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Games

Former Sega Employee Reveals Sega Pluto Prototype Console 79

Posted by samzenpus from the not-quite-there dept.
An anonymous reader writes "A new Sega console has been revealed, albeit it an old one that never made it past the prototype stage. The console is called the Sega Pluto, and apparently only two prototype units were ever made. As for what's inside the Sega Pluto, it looks to be a modified Saturn that includes the NetLink 28.8kbit/s modem as standard. It allowed Saturn consoles to be linked up using a dial-up connection for multiplayer gaming. A disc has also been found by another user that is an internal Sega Saturn CD-R that holds a terminal specifically for Pluto."
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Former Sega Employee Reveals Sega Pluto Prototype Console More

Former Sega Employee Reveals Sega Pluto Prototype Console

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  • Coincidence? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 19, 2013 @05:40AM (#43490923)

    The gaming community has announced that the Sega Pluto has been downgraded from a console to a prototype. This will have no affect on its controllers' designation as peripherals.

  • if only it had had a network socket (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward

    it would probably have ridden the broadband boom as a interesting niche gadget and still be available today even in a cheapo form.

    (yes there was an add on but it was too expensive and hard to get to work)

    • The dreamcast had a network socket..... that didn't help it.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by mr_jrt ( 676485 )

        Kind of. The BBA is a bit of a rarity due to low home networking penetration back then, so no it didn't help it back then, but it might have done had it been a bit more commonplace.

    • Re: (Score:1, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward

      it would probably have ridden the broadband boom as a interesting niche gadget and still be available today even in a cheapo form. (yes there was an add on but it was too expensive and hard to get to work)

      That's unlikely. You seem to forget how long ago this all was now. Assuming the Pluto was created around- or shortly after- the time the Saturn came out (i.e. the mid-90s), that was the point when the Internet was only *just* becoming known to the public and consumer access becoming more widely available. At that point, those who *did* have it at home would almost all have been accessing it via dial-up.

      Sure, there might have been a few rich and enthusiastic geeks with early broadband, ISDN and the like, but

      • There was a network / WAN ver of UMK3 in mid 90's in arcade's and other sites with games. It used T1 lines It was a head of it's time.

        • It didn't use 'T1 lines' ... alright, I don't know that. What I do know is that a T1 would be atleast 1000 times overkill for that game if the code was fucking horrible. A good modem connection would work for several players, latency being the only POSSIBLE concern. For one player on each end, a modem (28.8 at that point was common) would be over kill.

          A T1 is also a government regulated circuit, its not bound by an SLA, its bound by law to be reliable, and as such, costs ridiculous amounts of money compa

          • they did use T1's back then it's was just about the only way to get network in to a nice it used very little of the pipe.

            It's was live play. Back then you also had golden tee on dial up that I think only made calls once a day.

            Dial up lag is to high and it was linked to a Server back end.

  • Strictly speaking it was never his to take (though I'd done the same) so they could shout intellectual property and ask for it back or sue him since I'm sure it won't take them too long to figure out who he is as there were only 2 prototypes and I doubt many people had access.

    Back in a company I worked for in the 90s there sat a lonely unwanted tower PC sized DEC Alpha. I still wish to this day that I'd quietly taken it home with me but it would have been a bit obvious trying to lug something over 2 foot hi

    • Just look like you're supposed to be doing it. This works suprisingly often.

      • There's a story about a famous old clock that sat above the booths of a bank here in Chile. The bank used this clock as a kind of trademark, you could see it on every leaflet, every catalog and almost every paper this bank issued

        One day, two guys appeared with blue overalls, helmets, and a stepladder.

        Acting absolutely normal they remove this clock for maintenance reasons.... no one ever saw the clock again! there was no maintenance scheduled... it was the perfect crime!!

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by cusco ( 717999 )
          Four guys stole the gold angel from the top of the Mormon Cathedral here a couple of decades ago. Took them days to set up the scaffolding, arrange to lower it to the ground, etc. as they removed it for "cleaning". The replacement is larger but only covered in gold leaf.

      • Just look like you're supposed to be doing it. This works suprisingly often.

        Not only that, but often times you're supposed to be doing it!

        I once rode my bike past a man in a tool belt who was attempting to open the large telecom relay box in my neighborhood. His truck displayed the prominent logo of AT&T, as did his shirt. He was confusedly prying at the box's lock with an obviously wrong key while on a cell phone proclaiming, "Well if it is one of ours, it's not any key they issued me!" An hour later I returned along the same path via my bi-wheeled transport, and there

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by cusco ( 717999 )
        You mean like these guys?

        "http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/04/1062548967124.html"

        On the night of Wednesday, August 27, [2003] two men dressed as computer technicians and carrying tool bags entered the cargo processing and intelligence centre at Sydney International Airport. . .

        Inside, they spent two hours disconnecting two computers, which they put on trolleys and wheeled out of the room, past the security desk, into the lift and out of the building. . .

        the two mainframe servers held tho

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AVryhof ( 142320 )

      If you don't sneak it, and just act like you know what you are doing, you could probably have even gotten them to help you carry it out.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Sduic ( 805226 )

      The console is called the Sega Pluto, and apparently only two prototype units were ever made. The one you see in the gallery above is owned by a former Sega of America employee who somehow ended up with it on his desk at Sega. When he got laid off the Pluto was placed in a box and taken home.

      "You wasted how much on this boondoggle? I want you AND your pet project OUT OF HERE!"

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by necro81 ( 917438 )

        When he got laid off the Pluto was placed in a box and taken home

        I don't condone stealing, but there is a certain justice to this. It's a bit like Milton finally being reunited with his prized red Swingline (pop culture reference [youtube.com]).

    • Taking it home, while strictly speaking not ok, is something that shouldn't raise much noise after all those years. On the other hand, he intends to publicly sell it, which may make Sega rightfully angry.

    • I'm pretty sure everyone that actually gave a shit at SEGA have left.
    • You could probably get one on eBay now for a few hundred bucks... plus $100 for shipping. "Tower PC sized" indicates an 800 to me, although it could also be a DS20 (which WOULD still cost you a grand). Neither one is quite 2 feet high, though. Any of the servers over 2 feet high were far wider than any tower PC.

  • Incredible! (Score:5, Funny)

    by VortexCortex ( 1117377 ) <VortexCortex AT ... trograde DOT com> on Friday April 19, 2013 @06:39AM (#43491131)

    I just can't believe all the consoles coming out of the woodwork just to compete with OUYA!

    • I think the Ouya has a real competitor on its hands now. You could say it's bog, like Sonic the Hedgehog.

  • FTA:

    "The one you see in the gallery above is owned by a former Sega of America employee who somehow ended up with it on his desk at Sega. When he got laid off the Pluto was placed in a box and taken home."

    So, it stole it when he was fired.

    "[the guy] is also considering selling it due to the predicted high value of the unit."

    Sounds like he's itching for a PM on that forum. Good luck with that dude; hope it's not a SEGA-sponsored sting.

  • Not sure why we are still using modem. I only have a wireless phone, so I am not sure how I can use the modem to connect to someone.
    I think a powerful bluetooth device that can allow me connect to someone through my phone (through apps?) and manage my home electronics would be a better idea. Part of the home theatre solution.

  • Here's a link to the forum where the guy first posted about the console : http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?45489-The-Real-Sega-Pluto [assemblergames.com]

  • What's the best Pluto emulator? And where can I get the roms?

  • Now find a copy of Sonic X-Treme!
  • Good news: this website ===== http://www.sheptrade.com/ [sheptrade.com] ===== we has been updated and add products and many things they abandoned their increases are welcome to visit our website. You can try oh, will make you satisfied.

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