. Obviously, if Sega has plans to support the Dreamcast through this calendar year, owning up to outside console development this early in the game could be potentially damaging for the company's current interests. Add to this the fact that commenting on any software deals with current hardware publishers could easily hamper any negotiations with other players who plan to enter the market in the near, and you can see why Sega is being careful with its words at this point.
The release Bellfield mentioned above commented on Sega's intent to "take other strategic measures such as utilizing its vast software library of more than 1,000 titles to develop content for other consumer entertainment and mobile devices, making full use of Sega's renowned brand and characters to expand its game software business." The original wording of the document was somewhat vague, and an initial translation may indeed have led many to believe Sega was loosely proclaiming its intention to develop for other hardware platforms.
Sega quickly refuted such rumors, reiterating its continued commitment to Dreamcast, and as was the case last October, Sega has released an official statement today about the latest rumblings saying:
Sega of America stated today that the company globally reaffirms its commitment to Dreamcast. In fact, Sega has more than 100 games worldwide coming out for the platform in the next year. It is not Sega's policy to comment on rumors and the company has not made any statement regarding ceasing manufacturing of Dreamcast or development for other videogame platforms.
What is curious about such a statement, however, is that it does little to address the specific nature of the allegations found in said article. The piece, which also said that Sega would release over 100 Dreamcast titles in 2001, claimed that Sega has as many as five PlayStation 2 titles presently in development, and that in March, Sega plans to stop taking orders for Dreamcast hardware -- neither of which Sega even slightly hinted at in said announcement.
It is interesting to note that earlier rumors linking Acclaim to Sega-developed PS2 titles also listed the number of titles in development at five. It remains to be seen if said titles are, in fact, the same titles mentioned above, or completely different projects.
Also curious is a new hardware package which Bellfield hints at in his quotes above. Could these rumors of halted Dreamcast development have to do with a new hardware configuration? Or is Sega really calling it quits? The picture remains a bit cloudy at present, but we will continue to follow the story, and should have some sort of update next week following Sega's announcement.
Says Bellfield, "In the next week or so, Sega will make some new announcements about the Dreamcast that will help to explain our future strategies. At that point you'll be able to see that Dreamcast technology will incorporate a whole new videogaming experience. Our future is very, very rosy." For the sake of the millions of Dreamcast owners worldwide, we hope you're right, Charles.
Sega Confirms PS2 and Game Boy Advance Negotiations
Straight from the horse's mouth, well, from Sega of Japan's PR department, that is.
Sega of Japan issued a press release today (1/24 in Japan), commenting on various "Dreamcast is Dead" reports that circulated yesterday through news sources in Japan and America. The press release at long last confirms a few of those countless stories that we've been asked by Sega of America to treat as nothing more than rumors.
The release confirms three specific things being planned by Sega as part of the company's New Management Strategy first announced on October 27th of last year:
1. A structural reformation of Dreamcast manufacturing, sales and distribution is being planned. However, the company will still be continuing its Dreamcast business with a focus on software. Over 100 titles are planned for this year (see this story for a partial list of some newly announced DC games).
2. Sega is currently in negotiations to supply software for PS2 and Game Boy Advance.
3. Sega is continuing to pursue the installation of the Dreamcast architecture in PCs, Set top boxes and various other electronic devices.
Keep in mind that this information is not from a news site - it's taken directly off of Sega of Japan's website as a translation of a press release issued by the company. The release specifically mentions Game Boy Advance and PS2, rather than mentioning "Home Electronics Devices" as previous releases have. That said, keep in mind that Sega has yet to confirm development for either system - just negotiations.
We expect further comments from Sega of America tomorrow.
-- Steve --