There is news that Sega is getting back into the hardware biz. I found this of interest as, last month, I’d had the concept of just this. Imagine my grin when I heard the rumor mill spin and then imagine how it felt to realize what I’d intend and their own pitch was the difference between king of the hill and quick nostalgia cash in that takes what it can get? Watch, thats what I think their planned device is whereas my vision is an entire ecosystem that totally shakes up the foundations of modern gaming. Ready? Lets go:
The current state of play is quite sad, isn’t it? When it comes to pushing pixels for entertainment within the simulation where we dwell its became an incessant stream of half done wares with a “Fix it with DLC” mindset and, worst of all, the fun is secondary as its often hid behind cutscenes and tutorials, immense. Gone are the pick up and play ways and “Figure it out as you go” that made back when present a challenge and thrill of discovery as you converged on the playground with friends or passed a controller back and forth to get past a certain level.
This is what the game is missing. This is what we need to bring back again.
But, just like you can’t step into the same stream twice neither can you Ctrl C, Ctrl V a slice of life to another vibe. What you can do, however, is innovate using lateral thought mixed with withered tech. In my mind Sega is perfectly positioned to do this because they have a back catalogue that is immense and we mix in a sprinkle of mobile chipsets linked in with a unique online environment that prizes connection over the rest and its a perfect win.
Really think about this, my friend. You cannot, currently, access many of Segas arcade classics that were packed to the gills with thrills and the spirit of competition it brings and not only this but the fans of their Dreamcast line are immense and all, secretly, crave a resurgence. Sprinkle in Gen Z and Millens who feel nostalgia, immense, for a time they didn’t live and it, like Miyamoto said, prints money because its so fresh and different. What I propose is a portable that can, at home, be plugged in that features local and online access so you can play against friends you know well and those you haven’t met yet across a range of games that were built to amaze, back when. DC would be perfectly upscaled by Three and thus look super crisp on the Five point Five inch OLED screen in your grip and the old arcade classics can be given a spritz by M-Two as they are known for their respect when it comes to the older gens. Add in the online thing with a Miiverse style feeling, global leaderboards, tournament matches and the rest and it certainly makes me grin. How are you feeling?
The idea came to me, initially, last month when I was considering spiraling development costs and how hardware prices are up across the board. I’d envisioned a custom OLED panel that would really make those DC games pop off the screen as they were designed with art styles that vividly impress so they don’t look dated one bit. A Snapdragon Eight Gen Two with Six gigs of RAM would easily handle the upres but the best bit is this:
Sega create a Net Yaroze style development environment to encourage DIY coders by offering the tools and insight needed to create games along with a distribution network, built in. They could also leverage their other platforms onto it but the main system seller would be the Indy market as the chipset can easily run a Proton translation layer and give people the mini Steam Deck they’ve been asking for since the original dropped. Consider how Gabes offering just leapt in price whilst offering a four year old chipset and then compare that to this.
What do you think, my friend?
To me it appears to be a great concept and I was actually about to pitch this to Sega when the news of their handheld leaked. Their idea seems more along the lines of an Evercade style device whereas the DCSX is a whole new ecosystem that resurrects a fan favorite brand in a new format and comes to market with a wealth of titles at an affordable price along with that all important independent aspect.
To me its a straight up “It prints money device” as they sold One point Five million MegaDrive Minis which means there is a market and the success of SBC emulation handhelds means there is already a group of buyers willing to take a look but the hook is the development environment and providing a way to play lightweight modern Two D titles on the go as people are crying out for this along with development innovation as well.
The Snapdragon chip is more than capable as the aim is to create something futureproof in this niche with BC upgrades as tech does progress as we’re simply repurposing old phone tech. As I looked into the potential costs and competitors such as Ayaneo it got a bit sketch as creating the panel will be expensive and for all the success of the Steam Deck and its fans its only sold Four million units. Anbernic are by far the biggest and most prolific manufacturers in this niche and they shift between Twenty to Fifty K per deal with major sellers coming it at an estimated Hundred and Fifty Thousand. On average they’ve sold just over a million units in the last Four years which is when the whole SBC arena became big but they already have the infrastructure so a partnership makes sense. Thing is, they operate in a grey area which is totally unlicensed and thus generate immense profits as they don’t have to consider those elements or pay dividends ergo its probably best Sega put up their own wedge and therefore own the whole supply chain from end to end.
To put it in perspective, they sold a tenth of the Minis as they did the OG hardware. The Dreamcast clocked in a Ten million unit sales so an initial production run of One million DCSX portables would create decent economies of scale that are realistic as the used console market with TV mods and SD card elements demands an investment of Two Hundred quid ergo there is already a playing field there. Here you offer them HDMI out, online play, recreate the controllers as well (with no wires on this spin) and the rest of the things mentioned and its sure to be a hit. Bring it to market for Two Fifty and they still make profit whilst leveraging their strengths that currently languish, unchecked.
This places it in the bracket of the PS Portal and half the price of the Switch Two. As you can see from the design this is nostalgia done right with one eye on the past, another on the present and the third shining bright to create a unique lane for gaming that offers a counterpoint to spiraling development costs and using proven tech with a hybrid format that appeals to both old and new gamers as well. The home development aspect offers them fresh picks along with another SDK for the Dreamcast Two environment for future releases makes the DCSX more than a retread as it also means that the costs for creating are way lower as well and, in this market, that is quite appealing.
The aesthetic gap in the market is very real as the immortality of the Vita proves and the whole Chinese SBC market sells but no major player has looked into this yet. Nintendo gatekeep their back catalogue like Disney. Sony mainly ignore theirs (no matter how capable the hardware is) and this leaves Sega able to flood the market and dominate with a strong back catalogue of Two Hundred and Fifty English language releases with Thirty Five Percent going down as cult classics as well as countless obscure Japanese titles that have received fan translations. I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this. Like I said, “It prints money” and, recently, Sega have been making loads of loot but their main department is a wreck.
They made Fifty Billion Yen from mobile gaming which, along with movies, was their prime cash cow. They lost money on the Rovio deal and their GaaS model isn’t working and, worst of all, they’re releasing acclaimed games that just don’t sell. The DCSX changes all of that as it provides them a center point and USP that leverages their brand along with all the other factors I mentioned.
Mid budget games made by their development teams with a Six month handheld exclusive before porting to other platforms guarantees interest plus they have a load of great IPs they can dust off. Not to mention remastering old Atlus titles and bringing their arcade titles back as well with online aspects and global leaderboards as well that unleashes the “one more go” sensation for the modern generation who don’t know how it feels to see your name in lights on the screen as the initials to beat. Really think about what I said and how the modern kids are all hooked on the Eighties and Nineies aesthetic and it literally sells itself.
If they position it correctly and market it properly, that is. Thats where I come in as I see the vision for, just like most of my clients, they have the correct pieces in their grip but the arrangement, optimal, is lacking ergo its just a case of shifting a few things and watching the rest fall in aka the straight line in Tetris effect.
It can’t just be dropped on the scene like “Its Ridge Racer. Riiiiidggee Racer!” even though Sony clocked Eighty million sales with their technological edge. It needs an image, a concept and multipronged approach that courts talented independent devs, amateur programmers, retro enthusiasts and curious onlookers as well who don’t even know what a Dreamcast is. Thats what I’d been thinking about since last month as I had intended to create a formal pitch for this product with a SWOT analysis that goes a little something like this:
Extremely distinct market identity that offers premium nostalgia and something nobody else is doing in terms of an open environment for development. It cashes in on their iconic brand, arcade heritage and fan favorite console that lead to their exit from the hardware business so you’ve literally got a comeback of all comebacks like a real life movie. That you can play. SEGAGAGA Two, anybody?
Roll out a documentary with the creation which serves as free promotion and, most importantly, it features what real players actually want:
Integer scaled upscaled graphics on a vibrant OLED screen with amazing ergonomics and equally beautiful design language as this is not a design by committee but the streets speaking. Add in the rest I said and it sells itself as you’ve already secured your ICP with the pitch then the rest are hooked in as you expand the marketing and future releases as well. I mean, just glance at the concept. Doesn’t it look great? Can’t you imagine holding it in your grip with a grin on your dish as it expertly blends the best of the past and present to create a future so fresh? Isn’t that what gaming needs beyond the play it safe AAA retreads and ballooning costs of development? I, personally, think the current state of play is untenable and the old Atari extinction event is bound to happen therefore by doing this, now, they could position themselves to rise like a phoenix whilst the rest are scrambling as Microsoft have thrown it in therefore there is a gap in the field for something different.
The thing that makes is special is also the most expensive part of the concept as the OLED panel is estimated around Thirty Five dollars to create and total costs for the project could be around Forty mil using a very lean and guerrilla approach with One million units for the first spin. Obviously I’m not going to speak on everything I am thinking here on the web but its mainly just to share what had been spinning round in my head in terms of this project since a quick pencil sketch…
Estimated retail price would be Two Hundred and Fifty Pounds with the specifications stated which would be selling at profit. Along with the digital distribution, development deals and opening a brand new lane via branded hardware in a proven, profitable niche that is currently under serviced by any of the bigger teams. This is backed by their strength as a developer, massive back catalogue and forward thinking mindset when it comes to nurturing independent talent and things as the aim is to create a whole ecosystem with the intent of making games fun again plus cheaper to create as well. No more half baked releases with DLC bolt ons or updates and such things as you only get one chance to hit send ergo the title must be perfect. This forces the developers to share their very best as the aim is for the end users experience which brings back the “Instant on” mindset that we all knew, back when.
Another reason for my choice in spec is they could unmothball Hyenas as it was built for the Eighth Generation of consoles so that claws back a Hundred Million that is otherwise drifting and the Eight gen Two is more than capable enough to host native versions of their Yakuza engine and latest Sonic racers as well plus all of the other titles mentioned. Basically, we’re looking at the Netflix of gaming but filled with things you actually want to play as well as a place to congregate which is the antithesis of the picture perfect, filtered to death curated images people sell on the medes, socialist.
Trying to become a full AAA developer is an uphill battle for Sega as they make good titles but in a market that is saturated. On the other hand you have loads of retro heads that want to buy just like this as its a curated ecosystem of classic hits and modern independent titles on a beautiful device with an eye catching design, great ergos, battery life and is quiet in operation with local and remote multiplayer, digital distribution and a hybrid presentation. It also allows Sega’s wild development teams to roam free and experiment with zany ideas and concepts as they were never about blockbuster spectacles or playing it safe plus the development costs are greatly reduced on said hardware as its cheap as heck and documented very well.
The biggest thing, in the end, is identity. Everything has becoming generic, cut and paste. This is a breath of fresh air from how it looks, works and feels as nobody is (or will) do this as it can only be pulled off by Sega as they have all of the components but just need to arrange and present them as said. The aim isn’t to compete with Sony or Nintendo but knowing their market well and focusing purely on those that want to bring back the joy of gaming whilst fostering the next gen of talent as well.
If you look at Nintendo’s success with Switch over a quarter of the sales are Indys with half being filled with their strong first party IPs which means there is definitely a market. We are aiming to invert this with the DCSX project as it a case of building a digital playground to share with the world. We provide the rides but what kicks in the sandbox is up to those who come and enjoy the environment and this type of freedom – with manufacturer supported development areas – is unheard of and thus a wide open lane when it comes to gaming.
Steam have recently upped the price of their hardware to Seven Hundred. One out of Three titles sold on that platform are Indys. Now, consider a pocket sized Five point Five Inch OLED device made by Sega themselves at a third of the price that can be plugged in to your big screen for internet play or local portable multi friends as well as being able to create and sell your own fledgling project via their ecosystem for Two Fifty, in your grip, and tell me the DCSX isn’t just what Sega needs but the entire gaming industry as a whole, at present. It marks Blue Ocean thinking in full effect and this generates ideal of a new niche that gives old titles a fresh spin to eyes both familiar and ignorant of the golden age of gaming. Think of it as a renaissance, if you will.
This is just a tiny bit of the concept I’d been developing and I felt that now is a good time to share it with the web. What do you think, my friend? Would you buy it? Is it what you’ve been craving in this sea of AAA fatigue and the endless amounts of shovel ware released? A portable device that plays like a dream and is filled with modern classics of the A and AA range as it carves an entirely new lane with graphics that are locked (as standard) at Sixty FPS (minimum) with no updates or DLC needed. The online community is free and peopled by digital avatars with voice speak where people can set up their own groups to chill and then play, competitive, against the next with built in live streaming as well. As I said, there is much more to this concept inside my head and I wanted to share the most pertinent as the costs of R&D and the rest of the business things are saved for my main pitch as this was just to test the waters, at present, based on the leak that strongly suggested that Sega (or a licensed rep) is getting back in to the hardware biz.
All in all, I think if you’re going to do it then do it big. But small enough to sling in a pocket with enough battery to allow freedom as well so the Game Gear veterans don’t get flashbacks kicking in that remind them of back when. Basically, we are taking the aesthetic and bringing it back – and then some. What popped into your head as I shared this portable Dreamcast concept, my friend?
Till we meet again
