IrishNinja
Member
F2P PSO 2.0 is looking more and more like a great idea, by the way.
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Sega announces extraordinary loss of 7.1 bn yen, layoffs, restructures, cancels games
- Thread starter duckroll
- Start date
Segata Sanshiro is dead. Sony killed him with a missile.
Is Bayonetta really a "title targeted toward the U.S. and European markets"?
If localising Yakuza was unprofitable they would have stopped localising them a long time ago. The announcement doesn't sound like they're cancelling localisation projects, just certain games targeted specifically at the western market. Maybe western sales of Dead Souls will put them off releasing spin offs, but I'd still expect them to release mainline titles.
Also, ¥7b isn't that much.
If localising Yakuza was unprofitable they would have stopped localising them a long time ago. The announcement doesn't sound like they're cancelling localisation projects, just certain games targeted specifically at the western market. Maybe western sales of Dead Souls will put them off releasing spin offs, but I'd still expect them to release mainline titles.
Also, ¥7b isn't that much.
MightyHedgehog
Member
Seriously. If they started a new campaign starring Segata, and aimed worldwide... It would totally have to be in-line with the classic Saturn stuff. Viral videos of Segata on his day off and such, these things could dust off the brand for people, mark a return to classic Sega ideals of gaming. Back in reality, it'll be a bunch of retro emulations and AAA sequels.
specialguy
Banned
So does this mean no more games like Binary Domain?
I hope not, I mean they already set up a completely different team/studio to handle the Yakuza games, so the main Yakuza team couldn't really go back. Though their next game needs to be a hit. I seriously hope that Binary Domain does 200k + range in the upcoming NPD...
It's a real shame taht it basically bombed in Japan (well 100k isn't bad for Japan, but not in line with the Yakuza titles, they should have thrown Kasuma in as a side character in the plot).
It's a real shame taht it basically bombed in Japan (well 100k isn't bad for Japan, but not in line with the Yakuza titles, they should have thrown Kasuma in as a side character in the plot).
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
Fuck. There goes any hope of a new Valkyria Chronicles! 
Fuck. There goes any hope of a new Valkyria Chronicles!
VC has performed decently in Japan on PSP hasn't it?
If so, then I could see the series continuing on 3DS/Vita if they feel either platform could continue decent sales.
HD game or english locs? No chance in hell I would imagine.
Sure, but it's not exclusively targeted towards the west in the same way as the titles mentioned in the announcement. The first Bayonetta still sold 300k in Japan, which is a decent percentage towards making the game financially viable.
kurtrussell
Banned
So does this mean that Shenmue 3 is cancelled?
To give a rough range of Platinum's budgets, they were happy with 1.1 million shipped for Bayonetta, unhappy with 750K for Vanquish, and wanted Anarchy Reigns somewhere in between.
That's still a pretty hefty number of sales in the West for something that isn't a guaranteed smash hit.
The Valkyria team is currently making a Shining game for PSP.they better not have cancelled the real Valkyria sequel they were totally secretly working on
Here's the trailer for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxXeyzeUfL4
Hell no, Yakuza 5 HAS to come out over here- at least a European release so Americans can import if need be.
The game already came out.
IdreamofHIME
Member
there goes my Shenmue 3 dream again
Huh, it seems to have had a better debut week than any of the Valk games as well.
I wonder if this is what they will be doing for a while.
At the very least MS should buy their game hardware patents so they can have a good d-pad on controllers.
Go_Ly_Dow
Member
Oh god this.
Don't fuck with me Sega! I have the power to either save or cripple your company at the press of several buttons!
DukeTogo1300
Member
This may be my greatest fear, and I'm still holding on to my hope for Kenzan. For the main series to go down would be absolute nightmare fuel.
I can't imagine Anarchy Reigns even selling close to 500K worldwide. It's a niche title in the vein of something like God Hand. That's mismanagement par excellence on the part of Sega. Also, both Vanquish and Binary Domain were terribly marketed, including god-awful cover art for BD. Add in the cheesy b-movie quality of both presentation and storylines and you have a product that doesn't even have any chance of becoming a huge success. It's just no surprise that none of these titles were and will be successful.
AppleBlade
Member
Why does it have to be? Can't they just make games similar to current gen games but have them run at 1080p at 60 FPS with higher res textures (that they are probably making right now for the PC versions). If those games don't sell because they don't push Image Quality boundaries (at the sake of performance) then is it their fault or gamers?
Metallix87
Member
I'd guess Nintendo buys up the Sonic IP, and the rest of Sega is divided up between Nintendo, EA, and Microsoft.
Augemitbutter
Member
sounds like a good to time to allow somebody else to localize valkyria chronicles 3. if you can't do it, why let all that money go bad?
Truth. Right when they start impressing us, they lose money like the old days.
Still hoping for a Skies/Shenmue HD DD.
Phonomezer
Banned
Time to roll out the Saturn/Dreamcast collections, Sega. Will buy.
Why would you do that?
Member
If it is really true that games early this generation cost less than games now, then I think the problem might be that games are becoming too big. They're also taking too long to develop.
Developers like making new games bigger, to compete and stand out. But I think instead of making them bigger and more expensive (longer cutscenes, more assets, longer gameplay) they should make them different. Look at Majora's Mask. Same assets, completely different game, made in only one year. Plus, it's OK to do more of the same sometimes. Doom 1 -> 2, Mario Galaxy 1 -> 2, etc.
Development is also taking too long. It's OK to cut stuff to meet deadlines, if the game's good enough, like Wind Waker. (As a bonus, they can release the extras as DLC.) It sort of pains me to say that, but it's not like Wind Waler wasn't a classic, even with the cut dungeons.
Thinking about titles like the original MGS and MGS 2... I don't know what their budgets were, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was way less than MGS 4's. If MGS 1 were made today, I'm fairly certain it wouldn't cost even 1/2 of what MGS 4 did, and it would still be a great game.
Developers like making new games bigger, to compete and stand out. But I think instead of making them bigger and more expensive (longer cutscenes, more assets, longer gameplay) they should make them different. Look at Majora's Mask. Same assets, completely different game, made in only one year. Plus, it's OK to do more of the same sometimes. Doom 1 -> 2, Mario Galaxy 1 -> 2, etc.
Development is also taking too long. It's OK to cut stuff to meet deadlines, if the game's good enough, like Wind Waker. (As a bonus, they can release the extras as DLC.) It sort of pains me to say that, but it's not like Wind Waler wasn't a classic, even with the cut dungeons.
Thinking about titles like the original MGS and MGS 2... I don't know what their budgets were, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was way less than MGS 4's. If MGS 1 were made today, I'm fairly certain it wouldn't cost even 1/2 of what MGS 4 did, and it would still be a great game.
DukeTogo1300
Member
I think at some point the tech will surpass what a team can realistically make on it while still expecting a profit return at the current $50-ish MSRP. This situation will probably work itself out naturally. Devs will be killing themselves if they keep trying to blow our minds in the most expensive ways possible.
Shit! Fuck!
Didn't think of VF...
Box of Bunnies
Banned
Sammy need to excise Sega, sell it off to Nintendo and then just keep on trucking with their pachinko and whatever.
megashock5
Member
Out of curiosity, does anyone know off hand how well Daytona USA sold? That's the kind of thing I would gladly keep giving Sega money for. We still haven't seen home versions of some of their arcade racers, I feel like there's a market there.
This too.
And, all joking aside, I wonder if Nintendo actually should buy them at this point. Could be a nice compliment and fill in some areas where they're lacking.
I think the problem is more that there are a few big publisher who can afford to throw really big budgets at games and the rest of the field has to settle for scraps because they can't compete on a technical level.
Bruno MB
Member
Does SEGA has any console IP that sells well in the West outside of Sonic titles?
And even Sonic games are underperforming lately with the exception of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games titles.
Yakuza 4, Yakuza: Dead Souls, Vanquish, Resonance of Fate, Captain America: Super Soldier, Virtua Tennis 4, Thor: God of Thunder or Binary Domain have recently bombed.
And even Sonic games are underperforming lately with the exception of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games titles.
Yakuza 4, Yakuza: Dead Souls, Vanquish, Resonance of Fate, Captain America: Super Soldier, Virtua Tennis 4, Thor: God of Thunder or Binary Domain have recently bombed.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
Time for plan B, Sega: HD remakes of Sonic 1-3&K, and a real Sonic 4.
Strummerjones
Member
At this point I can only imagine someone at Obsidian laughing hysterically before breaking into a crying jag.
Sega spent the last few years releasing some of their best titles in ages, particularly Platinum Games' genre defining stuff. Unfortunately the smart money was on spunking out even more cynical garbage Sonic titles that the market actually wanted instead of superb games that are obviously Japanese, and hence doomed from day one in the modern climate (we can just pretend they were all really bad for argument's sake). Still, I guess they can just release Total War with different graphics again for an easy success.
At least we should still be getting FS, so if the series is dead we're going to get an awesome swan song.
No VF6= I quit consoles and probably fighters (unless they come out on PC)
semiconscious
Member
DukeTogo1300
Member
It feel like Modern Sonic fans have taken over though, and their Sonic games have been selling.
I think the almost complete lack of marketing since the end of the 90's has most buyers stuck on iconic/proven IP's, and I figure the Sonic games turning profit has nothing to do with the recent upturn of quality.
I will continue to hope for more realistic projects and increased marketing, I hope we aren't as doomed as it seems we are.
Phonomezer
Banned
I don't know how Sega keep releasing Yakuza games tbh, have any of them turned a profit? That series isn't exactly known for it's amazing sales.
I'm surprised they haven't done things like:
- Sonic Generations DLC (seriously, WTF Sega...)
- Sonic Colours on HD consoles
- Comix Zone HD/hand drawn
- Phantasy Star I & II remakes on XBLA/PSN/etc
- Phantasy Star V
- Shining Force III on... anything
- Panzer Dragoon series remakes
- Continuation of Skies of Arcadia
- New Burning Rangers
- New 2D/HD Fantasy Zone
- A proper NiGHTS sequel
etc
etc
etc
Just for the record, VC performed worse on PSP than on PS3, even in Japan.
Night_Trekker
Member
So you're saying we might never get Shenmue 3?
IrishNinja
Member
bombed by what metric, though? i don't know that we can necessarily say this for all if we don't know what their budget & expectations were.
i.e., on no level do they seem to think Yakuza is gonna be a huge seller, but it apparently does well enough to continue localizing, even with a spin-off this time. it's possible they have more realistic #'s in mind like say, Atlus.
don't you dare stop believing, Trekker