Last Friday, Sega made some vague comments regarding its hopes to include Dreamcast technology in various electronic devices. Today, we have a few new details on how this bold (it IS pretty bold, afterall) plan will work out.
Sega hopes to collect royalties by offering varying levels of hardware, software and design support to hardware manufacturers who want to incorporate Dreamcast technology into their products. So what hardware is being referred to? As previously mentioned, Sega plans to deal with Personal Digital Assistants, the next generation of Japanese cell phones (which should have high-speed communication ability), various forms of AV equipment, set top boxes and Personal Computers.

This last area seems to be the most interesting. Reports from Japan are indicating that Sega is moving apace at incorporating Dreamcast technology onto a PCI card. By installing this card, Dreamcast games can be played through a computer in perfect form. We’re not sure how the whole GD-ROM thing works out at this point, or if Sega would be planning on re-releasing titles on DVD-ROM format.

Apparently, at the business briefing meeting in Japan today (11/1), Sega showed a sample of the device, and newly appointed representative director and vice president Hideki Sato commented that Sega is already showing off early design work and samples to potential clients. There seem to be a few problems remaining, but one representative at the showing commented that the product is far along-enough so that it may see release before the end of next year.

Sega of America knew nothing of this PCI card Dreamcast, and was unable to answer when we asked about the use of GD-ROM discs on a PC.

We’ve also heard a few specifics regarding Sega’s plans to shrink Dreamcast technology enough so that cell phones and PDAs can play Online Dreamcast games. Sega hopes to place the entire Dreamcast format onto a single chip, and is examining the possibility of using 0.15 and 0.13 micron fabrication processes in order to do so (currently, the Dreamcast graphics chip is manufactured through a .25micron process).

While there’s still much left out in the open, it definitely looks like Sega has no plans to move away from Dreamcast gaming any time soon. If what Sega is saying pans out, you could be playing Dreamcast games many years down the road… only it may not necessarily be on a Dreamcast.

Thanks to IGN DC for the news!!!