In today's blog entry I will discuss who SEGA Orbi's possible OEM partners regarding the rumored "SEGA Orbit" game console.
I think the long 3 year theory that Toshiba is likely the BIGGEST partner for SEGA's next console is pretty obvious. The patents of the defunct HD DVD can still be used by SEGA and it is believed that the mini UMD like format the "DC Pad" will use is based on HD-DVD ROM but instead will have more layers and space. Also since the Orbi mark makes it very clear that they will be branding their very own DVD format and will Toshiba's patent department extremely and heavily active, we can say, that Toshiba will distribute the new format as a partner for Sega Orbi while maintaining the rights to the concept. Also keep in mind, that Hitachi's non mobile customary CPU market has been idle for almost a decade. If the Orbit indeed uses a modified built of Nvidia's Project Denver/RM ARM El Nino( ARM's design is right up SEGA's ally of cheap,inexpensive Mirco Architecture) , Toshiba's investment arm is the best candidate to implement a special lower cost design. Hitachi Renasas would have to purchase the parts and silicon from ARM and Nvidia themselves and just divide the ARM ISA design while Toshiba can just use their own off the shelf components while splitting the build into 4 large 128-bit CPUs with 8 cores on each side.
Toshiba we should know is pissed at Sony for losing the format war, and are no longer doing business with them.
Also regarding Apple. Speculation under the radar has suggested that Apple Computer is looking at becoming a 2nd party OEM manufacturer for future video game consumer products. There's already that meeting that took place at Valve(who in turn is interested in a 3DO-like Steam device) while it s pretty obvious that the meeting was probably VALVE's own attempt to sell Steam to iOS user, previous,recent behavior from Apple does suggest that they are definitely considering the option of providing 2nd party silicon for the next console maker, it wouldn't surprise me if Apple partners up with Sega Orbi. It is also my belief that Apple would use its brand name to help get SEGA Orbit on the map.
Also we gotta take a look at LG. Lucky Goldstar is looking to have thier brand name associated with gaming, SEGA Orbi would be a perfect candidate for LG to build their Korean brand and out do their biggest competitor Samsung.
Then you look at Pioneer,NEC and JVC. Pioneer developed a 16 layer Blu-Ray ROM 4 years ago. And its rumored that Orbi Versatile Disc uses 16 layers just like Blu-Ray 16. Pioneer hasn't partnered with SEGA in 20 years. Since scrapping plans for a Laser Disc based Mega Drive in 1990 and being allowed to use the code for Mega Drive hardware in its LaserActive in 1992. Pioneer has stayed away from the gaming hardware silicon world for years. Would they be willing to return for Sega Orbi's sake.
NEC used to be both a rival and nuisance to SEGA back in the day. But they packed their 1st party and video gaming bags up 15 years ago. They've abandoned gaming eons ago. During Dreamcast they were fairly secondary as Imagination Tech were the mainsayers of DC's capabilities, with SEGA a hardware company again, NEC would only be happy to oblige. NEC since the late 1990s has become a household name in Japan's PC market. This time around they would be an even bigger help to SEGA.
JVC, the Greatest Electronic Company in the world. A serious partner of SEGA's back in the early 1990s during SEGA CD/Mega CD's heyday and briefly during Saturn. Since the 2000s, they've become niche, unable to develop a new cutting edge media format, in 2007 they sunk their assets into developing a new optical format(There were numerous patents filed during that time regarding it) but sense then, investors are reported to have retooled it into a flash media card format codenamed "Melink Video Media". JVC Kenwood who merged in 2008, is more of a at-your-convienace OEM manufacturer. They would have to be approached by SEGA Orbi to provide Bill Of Materials.
Things are getting very interesting. SEGA Orbi's public formation can't come sooner.
I think the long 3 year theory that Toshiba is likely the BIGGEST partner for SEGA's next console is pretty obvious. The patents of the defunct HD DVD can still be used by SEGA and it is believed that the mini UMD like format the "DC Pad" will use is based on HD-DVD ROM but instead will have more layers and space. Also since the Orbi mark makes it very clear that they will be branding their very own DVD format and will Toshiba's patent department extremely and heavily active, we can say, that Toshiba will distribute the new format as a partner for Sega Orbi while maintaining the rights to the concept. Also keep in mind, that Hitachi's non mobile customary CPU market has been idle for almost a decade. If the Orbit indeed uses a modified built of Nvidia's Project Denver/RM ARM El Nino( ARM's design is right up SEGA's ally of cheap,inexpensive Mirco Architecture) , Toshiba's investment arm is the best candidate to implement a special lower cost design. Hitachi Renasas would have to purchase the parts and silicon from ARM and Nvidia themselves and just divide the ARM ISA design while Toshiba can just use their own off the shelf components while splitting the build into 4 large 128-bit CPUs with 8 cores on each side.
Toshiba we should know is pissed at Sony for losing the format war, and are no longer doing business with them.
Also regarding Apple. Speculation under the radar has suggested that Apple Computer is looking at becoming a 2nd party OEM manufacturer for future video game consumer products. There's already that meeting that took place at Valve(who in turn is interested in a 3DO-like Steam device) while it s pretty obvious that the meeting was probably VALVE's own attempt to sell Steam to iOS user, previous,recent behavior from Apple does suggest that they are definitely considering the option of providing 2nd party silicon for the next console maker, it wouldn't surprise me if Apple partners up with Sega Orbi. It is also my belief that Apple would use its brand name to help get SEGA Orbit on the map.
Also we gotta take a look at LG. Lucky Goldstar is looking to have thier brand name associated with gaming, SEGA Orbi would be a perfect candidate for LG to build their Korean brand and out do their biggest competitor Samsung.
Then you look at Pioneer,NEC and JVC. Pioneer developed a 16 layer Blu-Ray ROM 4 years ago. And its rumored that Orbi Versatile Disc uses 16 layers just like Blu-Ray 16. Pioneer hasn't partnered with SEGA in 20 years. Since scrapping plans for a Laser Disc based Mega Drive in 1990 and being allowed to use the code for Mega Drive hardware in its LaserActive in 1992. Pioneer has stayed away from the gaming hardware silicon world for years. Would they be willing to return for Sega Orbi's sake.
NEC used to be both a rival and nuisance to SEGA back in the day. But they packed their 1st party and video gaming bags up 15 years ago. They've abandoned gaming eons ago. During Dreamcast they were fairly secondary as Imagination Tech were the mainsayers of DC's capabilities, with SEGA a hardware company again, NEC would only be happy to oblige. NEC since the late 1990s has become a household name in Japan's PC market. This time around they would be an even bigger help to SEGA.
JVC, the Greatest Electronic Company in the world. A serious partner of SEGA's back in the early 1990s during SEGA CD/Mega CD's heyday and briefly during Saturn. Since the 2000s, they've become niche, unable to develop a new cutting edge media format, in 2007 they sunk their assets into developing a new optical format(There were numerous patents filed during that time regarding it) but sense then, investors are reported to have retooled it into a flash media card format codenamed "Melink Video Media". JVC Kenwood who merged in 2008, is more of a at-your-convienace OEM manufacturer. They would have to be approached by SEGA Orbi to provide Bill Of Materials.
Things are getting very interesting. SEGA Orbi's public formation can't come sooner.
