| From: | Patrick Roberts |
| Date: | 18 Sep 2000 at 00:14:20 |
| Subject: | Re: AMIOPEN: OT: Sega |
Jesse McClusky wrote:
>
>
> Quite possible. I can't check on this, since I don't read Japanese that
> fluently (hardly at all, actually). However, with Nintendo about to drop
> from number 2 to number 3 in the console market, that bumps Sega
> to number 4.
Actually, Nintendo is behind Sega in the console market and #1 in
the handheld market. (Maybe Dolphin will change this...if it ever
comes out)
> And what I can say about SoA at least is that they have
> always been short on funding. *very* short. At one point a couple of
> years ago they had less than $1 million in liquid assets. They're doing
> better at the moment, but are expecting to take a huge hit here in the
> next couple of months with the US release of the PSx2, and again
> next spring with the planned release of the X-Box.
The PSX-2 will take a big chunk out of the DC market, but don't forget
that the DC will have been out for over a year, and the price
will probably drop, making the difference between the $399 PSX2 and
potentially $150 DC something for consumers to consider. I know
developers prefer the DC to the PSX2.
The DC's life is at least half over. Sega mentioned a while ago
that they plan to release a DC-2 to compete against the PSX2, and
that the DC isn't designed to compete against it. It would be
good if both companies released in the middle of each other's
console's lives. It would reduce competition and only help the
console market. I'd buy a new box every 18 months regardless of
maker if it were a step forward.
The X-Box is so far away that it isn't worth comparing it to
systems that are out now. Maybe the Dolphin, but both Sega and
Sony have said that they will be at least one more generation
ahead when the X-Box launches. The other thing that
remains to be seen is if M$ can pull it off. All the specs I've
read about the X-Box so far make me think they don't understand the
console market at all.
>
> Their problem is, unlike Nintendo, they don't have anything to fall
> back on except making games. 3DO managed the transition, but
> almost didn't and lost most of their staff several times during the
> process.
>
What else does Nintendo have to fall back on if they dropped out
of the hardware market?
-Pat
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