Very cool site. I have been a fan of Sega Arcade for quite some time. It is nice to see so much info at one spot. My questions is about the Sega Naomi board which is arguably the most successful Sega Arcade experience thus far. I have heard that its successor(Naomi 2) is already done before it started with only about 4 games to its credit before its demise, similar to the Hikaru board. I was looking around the internet when I found this article from a couple of years ago about the Naomi. I have always been the most facinated about the Naomi with its ability to link boards together and continually make the games more powerful--this is what separated it from all the other arcade boards ever--which you mentioned in your explaination of the Naomi board. If you read the article: http://www.segaweb.com/Features/naomi.html, which is titled Sega's best move in years--it is difficult to realize why this never materialized because as even the author of the article states, it made so much sense and kept the arcade dominance over console a reality, instead of all arcade hardware now going to console based systems. And with Naomi 2 already out of the game, it seems Sega missed a great opportunity with the linking option with the Naomi--you can find Naomi boards already rather cheap(under $500) and 4-6 Naomi boards would not have been unbelievable expensive for operators given they would cost the same as the Naomi 2 and would have been more powerful. I see that Sega seems to plan to continue to support the Naomi with its mobile phone deal,etc. so why is the linking of boards option not being looked at. Just curious, wondering if your insight into Sega or your expertise would clarify this for me as I am disappointed that this never materialized.
Thanks for your info.

> Very cool site.

Thanks :)

> I have always been the most facinated about the Naomi with its ability to link boards together and continually make the games more powerful

It is used, see Ferrari F355 challenge 1 and 2, Airline Pilots and Sega Strike Fighter

> it is difficult to realize why this never materialized

Money...

> You can find Naomi boards already rather cheap(under $500)

Second hand, they cost a lot more new, and Sega would not make a new machine using old parts,

> and 4-6 Naomi boards would not have been unbelievable expensive for operators given they would cost the same as the Naomi 2 and would have been more powerful

No, not really, I have heard that the Naomi2 in fact costs less to produce than 2 Naomis and is about 3 times more powerfull, so it makes sence

> so why is the linking of boards option not being looked at.

Its pointless and expensive and means that the system has more to go wrong,

Most of this is just my point of view,

Cheers,

Six...

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www.system16.com - The Sega Museum
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Thanks Six: By the way, why do you think the Naomi 2 is being abandoned so quickly?? I heard that Virtua Fighter 4 is its last game??

Will the rest of the games on the "Future games" list be Naomi??

What will be Sega's hardware of choice after Naomi 2 is retired?? Will Sega stay in the arcade hardware business??

Do you think games will continue to be produced for the original Naomi for much longer??

It was mentioned on the site about the GD-Rom being used as a multi-game function similar to the Neo Geo MVS 1,2,4,6 slot boards. Do you think this could still be a reality. I always thought it would be nice for Sega to re-release some of its classics or Capcom, SNK, etc. classics in a multi-game format similar to the PC based engines how gain popularity. Nostagia is high and many would like to see some of these 2D classics back at the arcade. Just my opinion.

BTW, what is the cost of a new Naomi 2--what about a used one?? Just to compare.

Thanks again for your input and response. It is appreciated. I just wanted to see what the 12-14 board Naomi multi-configuration would be able to produce as far as game visuals. I bet it would have been interesting.




> Very cool site.
>
> Thanks :)
>
> > I have always been the most facinated about the Naomi with its ability to link
> boards together and continually make the games more powerful
>
> It is used, see Ferrari F355 challenge 1 and 2, Airline Pilots and Sega Strike
> Fighter
>
> > it is difficult to realize why this never materialized
>
> Money...
>
> > You can find Naomi boards already rather cheap(under $500)
>
> Second hand, they cost a lot more new, and Sega would not make a new machine
> using old parts,
>
> > and 4-6 Naomi boards would not have been unbelievable expensive for operators
> given they would cost the same as the Naomi 2 and would have been more powerful
>
> No, not really, I have heard that the Naomi2 in fact costs less to produce than
> 2 Naomis and is about 3 times more powerfull, so it makes sence
>
> > so why is the linking of boards option not being looked at.
>
> Its pointless and expensive and means that the system has more to go wrong,
>
> Most of this is just my point of view,
>
> Cheers,
>
> Six...
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> www.system16.com - The Sega Museum
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>