Back in August, Sega filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office to protect the Dreamcast trademark. Now their original filing is good until December of 2009, this new filing has added some new terms to the mix that are sparking speculation of a Dreamcast 2 being in the cards. From the filing:

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
While most of the devices listed could easily relate to the original Dreamcast, flash memory cards and floor mats were never a part of the company's machine. Could Sega be quietly getting ready to re-enter the console business?

As much as I wish this rumor were true, I don't believe it. More likely the company is updating the original trademark to cover additional items in order to make sure some enterprising company doesn't come out with a Dreamcast brand memory card or dance pad. Either that, or Sega is planning on getting into the peripheral market themselves - Dreamcast is still a pretty strong brand among fans after all. I just cannot see them jumping back in to the already crowded console market.

For one thing, Sega's software offerings haven't been all that stellar lately, in case you hadn't noticed. Sonic sells well to children, but most gamers can agree that their flagship franchise has been in a downward spiral since Sonic Adventure, and with Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games they've managed to release the worst Mario game ever. They couldn't make a new console work on strength of software alone.

That leaves strength of hardware, and while the Dreamcast was an amazing little machine, I just can't imagine Sega pulling together the cash to manufacture something that could compete with the popularity of the Wii or the power of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Besides, many of us have already gotten our current gen machine picked, and with multi platform third party titles becoming the norm, we're right back at selling a hardware platform on first party titles, which again - not happening.

I'd love to be wrong here, really. I would really love to see Sega give hardware another go, and there will always be room in my heart and my entertainment center for my Dreamcast, but no.

Dreamcast [Trademork.com ][/Trademork.com]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/rumor/is-sega-working-on-dreamcast-2-330869.php

Sega has already said they are out of the console making game, I am sure they did this just so that no one could take the Dreamcast name.

Ive got a Dreamcast, no games for it though, I didn't actually see anything wrong with the Dreamcast when it came out, I still don't know how the Playstation 2 completely over whelmed it. If this is true, I hope they get the normal TV cables and such so that you don't have to do the old Tuning in shit. Anyways, I think Sega might just be re releasing in japan or something or there just protecting there brand.

Sega can't succeed in the console market if they can't fix what they have in their games department. Most of their games, not all, suck total ass and really none of them have really impacted the minds of gamers these days.

I've been playing my Dreamcast just recently, as much as I'd love to see another Dreamcast I can't see it ever happening.

I still don't know how the Playstation 2 completely over whelmed it.

dvd player + a shitload of bad rpg's.

This reminds me of those silly videogame rumours started by fanboys, ya' know like the GC advance one (see below) I'd love to see another Sega console but It'll never happen.

More wishfull thinking than anything,  I guess.

Sega can't succeed in the console market if they can't fix what they have in their games department. Most of their games, not all, suck total ass and really none of them have really impacted the minds of gamers these days.

Sega still makes the best sports games, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games only really seems to look bad at me from a LOGICAL point of view, I don't see anything wrong with the gameplay aspects, they have NiGHTS coming out in a week and a half, Phantasy Star is still going pretty decently, and they still have a few in-house studios that are kicking and making other stuff, so I don't really know what you're talking about.  Obviously they fucked up the Sonic franchise but it was never the only thing they were working on.

The main reason why there will be no more consoles out of Sega is because Sega doesn't have enough money to even attempt developing and launching a console.

And there's no way that snippet means they're doing it anyway. They're just protecting the name.

I absolutely loved the DC, I still have mine. I've actually been searching for new games for it. The best part about it is, the DC plays burned games without a chip, so If you can get an ISO, you've got a game workable on your DC.

Edit: @IHateYOU: Damn, you posted before me.

Indeed I thought the Dreamcast was great...just didn't really like the weird memory card that slotted into the controllers and the controllers itself they were quite big to me...

The dreamcast was the best console ever D:

The dreamcast was the best console ever D:

Fuck no. Dreamcst may have had Ikaruga, but Saturn had Radiant Silvergun. Can't touch that!

Dreamcast was/is awesome. I doubt that SEGA would make a new system... not for a long time. Like it is continuously said; not enough money. They'd be up against three tyrants, and fighting with a twig. It wouldn't work. Even with the awesome titles. They're fine as a developer. Let 'em be. If they protect their namesake, so be it.

I don't have an article handy, but Sega did come out and say that these are just rumors and there is no Dreamcast 2 in the works.