Update: Trademork post (this one) causes online rumor explosion (links below), a front-page Digg story and a response from Sega confirming that no Dreamcast 2 is in the works. Mork is sad.
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On August 13, 2007, video game developer Sega Corporation filed a new application to protect the trademark Dreamcast.
While the existing Dreamcast filing for the same class and codes is still active, the new filing relates to: “home video game machines; player-operated electronic controllers for electronic video game machines; video game interactive controller, namely, hand held pads, and floor pads or mats; joysticks for video games; computer cursor control devices, namely, computer mouse; flash memory cards; video game software, computer game programs”.
Mork is quick to notice that the original Dreamcast didn’t have a “floor mat” accessory. Also, the Dreamcast’s Visual Memory Unit (VMU) was far from the “flash memory cards” we know and use today. One could read these as clues of a new Dreamcast console.
While there have been Dreamcast 2 rumors for a while, and a substantial market for refurbished Dreamcast units in the gaming and hacking communities, other than this new trademark filing, there’s been no substantial indication that Sega will be releasing a new, redesigned Dreamcast unit and accessories. A recent Dreamcast movement to Bring Back the Sega Dreamcast has gamers hoping that Sega will release a Dreamcast 2 console on 09/09/09, ten years to the day after the release of the original Dreamcast unit.
