Sega Console! ....sorta

[Mister Zero]

News from Pocket Lint: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/31177/new-sega-console-hitting-summer

A new games console that will emulate the Wii as well as allowing you to play classic Sega games is being launched in the summer.

The console, called the Sega Zone, will come with 20 classic Sega titles, like Alex Kid, Golden Axe, Sonic and Knuckles and Ecco the dolphin as well as a further 30 games, 16 of which are motion controlled.

Users will be able to control the action via two included wireless remote controls and when not playing Sega titles be able to play the usual array of sports classics like table tennis, darts, fencing, beach volleyball, and golf by waving the controller in front of the screen as they do with the Nintendo console.

However, gamers hoping to be able to load in more games will be disappointed, although the makers say that they hope to offer more Sega titles in the future, you won't be able to add them to this system.

Priced at around £50, the Sega Zone is expected to be out in the summer.

The Sega Zone follows the launch of a revamped Sega Mega Drive console launched in April 2009.

The console, which is smaller than the original comes preloaded with 15 Sega licensed games, many of which are also featured on the Sega Zone.

It is, however, able to take old cartridges and is priced at £39.95.

More photos available at the link above.

[Data]

Sega's becoming like a poor kid who collects bottles and reuses sandwich wrappers and looking for her next meal and a change of clothes. It's not that there's anything wrong with being frugal but they can't do anything without asking uncle Sammy if it's okay or not. Sammy itself isn't known for making anything good. The best acquisition they ever got was Sega. Poor old Sega is trying to make a buck off people in exchange for a product. This product is nothing more than the cheap parts that run a 21 year old game console fitted into an Xbox 360 shell with a paint job.

If Sega had tugged on Sammy's pant leg and begged them for the money to re-release the Dreamcast with a DVD drive and a gigabit ethernet port, Sammy would simply say no, but I and possibly 10's of 1000's of others would buy one in hopes that a Shenmue 3 would appear eventually. As long as Sega is owned by Sammy were never gonna see Shenmue. Just more cheap rehashes that can be thrown together in a matter of minutes. Of course there are hundreds of fine games on Genesis but only a fraction of them were developed by Sega, it kinda throws a wrench into the Genesis engine when there's only a selection of 20 or so games unless it actually plays old cartridges. Kids would like it but it's not as easy as going to your local flea shop for Genesis game. You gotta pay overpriced Ebay charges plus shipping for a single game and then wait a week.

[Mister Zero]

I agree. What the thing is is a rehash of a cheap "Wii-like" Zone 40 system I've seen in bargain stores that boasts 40 no-name games and motion controls.

The good thing is, for those who don't already have the means to do so, it does play Genesis carts. Still, for $40 you could just buy a Genesis and some games off eBay or even in a flea market/thrift store, or if you have a Wii just buy the VC games.

[KiwiArcader]

Personally, I think this is just another way to push retrogaming. With the IP rights to SMS, Genesis, NES & SNES expiring recently ripoff consoles have been appearing with the ability to use carts for one, sometimes more systems. The main issue is that you do need the carts to use them & from what I've read the video output isn't that great.

At least this one includes games and adopts a wireless handset which is a novel approach given the asking price. There will probably be more than a few Mums out there who will be happy to get something cheap for the kids to play knowing they wont be tripping over cables etc.