Simultaneously, R&D "scouts" for each Sega territory are touting the machine's impressive specification to interested publishers and developers. Sega of America, Japan and Europe already have an "A-list" of targets drawn up who seem keen to return to their fold. Among the targets highest on the list, is UK-based Core who is said to have been witness to a demo of Super GT running upon the new hardware.

Sega's current plans are to showcase the final machine and work-in-progress software at the 1998 E3 in Atlanta. Work from the AM departments will feature heavily, with Super GT almost guaranteed to be on display. Games from Sega of Japan's consumer software (CS) divisions along with major third parties are also planned to appear.

In the meantime, Sega is concentrating on strengthening its Saturn line-up for the next year. The company has a string of top-drawer games already lined up for the beginning of 1998 with Sonic Team's Burning Rangers at the forefront. The other highlight is the conversion of AM1's arcade shooter, House of the Dead. The Saturn version is said to be entering the alpha stage of development which should give Saturn owners some cause for glee.