What would you guys do

[StranglingManiac]

If two more companies announce consoles for next gen and Sega decided to com back? With valve, Nvidia, possibly Apple, and all of these announcements i seriously wouldnt be surprised.

[DankPanties]

No chance in hell SEGA is coming back to hardware.  They are done and over in that arena.

I really don't like all these new consoles and handhelds coming out simultaneously.  Too many options leads to apathy.  It brings to mind bad memories.  Although, a phoenix can't rise without ashes...

[SargeSmash]

I think the market is going to be so splintered that it actually works to the advantage of the major players.  Too many options leads to people sticking with what they know, I'd suspect.

[granz]

I would try to support Sega for the principle of it, but I doubt they'll ever return to the console scene. Plus, there are already too many contenders in the console wars. It's not like the old days when it was practically Sega versus Nintendo fighting for the entire market. Now Sega has to deal with Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft; and even mobile platforms are becoming immensely popular.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

What I find interesting about these "new" consoles, namely the Ouya and the Shield (Nvidia's portable) is that they're really just based off Android. There won't be anything that'll be on there that won't be on your phone (if you have an Android handset).

And the Steambox will just be a console-ized version of the PC Steam service. Nothing new there.

And there's what Dank said. Too much choice can lead to apathy. A lot of people still think ill towards gaming. It's still an industry that can die off from the mainstream (and that isn't as good as some people may think it is).

[DankPanties]

Now Sega has to deal with Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft; and even mobile platforms are becoming immensely popular.

Yes, because besides just Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, now it's Apple and soon Valve and now Nvidia as well, not to mention Ouya and the PC platform in general, plus what the hell ever is it out there.  Too much competition.  If SEGA had half a brain they'd resurrect some of their greatest franchises they've chronically forgotten about.  Then again, I don't think SEGA's competent enough to make a truly stellar Phantasy Star V, Skies Of Arcadia 2, or Panzer Dragoon Saga 2 these days to mention but just a few.

[SargeSmash]

...Phantasy Star V, Skies Of Arcadia 2, or Panzer Dragoon Saga 2...

Dang it...  now I'm drooling over the non-existent prospects of playing these games.  Thanks, Dank. 

[Garoth Moulinoski]

Panzer Dragoon Saga 2

Crimson Dragons? Well, more like a spiritual sequel, apparently. With Kinect only capabilities. So, YMMV. (Also, when I think of Panzer Dragoon, I think of the shooter, because I've always wanted to play it. Never have.)

[geishaboy]

I would buy a new Sega console if they released one. Sega always make fantastic consoles, they just always manage to screw every then else up, from marketing to management. I highly doubt that they will release one, but a man can dream.

[MegaManJuno]

I would buy a new Sega console if they released one. Sega always make fantastic consoles, they just always manage to screw every then else up, from marketing to management. I highly doubt that they will release one, but a man can dream.

I don't know about that... At least in my personal experience, I've had more hardware failures with Sega consoles than others. 1 model 1 Sega CD, 1 model 2 Sega CD, 1 model 1 Genesis, 1 Saturn, and 1 32x. Compare this with 1 early PS1 and 1 early Wii, and the fact that I have all manner of consoles and handhelds ranging from the NES to the PS3 for covering the various generations... and things don't look too good in my eyes for Sega hardware.

[DankPanties]

Speaking of SEGA hardware.  I just realized last night SEGA technically beat Nintendo to the punch about having a console controller with a screen built in.  Remember the Dreamcast's VMU?  I know it's not color or a touch screen or high definition, but the core concept was already there.  Just a flutter of a thought.

[SargeSmash]

Yep.  I thought it was a cool idea, too bad devs barely used it, and the thing was crazy underpowered compared to, say, the PocketStation.  I do remember there being some interesting little VMU game for Skies of Arcadia.

[StranglingManiac]

Who kows... Third party devs may barely use the wiiu's controller as well.

[geishaboy]

I don't know about that... At least in my personal experience, I've had more hardware failures with Sega consoles than others. 1 model 1 Sega CD, 1 model 2 Sega CD, 1 model 1 Genesis, 1 Saturn, and 1 32x. Compare this with 1 early PS1 and 1 early Wii, and the fact that I have all manner of consoles and handhelds ranging from the NES to the PS3 for covering the various generations... and things don't look too good in my eyes for Sega hardware.

I meant that they were fantastically designed; the consoles themselves were almost always ahead of their time (except maybe the Saturn, which was too ahead of it's time). When I said that they screwed everything else up I meant production as well. Brilliant systems put together with shitty components. I must have gone through no less than five Sega Master Systems in the last 10 years so I know exactly what you are talking about.

Oh, and those fucking control pads! Sega must make some of the weakest control pads known to man. While they may be comfortable and functional, as soon as you buy a new one it's only a matter of time before you have replace it.

[DankPanties]

True story about a Master System; I got my Master System around 1988, and it still works today (along with its 3D glasses, light phaser, and controllers).  And this was after the thing sat in a non-air-conditioned, non-humidity controlled shed for 15 years.  And the temperatures in that shed get up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer!  I also had two Genesis units that never died, and my ancient Dreamcast still works today.  So those are my own experiences with SEGA hardware.  I've had fantastic luck with the stuff.  Now I realize that's not universal luck, just a counterbalance point I wanted to make.

I will say the only consoles that SEGA made that I think truly were awesome and well designed for their time, were the Master System and Dreamcast.  The Master System had an awesome audio chip and lots of colors on screen.  The Dreamcast especially got EVERYTHING RIGHT, except perhaps for a lack of an additional analog stick on the controller --- but come on the VMU made up for that with its WTF-awesomeness right?

I loved the Genesis but the highly limited color palette and FM-only sound-chip were very short sighted decisions.  The SEGA CD's FMV looked like shit because of the color palette problem.  The 32X was a freaking joke, and the biggest foible ever for SEGA hardware IMO.  The Saturn was full of brilliant ideas but its hardware manifestation was a Frankenstein mish-mash of processors that hated each other.  The Game Gear was a great idea too, but its screen was blur city and it absolutely devoured batteries near instantaneously.  Because of these reasons I can't say SEGA always go it right.

However, SEGA's first entry and their final entry into the realm of consoles were both brilliant.

And yes I know that the Master System wasn't technically SEGA's first console, but as far as I care it was.

[SargeSmash]

What's interesting is that the Saturn is clearly descended from the 32X, or at least co-developed along with it, because they're both using a dual-SH2 configuration.

I've had...  mixed results with Sega hardware.  My Master System still works that I picked up in a thrift store years ago.  I've got a Genesis that has audio crackling issues, but three or four others that are just fine.  My Sega CD has started to go belly-up, it's gear grinding quite a bit, and it's awful to hear.  I have a replacement that does work, however.  My Dreamcast still works great, and I picked up a "dead" spare and managed to tweak the laser and get it working again.  How long that will last remains to be seen, but it hasn't seen much use, either.  My Saturns are both working beautifully, one of which is modded.  The second unit is, again, a backup.  I've even got a Game Gear stashed away somewhere, and it works great, but it's also one of the ones they manufactured later for sale at Toys 'R' Us, at the same time they were selling cheapo Genesis 3s.

I've never really liked the controllers, though.  Most of mine still work, but they never feel as dependable as other systems.  Except the Saturn analog pad, which is great.  I like it better than the Dreamcast controller.  And while people may have not liked that controller, either, for whatever reason I actually liked the d-pad on those.  I could play fighters all day long on there.

[Merta]

A new Sega console? I'd buy it at some point in the future. Would be interesting to see some of those Dreamcast homebrews actually get an officially licensed release on some new Sega console. Maybe a Wind and Water Puzzle Battles II on the Sega Mars developed by the Sonic Team.