SEGA is teasing that it might release a Dreamcast Mini, to accompany its recent retro innovations of its older software and hardware.
This tidbit comes from an interview with creative producer Yosuke Okunari in the latest issue of Famitsu. "For the next Mini, we are considering everything that has been imagined by everyone," said Okunari. "Of course, it doesn't mean we can realize all of them. We are also thinking about projects that nobody has imagined. The Game Gear Micro is only sold domestically in Japan. When we do the next one, I feel like the project scope will be much bigger as we gaze upon the world."
Cryptic, isn't it? "We are considering everything that has been imagined by everyone..." But, SEGA's been quite creative with its miniatures already. The Game Gear Micro was released this year to celebrate the company's 60th anniversary, and came in a variety of colours with a variety of games for each colour. Also, the Astro City Mini comes with almost forty classic arcade games, including Puyo Puyo, Virtua Fighter, and Sonic Boom when it launches in December.
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Last but by no means least, the Mega Drive Mini had a Japanese version and a Western version, boasting games like Earthworm Jim, Monster World IV, Gunstar Heroes, and Sonic Spinball. That's a classic, Sonic Spinball. Or, so I'm told. I was two years old when the Dreamcast came out. Anyway, suffice to say, SEGA has been very keen to think outside the box to re-box its classic consoles and cabinets into diminutive versions of the originals.
Okunari continued to explain that SEGA "won't be able to release [the next micro console] at this time," and we should expect to see this in about two or three years time. "We can't make it that quickly," he conceded. However, he did drop a few hints as to what SEGA has up its sleeves. "I think for the next one, we may go with a concept close to the Mega Drive Mini. If I have to say some names, it could be an SG-1000 Mini or a Dreamcast Mini..." he suggested.
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You could say that he's got a soft spot for the Dreamcast, having worked on Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou!, Sonic Adventure, and Skies of Arcadia: Legends. It's funny to think of where the Dreamcast could be today, if it hadn't been trumped by the PlayStation 2. The console, though short-lived, had an eclectic collection of games, ones that formed the basis of countless childhoods around the world. If a Dreamcast Mini is on the cards, it would be welcomed back with open arms. We'll keep you in the loop once we know more.
Topics: Sega, Dreamcast, Retro Games