130°

Was the Xbox an Evolution of the Sega Dreamcast

TK: Sega Dreamcast, Xbox, Microsoft...Ever imagined there would be some connection. From what could have been to what did, all your burning questions answered!

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thekarachiite.com
saadd203545d ago

I never owned a Dreamcast but miss playing Soul Calibur and Sega Tennis on it with my college roommate. So sad it never reached its potential.

PeaSFor3544d ago

i still own mine, along with all my old consoles(i would never sell them, NEVER!!)

i even kept my ridiculously heavy 32" crt tv for retro consoles

zeee3544d ago

I never owned a dreamcast either. Someday, I'll buy it from eBay.

stonecold33545d ago

still have mine to this day i will cherish the dreamcast for life love my street fighter games on it and crazy taxi ready to rumble sonic daytona usa 2001 house of dead 2 awsome machine

Death3545d ago

Articles like this really make me feel old. Back when the Xbox was announced there were stories floating around that stated Microsoft was in talks with Sega to release the Xbox as a Sega console. Microsoft and Sega had already been working together for the creation of the Dreamcast which used a modified Windows CE as the OS. From my understanding there was far too much pressure from Sega's parent company to move multi-platform which helped kill the deal forcing Microsoft to launch as a completely new platform.

yewles13544d ago

Yes and no... let's say that's how certain Sega people saw it, but not MS. The whole story is a lot darker than fans want to accept.

Godmars2903544d ago

Didn't MS help to make the Dreamcast, then when Sega stopped making consoles, a majority of their employees went to work for MS and make the first Xbox?

And even during all of that, MS almost bought Sega outright.

DevilOgreFish3544d ago

I believe peter moore use to be president of saga of america back then.

yewles13544d ago (Edited 3544d ago )

Like I said, the full story is darker than fans want to accept...

http://kotaku.com/5447897/h...

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

Death3544d ago

I'm not sure how this is "dark". The Dreamcast was a commercial failure selling only 10 million consoles. With Microsoft just entering the console market, teaming up with the company in last place isn't exactly a winning strategy. As a fan I would have loved to see Microsoft acquire the Sega library and made them playable on the Xbox. I'm not sure how it would have cost Microsoft money to allow the Dreamcast library online access over Live though. From the article it almost seems like Sega wanted the Xbox to play Dreamcast games natively. I could see why Microsoft would say no to that since software sales offset hardware losses. That would also explain the added cost to play them online.

That would make sense as the reason why this never happened. If Sega wanted to use the Xbox as their platform until the company became more stable and could make another platform of their own it would be much less attractive. Microsoft most likely wanted to acquire Sega and it's IP's.

hay3540d ago

SEGA was created for soldiers' enjoyment during the retarded clusterf*ck known as World War II. When USA banned all slot machines in 1952, they bought them cheap, and moved everything to Japan, still making money from american military presence there trying to subdue any Japanese business hurt during WWII and establishing pretty much every economy rule there.

Fortunatelly, Ninty's still strong, and now MS is continuing the BS legacy as SEGA couldn't handle the environment changes(actual technical advancement, which wasn't US strong side until they robbed blind defeated by Europeans Germany, who in turned robbed everyone around them).

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3540d ago
Godmars2903544d ago

Just confirms that technically Sega was all but a satellite company of MS. That if MS had left Sega largely intact, just given them money while pulling them in on all of the tech blunders they were making, they'd still be in the game. Even if only as a division of MS.

Instead, redid everything, never considered Sega's IPs, and started the PC migration to consoles.

yewles13544d ago

Actually, it shows MS using Sega as a more accurate example of the trojan horse method than how most people would point to Sony and Nintendo instead. A very hard pill to swollow for some individuals...

Death3544d ago

How was Sega a satellite company of Microsoft? The only association they had was Sega used Windows CE on the Dreamcast and after Sega pulled out of the hardware market they launched their games on the PS2 and Xbox. Other than Peter Moore jumping ship from Sega to Microsoft the two companies have nothing in common. Sammy bought the controlling shares of Sega for $1.1 billion. This was after they acquired 22% of the companies stock. If that $1.1 billion was enough to give control without the 22% Sammy had, Microsoft really dropped the ball since they paid $375 million for Rare a year later. Sega for $700 million more seems like a bargain when you look at what Rare has done.

Godmars2903544d ago

"*all but* a satellite company".

Reading comprehension: its fundamental.

Also wouldn't call using a version of Windows as the Dreamcast's OS an especially small thing. Nevermind that MS had first option but ultimately chose not to buy Sega.

hay3540d ago (Edited 3540d ago )

SEGA was a satellite company like MS, not theirs though. It's a tight group sex of Holywood studios and military operations. The main reason of its actual existence is the war with Japan.
They hired and created companies there due to the fact they bombed or murdered most of previous local entrepreneurs.

The businesses and businessmen associated with creation of SEGA and its parent companies are directly responsible for FOX television, the very same News Corp which was split up in 2011 to avoid responsibility for corruption or espionage.

And MS... Well, they had a good, and sure start with bankers, lawyers and charity/foundation people in the family.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3540d ago
Concertoine3544d ago

If you ask me yes. Continued the move to pc architecture, continued innovation in online gaming, a lot of sega's best studios had their last hoorah on the xbox with Jet Set Radio Future, Panzer Dragoon Orta, etc.

Also very similar controllers and a lot of unique, if overlooked and commercially unsuccessful, games.

TFJWM3544d ago

If by last hoorah you mean a shadow of their former selves...

Concertoine3544d ago

No, sega's output on the xbox was very good. Awesome games like Gunvalkyrie, Crazy taxi 3, both otogi games, all the racing games as well as the games i mentioned above. A ton of sega series saw their last entry on the xbox, and a ton of talented studios saw their last games on the xbox before Sega restructured and layed off.

Death3544d ago

I agree, but you have to look at what Sega has done on the Playstation as well. Valkyria Chronicles is one of my favorite games on the PS3. It's sad that Sammy didn't consider selling off the home console assets instead of flushing most of it. Sega lost a tremendous amount of talent when Sammy took over. Shifting their talent to the dying Arcade market was incredibly short sighted.

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40°

Ubisoft Has Already Recouped the Money it Spent on Activision Cloud Gaming Rights

Ubisoft announced on recent earnings calls that it has already recouped the cost of Activision/Blizzard streaming rights - which were only between €50M and €100M.

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clouddosage.com
350°

Microsoft Reportedly Spends $1 Billion Annually To Get Third-Party Games On Game Pass

Uncover the spending behind Xbox's Game Pass subscription. Discover how Microsoft invests a billion dollars annually in securing third-party games for the service.

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gamersocialclub.ca
Obscure_Observer5d ago

Good.

Now that you´re releasing games and making big money from every gaming platform, you should double that amount and give us even more day one third party games!

Jin_Sakai5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

You’re delusional beyond belief. Businesses wise it doesn’t make sense and sooner or later they’ll be raising prices again to cover that billion they’re blowing every year.

outsider16245d ago

Lucky for xbox that papa microsoft is rich.

purple1015d ago (Edited 5d ago )

As someone else said earlier today, they are past the growth stage, it’s been stagnent for last 3 years, they are now in the money making stage, prepare to be goosed for as many dollars as possible for the least amount of content. It may not be bad now, (actually it is) but it will be soon (even worse) this year you got hellblade and starfirld and a load of other games that could be bought in bargain bins for about $5-30 and for that you pay them monthly

To add I honestly don’t know how you put up with the barrage of Xbox negativity (which is deserved). I put it down to:

A) you are being paid
B) you may have a problem thinking clearly
C) prefer rooting for the underdog, that’s a legit thing too. English people do it by default

Profchaos5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Yeah Aussies also love an underdog as long as that underdog isn't Xbox as they were too of the game with the 360 then lost their minds

Chevalier5d ago

3 straight years of missing Gamepass targets. Some people are just blinded by their own idiocy. Will be interesting to see if COD does anything this fall

CosmicTurtle5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

He is a troll. Designed to stoke people up on here. We know this.

It’s quite funny.

Popsicle5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Yet people still allow the troll to derail an entire topic. I don’t understand how moderation allows it.

I literally just skip the comment. This may be the best comment obscure ever made. I don’t know because I didn’t read it. I have read to many thread derailing post from this person to ever devote any time to reading another.

I wish everyone would ignore the trolls so we can have a genuine discussion. Stop feeding it and it will go away. Even just hitting the disagree button feeds it. Thats what it wants. This is the last post I will ever post about obscure because I am feeding them now.

Legit question to Mods. After such a long history of being a troll, how has this poster not been banned?

Profchaos4d ago

Is he though or does he just blindly love Xbox in the same way Sega fans loved the Dreamcast even though it was clearly dead they thought it could be redeemed

Ok yeah he's saracstic and does troll but I enjoy seeing what he comes out with it would be boring here if we never had conflicting opinions

Sonic18815d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Are you insane? You want them to double the amount when the Xbox is already struggling and losing money 🤔

Hofstaderman5d ago

Correction....XBOX is already dead.

Obscure_Observer5d ago

"Are you insane? You want them to double the amount when the Xbox is already struggling and losing money"

As long we get the games I couldn´t care less about a trillion dollar company losing money. That´s their business to worry about. I only care about the games.

And "struggling and losing money"? Really?

"Microsoft reports Xbox’s revenue is up 61% in Q4 FY24 thanks to Activision"

https://venturebeat.com/gam...

61% more revenue and BO6 is not even out yet.

MS will make a sh!t ton of money with that game alone in all platforms. So 2 Billion yearly invested in their *core* business is nothing!

So yeah, I want them to double the investments on Gamepass. Period.

Sonic18815d ago (Edited 5d ago )

"So yeah, I want them to double the investments on Gamepass. Period."

That ain't going to happen. Just because you want it 😂

fr0sty5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

They'll do that, after creating 4 more higher-priced tiers and making the one that currently includes everything only contain games that have been on the market for 4 years.

"Gamepass Ultra to the MAX: Now only $299 per year!"

MrNinosan3d ago

Already $240/year, so we're there within a year, without new tiers.

jznrpg3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

It will be 29.99$ a month eventually 360 a year

Profchaos5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

They are trying to get a return on abk and Bethesda they won't double day one we're lucky we are still getting them now that day one has been removed from base tiers

They want to make money not give it away

OlderGamer175d ago

Sorry O_O, I tought you where loosing it, but i now come to the conclusion that you realy lost it.
The coping from you is not on a stellarr level....

Flakegriffin4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Homie got 77 dislike and his brain rot will still help him think that he’s right.

4d ago
+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
MrDead5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

I like how they twist cannibalising game sales into "invests".

No lifetime sales with MS, they'll F-up gaming the same as streaming services have done to the movie industry and it's workforce.

Fishy Fingers5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Out of interest do you think those 3rd parties signing the deal are unhappy with the severence and have a gun to their head?

Bro probably has a PS+ sub and has library full of Epic launcher free games.

TheNamelessOne5d ago

lol

Pretty much. There's a lot of hate on this site for Gamepass, but put games on the different tiers of the PS subscription, and whenever they get that free day one release, it's an entirely different tune. No talk about how this choice is killing devs.

DarXyde5d ago

Do we think they're unhappy?

Umm...YES...?

They literally need to be paid up front to put games on the service. It's become a way to gain a foothold on the platform.

Do you think Atlus would launch on Game Pass otherwise?

MrDead4d ago

"Out of interest do you think those 3rd parties signing the deal are unhappy with the severence and have a gun to their head?"

I think you mean severance... and I've noticed you don't know what it means either, MS aren't firing the third-parties they're purchasing from.

"Bro probably has a PS+ sub and has library full of Epic launcher free games."

I'm not a console gamer, but yes I do have Epic with a library full of free games... but guess what Epic rotating free games every week doesn't do. It doesn't destroy lifetime sales and cut workers out of residuals. Then you bring up PS+ a service that also doesn't destroy lifetime sales as their model allows for new releases to earn.

DivineHand1255d ago

There are pros and cons to everything. Streaming services like Netflix is no different than cable tv except it is on demand. Services like Netflix has made it so that more studios can get a share in the profit where they can reach more consumers worldwide compared to the old days where the masses will only watch a few new titles per month.

The only negative about streaming services is that it no longer makes any sense to sell DVDs and Blu-rays though it can be argued that those persons may have moved on to building digital libraries for the sake of convenience.

The reason Xbox is doing so poorly is because they are not doing enough to be competitive. Their output of AA and AAA exclusive titles are extremely low compared to the competition and they haven't had a game of the year nominee in years.

Releasing their games the same date on PC is also hurting their console and it would have been more strategic for them to delay those releases by a year similar to what Sony does to maximize profits.

Gamepass alone is not to blame for Xbox's current position because it can be argued that if the service didn't exist and they had the same gaming output as they have now, they would be in an even worst spot.

MrDead4d ago

"Streaming services like Netflix is no different than cable tv except it is on demand."

It's nothing like cable. My comment isn't a guess lifetime sale of films has shrunk to a point it's almost gone and so has the revenue it generated, that is money from competing TV networks, cable/satellite and physical media sales.

Lack of revenue transparency with streaming has meant workers job security and pay has massively diminished, earnings from residuals is almost gone for example the writer for Squid Games because of streaming gets no royalties despite series earning $900 million for Netflix, before streaming he would have royalties form lifetime sales.
Or another example Willow the series was pulled and is no longer watchable here's why: “Willow” was one of nearly 50 titles that Disney+ pulled from its streaming library in May. Other titles included the series “The Mysterious Benedict Society” and the feature film “The One and Only Ivan.” Disney CFO Christine McCarthy explained that Disney was expecting to take a write-down in the June quarter of $1.5 billion-$1.8 billion by removing content from its streaming platforms. By writing down the value of the content assets, Disney can remove that from its balance sheet and reduce its tax bill." Also when you pull a show you no longer need to pay residuals to the workers.

Have you also noticed the drop in quality on sfx or thought some older films look so much better then they do now? This is because the industry now relies on cheap labour for sfx outsourcing abroad, more green screen instead of location shooting and a lot less real extras bring life to a scene.

Streaming in gaming is going to be far worse as we've seen with MS consolidating a massive part of the industry to try and make the service sustainable, lifetime sales being cannibalised by gamespass and a work force that has no unions like SAG is already paying the price.

All streaming does is remove income transparency, cuts the workers from the money and sets flat rates and removes consumer ownership... but CEO's and shareholders will still be ok as they benefit from the industry consolidation.

Huey_My_D_Long4d ago

MrDead is absolutely on fire with the post.

Nothing else I have to add other than that.

DivineHand1254d ago

@MrDead like I said pros and cons. Some of those issues can alleviated with alleviated with regulatory intervention to give more transparency to the industry but unlikely anytime soon with all the lobbying going on.

The issue with the squid game's writer can be attributed to the terms and conditions he agreed to. It happens often in business as no one really knows how popular something will be until you catch that lightning in a bottle. I remember reading about how Nintendo hardly made anything off Pokemon Go dispite Niantic making Billions.

I don't blame streaming services for studios finding was to reduce the cost of making films. That stuff would have happened regardless because of the greed of these corporations. We see that same cost reduction happening in every industry from food to Aerospace.

shadowT5d ago ShowReplies(2)
CrimsonGuardVII5d ago

@badz148 its not, it just straight lied.

gold_drake5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

we know this, we have known this since last year.

this is not new or news.

Show all comments (73)
440°

Report: Microsoft Cutting 650 More Jobs From Gaming Division Per Phil Spencer's Letter to Employees

Phil Spencer has sent a letter out to employees informing them that 650 jobs would be cut from Microsoft's gaming division.

VenomUK13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

‘Good guy Phil’?

The truth likely is that the decision was not his to make and is possibly a direct consequence of cutting costs following the ABK deal.

XiNatsuDragnel13d ago

Lol good guy Phil lmfao crazy

DodoDojo13d ago

Would be nice if he'd mail one of those letters to himself.

RhinoGamer8813d ago

Cut costs -> no bonus, stock options, raises for Phil and his leadership team.

Lightning7713d ago

"Good guy Phil" is comical. You have to bleed green to see that. I'm only a matter of time until MS, that's right MS even in ages themselves from the industry.

Sad, people and even sadder and pathetic company.

fr0sty13d ago

If they keep this up, they won't even be able to go third party anymore after they stop making Xbox hardware.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 13d ago
13d ago Replies(5)
Petebloodyonion13d ago

The original story is from IGN as they are the ones who got the memo.
https://www.ign.com/article...

Still sucks!

badboyz0913d ago

The day we hear that Xbox is no more is vastly approaching.

13d ago Replies(2)
Obscure_Observer13d ago

"The day we hear that Xbox is no more is vastly approaching."

Not sure Sony is doing any better with all that money lost on GaaS and all that worldwide backlash regarding the Pro.

1Victor13d ago

@obscured: “ Not sure Sony is doing any better with all that money lost on GaaS and all that worldwide backlash regarding the Pro.”
.
Welcome back we missed you said no one 🤣

.
I don’t remember Sony cutting over 1900 employees then Less than 7 months later get a leak for another 600 to be on the chopping board but hey let’s equate that to a few people not been happy about a mid gen system refresh price 🤦🏿.

13d ago
1Victor13d ago

@obscured: “
They also casually forget that Sony have been laying off thousands of people too”
Yeeesh I got a better help discount code for you

BehindTheRows13d ago

Uh, thr Pro "backlash" is hardly something that's going to tank their business. Unless you've been living under a rock, there's no question that Xbox is in the gutter.

Quit pivoting to Sony because you don't like the subject matter. Their game division isn't in the toilet.

DodoDojo13d ago

Well Sony isn't selling more copies of their games on a rival system yet so they must be doing alright.

13d ago
Mr_cheese12d ago

@obscure

Saves some straws for the rest of us will you

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 12d ago
343_Guilty_Spark12d ago

Vastly approaching is a weird phrase… vastly is typically used to convey the degree of some size or length or time.

Vastly approaching makes no sense.

You mean rapidly approaching.

MrDead13d ago

A combined $80 billion spent on consolidating a massive part of the industry, thousands fired all to line the pockets of the already wealthy and turn the gaming industry into a rental service.

FU MS.

crazyCoconuts13d ago

MS is a publicly traded company. If you have a 401K you yourself might own MS stocks.
I'm definitely not a MS fan, but CEOs need to keep returns high to keep their jobs if nothing else. They don't get to transfer the salaries to their accounts.
I blame MS for failed strategies, poor execution, lack of vision, etc.
These layoffs are just the result of those things.

MrDead13d ago

That's the weakest excuse for a giant monopoly I've ever seen... also companies like MS are more likely to damage people's 401k through monopolistic practices.

Obscure_Observer13d ago

"FU MS."

I love how you act all enraged and bully when it´s MS firing people.

"It´s all about the workers" at least they´re Sony´s employees, right? If they´re Sony they can go f* themselves right? It´s all justified and the blame lies elsewhere on some widespread industry problem, right? Right?

We been seeing some of Sony recent bs moves and you know what´s coming, right?

I´m expecting you to disappear the same way you do every time Sony layoff hundreds of people or get a whole studio shut down.

You´ll do anything to avoid and hold them accountable. But that's OK. You´are not biased, right?

1Victor13d ago

@obscured: “ "It´s all about the workers" at least they´re Sony´s employees, right? If they´re Sony they can go f* themselves right? It´s all justified and the blame lies elsewhere on some widespread industry problem, right? Right?”

.
Well Sony didn’t overreached and spend over 80 BILLION$ to acquire mayor 3rd party game developers and one MAYOR publisher the owner of the BIGGEST FPS just hoping to keeping it exclusive to their system and now having to fire thousands of employees to valance their books one more quarter.
Now Microsoft is beginning and going to kiss Sony dark ring and publish their “first party games “ on PlayStation. Regardless of who it is it’s wrong to do an acquisition and then fire people.
I applaud Microsoft for at least giving them a severance package and assistance getting a new job 👍👍.

MrDead13d ago

Chill out kid... also why bring up Sony, have they just spent 80 billion to consolidate a massive part of the industry to the detriment of thousands of workers?

MS lines their pockets whilst firing thousands, such a shame you support this.

Chevalier13d ago

Gee someone here said Xbox would NEVER release 1st party games on Playstation or competing platforms again?! Never tired to see you eat crow again.

13d ago
OlderGamer1713d ago

But but Sony bad...thats the normal damagecontroll from O_O. Dude its time to sing another song, this one is sounding like a broken record......

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 13d ago
LG_Fox_Brazil13d ago

Not sure about the rest of the world, but here in Brazil we have a say that goes like this:

'May the last one to leave please turn off the lights'

What the heck is MS even doing right now?

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