SEGA developing Model 4 arcade board

[Itchy...Munch!]

WORLD EXCLUSIVE FIRST DETAILS ON SEGA'S MODEL 4 ARCADE BOARD

06/12/09 FGNOnline can officially reveal for the very first time in this world exclusive that SEGA has begun development on the fourth system in the MODEL series of arcade boards.

Details are currently thin however we can share with you the following early preliminary information.

Unlike Model 1, Model 2 & Model 3, which were based on rasterization, Model 4 is designed for fast real-time ray tracing. The system shall exclude rasterization capability.

It is our understanding that SEGA has partnered with Japan based Fujitsu Limited and Saarland University of Germany for the development of the board. Our sources indicate that the company shall use a version of Fujitsu's new Venus processor as the Central processing unit and also multiple custom designed DRPU's from Saarland University.

SEGA plans on deploying the first game using the technology by summer 2011. Until then SEGA's software output shall be designed for the RINGEDGE/RINGWIDE.

Currently this is all the information that we currently posses however stay tuned in the coming months as we unravel more on SEGA's long awaited Model 4, the world's first real-time raytracing system.

I have no idea what RayTracing is, but it sounds mind-blowing. I love you sega

[The Dude]

This sounds more like a high tech way of saying "We're gonna make a new chipset and make sequels of all our Arcade games...again"

[Umon Daisuke]

Well, if we were in a period comparable to the mid-90's (as in arcades were still healthy), it would make sense. Problem is, from a business standpoint, this makes no sense because Japan is the only remaining viable arcade market. The VF franchise being the main cash cow for them.

This wreaks of the old times of Sega.. and not the good parts, just the wasteful management. With the rumour going around that the next MS console may be a Wii type update to the current hardware, news of an advanced gaming hardware is certainly exciting. Especially how taxing ray-tracing really is; though you just know that the first game will likely be a Virtua Cop followed by VF6.

Gaming is getting less and less exciting by each passing year, and I thought last gen was so-so at the time. I've got 5 titles on pre-order, all of increarisingly niche genres. I just hope Bayonetta does well enough for Platinum.

[A-J]

10/10/10

DREAMCAST 2 !!

BELIEVE !

[Borman]

Raytracing would be pretty impressive if they managed it.