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Sega only making 4 retail IPs, closes 5 publishing offices, focuses on digital
- Thread starter CrunchinJelly
- Start date
Ugh Sega has so many quality IPs it's such a waste how they've turned out.
We should have seen...
-ChuChu Rocket on all downloadable services
-Shenmue 3
-Space Channel 5 using motion controls ala Dance Central
-Awesome Sonic games (well, this is the only thing they've been doing right so far I guess)
-NiGHTS that didn't suck and have shitty platforming tossed in
-A new Crazy Taxi game for downloadable services
-Panzer Dragoon
-A new single player Phantasy Star ala Final Fantasy.
-Samba de Amigo with WORKING motion controls
-A new Shinobi game for 360/PS3
-Bayonetta 2
-A new Jet Set Radio game
-Skies of Arcadia 2
-A new awesome Super Monkey Ball game
-Revitalized IP's from the genesis era
-Shining Force 4
We got way too many licensed games and games that were just shit. I liked some of what they did this gen (Valkyrie Chronicles, Yakuza, Sonic Generations, Condemned, HotD: Overkill, Bayonetta) but it's not hard to see how they got in this position (along with help from Sammy). Fucking depressing...
We should have seen...
-ChuChu Rocket on all downloadable services
-Shenmue 3
-Space Channel 5 using motion controls ala Dance Central
-Awesome Sonic games (well, this is the only thing they've been doing right so far I guess)
-NiGHTS that didn't suck and have shitty platforming tossed in
-A new Crazy Taxi game for downloadable services
-Panzer Dragoon
-A new single player Phantasy Star ala Final Fantasy.
-Samba de Amigo with WORKING motion controls
-A new Shinobi game for 360/PS3
-Bayonetta 2
-A new Jet Set Radio game
-Skies of Arcadia 2
-A new awesome Super Monkey Ball game
-Revitalized IP's from the genesis era
-Shining Force 4
We got way too many licensed games and games that were just shit. I liked some of what they did this gen (Valkyrie Chronicles, Yakuza, Sonic Generations, Condemned, HotD: Overkill, Bayonetta) but it's not hard to see how they got in this position (along with help from Sammy). Fucking depressing...
R_thanatos
Member
4 IPs ?
that's it ?
How could sega becomes this ?
that's it ?
How could sega becomes this ?
viewtiful_dru
Member
GUYS
Is this just Sega Europe or the whole of SEGA? Because the thread title is really misleading.
If so, then there's a ton of FUD in this thread.
Is this just Sega Europe or the whole of SEGA? Because the thread title is really misleading.
If so, then there's a ton of FUD in this thread.
Right now, we know Sonic Adventure 2 and Jet Set Radio are coming, at the least. If JSR sells, I can see a Future port being put on the short list, and rumours have been to Skies and Shenmue.
I'm hopeful.
Good point, but as I remember it the real reason this happened is because each of Sega's studios probably decided independently what console they wanted to focus on.
AM2 and Overworks generally focused on the PS2 with stuff like Virtua Fighter 4 and Shinobi. Smilebit focused on the Xbox with Panzer Dragoon Orta, Gunvalkyrie, and Jet Set Radio Future. Finally Sonic Team decided to focus on the Gamecube with Sonic and Phantasy Star.
MrCunningham
Member
Ugh Sega has so many quality IPs it's such a waste how they've turned out.
We should have seen...
-ChuChu Rocket on all downloadable services
-Shenmue 3
-Space Channel 5 using motion controls ala Dance Central
-Awesome Sonic games (well, this is the only thing they've been doing right so far I guess)
-NiGHTS that didn't suck and have shitty platforming tossed in
-A new Crazy Taxi game for downloadable services
-Panzer Dragoon
-A new single player Phantasy Star ala Final Fantasy.
-Samba de Amigo with WORKING motion controls
-A new Shinobi game for 360/PS3
-Bayonetta 2
-A new Jet Set Radio game
-Skies of Arcadia 2
-A new awesome Super Monkey Ball game
-Revitalized IP's from the genesis era
-Shining Force 4
We got way too many licensed games and games that were just shit. I liked some of what they did this gen (Valkyrie Chronicles, Yakuza, Sonic Generations, Condemned, HotD: Overkill, Bayonetta) but it's not hard to see how they got in this position (along with help from Sammy). Fucking depressing...
As much as I love Sega's old IP's. I think the company was always at their best when they were developing new franchises and not regurgitating the old ones. The Genesis and Dreamcast generations of consoles both come to mind here. During the Genesis era, Sega's Japanese studios were churning out all sorts of new franchises that have become considered classics now. Even Sega's American teams during the 16 bit years produced a lot of great things.
During the Dreamcast era, all of Sega's Japanese studios were making new producing new franchises like crazy. Outside of Sonic, Phantasy Star Online, and the odd Sega arcade port, it was all mostly new stuff. Jet Set Radio, Rez, Shenmue, Skies of Arcadia, Samba de Amigo, Crazy Taxi, Chu Chu Rocket, Space Channel 5, Virtua Tennis... those were all franchises developed during the Dreamcast years.
Sega used to be a company that never relied on their old franchises to keep them going. They always kept things fresh, even during the worst of times back then. And always produced new series that you couldn't find previous Sega consoles. Same could be said for the Master System and Saturn generations too, so many original franchises exclusive to both those consoles.
They used to be one of the most creatively progressive developers out there. But these days they are nothing more than a shadow of their former selves.
Though, you still have to give Sega credit for publishing some of the Platinum game titles.
Sega EUROPE!
Look at the titles being discussed in the OP, all European-centric and well selling franchises.
Sega JP and Sega USA are all doing their own separate restructuring under Sammy.
Imbarkus
As Sartre noted in his contemplation on Hell in No Exit, the true horror is other members.
Can Sega please just sell the IP for Condemned back to Monolith, so maybe I can have my Condemned 3?
Same thing is true of Konami, or Williams, or anyone else who got into the "gaming" business along with the games business.
Same thing is true of Konami, or Williams, or anyone else who got into the "gaming" business along with the games business.
Pretty much all of this + release Phantasy Star Online on a non-handheld. Can anyone explain why the game that began it all, online action rpg on a console, moved its sequels onto handhelds during the genre boom?
Phonomezer
Banned
The pack of turds running that company couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.
Die Squirrel Die
Member
We don't really know the full extent of what they plan for Digital platforms going forward either. You couldn't walk into a store and buy a VF5FS disc but that doesn't mean the game isn't readily available for a lot of people to buy. PSO2 had already adapted itself to a digital future and from what people have said from the alpha, closed and now open betas it's everything a PSO fan could want.
While it's too early and uncertain to be wildly optimistic, there's a definite possibility that the only thing that could stand in the way of people enjoying many classic Sega experiences is an aversion to not really owning a physical disc in order to access the games.
While it's too early and uncertain to be wildly optimistic, there's a definite possibility that the only thing that could stand in the way of people enjoying many classic Sega experiences is an aversion to not really owning a physical disc in order to access the games.
Criminal Upper
Banned
Release Anarchy Reigns next month, jerks.
Criminal Upper
Banned
Uh, no.
ArisenDragon
Member
Sega seems to be like SquareEnix now I guess they don't want to make money if they release Shenmue 1 and 2 in HD and 3 they would.
Shenmue? THEY'RE BRINGING IT BACK, BABY!
Okay, reading this thread is just depressing. ChuChu Rocket on HD consoles should've happened a long time ago for one thing.
Well, to be honest I was speaking more from a PC gamer perspective, where retail is already dead to me.
Are games like Yakuza even technically "AAA" titles though? I figured compared to something like an Assassin's Creed, GTA, Call of Duty etc. they were probably (relatively) cheap.
Glass Rebel
Member
Yakuza is certainly less expensive than these other franchises and AAA might not apply but I still think it has a decent budget that couldn't be recouped with a digital release only, especially when it's such a Japanese centric game.
I'd still love to play it on PC though!
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Sega Europe isn't developing 50-75 digital titles a year, which is the other half of this quote.
While I am expecting retail Miku and Yakuza games for now, I feel it's worth noting there's no signs of a Phantasy Star game that isn't PSO2 right now, and that was by far one of their biggest Japanese retail titles.
east of eastside
Banned
Yakuza 1 & 2 deserve an HD digital remake. The frame rates, load times, and cameras of both games suck to the point of rendering them nearly unplayable today. It would be easy money in Japan and since the western localization is already done might as well give 'em a western release even though the sales will be modest.
Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Vita? like I said, easy money for Sega in Japan (at least) if Sega wants to make money, which I'm not sure given how they operate.
Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Vita? like I said, easy money for Sega in Japan (at least) if Sega wants to make money, which I'm not sure given how they operate.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
I don't think Sega Japan have restructured yet.
It's not like they have much internal development left over there, any way.
You're probably right. I agree with what you said earlier though:
A lot of their franchises would work very well as digital titles.
GoofsterStud
Member
Screw Chu-Chu Rocket HD. Chu-Chu Rocket for Android/Ipad is where it's at. Touch screen | Swipe controls were perfect for the game.
TheSpoiler
Member
Ugh Sega has so many quality IPs it's such a waste how they've turned out.
We should have seen...
-ChuChu Rocket on all downloadable services
-Shenmue 3
-Space Channel 5 using motion controls ala Dance Central
-Awesome Sonic games (well, this is the only thing they've been doing right so far I guess)
-NiGHTS that didn't suck and have shitty platforming tossed in
-A new Crazy Taxi game for downloadable services
-Panzer Dragoon
-A new single player Phantasy Star ala Final Fantasy.
-Samba de Amigo with WORKING motion controls
-A new Shinobi game for 360/PS3
-Bayonetta 2
-A new Jet Set Radio game
-Skies of Arcadia 2
-A new awesome Super Monkey Ball game
-Revitalized IP's from the genesis era
-Shining Force 4
We got way too many licensed games and games that were just shit. I liked some of what they did this gen (Valkyrie Chronicles, Yakuza, Sonic Generations, Condemned, HotD: Overkill, Bayonetta) but it's not hard to see how they got in this position (along with help from Sammy). Fucking depressing...
Most of those games wouldn't sell.
That's part of the problem. The market has changed.
Pachterballs
Banned
Such a lame topic
Sega Europe should have been in the thread title but hey, let's not put that in and make the news sound way worse than it is.
It's one word. Europe.
Sega Europe should have been in the thread title but hey, let's not put that in and make the news sound way worse than it is.
It's one word. Europe.
Riposte
Member
This seems like common practice.
Augemitbutter
Member
buy their games if you want them to stay alive. don't wait until they drop down to 10 pounds and complain afterwards.
not punchy enough.
not punchy enough.
Criminal Upper
Banned
Because Sega's been an awful company for the last decade.
I'm confused. What were you expecting exactly from Phantasy Star?
Phantasy Star Portable games were based on the most recent Phantasy Star game at that time (PSU).
PSO2 is the next Phantasy Star game and it's getting a handheld release.
This is why you don't go third party
Sega used to be one of the most creative publishers in the business. Why wasn't that enough?!
It was all downhill after Tom Kalinske left. Having an easily pirated format for the DC didn't help matters. No sales, no stability.
EternalGamer
Banned
I'm totally ready for a GOOD company to buy Sega and all it's IP.
Like how about Square-Enix or Capcom.
Just not EA or Activision.
BUT, we need PSO in English 1st.
I don't even know why they are dragging ass on that one. It looks great.
Like how about Square-Enix or Capcom.
Just not EA or Activision.
BUT, we need PSO in English 1st.
I don't even know why they are dragging ass on that one. It looks great.
Oh, I get that. But at what point does the boss of Sega-Sammy Holding say "Wow, we make a lot of yen on Pachinko... How much more could we be making without Sega's massive losses."
Not saying it would definitely happen, but in my opinion, these massive reorgs look like the last desperation attempt to become profitable. Another year of big losses from the three "Sega" divisions, and a the pure profit of a big IP portfolio sale looks pretty attractive.
Guerrillas in the Mist
Member
It's funny to think that 2 of the 4 IPs that Sega considers to be it's strongest are PC games. Strange times indeed.
SEGA just published the Condemned games for Warner Bros.
All the ("modern") Monolith IPs barring NOLF are owned by WB.
Samsung? Given what they are doing with Gaikai it doesn't sound as ludicrous as it did 5 years ago.
Im not saying Samsung will put out a new SEGA console but if they are serious about a gaming service across TVs, phones, tablets etc they could so worse than buying SEGA and using that brand and it's IPs.
Just sayin......
twinturbo2
butthurt Heat fan
Since they have the license back, they better do it. I will give my left testicle to make it happen.