Sega to become platform-exclusive...

From IGN:

Sega Re-alignment
Sega is reportedly going to align itself with a major console manufacturer very soon. That is to say that Sega, which is currently "platform agnostic," will be buddying up with Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft, in a very big way, basically exclusive to that system, very soon -- according to a little bird we know. The implications are huge and we simply don't know how far the repercussions will go -- does it include sports, too? -- but whatever Sega does is a big, big deal. Go Sega (and since we're feeling ridiculously fanboyish right now, please don't saddle up with Microsoft, OK? That would be just be hurtful.)

This would so piss me off if this happens, and certainly be Sega's worst move EVER imo, unless they go exclusive to PS2, which is the only way this could be in any way good for Sega. As much as I like Xbox and GameCube (yes, I do like GameCube, a lot even), I like Sega a lot more, and it would be suicide for Sega to go exclusive to either of them imo. I honestly hope this isn't true, but if it is, please Sega, make friends with Sony. (never thought I'd say that :p)

If it is true, how could it be anyone but Microsoft?

Pooey. Big pooey.

That's how I feel too... and I can only hope it isn't true :(

I can't help but feel this is a very bad move for Sega, I mean they finally started turning a positive profit, now theyre going to close their profit margins by going to only one console? Thats just silly IMHO.

Wow.

Wish they thought of this a year ago.

And now they're cutting profits instead of being on multiple systems.

Dumbasses.

Eh, as long as it brings a decent amount of money to Sega, I'm fine with it.

...But that will only happen with the PS2.

...And that means I might need to live with PS2 ports.

...And this means that I now care.

Damn.

Well, it's only silly if they are doing it and Microsoft ISN'T paying them huge amounts of cash to do it. If they are, and X-Box fails, then they just say ok, we're agnostic again, until either Sony or Nintendo does the same thing Microsoft did (Assuming its Microsoft, I wouldnt put it past Sony to do the exact same thing. Microsoft is really just Sony in the game industry, its like they are clones).

If however, Sega is just doing it because their developers are sick of writing for the PS2 and Gamecube, and not because of a large paycheck being deposited into its account by Microsoft, then they are just plain stupid, and it will prove that nothing has in fact changed in Sega management - ie STUPIDITY.

This may shock people but I would actually like to see Sega stay multi-platform (regardless of whom they will be in bed with) for two reasons.

A) Some of the best games Sega has done in recent time have been done by letting the teams decide which systems the game would be best tailored to.

B) They were just starting to climb the third party ladder and become profitable.

Lord knows I'll support them always, but I was starting to like the multiplatform SEGA. A LOT.

If Sega goes exclusive to MS... :( :( :(

Although I've sometimes wished Sega would do just that (before deciding which system(s) to buy) so I wouldn't have to buy all 3 systems, I gotta say I hope this isn't true. If they side with Microsoft or Nintendo (yeah, right), it's basically financial suicide for our beloved developer. If they side with Sony... well, as much as I love my PS2 (or rather, my PS2 games), I can't help but think Sega would tend to make more ambitious games on GC and especially Xbox than on PS2.

Anyway, I doubt this rumor is true. Sega's done many mistakes in the past, but I don't think they're that stupid. If it is true, I expect it's either because they think developing for the less popular platforms (GC and Xbox) is a waste of time and money, or because Microsoft has offered them a big fat sack of shiny dollars.

Um, before this news, X Box was in line for Orta and PS2 was in line for all the Sakura Taisen stuffs. .... both are rather important franches to Sega, and try as I might I don't see both of these as well as Sega's other 50 franchises comfortably residing on only one system.

Who knows.

If it's PS2, I already got one. If it's X Box, they'll be $50 a pop soon 'nuff. If it's GC... I'd be surprised. *shrugs*

this is rubbish news.

and it will be MS.

i\'ll put 20 on it.

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Originally posted by Tain
Eh, as long as it brings a decent amount of money to Sega, I'm fine with it.

...But that will only happen with the PS2.

...And that means I might need to live with PS2 ports.

...And this means that I now care.

Damn.

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Why would it have to be Sony? Nintendo has more than the Gamecube. The GBA is selling just as well as the PS2. If Sega commited all it's resourses to GBA and Gamecube games, it could mean big profits. Sega's best game sales have been on Nintendo products, with titles like Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Advance, and Super Monkey Ball. Maybe Sega see's the other two console manufacturers, as a lesser factor. Really, the PS2 has too many games coming out for it, the X-Box games have'nt sold very well, and most titles they have released on Nintendo's products, have done fairly well.


Let's not forget the future plans of Sony and MS. They are looking towards making consoles/set top boxes that do more than just games. Is that what a game maker like Sega wants? I feel that Nintendo plans on supporting the Gamecube and GBA for much longer than Sony (PS2) and MS (X-Box) plan on supporting their current consoles. The future of gaming with the other 2 looks to be a bit of a gamble. Nintendo looks to focus more on games, and hardware is a second thought. Something that Sega and Nintendo have always relied on, over hardware.

:(

Whoa!!!

Well, if it's true.. I cannot lie. This would make me quite happy. Quite happy indeed. :)

I don't think it would be a bad thing for SEGA. It really depends on the particulars. If it's Sony, well, with the install-base they can't go wrong. If it's MS, well, then MS prolly paid them gobs of money.. if it's Nintendo, well... Nintendo + SEGA should make that system more than successful for as long as them want - plus there is always GBA. The only semi-wonky proposition would be MS I think...

Anyway, I have not bought any of the three yet, because IMO none of the three stands out that much from the other two, and none of them have enough "must have" software yet. They're all pretty even IMO. But, if you took all the SEGA games off each system and put them on one, I think it'd be a damn fine software lineup all on it's own. So, for me this is great news - IF IT'S TRUE. Whichever system they pick, I shall own. Mark my words. :):):)

Oh, and for the record - I hope it's Gamecube - even though I think GCN probably has the weakest software lineup so far. I just like the system more than the other two. :)

I really don't care that much no matter which one it is though. They all have their advantages and disagvantages.

Crap like this seperates IGN from real news sources. SEGA can't force it's dev teams to choose a platform, and as we know, they all have their preferences. Plus it simply doesn't make economical sense. Each platform is home to a certain demographic, and it's quite possible to multiply profits through ports.

what a stupid decision... i think it's going to be the PS2..

they might as well have stayed exclusive to the damn DC.. it sold at about the level of GC and xbox..
why would sega decide to do this now?? it's beyond me.

It may not be Micro$oft after all...

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At a recent interview with Nintendo's new president, Satoru Iwata, it was announced that they offered Sega Corporation 409,920,000,000 Japanese Yen ($3.5 billion) to become an exclusive second party. Sega chairman, Isao Okawa, stated that the company had been in a "financial hole" ever since the downfall of the Saturn and the company's current earnings are not enough to make up for the money lost. Okawa also stated that the deal will not take effect until September of 2003, so current fans with only an Xbox or PS2 won't have to worry for a while.

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http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brendan/sega_bar.png

...and the plot thickens...

i think if its true it will be the stupidest descion sega has ever made

Shinobi128, where did you quote that from? Isao Okawa is dead afterall.

I don't want to believe this is true, but SOA has made so many half-assed stupid decisions in the past that I wouldn't be surprised if it happens.

Shinobi: Well, that is pretty interesting... shocking really... where did you paste that info about Nintendo's offer from?!

I can't beleive that I am practically the only one who does not think this is a bad thing?!

First of all, a lot of Sega fans would be able to buy the console and more Sega games if they were sure it was just one console. Really, for the Sega fan who only has a PS2, he has not bought Super Monkey Ball or JSRF yet. Secondly, whoever the company is it will surely mean they are paying SEGA a crapload of money, like in this Nintendo rumour, that will more than offset any potential sales losses (I am not convinced that will be too significant, except in Sega Sports 2K games maybe?)

Basically the only way I can see this being a bad thing for Sega is if it turns out to be Microsoft, and then Xbox is discontinued by next Xmas! That would tarnishing Sega's already sullied reputation and also not expose it's great games to enough fans.

I am not sure why so many are so negative about this...

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Originally posted by Melf
I don\'t want to believe this is true, but SOA has made so many half-assed stupid decisions in the past that I wouldn\'t be surprised if it happens.

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It would be SOJ making this decision, n\'est-ce pas?

Well Sega was reborn when they went Multiplatform in my opinion. Sure the DC is great, but it flew under the radar with a lot of people. Sega trys lots of crazy things, so who knows what they will do. Sure thier games for the Xbox are great, and look great too. They are just too different for the mass gaming public. If anyone has the money give enough to Sega so they can't say no is Microsoft. But Microsoft seems to be pretty desperate for someone to jump aboard these days. PS2 would the place to go if they want to spread their games around, but the games themselves would suffer. I doubt Sega does this unless we are talking LOTS AND LOTS of money. But who knows what Sega could do as a Second party. I think Nintendo would give them the most freedom of all of them though. Imagine some Sega games with Miyamato helping, or vise versa!

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Originally posted by sggg
whoever the company is it will surely mean they are paying SEGA a crapload of money, like in this Nintendo rumour, that will more than offset any potential sales losses

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But that's short term. A chunk of money would have to be mighty big to ultimately be a better deal than a steady stream of revenue. Sega's inability to make a profit can partly be attributed to them always jumping on the short term and never looking further ahead.

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Originally posted by Shinobi128
It may not be Micro$oft after all...



http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brendan/sega_bar.png

...and the plot thickens...

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The Sega Sports sales numbers don't look too promising on the GC. If this was to be true, one would think that the Sega Sports lineup might not become an option on the GC.


If those numbers were to include Sonic Advance(While not published by Sega) we would see another big seller on a Nintendo product. I feel that Nintendo's console and Handheld would be highly favorable for Sega, but their sports games would either be dropped, or not taken so seriously, unless Nintendo's online plans take a sudden upward surge of interest.

<-- growing more and more skeptical by the minute....


Reasons:
1, no actual links
2, no other news sites reporting it (that I can find)
3, no other message boards discussing it (that I can find)
4, Sega has so many specific plans already, like F-Zero AC/GC and Outrun with Microsoft's arcade board...

It still might be true, but I need to see more before I am convinced.

SEGA WILL ALLY WITH NINTENDO AND DESTROY ALL INFIDELS!!!

Sorry, the fanboy in me needed to say that. Can't say I'll be happy with PS2 exclusivity since it's the shittiest hardware, but it makes the most sense financially. Xbox it won't be unless, as people said, MS is giving them some hefty cash, and even then I doubt it'll help XBox all that much.

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Originally posted by Clash_Master
Well Sega was reborn when they went Multiplatform in my opinion. Sure the DC is great, but it flew under the radar with a lot of people. Sega trys lots of crazy things, so who knows what they will do. Sure thier games for the Xbox are great, and look great too. They are just too different for the mass gaming public. If anyone has the money give enough to Sega so they can't say no is Microsoft. But Microsoft seems to be pretty desperate for someone to jump aboard these days. PS2 would the place to go if they want to spread their games around, but the games themselves would suffer. I doubt Sega does this unless we are talking LOTS AND LOTS of money. But who knows what Sega could do as a Second party. I think Nintendo would give them the most freedom of all of them though. Imagine some Sega games with Miyamato helping, or vise versa!

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Well Miyamoto is already giving Sega a hand, with the developement of F-Zero, on the Tri-Force arcade board. This could also aleaviat hardware expenses in the Arcade for Sega? It's not really a bad plan for Sega.

The Xbox as a real Dreamcast 2? I can think of worse fates...

Yeah Sega has made too many future plans with too many different people for this to be true.

I mean they are one of the Main three on the TriForce (Sega, Namco, and Nintendo) and they are front runners on the Microsoft board.

Does not add up at all. Why would Sega do this and risk so much with the other guys? It would just piss them off. "Sorry we have to cancel all these projects that everyone is excited about because we are now with so and so." I doubt it.

More speculation from me, but if this is true - and I am still extremely skeptical - I am gonna guess it's Nintendo.

Reasons:
1, GCN has not done that well yet, and lacks software. So there is a need on Nintendo's part to make a move like this.
2, Sega and Nintendo are building a strong relationship (F-Zero, TriForce, etc).
3, Nintendo might +b Sega from GBA if they drop GCN.
4, Sony does not need Sega at all, thus has little incentive to pay Sega off.. and I don't think Sega would do this w/o a payoff.
5, Sega would prolly be foolish to saddle up with MS at this point, even with a payoff..

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Originally posted by sggg

First of all, a lot of Sega fans would be able to buy the console and more Sega games if they were sure it was just one console. Really, for the Sega fan who only has a PS2, he has not bought Super Monkey Ball or JSRF yet. Secondly, whoever the company is it will surely mean they are paying SEGA a crapload of money, like in this Nintendo rumour, that will more than offset any potential sales losses (I am not convinced that will be too significant, except in Sega Sports 2K games maybe?)

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I have to disagree here. JSRF could have been released on PS2 and it still would have sold like crap. People have bad taste. :p Aside from VF4 and the sports titles, what Sega games have sold like hotcakes on any of the new systems to justify writing them a blank check? Sure, Sega is a great game developer, but if you were to go by game sales, I can't see why anyone would think that having Sega as an exclusive developer would make systems fly off the shelves. Don't believe me? Ask Microsoft. Sega hasn't really put a pepper in their system sales over the last 6 months.

There's no way that Sega will make enough off an exclusivity deal to warrant not developing for PS2. Maybe when I see a Sega Xbox game that sells 1/2 of what VF4 sold, I'll change my tune. ;)

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Basically the only way I can see this being a bad thing for Sega is if it turns out to be Microsoft, and then Xbox is discontinued by next Xmas! That would tarnishing Sega's already sullied reputation and also not expose it's great games to enough fans.

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Xbox doesn't have to go under to see the results of Sega releasing most of its titles on it. Just look at the sales of the Sega titles already published on Xbox.

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It would be SOJ making this decision, n\'est-ce pas?

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Same difference.......



No, scratch that. SOJ is just slightly less retarded than SOA. :D

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Originally posted by Melf
I have to disagree here. JSRF could have been released on PS2 and it still would have sold like crap. People have bad taste. :p Aside from VF4 and the sports titles, what Sega games have sold like hotcakes on any of the new systems to justify writing them a blank check? Sure, Sega is a great game developer, but if you were to go by game sales, I can't see why anyone would think that having Sega as an exclusive developer would make systems fly off the shelves. Don't believe me? Ask Microsoft. Sega hasn't really put a pepper in their system sales over the last 6 months.

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Well, then all the more reason for Sega to get as much money from whoever they can. If MS or Nintendo payed Sega a tonne of money to be exclusive, and their games don't sell well.... then all the more reason to take the money.

Besides, my point was that if the games don't sell that well, one of the reasons could be the fact that many of Sega's hardcore/traditional fans are massively scattered now. Most people don't have all three consoles. So when Sega makes a nichey game like JSRF, well, not only did it not sell well with the mainstream, but it didn't even have the traditional Sega fanbase there either. If 90% of Sega fans jumped on board one system, it may have sold more, because more Sega fans might own that system and thus buy the game. I am not saying they'll make it a hit.. but I think this could at least offset the sales they'd lose by no longer being multi-platform.

Anyway, your point seems to be that someone would be stupid to buy Sega's exclusivity. That may indeed be true, but if they did I don't think it's bad news for Sega.

*shrug*

i think for sports the only system its guranteed to sell great on is PS2 PS2 is like sports home now or something

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Originally posted by sggg
Well, then all the more reason for Sega to get as much money from whoever they can. If MS or Nintendo payed Sega a tonne of money to be exclusive, and their games don't sell well.... then all the more reason to take the money.

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Very true. Sega needs a friend with deep pockets. Any of the three hardware makers can fit this role nicely.

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Besides, my point was that if the games don't sell that well, one of the reasons could be the fact that many of Sega's hardcore/traditional fans are massively scattered now. Most people don't have all three consoles. So when Sega makes a nichey game like JSRF, well, not only did it not sell well with the mainstream, but it didn't even have the traditional Sega fanbase there either. If 90% of Sega fans jumped on board one system, it may have sold more, because more Sega fans might own that system and thus buy the game. I am not saying they'll make it a hit.. but I think this could at least offset the sales they'd lose by no longer being multi-platform.

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But that's the thing. Mainstream gamers have never cared about Sega games anyway. They never owned a Saturn or DC, so Sega being exclusive to one system would do nothing for them at all. Sega's fanbase probably owns at least one of the 3 systems out there, so exclusivity wouldn't do much for them either. If they have a Saturn or DC, chances are they have another system as well.

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Anyway, your point seems to be that someone would be stupid to buy Sega's exclusivity. That may indeed be true, but if they did I don't think it's bad news for Sega.

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Sadly, that is my point exactly. :(

Having Sega as a developer is helpful, but not essential. Nintendo and Sony have gotten by without them for years now, which is why Sega going to Microsoft seems to be the first guess of most people. I just hope it isn't true.

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Originally posted by sggg
Well, then all the more reason for Sega to get as much money from whoever they can. If MS or Nintendo payed Sega a tonne of money to be exclusive, and their games don't sell well.... then all the more reason to take the money.

Besides, my point was that if the games don't sell that well, one of the reasons could be the fact that many of Sega's hardcore/traditional fans are massively scattered now. Most people don't have all three consoles. So when Sega makes a nichey game like JSRF, well, not only did it not sell well with the mainstream, but it didn't even have the traditional Sega fanbase there either. If 90% of Sega fans jumped on board one system, it may have sold more, because more Sega fans might own that system and thus buy the game. I am not saying they'll make it a hit.. but I think this could at least offset the sales they'd lose by no longer being multi-platform.

Anyway, your point seems to be that someone would be stupid to buy Sega's exclusivity. That may indeed be true, but if they did I don't think it's bad news for Sega.
*shrug*

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Jet Grind Radio did'nt sell well on the DC either. At least Sega has had some great sales numbers coming from game released on Nintendo's hardware. Sonic Adventure 2 stayed on the top 5 sales charts for a couple of months. Sonic Advance sold like crazy, and Super Monkey Ball also had a successful run. Maybe Sega sees that their biggest audience is playing with Nintendo hardware, with exception being their Sega Sports lineup selling well on the PS2.

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Originally posted by Melf
But that's the thing. Mainstream gamers have never cared about Sega games anyway. They never owned a Saturn or DC, so Sega being exclusive to one system would do nothing for them at all. Sega's fanbase probably owns at least one of the 3 systems out there, so exclusivity wouldn't do much for them either. If they have a Saturn or DC, chances are they have another system as well.

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I agree. Like I said, Sega fans alone will not make any of these games hit. But I think it would spike the sales a very little bit. Just enough to negate the negative effects of dropping the other consoles.

Plus, a lot of Sega fans have not decided on a specific system yet (like me). Or maybe they only have one so far, but if they were big fans they would buy the system in question. -- Meh, I dunno.. I just think that if this is true it will make life easier for many Sega fans, and it'll make it easier for them to buy more Sega games. That's more sales.

If all Sega games on the big three were on the same system I'd surely own/buy JSRF, Gunvalk, Shinobi, Gungrave, Super Monkey Ball 1/2, Sega Soccer Slam, PD Orta, Out Run 2, TJ&E3, F-Zero, Beach Spikers, VF Quest, Phantasy Star Ep I/II, etc. If I only have one console, I can only buy 1/3rd of these games. -- A lot of die-hard gamers own all 3 consoles. But I don't yet because I can't afford them so I have been biding my time waiting to pick the first one. Eventually I'd like all 3, but that's going to be a long time from now. I think this is the case the the majority of fans so, picking one system may see a consolidation of Sega fans.

I was never against Sega being multi-platform though and things seem pretty profitable as they are. Or at least I was under that impression. I just hope whatever they do keeps them profitable, because that way they keep making games I love. :)

3.5 bil to develop exclusively for Nintendo?

Well, I'm sure Bill and M$ could match that pretty easily, so could Sony for that matter, if they wanted too.

It wouldn't be so bad though, because not only would Sega be developing for the Cube, but also for the GBA! I mean, think about it! 2D ports or sequels to Shinobi, Alex Kidd, Phantasy Star, etc. In addition to all the good stuff they'd be churning out for the Cube itself. Phantasy Star Collection could just be whetting the appetite for GB fans :)

Say if Sega signs up with Nintendo, this wouldn't mean Orta would be ported or canceled would it?

Nah, they'd see all current projects through. They've spent way too much money marketing Shinobi to push it back and port it now.

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Originally posted by sggg
Anyway, I have not bought any of the three yet, because IMO none of the three stands out that much from the other two, and none of them have enough "must have" software yet. They're all pretty even IMO. But, if you took all the SEGA games off each system and put them on one, I think it'd be a damn fine software lineup all on it's own. So, for me this is great news - IF IT'S TRUE. Whichever system they pick, I shall own. Mark my words. :):):)

Oh, and for the record - I hope it's Gamecube - even though I think GCN probably has the weakest software lineup so far. I just like the system more than the other two. :)

I really don't care that much no matter which one it is though. They all have their advantages and disagvantages.

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Check, check, check... I have none of the three yet for basically your reasons and a Sega grouping would sell me on one just like that. The system of choice would be the Cube as well, but any would do, I just hope it's true (but my hopes aren't up, it's internet "news"). I really don't want to "settle" for one system, this would prevent that.

Yeh, what Strider said. They would probably become exclusive once all the current projects were complete, or at least the ones past 50% that can't easily be switched. I doubt it would be immediate.

I read a post on another forum that made an interesting point. I don't know if it's true or not though, as there was no proof. But the poster said that across the board Sega's software sales are actually down since they went "platform agnostic". Sega's Dreamcast games were selling at a better clip than most of their "third party software". I didn't think that was true??? So I'd like to see what the actual numbers say.

Well, if they go exclusive to the PS2, it will basically undermine the Dreamcast, since that system was killed in part to people waiting for the fucking PS2. Also, the PS2's audience of casual gamers never dug Sega's innovative stuff.
Going to the Xbox is sales-suicide.
Going to the GC would probably be the best move. It's got a nice mix of casual and hardcore gamers on it. Although Sega being exclusie to a Nintendo system just seems so very wrong...

As an owner of all three systems and a Sega fan for about 15 years, I hope this is true. I would love to see all of the Sega games on one platform again.

If the winner of the Sega sweepstakes is not MS, the Xbox is in trouble... The other two consoles would be weakened but would survive.

Keeping all of that in mind, I am going to predict that Sega's respect for Nintendo as a game company will outweight potentially larger offers from the others.

Going to the GC would be logical. Yuji Naka has said the GC was the easiest of the 3 to program for.

Most of this speculation is moot. Sega jumping on to one particular platform would be insane at this point, unless it was PS2. The GC and Xbox need a larger userbase for Sega to consider bringing over all of its franchises to any one of the three. If I were in charge at Sega, here's what I think would have to happen to jump to one platform:

1) Kill all rumors about the move immediately through PR damage control. It's bad to have those out, as they may harm present projects.
2) Don't make any future plans to collaborate with any of the companies before the move is complete. Don't move until present collaboration deals are complete.
3) Wait to see what happens with Nintendo's Cube sales numbers when their first batch of big games finally gets released. If the public accepts them, the Cube userbase will be sufficient to support all franchises without massive drops in sales.

I think announcing anything "soon" would be premature and detrimental to Sega's future profit outlook. What happens if their gamble isn't successful? They will have burned their bridges with the other two companies and might not be able to get any of their games published on those platforms.

If anyone can provide some actual evidence that this will happen, please do so. "Actual evidence" here does not mean sales numbers based upon conjecture from the number of Gungrave copies sold by your Gamestop branch last Tuesday. Somebody find some real sales numbers already.

The Xbox fan in me hopes Sega goes exclusively to Microsoft but the realist in me tells me it's probably Nintendo.


Which wouldn't be a bad thing, The Cube isn't as powerful as the Xbox but it's more powerful than the PS2. The GameCube has 'Nintendo' on it and Nintendo has already stated that they do not plan on releasing another system any time soon, they will be concentrating on sofware, so Sega will not have to worry about working with new hardware.


And if Microsoft lowers the price of the Xbox to $150 Nintendo will surely lower the price of the GameCube to $100-$120, which means more sales for the Cube.


If it's Nintendo I'll buy a GameCube, if it's XBox I'll be doing cartwheels, if it's Sony....

i remember rumblings a lil bit back about possibly SEGA teaming with MS and then Nintendo eventually becoming a 3rd party (also developing games for the box) because all three of them really want to let loose SONY's stranglehold.

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Originally posted by Dragonmaster Dyne
i remember rumblings a lil bit back about possibly SEGA teaming with MS and then Nintendo eventually becoming a 3rd party (also developing games for the box) because all three of them really want to let loose SONY's stranglehold.

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And those were just that: rumblings. Xbox fanboy wishing, aka fanisms. Probably came from the gamefaqs forum.

This isn't the wwf. There's no grand conspiracy to overthrow anyone. It's all more or less friendly competition.

friendly competition? what are you smoking? with a cheaper xbox possibly at the end of the month this is all getting very interesting. oh and there are no more grand conspiracy's in wrestling anymore. we all know the outcomes to the matches days in advance thanks to the internet :)

Uhm, MS, Sony and Nintendo are not out to destroy each other, you know... gaining the majority marketshare is not a blood battle. This is business, and as long as the companies involved don't start dissing each other at industry events and dispatching their private armies for covert strikes against each other, competition will remain friendly...

Sega would be crazy to develop exclusively for Xbox, god knows how well it's doing in Japan...

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Originally posted by sggg
Yeh, what Strider said. They would probably become exclusive once all the current projects were complete, or at least the ones past 50% that can't easily be switched. I doubt it would be immediate.

I read a post on another forum that made an interesting point. I don't know if it's true or not though, as there was no proof. But the poster said that across the board Sega's software sales are actually down since they went "platform agnostic". Sega's Dreamcast games were selling at a better clip than most of their "third party software". I didn't think that was true??? So I'd like to see what the actual numbers say.

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Go to www.the-magicbox.com


Segas NFL2k1 sold over 800,000 units in the US. Crazy Taxi sold over 500,000 copies in the US, and about 350,000 in Japan. Phantasy Star Online sold near a million units worldwide, and Shenmue sold about 750,000 units worldwide. The DC had the most games sold per unit at around 3.5 games per console sold. Looking at the charts for PS2 sales of Sega games, the best seller they had there, just barely scraped 400,000 units.

Sega and Treasure are the main game companies I give a shit about, and they're notoriously platform agnostic. Seeing as I can't afford multiple next gen systems, and haven't even decided on one yet, this could make my decision alot easier. I'm kinda hoping its cube since Capcom and Treasure seem to be buddying up to that camp as well.

I can not think of one reason why this would really be true. The only logical way Sega would do this would be if they were paid by whatever company (be it Sony, Nintendo or MS) enough money to make up for sales of all the games they WOULD have sold on the other systems. MS is really the only one I see Sega would easily ditch. It makes no sense for Sega to go to MS. Their games have sold horribely, even worse in Japan than in the US. PS2 would make the most sense because of the huge user base, and I really doubt Sega would just ditch the GBA, so I think Nintendo isn't exactly out of the question either. Still, I really doubt this is true. If Sega ditched Nintendo, they would lose out on a ton of GBA sales, and if they ditched the PS2, well, there goes their sports sales. It just doesn't make sense.

"Sega would be crazy to develop exclusively for Xbox, god knows how well it's doing in Japan..."

Thats the rub. As far as I know, Sega games generally dont sell very well in Japan anyway.

You know alot of people are missing the point when they say PS2 would be the only viable system. Higher installed base does not mean higher sale. GC has alot less compatition for software given its userbase, and games like monkeyball have sold very well when they would have tanked on any other system. There's alot more people willing to buy games on cube, and Sega could conceivably make more money ther than on PS2.

Sega and MS are strong in US. They should team up, make specific, new, original games for the xbox and concentrate future arcade game ports towards the xbox. (VF5, Outrun 10, Spikeout 12, HOTD 13, right alongside the home stuff like Streets of Rage 14, Shenmue 6, JSR 9 and ToeJam and Earl 23.) :D

Meanwhile GC can continue to have the sonics and psos and monkeyballs and Skies Of Arcadias to boost the lineup of available games and take advantage of the software drought for easy $. If a sega rpg needs to be made, cube can be thier link to japan. Their relationship with nintendo through support to cube can keep them open to profit from gba games as well.

Sony probably won't benefit much from sega since sega tend to aim for a more hardcore crowd which wouldn't suit the sony image. Original (SMB, CT, JSR), quirky (TJ&Earl, Seaman,) and deep (VF, Voot, F355, GunValkrie) games would get overlooked by the average non-sega-specific-devotee in favour of big name, big releases of an established franchise, from a set genre, that promises yearly sequels with minimal improvements.

I'd still rather sega create a new dreamcast in the next console generation if they manage to get enough money. :D (a little dream of mine) I don't like the idea that they are xclusive for someone just because they were thrown money and forced to work in compromising conditions.

Where Sega go, you'll all follow. Things will all fall into place if they just chose the most technically-capable platform to wow enough people towards the system. (and prices of the systems are dropping, wait around christmas). If the games are good enough, people will buy the system to play them on. The Xbox offers the best price : power ratio of the 3 consoles and so is the least resrictive for the developers; who want to compete with every other game on the market (for all systems) and make thier games the best they can while realising thier intended vision (without as much compromise), in an increasingly overflooded market of mediocrity. I'm sick of ports of games that were designed to run for the lowest common denomintor just because of the other systems' market share and not because of the quality behind it.

The way I see it, games that are specifically targeted to the more powerful system will ultimately result in better-looking and more code-optimised games. People bought saturns to have the best looking 2d games. And other people bought ps1s for its native ability to handle 3d games with ease. Games designed for each platform looked better than the ones they weren't designed for (most 2d sucks on ps1, and 3d games like DOA1 for saturn looked better than the ps1 version) based on each of those system's strengths. (ps2's weakness is the limited video memory which makes texture detail suffer) Similarly people will flock to a system once the games developed especially for it, can start to show the potential of the machine instead of being held back by code from a game for another system (or one planned as multiplatform from the start)

Another bonus if sega go the direction of the box is that porting games to the pc platform would be a cinch. :D more money for them there! I'm envisioning a simulataneous release of VF5 on xbox and pc..:D

Id be very surprised if Sega limited themselves to the Xbox..Especially considering the userbase and the way the system is viewed over here in the UK/Europe and Japan, Sales figures for singular non franchise titles for the US Xbox are the worst of the 3 consoles by quite a large margin, it would be a no brainer.

If the rumour turns out to be true id lean towards the Cube:

-Newer Technology than PS2

-Triforce Arcade

-Easier to develop for than PS2

-The Japanese heads of each Sega division have said in interviews GC would be their console of choice to develop for

-Sega's support for the GBA would surely be a deciding factor

-Localisation Both main HQ's (Sega + Nintendo) are Tokyo based

A lot of people are still speculating that the company in question would be Sony... but I still don't see any reason why Sony would pay off Sega at this point. They don't need Sega at all. They already "won". Sega would surely not do this without "financial incentive"... so...

I think that probably narrows it down to Nintendo and MS, and for a variety of well-speculated-on reasons I'd guess it's Nintendo.


I really hope this is true, no matter which console it ends up being...

Sony wouldnt drop the money on sega now
like Sggg said if it was going ot be anyone itd be either MS or Nintendo

by logic of the 2 the smart one for sega to go with would be Nintendo if they HAD to do this but it being Sega and Sega always making the worse buisness descions in the history of videogaming (second only to the N64 being cart based and not cd based such a stupid mistake nintendo anyway) Sega would side with MS ofcourse i could be wrong and sega could make a smart descion for once

whats funny is the only reason im buying an xbox this fall will be because of Sega, for Sega GT 2002, Panzer Dragoon, and Toe Jam n Earl III if the would just have gone multiplatform with those games i would nt have to drop another 200 bucks on a system *L*

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Originally posted by GDK
"Sega would be crazy to develop exclusively for Xbox, god knows how well it's doing in Japan..."

Thats the rub. As far as I know, Sega games generally dont sell very well in Japan anyway.

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Sega games have sold fairly well in Japan, but not quite as well as they have in the past. Virtua Fighter 2 sold an amazing 2 million units back in the Saturn's hey day. Check out www.the-magicbox.com under platinum sellers.


Sega's best bet would be to join Nintendo's camp. It has a loyal user base, less competitive software than the PS2, and a very large GBA userbase to boot. It would be in both Nintendo and Sega's best interest to join forces.

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Originally posted by Green
Say if Sega signs up with Nintendo, this wouldn't mean Orta would be ported or canceled would it?

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No...in an XBN interview with the developers, they said that if it wasn't for the Xbox, they wouldn't have even considered bringing back Panzer Dragoon.


As for that info, it was posted on another forum, I'm looking into finding the source.

Reading your comments on this subject really gave me a headache. I hope they do choose one platform to make their games for. I can finally stick to one system again for financial reasons.

Many gamers don't know this, but Nintendo has more money stored up than Sony. Sony walks around with a big head with an attitude that they don't need anybody so Sega going PS2 only is pretty slim. Also if you study sales between PS and N64 games, N64 hit games sold more than PS games. This means that though PS games in total sales is more because of volume, individual game sales were less compared to N64.

Nintendo and Sega team up seems wrong, but right if you know what I mean. This team up seems good, but not necessary. Nintendo is getting ready to release their hit games soon so adding Sega seems moot.

Microsoft would seem to be the logicial company to give Sega such an offer. In my heart, this is where I hope they go despite what everybody else here thinks of Bill, MS and the Xbox. I always saw the Xbox as another system to kick Sony in the face and hopefully they'll do it in the next round. Besides competition in the game industry is always a good thing. I'm planning to buy a Xbox, possibly this month for PDO and other Sega games on the system. I don't know why, but my heart is with Xbox between the 3 systems. Though in my own farfetched dreams, I hope they go back to the Dreamcast.

I'm surprised that many of you are looking at the short-term view. It would seem to me that any decision Sega would make in this regard (assuming there's any shred of truth to it) would be based on long-term profit projections.

First, Sega won't go with ANY one platform maker without receiving HUGE amounts of cash (or cash eqivalents) up front. Even Sega is not that stupid.

Second, Sega would presumably team up with a company that seems to be poised for the NEXT iteration of hardware, not the present one. Frankly, I don't know who that would be since, from Sega's perspective, it's probably not based entirely on present hardware sales. Rather, it's based on whose next-gen plan would create the most potential profit for Sega.

Third, and most interestingly, if Sega were to team up with Nintendo (my brain can barely process that scenario), that might be the one thing that makes Nintendo stay in the hardware game. (Hardware jointly developed by Sega and Nintendo!?!) Now THERE'S food for thought.

Regardless, if this rumor pans out, I'll worry about it when it happens.

Wonder if this will effect games from Sonic Team? It'll be either Microsoft or Sony, even money as to which of the two. Anyways...

Dear Sega:

You are from the country of Uruguay. (Homer voice: "haha You are gay.")

Sincerely,

Kosh and all Sega fans

Nintendo's my bet, if it pans out.

I don't care where they go. I own a PS2, a Gamecube and very soon I will own an Xbox. It matters not to me.

Although for some reason I kinda want to see Nintendo fail, so I hope SEGA stays away.

I think it'll be Microsoft. Consider who needs strong exclusive titles more. Obviously Microsoft would be able to pay them more than Sony or Nintendo for exclusivity.

That is, of course, if this report is true. The report is so poorly written (then again, I've never read IGN, so) that it sounds like a farce. Who knows? Frankly, I wait until someone more credible reports this until I take it seriously.

I think it\'ll be Microsoft. Consider who needs strong exclusive titles more. Obviously Microsoft would be able to pay them more than Sony or Nintendo for exclusivity.

Also, why the hell would Nintendo want Sega as an exclusive; nintendo generally makes %50 of the games on all it consoles. That\'s where they make their money. Why would they want another company competing with them?

Sony doesn\'t need them. Sega titles don\'t sell as well something like, say GTA III which they\'ve decided to get as an exclusive.

Microsoft, I\'ll re-iterate, does need them. Considering that Sega is a master of all trades, they fill in the holes that are left by companies that view the X-Box with disdain, and also provide exlcusives; Sega\'s like the all-in-wonder company.

That is, of course, if this report is true. The report is so poorly written (then again, I\'ve never read IGN, so) that it sounds like a farce. Who knows? Frankly, I\'ll wait until someone more credible reports this until I take it seriously.

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Originally posted by Swirly
Many gamers don't know this, but Nintendo has more money stored up than Sony.

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yup. isnt it something to the tune of a couple billion debt free?

I hope Sega just dies. Then there would be a few less fanboys talking nonsense. :D

Nah,in order for that to happen sony would have to die.

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Originally posted by EvilMog007
I hope Sega just dies. Then there would be a few less fanboys talking nonsense. :D

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I think I speak for myself and every other Sega fan on this board when I say...

FUCK YOU

I was under the impression sega was more of a publishing house now, and the other satellites are more autonomous. as in they dont necessarily have to go where sega goes? any truth to this?

I totally agree with Yoshi.
Thou shalt not diss Sega.

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Originally posted by Briscobold
Also, why the hell would Nintendo want Sega as an exclusive; nintendo generally makes %50 of the games on all it consoles. That\'s where they make their money. Why would they want another company competing with them?

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If SEGA became a 2nd party of Nintendo, then odds are Nintendo would publish the games, thus making them Nintendo games. This would be key for SEGA because if a game bombs, it wouldn't affect them as much it would had they been the publisher.

I'd want them to partner with Nintendo for a couple reasons. Mainly because Nintendo treats their 2nd party developers well, and it would suck to not have SEGA games on the GBA.

Assuming this whole thing is true(which I doubt), I think Sega would be smart enough to keep their exclusivity console-only so they can still make GBA games no matter who they go with.

you know how Nintendo can be though. Don't wanna develop for the gamecube? No GBA for you! Worked with Square.

Kinopio: Ya, but now that's all in the past. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance cometh :)

I can't understand why anyone would so venomously desire a company to outright fail, posiably fold, and never be heard of again.

I've owned just about every system that has been released on this planet, and I've loved ALL of them.

Whatever happens happens. We'll all move on.

I don't think this will be happening, but we'll see. I refuse to get worked up about it right now. Sega can maximize profits best as a 3rd party and I feel they will remain as one. Nintendo suits many of thier games so incredibly well I would not, nor could I, really imagine them performing or selling as well on any other system aside from one of thier own. Sega needs to look at what sells and demographics of other systems and the technology provided (this is pretty much a GC/Xbox thing) and the teams can make thier games accordingly. Shinobi would do best on PS2 and maybe Xbox. Monkey Ball and games like Nights fit best with Gamecube. They would be shooting them selves in the foot in the long term and horribly limiting themselves to one console WITHOUT having any hand in development and so on. Being 2nd party is ideal for starting studios, up-and-coming strong established studios but NOT HUGE PUBLISHERS who already have the capital to drive themselves forward and work indepentantly without being beholden to other huge publishers.

ºTracer

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Originally posted by TracerBullet
Being 2nd party is ideal for starting studios, up-and-coming strong established studios but NOT HUGE PUBLISHERS who already have the capital to drive themselves forward and work indepentantly without being beholden to other huge publishers.

ºTracer

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Exactly, beside Sega has garnered a HUGE amount of attention since becoming a third party, they've broadened their consumer base far beyond their last console without being constrained by a single identity. And someone mentioned Virtua Fighter 2 selling 2 million units. Correct, but it was the last time Sega had a game hit a million units.

And though a rumor, you can never take a Sega rumor too lightly... *-neo

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Originally posted by Kinopio


If SEGA became a 2nd party of Nintendo, then odds are Nintendo would publish the games, thus making them Nintendo games. This would be key for SEGA because if a game bombs, it wouldn't affect them as much it would had they been the publisher.

I'd want them to partner with Nintendo for a couple reasons. Mainly because Nintendo treats their 2nd party developers well, and it would suck to not have SEGA games on the GBA.

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YOu've got to be fucking kidding me. If Nintendo of America started publishing Segas games here, they would be the ones to make the decission to localize the games. That means that not only Jack but also shit would make it stateside... much like a lot of Nintendo's best first party games. Boourns to that I say. They can go with whothefuck ever at the end of the day (though it's likely that this rumor is a lot of bullshit) but if it comes down to Nintendo publishing thier games I would rue the day I ever bought a Master System and saw what Sega was for the first time. It would, in short, be a disaster.

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Originally posted by bahn
Kinopio: Ya, but now that's all in the past. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance cometh :)

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yes but first comes FF CC for the GC and GBA

Nintendo got their GC FF and Square gets their GBA games

thats the point Kinopio was making

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Id be very surprised if Sega limited themselves to the Xbox..Especially considering the userbase and the way the system is viewed over here in the UK/Europe and Japan, Sales figures for singular non franchise titles for the US Xbox are the worst of the 3 consoles by quite a large margin, it would be a no brainer.

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I believe things could improve based on the titles that people want to play. People are drawn to the console through particular games. Design those particular titles for a specific platform and they will come. Lots of people bought xboxs just to play certain sega titles.
You can look at it 2 ways:
-people will buy your game if you put it on the most popular platform
or
-people will buy the system with your games on it if they are really good enough. But your game won't suffer compromises. It will look as 'next-gen' as you can make it and push a few boundaries that other game companies can aspire to try to compete agasint across the board (any game from any system). A good example is soul calibur for dc. I bought a dc to play the game after seeing how awesome it was. A classic case of "I got the system to get to the game because the quality of the game reached a new level of expectation from me for other fighters across all systems (arcades included)" Other games from then on would have to compete with that regardless of sales, to get my attention. If the game was held back by limits (say, a ps1 port of the arcade game) the game wouldn't nearly have had as much impact on me to get the system or the game.

interesting and somewhat related topic: (from xboxgamers)

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Steel Batillion Shoots Straight To The Top In Japan
Posted on September 7, 2002


With Xbox having an underwhelming experience in Japan so far, this came as a huge suprise to us when we were going around various Japanese online retailers.

Whilst visiting Japans biggest online retailer, Amazon.Co.Jp, we thought we would check the top-100 pre-ordered games on all formats. We were shocked to find Steel Battilon topping the charts, beating off every other game and hardware in development. That includes the Gamecube broadband adapter (4th) and Final Fantasy XI Limited Edition (6th).

For a game that is over double the price of any other game on the Japanese videogame market, this is one hell of an achievement!

Thats not all though, for the first time since launch, we seen another xbox title in the top 15 over in the land of the rising sun! That game is Sega GT 2002 currently 11th in the top-100 preordered games!

Good News For Microsoft and Xbox then!

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I'd prefer that the original games weren't ported, and time and resources not wasted on other consoles at the expense of the original game. I'd actually prefer if all the resources were poured into the single game and that the single game were to make full use of the most technically able system in the interest of the quality and polish of a game. Sure it's easy to say "but its logical that they should support the most widespread system to make money quickly" but to me that's not the best thing for them to do. We see games like vf4 locked into exclusivity for a platform that can barely match the arcade hardware's specs and the conversion suffers just a little" all for the short term benefit of money, and at the expense of those who want to see an xbox version quickly.

I've noticed that the games that I'm most interested in are the ones that seem centred around the xbox from the start, not so much the ports or multiplatform stuff: PDO, Splinter Cell, (yeah multi platform, xbox hardware will be emphasised though), Steel Battalion etc
You have to admit that part of the reason why xbox isn't dominating in japan is lack of developer support and the lack of developer support is due to gamers not being interested in the system for lack of games who are therefore waiting around for more games and for more developer support. (goes in a circle) So I say, get some developer support, centre games around the xbox, and the people will come as a result of that. Sure they'll bitch and whine about having to buy an xbox but the prices will come down, and the userbase will grow and we can start seeing some original xbox projects being made. (I get the feeling there's a lot of old dreamcast sequels on all 3 platforms sega are riding on, more than original new stuff. Nothing wrong with that though, just us dc gamers wanting some new things too)

The Amazon.com preorder list means nothing in Japan. The Xbox was topping their chart for awhile before it came out, and look how well it sold.

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Originally posted by TracerBullet


YOu've got to be fucking kidding me. If Nintendo of America started publishing Segas games here, they would be the ones to make the decission to localize the games. That means that not only Jack but also shit would make it stateside... much like a lot of Nintendo's best first party games. Boourns to that I say. They can go with whothefuck ever at the end of the day (though it's likely that this rumor is a lot of bullshit) but if it comes down to Nintendo publishing thier games I would rue the day I ever bought a Master System and saw what Sega was for the first time. It would, in short, be a disaster.

ºTracer

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Time for a reality check.

Like SEGA is any better. For dreamcast alone they never brought Cosmic Smash, Rez, SPace channel 5 part 2, shenmue 2, headhunter, sakura taisen 3, sakura taisen 4, napple tale, roomania #203, fighting vipers 2 and MANY more to North America.

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Originally posted by Kinopio
Like SEGA is any better. For dreamcast alone they never brought Cosmic Smash, Rez, SPace channel 5 part 2, shenmue 2, headhunter, sakura taisen 3, sakura taisen 4, napple tale, roomania #203, fighting vipers 2 and MANY more to North America.

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Some of those decisions were made because they decided to discontinue Dreamcast in NA. Rez, SC5P2, Shenmue 2, Headhunter, etc. Otherwise things would have been different.

Also, Sega did bring over more than a few quirky titles, as is their tradition. I still can't believe that Seaman actually came out in NA?! :p

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Originally posted by Saint of Killers
The Amazon.com preorder list means nothing in Japan. The Xbox was topping their chart for awhile before it came out, and look how well it sold.

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I agree. Things like that are genrally just a subversive form of advertising. There is no reason to actually believe an Amazon about something like this - and not jsut about videogames but about everything and anything. They list the things they want to move or are paid to promote.

Just as Namco's platform agnosticism is a good thing, the idea of Sega agreeing to be locked into one platform doesn't sit well with me. Like GameHED stated, the thought of Soul Calibur being chopped down to fit PS1 is revolting. While VF4 on PS2 is very good, an Xbox version could be better still.

VF4 would have made a good multiplatform release. Beside the PS2 version (most popular system), there could be an Xbox one (to take advantage of Xbox's power & RAM for a closer conversion).

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Originally posted by EvilMog007
I hope Sega just dies. Then there would be a few less fanboys talking nonsense. :D

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EvilMog007- That is such bullshit. :bang: You do not slam Sega like this.

hey morons.. the :D is meant as a haha jk. You guys talk some shit WAY to seriously. jesus

People on this board? Take things too seriously? Will I never...

This is all new news to me, Shinobi128 had some weird stuff posted about sales and it seemed like the PS2 sports/fighters kicked everything's ass other than Sonic Adventure 2.

I don't think Nintendo has to worry anymore about user base after news like this http://www.gamesarefun.com/newspro/f...1242643,32761,. Mattvanstone and any non-retard knows Mario sells cubes.

I can't say I beleive this news until major videogame magazines or an online statement says so otherwise. It would be boneheaded to just move to one console if they expect to see huge profits. The inner fanboy in me wishes they went to Nintendo, but that's just a nice dream I think would be cool to have happen.

I don't think this is true (god I hope I'm right) but if so, I don't care which console they choose as long as they call the shots on their games. I can see good reasons for Sega going to any one of the three consoles. Set aside some of your hatred/bias and you'll see as well.

I just want to see SEGA join with Nintendo on GameCube and kick PS2 into the middle of next week. And its driving games too.

If we're placing bets though, my money is on Nintendo and GameCube. PS2 has loads of consoles in homes blah-blah-blah but that doesn't mean good sales. In fact it can mean diminished sales because you've got so much competition from other developers who make popular games for casual gamers (morons). And how could SEGA fight off all those rally games on PS2? PS2 - the driving game console. Ha Ha!

Nintendo still, somehow, has a decent reputation and there's less competition from third party titles on GC. I mean, KoF 2000 actually entered the charts with DC because the DC user-base, small as it is, is completely concentrated on the few remaining games. Look at Ikaruga!

Stoopid peeple. I know all!!!! Sega and RARE are both going XB only this gen, then Nintendo is joining next gen. Face the facts, MS doesn't care how bad XB sells in Japan, they WILL come out on top eventually, it's just a matter of time. Denial and resistance only will delay you truely enjoying XB.

:rolleyes:

...and the XBox Monkey.

~coming from a platform agnostic.

Looking at Sega's long term releases it does seem like Sega is inching towards MS.

The Sonic franchise would bring the much needed kiddie element to the Box...

And as far as the Box needing Sega, im taking it some of you have not seen the Ninja Gaiden spread in the new XBM...holy sheet. That game w/ Halo 2 are enough to solidify my $200 investment.

btw..i still play the DC more than any "next gen" console, my buddy came over on Friday while i was playing Ikaruga and asked if i wanted to sell my XBox..ha.

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Originally posted by Kinopio


Time for a reality check.

Like SEGA is any better. For dreamcast alone they never brought Cosmic Smash, Rez, SPace channel 5 part 2, shenmue 2, headhunter, sakura taisen 3, sakura taisen 4, napple tale, roomania #203, fighting vipers 2 and MANY more to North America.

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No one would have broght over Sakura then, and it's a suprise now that publishers are showing an interest in it. Roomania how ever would have been just plain dumb (I know... since when was dumb NOT in Sega's business protocol). Napple Tale ended up bad anyway and Cosmic Smash was a heart breaker not coming out over here... but the other titles would have if the DC wasn't being aggressively phased out. The other is Fighting Vipers 2 - which isn't really all that great.

Now, could ANYONE explain why a single Fire Emblem game hasn't been released here? Were it up to Sega it would have happend. It's like saying Sega wouldn't publish Shining Force here. They are not as bad - in fact - I think Sega has been a fair amount riskier in bringing quirkier titles to the USA. Jet Set, Rez on PS2, and so on.

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