Sega

[Ady]

I always thought Nintendo should've bought Sega.

The two companies have always complemented each other in an ying/yang sort of way.

[mash]

Sega, should try and reinvent themselves for the next generation. Rather like Namco did at the start of the Playstation era. Who the hell were Namco in the 16bit days? Did anyone actually own a Namco game?. Yet at the start of the PS era they were the most important publishers around.
Instead of living on past glories I'd like to Sega come up with some new IP's.

[Atticus]

We should be happy for the Sega consoles and games we enjoyed over the years. What made them so special was what finished them off. Not many other companies would continue to invest in production-rich, ground breaking, AAA titles when so deeply in the red. Luckily for us Sega loved what they did and stayed driven. But it could never last, commercially speaking.

Looking at it in a glass is half full way I'm happy to have the Sega 'glory days' memories, I'm happy to have the systems and some wonderful games in my collection, and I'm glad they still exist in some form.

They've survived a tough few years. Surely things can only get better For Sega.

[radio]

I always thought Nintendo should've bought Sega.

The two companies have always complemented each other in an ying/yang sort of way.

Of old, perhaps.
But now, with Nintendo making nothing but sequels, totally devoid of imagination, seemingly petrified to risk a game that does not star one of their decades-old characters, the comparsion is VERY unfair to Sega. New IP? See 'Dreamcast'.
I'm fine with Sega living off past glories for now; it's an easy way to make money. When I said DS/PSP is Sega's chance to shine again, I wasn't refering to ports though; making new games for the handhelds could be a relatively cheap place for Sega to start finding those creative feet again. I personally wouldn't mind AT ALL if Skies of Arcadia 2 turned out to be a PSP game: Sega don't need the best technology to make the best games.

[Ben-K]

See, this is what I don't understand. It's OK for SEGA to live off past glories because it makes them money, but not for Nintendo?

Everyone does get awfully excited at the thought of Shenmue 3 or NiGHTS 2 or whatever......but I'd be much more excited by the prospect of brand new IP of the same standard as Monkey Ball or Chu Chu Rocket.......

[Baseley09]

Berby Owners Club is the completet win of modern Sega, always producing good arcade stuff.

Tbh hardly played any home Sega games this generation,

[tokyochojin]

See, this is what I don't understand. It's OK for SEGA to live off past glories because it makes them money, but not for Nintendo?

Everyone does get awfully excited at the thought of Shenmue 3 or NiGHTS 2 or whatever......but I'd be much more excited by the prospect of brand new IP of the same standard as Monkey Ball or Chu Chu Rocket.......

If Shenmue never recieves a conclusion it would be an absoloute disgrace to Suzuki-san after he has stuck with SEGA through all this time.
Although I appreciate it doesn't have a realistic chance of making a profit, surely they could use the engine they already have and just conclude the story.


And also i couldn't believe that anyone who played Nights, wouldn't be delighted with a sequel!?

[baad bwoy]

This thread is very very depressing.

[Leon Retro]

Sege+Arcade Fun+Evolution= Happy times!

I think Sega should stick to making in your face arcade style experiences, but add a bit more depth for the home. Outrun2 is a good game, but if it had been tailored for the home it would probably have a lot more to it.

You look at Sega's back catalogue and they have some fantastic franchises. They need to put a lot of talent and money in to making modern updates or equivalents. The attempts they have made so far with Shinobi as prime example just don't work and look b-grade compared to Capcom and Konami examples.

I would be happy if Sega went back to making 70% racing titles. If Sega really put some thought and effort in to building a new racing studio, I think they could create stuff that destroys GT and Burnout!

So to conclude, lets just say Sega have stumbled and only recently with Outrun2 has the Sega magic been evident once again. If they can build on this and really go at the next-gen, they may have chance of once again being a AAA developer.

[Kotatsu Neko]

And also i couldn't believe that anyone who played Nights, wouldn't be delighted with a sequel!?

Trouble is, how many people played Nights? Probably not enough to warrant a sequel. It's less well known that OutRun and yet even that with a glorious utterly wonderful sequel released didn't raise much interest outside the old school.

That's really the trouble with all of Sega's old properties. I doubt they are really worth that much in today's gaming world. Sonic is pretty much the only big thing they have, and they're milking that franchise all they can.

The best possible future for Sega would have been had Nintendo bought them. With money worries over and with DS and Revolution to focus on they could really have innovated as they did on the DC. Imagine the posibilities then!

[Ady]

Of old, perhaps.
But now, with Nintendo making nothing but sequels, totally devoid of imagination, seemingly petrified to risk a game that does not star one of their decades-old characters,

Sorry mate, but that's nonsense. "Nothing but sequels"? Why do people exaggerate so much when it comes to Nintendo? Luigi's Mansion was a sequel to what? Pikmin was a sequel to what? Wario Ware was a sequel to what? Electroplanton is a sequel to what? Yes, some of those games have follow-ups now, but it happens all the time in game development these days.

And so what if they use familiar characters in some of their games? Does that detract from the game itself? Would Mario vs Donkey Kong on the GBA be any more of a classy platform cum puzzle game if it featured new characters?

In any case, Sega are hardly above reproach in this regard (see Sonic).

When I said DS/PSP is Sega's chance to shine again, I wasn't refering to ports though; making new games for the handhelds could be a relatively cheap place for Sega to start finding those creative feet again.

What ports are you referring to exactly?

As yet, Sega hasn't produced anything for the PSP, and it's first DS game (Project Rub/Feel the Magic) is no port I've ever heard of. You should play it, it's a very good game.

I still stand by my original comment though. To me, Sega and Nintendo have always been kindred spirits of sorts.

[toy_brain]

I think Sega's biggest problem has been us, the punters.
Its not that Sega hasnt made any good games lately, its just that they havent sold well.
Games like JSRF, PDO, Outrun2 Shenmue1+2 etc are all really good games (well, I'm not mad keen on PDO but everyone else seems to like it) but havent performed that well comercially.
Stuff like Sonic Mega Collection and Sonic Heroes sells by the bucketload.

So what should we expect Sega to make more of? They are a buisness after all, they are in it for the money and they will make what sells.
We can see this reflected in their recent aquisitions of Sports Interactive and Creative Assembly. Their games sell loads, so it makes sense for Sega to get in on the action and make money off of them.

Basically, the old Sega is dead, but then again the old games market is dead. They are adapting and changing to compete and stay alive in the new games market, and old-timers like us can only hope that they use profits from the 'mainstream' games to fund the odd game that appeals to us.

I still hold a candle for Sega, and games like Project: Altered Beast are decent fun (and at ?20 its hard to complain), but for me at least, I'm turning more towards Capcom for my diet of quality gaming.

[Team Andromeda]

In any case, Sega are hardly above reproach in this regard (see Sonic).

Sonic, SW, Wonderboy and the VF series are about the only series of games SEGA actually milked. In fact for many people the problems is that SEGA don?t make enough sequels.
When SEGA created the Saturn, they came up with new games, with completely new characters and worlds like Panzer, Astal, Clockworknight , NiGTHS , Sukura Wars, Burning Rangers, Deep Fear never mind the new games they created for the DC. That?s the big diff.

Even this gen SEGA made new franchises like with Monkey ball, Blood Will Tell, Billy H, GV, SEGA GT.
It?s the same with Capcom too, they get the sequels/milking tag .
When this gen they?ve been very productive with new brand franchises, that don't use any characters ect from their old games (all new). That?s not so much the case with NCL.

I still stand by my original comment though. To me, Sega and Nintendo have always been kindred spirits of sorts.

Sorry mate that sheer rubbish.
You think NCL would take the risks with games lie REZ, JSR on a main stream console (I doubt it), you think NCL would spend 70 million plus on Shenmue (fat chance) SEGA embraced the internet, while NCL have done anything but, SEGA never censored Mortal Kombat, Duke Nukem 3D.

SEGA and NCL think completely differently.
SEGA share more in common with Capcom more than anybody else, even down to the money problems

[baad bwoy]

Sonic, SW, Wonderboy and the VF series are about the only series of games SEGA actually milked. In fact for many people the problems is that SEGA don?t make enough sequels.
When SEGA created the Saturn, they came up with new games, with completely new characters and worlds like Panzer, Astal, Clockworknight , NiGTHS , Sukura Wars, Burning Rangers, Deep Fear never mind the new games they created for the DC. That?s the big diff.

Even this gen SEGA made new franchises like with Monkey ball, Blood Will Tell, Billy H, GV, SEGA GT.
It?s the same with Capcom too, they get the sequels/milking tag .
When this gen they?ve been very productive with new brand franchises, that don't use any characters ect from their old games (all new). That?s not so much the case with NCL.



Sorry mate that sheer rubbish.
You think NCL would take the risks with games lie REZ, JSR on a main stream console (I doubt it), you think NCL would spend 70 million plus on Shenmue (fat chance) SEGA embraced the internet, while NCL have done anything but, SEGA never censored Mortal Kombat, Duke Nukem 3D.

SEGA and NCL think completely differently.
SEGA share more in common with Capcom more than anybody else, even down to the money problems

Thats why Nintendo are able to be a major player both the hardware and software market and Sega are not, they actually employ some wisdom in the way their business is run, its all well and good spending 70m on a niche title like shenmue, but if risks such as this are taken, surely the company have to be able to accept the consequences of its failure,
I am glad that Sega are concentrating on making a bit of money for themselves, its about time.

[Ady]

Sorry mate that sheer rubbish.
You think NCL would take the risks with games lie REZ, JSR on a main stream console (I doubt it), you think NCL would spend 70 million plus on Shenmue (fat chance) SEGA embraced the internet, while NCL have done anything but, SEGA never censored Mortal Kombat, Duke Nukem 3D.

By that I meant they complement each other by virtue of their passion and creativity, even though tehy don't necessarily make the same types of games (this is a good thing, variety and all that).