Ten Suggestions For A Successful Dreamcast 2:
ONE: DC2 should be the Underground console
- It should be The Choice for those gamers burned by the current console wars, or the console market's utter lack of regard for consumer interests.
- Sega shouldn't even try to directly compete with the big three (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft) in the dedicated console world, they should market as the cool alternative to a real console.
- Market not for the living room, but for the office or game room, hit up the crowd of fans who are tired of the never-ending quest to upgrade their PC's just to play games. Make the DC2 more like a gaming PC than a dedicated console.
- Sega shouldn't even try to directly compete with the big three (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft) in the dedicated console world, they should market as the cool alternative to a real console.
- Market not for the living room, but for the office or game room, hit up the crowd of fans who are tired of the never-ending quest to upgrade their PC's just to play games. Make the DC2 more like a gaming PC than a dedicated console.
- Don't advertise for families, concentrate on your already loyal fans. Those of us who grew up playing Sonic and Alex Kidd are in our twenties and thirties now, we don't have to beg our parents for money anymore, we make our own. We want a return to the glory days but with a pretty new HD sheen
- Don't tout your higher power (though it must be at least competitive in terms of power with other consoles on the market, for cross platform games) tout your compatibility.
TWO: DC2 should feature an internet ready frontend to rival Live or PSN, only no mandatory fees.
- Don't tout your higher power (though it must be at least competitive in terms of power with other consoles on the market, for cross platform games) tout your compatibility.
TWO: DC2 should feature an internet ready frontend to rival Live or PSN, only no mandatory fees.
- Add a subscription service for more advanced stuff like social networking or streaming HD video content, but keep the basics free. This means friends lists, matchmaking, game invites, and above all else, free access to the digital marketplace.
THREE: Have at least 10 AAA titles (or ports of AAA titles) ready at launch.
- Full HD remakes of the greats (Sonic 1-3, Sonic & Knuckles, Shining Force, Power Stone, Shenmue 1 & 2, etc.) available for download at launch could count towards this, but don't be afraid to launch with ports of the latest CoD or Battlefield game.
- Full HD remakes of the greats (Sonic 1-3, Sonic & Knuckles, Shining Force, Power Stone, Shenmue 1 & 2, etc.) available for download at launch could count towards this, but don't be afraid to launch with ports of the latest CoD or Battlefield game.
- And I mean AT LAUNCH. Nothing is worse than buying a new console and having no games for the thing, just look what happened to the Wii-U.
FOUR: A bonus card worth one free download of one of 'The Greats' (listed above) with purchase of every console, customers choice.
- This is a no-brainer, and can replace the awful bundled tech demo "game" if you want to save on costs. Though a decent bundle like Wii Sports wouldn't go amiss.
FIVE: Steal others controllers.
- We already have the best formatted gamepad possible (or at least close to it) so don't fix what isn't broken. All three major consoles have the same basic controller: Two thumb sticks, finger triggers, a directional pad, a "start/select" button, and four differently labeled/colored face buttons. Even the Wii-U uses this concept (albeit with a big LCD in the middle of the controller). Do not be afraid to use this.
FOUR: A bonus card worth one free download of one of 'The Greats' (listed above) with purchase of every console, customers choice.
- This is a no-brainer, and can replace the awful bundled tech demo "game" if you want to save on costs. Though a decent bundle like Wii Sports wouldn't go amiss.
FIVE: Steal others controllers.
- We already have the best formatted gamepad possible (or at least close to it) so don't fix what isn't broken. All three major consoles have the same basic controller: Two thumb sticks, finger triggers, a directional pad, a "start/select" button, and four differently labeled/colored face buttons. Even the Wii-U uses this concept (albeit with a big LCD in the middle of the controller). Do not be afraid to use this.
- Nintendo gambled hard with the Wii-mote and I guess it paid off, but you aren't going for families, you are going for dedicated gamers.
- Heck, to differentiate the controller, you can give it SIX face buttons. This will enable some interesting game design decisions and will harken back to your Genesis/Saturn glory days.
SIX: Blu-Ray, DVD, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Twitch.tv compatibility.
- Duh.
SEVEN: Keyboard and Mouse support.
SIX: Blu-Ray, DVD, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Twitch.tv compatibility.
- Duh.
SEVEN: Keyboard and Mouse support.
- With downloadable CoD or Battlefield games available out of the gate, watch how the FPS market lights the fuck up over KB/M controls.
- Real Time Strategy (Starcraft), Turn Based Strategy (Final Fantasy Tactics), Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (League of Legends), Massively Multiplayer Online Game (World of Warcraft) and, to a lesser extent, First Person Shooter (Call of Duty) games all truly suck when played with a controller (not to mention oddities like The Sims). Allow full compatibility with Keyboard and Mouse and you can dominate all the markets that have generally failed on consoles in the past, you could even make inroads in the Microsoft dominated FPS market.
- Real Time Strategy (Starcraft), Turn Based Strategy (Final Fantasy Tactics), Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (League of Legends), Massively Multiplayer Online Game (World of Warcraft) and, to a lesser extent, First Person Shooter (Call of Duty) games all truly suck when played with a controller (not to mention oddities like The Sims). Allow full compatibility with Keyboard and Mouse and you can dominate all the markets that have generally failed on consoles in the past, you could even make inroads in the Microsoft dominated FPS market.
EIGHT: A deal with an established developer for a new, exclusive IP for the DC2.
- Exclusives are what make a console competitive in the console wars, while you shouldn't be focusing on competing with the other console makers, you can still have a few tantalizing goodies for loyal customers to brag about.
- Exclusives are what make a console competitive in the console wars, while you shouldn't be focusing on competing with the other console makers, you can still have a few tantalizing goodies for loyal customers to brag about.
NINE: Steam compatibility.
- In fact, just go ahead and make this thing a steam box along with everything else. Not only will you be attaching yourself to the biggest PC games marketplace in the world, a LOT of players will love you if your inevitable achievement/trophy system syncs with Steam Achievements.
TEN: Do Not Rush Things.
- Take your time. We have waited ten years, we can wait a little longer. Adopt the strategy of Blizzard when it comes to people asking for a release date "When It's Done" is a perfectly acceptable answer. Make sure everything is ready at launch then watch as the Fourth console maker regains it's massive stride. Just don't take TOO long, or you risk becoming a joke like Duke Nukem Forever.
There you have it. Ten tips for making Sega the biggest console manufacturer in the world. Please feel free to take these tips to heart and give us Sega fans something to rejoice about. Imagine it, if Sega came out with the newest console, completely out of the blue. Sega could be king again! Not to mention that it would shake Sony (the ever complacent), Nintendo (the near-broke gambler) and Microsoft (the semi-tyrannical) to their very CORE. It would be GLORIOUS!
There you have it. Ten tips for making Sega the biggest console manufacturer in the world. Please feel free to take these tips to heart and give us Sega fans something to rejoice about. Imagine it, if Sega came out with the newest console, completely out of the blue. Sega could be king again! Not to mention that it would shake Sony (the ever complacent), Nintendo (the near-broke gambler) and Microsoft (the semi-tyrannical) to their very CORE. It would be GLORIOUS!
/daydreams
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