Sega Getting Screwed Bad Down The Line?

From Games Are Fun:

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Sammy president Hajime Satomi has been focused on where he believes Sammy should apply its efforts. Now, after the purchase of a majority share in Sega early this week, he believes he knows the same thing for Sega.

Satomi has stated he wants Sega to concentrate on its higher profit arcade business, and start using Sammy’s Atomiswave hardware. Furthermore they should pick future console releases with “more care”. He has also suggested that resistance from Sega at this point will simply result in the purchase of more Sega shares, to increase its control.

In addition, Satomi has also confirmed that several Sammy executives will be installed in positions inside Sega, with he himself taking a “special advisor role” on the board of directors.

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man, it's almost as if they want to fuck Sega because of the whole Namco deal.

For as much as I don't agree with the "MORE ARCADE!" side of Sammy, I completely agree with their telling Sega to pick their console releases with more care. Then of course, thats just Sammy stating the obvious.

It is the beginning of the end.

It's the return to innocence...

ughhh yuuu yahhhh....

I think what Satomi is saying is perfectly reasonable, an would make Sega more stable for the time being, if nothing else.

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Originally Posted by kingoffighters

It is the beginning of the end.

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The end began long, long ago.

Pretty much my only reason for caring anymore is the possibility of seeing more Dreamcast releases. Beyond that, I'm not sure of anything as of late that Sega has done that I care about. (Well, except Outrun 2.) I forsee no real new version of PSO coming, so unless they do that, whatever can happen to Sega.

I will say, though, that I think Sammy should keep their nose out of Sega's business, and I don't care much for the attitude they are bringing to this.

Sammy has no intrest in ruining their investment. Exploiting it perhaps, but nothing that would jeopardize Sega's future or financial viability.

Sega is dead.

What can the Atomiswave do with 3D graphics? I'd hate to see the next Virtua Fighter regress graphically.

isnt the Atomiswave just a Naomi with more Ram?

I would hate to see Sega get proper fucked. But it happend.

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Originally Posted by Tracer

Sega is dead.

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Not untill they bring over the phantasy star remakes they ain't.

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Originally Posted by Green

What can the Atomiswave do with 3D graphics? I'd hate to see the next Virtua Fighter regress graphically.

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I belive that's sega's choice, if it works better for performance. Sammy has no say in it.

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Originally Posted by Frogacuda

I think what Satomi is saying is perfectly reasonable, an would make Sega more stable for the time being, if nothing else.

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I'm not that concerned either. Sammy is presumably not acquiring Sega as an asset to run it into the ground. Sega is making profit already and Sammy thinks it has a profitable business model in Atomiswave, which is similar to Naomi/Dreamcast. Everything I previously read about Atomiswave gave me a favourable impression of it. I prefer home gaming to arcade gaming but it sounds somewhat sensible presuming ports come. Sega does well in the arcade market and home ports will still come. Additionally I don't see Sammy getting in the way of series like Sonic, Shinobi, or Virtua Fighter - for example. So...

Regardless, 2004 looks to be a capital year for Sega fans with Sonic Heroes, Sonic Battle, Sonic Advance 3, Kunoichi/Nightshade, OutRun 2, Astro Boy PS2, Astro Boy GBA, Dororo/Blood Will Tell, Puyo Puyo Fever, PSOIII?, the Sega 3D Ages series, Sega Rally 3 (is that official?), and maybe VF Cyber Gen - that's only what's aready annonuced. :eek:

I want almost all of those games - after buying only one (new) Sega game in 2003. Yikes. Need $. :sonic:

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Originally Posted by Frogacuda

Sammy has no intrest in ruining their investment. Exploiting it perhaps, but nothing that would jeopardize Sega's future or financial viability.

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Not necessarily. Sega's stocks are crap. If Sega's assets are worth more than the price of a majority share of stock in the company, Sammy could totally liquidate the company, assuming they have majority vote, make a sizable return on their investment, and Sega would be no more.

Just another perspective. ;)

You all missed the part where it read "Sammy wants Sega to focus more on it's HIGHER PROFIT arcade games".

I took this statement to read as - Sega makes more money in Japan with their arcade titles then they do with their console releases. Sammy wants Sega to be profitable, and I guess the Japanese love their arcade games. Even though our arcade business in the US is dead, from what I've read and heard, the arcade business is still going strong in Japan.

And about Sega "picking their future console releases with care", I agree, since Sega released alot of ports and other games that just haven't sold well at all since they went software only. They have the occasional top seller, but the majority of their games didn't fly off the shelf (on the contrary, they've sat there until they got marked for 10 bucks a piece, THEN flew off the shelf).

I mean, for all the people complaining that Sega is fucked, if Sammy didn't step in, someone else would have, with the same demands. There's not one company, that would have bought stock in Sega, that would have told them "Yea, just keep doing the same thing you're always doing", because it's just not profitable for anyone. If Sega was making decent amounts of money at all, they wouldn't be in a spot such as this.

Ii trust Sammy, they definately know what they're doing.

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Originally Posted by Aurora

It's the return to innocence...

ughhh yuuu yahhhh....

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If I didn't hate smilies so much I'd put a laughter one here.

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Originally Posted by Shin Johnpv

isnt the Atomiswave just a Naomi with more Ram?

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Yeah. More or less.

Sega has been in the midst of a shitty run for a few years now on their own. What was the last must-have Sega-developed game? PDO? Don't even mention Shinobi, which is average-at-best when not viewed through TNL's Sega/Treasure rosey glasses.

Sega died when Amy got equal billing with Sonic, when Phantasy Star needed an internet connection, and when Shining gained Soul, which is ironic because Sega has lost its own.

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Originally Posted by sggg

Regardless, 2004 looks to be a capital year for Sega fans with Sonic Heroes, Sonic Battle, Sonic Advance 3, Kunoichi/Nightshade, OutRun 2, Astro Boy PS2, Astro Boy GBA, Dororo/Blood Will Tell, Puyo Puyo Fever, PSOIII?, the Sega 3D Ages series, Sega Rally 3 (is that official?), and maybe VF Cyber Gen - that's only what's aready annonuced. :eek:

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Wow. I'm not the least bit interested in ANY of those games.

The only property I care about that Sega has done anything recently with is PSO, and I really wanted either a) PS 5 (or simply a new game in the PSO universe, call it whatever you want) or b) PSO 3 with multiple planets, continents etc - I could play such a game until the end of time in all likelihood. Instead they're working on that card battle crap.

Not going to weep terribly if they get chewed up by Sammy.

Yeah I agree, other then Kunoichi, theyres nothing im looking forward to thats from sega. Let's not forget they had a good year in 2003, just F-Zero got me head over heels. PSOIII looks disappointing, because I dont want another damn card game on the market...

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Don't even mention Shinobi, which is average-at-best when not viewed through TNL's Sega/Treasure rosey glasses.

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Said the poster with the GameFan avatar.

I don't think this is such a bad idea:

Satomi: "All right you Sega jags, your putting out a sequel to Nights."

Sega: "But we are too afraid that it will not live up to everybody's expectations."

*Satomi buys more Sega stock*

Satomi: Get to work, fuckers!"

*Fans rejoice*

So is Sega dying? Are they gonna be nonexistant in a few years? Because that would be great. Its about time.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Don't even mention Shinobi, which is average-at-best when not viewed through TNL's Sega/Treasure rosey glasses.

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couldn't have said that one better myself.

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Originally Posted by §eraphim

Said the poster with the GameFan avatar.

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what the hell is that supposed to mean?

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

What was the last must-have Sega-developed game?

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Billy Hatcher. It's much better than the reviews it got. But I agree that Sega hasn't been very impressive overall in the last couple years.

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

But I agree that Sega hasn't been very impressive overall in the last couple years.

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They may not be huge release after huge release, but I have been satisfied with Sega's current-gen offerings:

PD:O
Shinobi
Otagi
Monkey Ball
Billy Hatcher
Gungrave
VF4
Rez

I do miss the Strat/RPG titles like PS and Shining Force. Also the near complete lack of current-gen racers is a letdown.

I am a Sega fan, always have been (well, since 1989) always will be. Granted, I don't buy as many Sega games anymore, but that has less to do with lower quality games (although overall perhaps they are) and more to do with only owning one console.

Even if they aren't releasing as many great games, I would never wish them to not exist. That just doesn't make any sense to me.

I mean, it's not like they're 3DO and have no track record of even mediocre games. Then I can understand this response. They still have talent, and as long as they have it they will put out some great games.

I personally don't care for the business side of gaming (which I'm assuming is the main reason why people bash Sega as harsly as they do). I only care enough that it gets me some more great games, not LESS great games. Sega dying would bring about less great games, potentially, so why would I wish for that?

Back on-topic: While maybe good intentioned, the attitude that Sammy has shown is not a condusive one. They are basically daring every employee of Sega to do what they say, or be taken over by force. If they don't calm down, they might not have any developers left (judging by the resignation of the former head of Wow). If Suzuki and/or Naka walks, Sega is dead, and Sammy loses out on their investment.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Sega has been in the midst of a shitty run for a few years now on their own. What was the last must-have Sega-developed game? PDO? Don't even mention Shinobi, which is average-at-best when not viewed through TNL's Sega/Treasure rosey glasses.

Sega died when Amy got equal billing with Sonic, when Phantasy Star needed an internet connection, and when Shining gained Soul, which is ironic because Sega has lost its own.

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Thou Shalt Not Knock PDO. Not ever.

What is everyone talking about? Sega has never been better. Some people just give them less time for some reason. I mean what have Namco and Square released lately that was good. Squares been on a slump with FFX, UNlimited Saga, and FFX 2 with Suikoden 3 being a superior game to all of them, which isn't right. Namco released Soul Calibur 2 which was a pretty big dissapointment. So why does Sega get slack when their output of great games is still a hell of a lot higher than everyone else.

Let's see........

ESPN NHL2k4 - Best Hockey game ever made bar none if you're a fan of the NHL.

VF4EVO - Enough said

Shinobi - Best action game ever made for the people man enough to learn the ropes. No it's not tinted glasses and if it was, tinted glasses would be a good thing.That way every game would be awsome in your own world!

ESPN NBA 2k4 - A heck of a lot better than Live and a great game anyway you slice it.Some prefer Insidedrive but it doesn't make this a shitty Sega game.It's still a great game.

PDO - Arguably the best 3D shooter ever.

Virtua Cop 3 - I always liked Time Crisis 2 better than any VC but this game is the shizznit.

Find me a better recent release list than that from any other developer. You probably can't or you just haven't played many of their games.

They used to totally dominate racing though but no sign of Sega Rally 3, Daytona 3, or F355 2.Too bad. Outrun 2 is coming though. I hope they aren't working on a crappy Gran Turismo type of game and that's why they're taking that long.

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Originally Posted by Captain Canuck

They used to totally dominate racing though but no sign of Sega Rally 3, Daytona 3, or F355 2.Too bad. Outrun 2 is coming though. I hope they aren't working on a crappy Gran Turismo type of game and that's why they're taking that long.

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Sega GT is Sega's Gran Turismo if you want to call it that, and Sega GT is handled by WOW, which doesn't deal with any of the other driving titles. I seriously hope Sammy pushes Sega to develop a new Daytona and Sega Rally. I would highly doubt that we would see another f355, but it would be great if we did.

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Originally Posted by Captain Canuck

What is everyone talking about? Sega has never been better. Some people just give them less time for some reason. I mean what have Namco and Square released lately that was good. Squares been on a slump with FFX, UNlimited Saga, and FFX 2 with Suikoden 3 being a superior game to all of them, which isn't right. Namco released Soul Calibur 2 which was a pretty big dissapointment. So why does Sega get slack when their output of great games is still a hell of a lot higher than everyone else.

Let's see........

ESPN NHL2k4 - Best Hockey game ever made bar none if you're a fan of the NHL.

VF4EVO - Enough said

Shinobi - Best action game ever made for the people man enough to learn the ropes. No it's not tinted glasses and if it was, tinted glasses would be a good thing.That way every game would be awsome in your own world!

ESPN NBA 2k4 - A heck of a lot better than Live and a great game anyway you slice it.Some prefer Insidedrive but it doesn't make this a shitty Sega game.It's still a great game.

PDO - Arguably the best 3D shooter ever.

Virtua Cop 3 - I always liked Time Crisis 2 better than any VC but this game is the shizznit.

Find me a better recent release list than that from any other developer. You probably can't or you just haven't played many of their games.

They used to totally dominate racing though but no sign of Sega Rally 3, Daytona 3, or F355 2.Too bad. Outrun 2 is coming though. I hope they aren't working on a crappy Gran Turismo type of game and that's why they're taking that long.

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Everyone seems to forget about Super Monkey Ball. It was very succesful and recieved a ton of praise.


I can see where Sammy is coming from though. Sega used to own the arcades and with enough effort and Sammy's support, may just bring back arcade gaming is slow steps. The US arcade scene is'nt what it used to be, but it still lives in Fun Zone's (Walmart) Truck Stops and Miniature Golf /go cart centers.

Anyways. Nice post and I could'nt have said it much better.

I'm still suprised that Sega managed to stay alive as long as it has. I'm beginning to think that they will never die...

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Originally Posted by Green

What can the Atomiswave do with 3D graphics? I'd hate to see the next Virtua Fighter regress graphically.

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VF5 should really be made on a special Chihiro system with double the RAM (128 MB instead of the Chihiro's 64 MB). This would forbid a perfect consumer port until the next generation systems hit. OTOH, the arcade game could then enjoy graphic superiority over console 3D fighters for awhile.

I've been very pleased with Sega's stuff in the past few years, it sure beats the hell out of most of their Saturn stuff, and it's far more innovative and fun than nearly anything else out there.