Sega Vision a multimedia player, not gaming device

Late last week, rumors started appearing, touting a new portable gaming device is being brought out by Sega, following up its Genesis portable gaming system from the ’90s. The device, to be called the Vision, would compete with the likes of Nintendo’s DS and Sony’s PSP, many believed. But another Friday report dispelled the misconceptions, by getting confirmation from Sega USA itself that, while the device is indeed real and coming to market in 2009, it will not aim to compete with the DS or PSP. Instead, the Vision is an MP4 video player capable of entertaining users with basic Java games like ones users can find on cellphones.

Sega will remain a third-party software developer, and not return to the hardware business it left in 2001 after discontinuing the Sega Dreamcast gaming system. The Sega Vision device is made in China and carries only the Sega name, and will be a lower-cost alternative to iPods. No pricing or more specific launch information is known at this time.