If you are a big time Sega fan like I am, you will be elated to hear this news. It seems Kotaku.com has reported that Sega corporation of Japan filed a patent for a NEW next-gen hardware going by the names of "RingWide" and "RingEdge". They have also trademarked a logo containing rings.

Kotaku.com states:

"Three trademarks popped up for use with video game software, arcade game boards, stand alone game machines and arcade game machines with built-in screens. The trademarks appear to be linked and are for "RINGWIDE," "RINGEDGE" and a logo with rings."

If this is true, I'm in all the way! I've always been a big supporter of the Sega console systems over Nintendo, or Playstation. This could also mean grim news for Sony PS3 fans. Sales are bad enough as it is for PS3, the emergence of another console into the fray would mean that the PS3 may be phased out. It cannot afford to lose any more traction. Many PS3 fans are hoping this is just a rumor, but as the rumors continue to build and the evidence mounts (see: Sega trademark filed on Friday January 30,2009.), it seems to look bleak for Sony. I would not like to see PS3 phased out, because I absolutely love what Sony's done for the PS3. Seeing it crumble in the face of this somewhat dramatic reemergence of an old giant would sadden me.

What might be influencing those at Sega to make another console push is their success with another recent yet unheard of console in Japan.  Lindbergh was a Linux based embedded PC created by Sega that gained a strong following in Japan and was very successful. It was more compatible with the Ps3 then the Xbox cause their GPU was designed by the same company, Nvidia. Sega released three versions of the Lindbergh: Red, Blue, and the more powerful Yellow.

Since January 31, 2001, Sega has been a quality third party software publisher. Before that they were apart of the big three with Sony and Nintendo, producing some of the best games in the market: Jet-Set Radio, Chu-Chu Rocket, Sonic, Crazy Taxi, House of the Dead, Panzer Dragoon, Phantasy Star Online (the first console based MMORPG), Virtual Fighter, amongst others. For a time it was the leader in the market and some of the consoles it released were more powerful then the Playstation or the Nintendo systems.

In 9/9/99 Sega released the Dreamcast console system. Despite being a flop in Japan because it was rushed,  the Dreamcast was a success in the U.S. market. It still struggled though, and ultimately, Sega chose to quit once they heard about the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo Gamecube on the horizon. It was a heavy hitter up until that point, where to many fans shock and dismay, they decided to become a third party software publisher.

Now it seems after careful deliberation, the masters at Sega or as it's called SEGA SAMMY (In 2004, Sammy acquired Sega and formed a new company called Sega Sammy Holdings Inc.) are makings a push into the console market. There are also rumors that Microsoft may be teaming up with Sega to get a foothold in the Japanese Market that Xbox has had trouble breaking into. Regardless of what happens, it would be interesting to see how this all develops.

This is all speculation, and there has not been any confirmation from Sega about their plans. Sega has developed other arcade system boards that have not turned into consoles. Let's hope all these rumors turn out to be true though; it may make things pretty fascinating!

Sources: Cnet, Siliconera

Duran R